Bonaparte's Gulls

 Tuesday January 30th

Bonaparte's Gull have been unusually common around in southwest Florida so far this year. Spotted a single bird earlier this month at Merritt Island and it was expected. But several have been hanging out in Lee County. Saw a few at Ding Darling NWR with one gull harassing a lady trying to do some fishing. It kept trying to steal her bait as she made her casts. 

More were seen at the Charlotte Harber Buffer Preserve. A beautiful bird and glad to be getting some good looks.

American Flamingos

 Sunday January 21

American Flamingoes and American White Pelican

Yesterday I received a text message from Dave and Tammy McQuaid with an invitation to join them aboard their boat to see the flock of American Flamingos. We have a flock of about fourteen, mostly juvenal Flamingos hanging out on a place called Black Skimmer Island, located near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River. 

Black Skimmer Island is a small, federally protected bird sanctuary, which is very popular with boaters to watch the birds come into roost at sundown. Today the flamingoes were present. The siting of wild flamingoes in Florida is a very uncommon event. These and other flamingoes currently seen around the state are no doubt the birds blown here by resent hurricanes.    Maybe they'll hang around for a while. And Thank You to Dave and Tammy.

Everglades

 Tuesday January 9th

Vermilion Flycatcher at Lucky Hammock

Spent a couple of days birding around the Everglades and at Lucky Hammock.

 

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
C-111 Canal

Day One was a very blustery day, which does handicap your birding experience as the birds seek sheltered and often secluded locations to get out of the winds. This was so obvious while making a stop at the C-111 Canal venue outside of Everglades National Park where the expected Scissor tailed Flycatchers were using the cover within the trees and shrubs.

Was greeted here with a Swainson's Hawk soaring close overhead. Counted seven Scissor-tailed Flycatcher hiding from the winds in an oak tree. Had a western kingbird too. The female Vermilion Flycatcher was staying low too. A surprise of a Yellow-headed Blackbird spotted feeding with a large flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds. The expected Tropical Kingbird was also present.  

Swainson's Hawk
C-111 Canal

Moved onto Lucky Hammock, but not much was observed here today because of the weather. Lots of Gray Catbirds. and a Northern Harrier were seen. Then entered Everglades National Park with ever little to be seen. Because of the weather, passed up a planned return to the Lucky Hammock area at sundown, for least nighthawks and barn owls.

Vermilion Flycatcher
Lucky Hammock

Returned to rebird the C-111 and Lucky Hammock the next morning with much better success. Easily found my target birds. White-tailed Kites, Short-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, Tropical Kingbird, Western Kingbirds, Savanah Sparrows and Northern Rough-winged Swallows.

Vermilion Flycatcher
C-111 Canal 

eBird Trip Report See complete bird lists for the trip

Zebra Longwing
Lucky Hammock

Western Kingbird
C-111 Canal

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
Lucky Hammock

 

Red Shouldered Hawk
C-111 Canal

Great Egret
Lucky Hammock