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

 Thursday, November 18th

Caracara

Was checking out the orange groves and fields along Church Road at Felda, looking for interesting birds.  This is a great location for finding Crested Caracara and Turkeys. Can often find Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Western Kingbirds this time of year when they arrive for winter.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Red-bellied Kingbird

Western Kingbird

Looking For Flycatchers

Friday February 22nd

A Young Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Elected to drive out to Hendry County this morning in pursuit of wintering flycatchers. Was looking for Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Western Kingbirds.  The known, more local, locations for finding these birds haven't been very fruitful this year.  But the spot near STA-5, SR-835 and Deer Fence  Canal Road in Hendry County, has been reliable.

So I routed a trip through Lehigh Acres, Felda, Immokalee, Deer Fence Canal Road, Clewiston, LaBelle and home. First stop was the Red-headed Woodpecker site at Wellington Ave, in Lehigh for Bobwhite (FOS), Red-headed Woodpecker and White-winged Dove. Then out to Church Road in Felda.

Western Kingbird

Savannah Sparrow

Just before reaching Church Road along SR-82, had to stop to check out the American White Pelicans sitting on the mud flats at a road side pond. Was more interested the flock of terns sitting out there with the pelicans. They all turned out to Royal Terns.  

Church Road, in Felda,  was very interesting today as Blue Grosbeaks, Mockingbirds, American Goldfinch, Cardinals, American Kestrels and Savannah Sparrows were sunning themselves atop the pepper bushes, along a side road.. No Crested Caracaras seen on this stretch of road, but the flycatcher pasture did host a young Scissor-tail Flycatcher and a lone Western Kingbird, along with a large flock of  Wild Turkeys. Surprised to find the flycatchers at this spot today, as this location had become less reliable this winter

.

Probably a Krider's Red-tailed Hawk

Probably a Krider's Red-tailed Hawk

From Felda, proceeded out toward the Deer Fence Canal area. On the drive over, several Crested Caracaras were seen along with Red-shouldered Hawks, American Kestrels, Belted Kingfishes, Sandhill Cranes, a Snail Kite, Limpkins and Eastern Meadowlarks.  

At the Flycatcher Site, I didn't spot any today. 

Now heading north, passing by cattle pastures, orange groves and sugar cane fields toward Clewiston, made a side trip down Blumberg Road. Blumberg Road is the access to the northern entrance of STA-5.  Had no plans to go that far, but this can usually, in winter, be a good location for raptors. So I did see patrolling Northern Harriers, more American Kestrels and a pair of Red-tailed Hawks.  One of which is probably the Kriders race of the Eastern red-tailed Hawk subspecies. Will continue doing research on exactly what this is.  Don't see many of them in Florida. 

A young Herring Gull

One final stop for the day is at the Levee Park in Clewiston. Lots of Brown-headed Cowbirds, Laughing Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls and a young Herring Gull

Misses today included American Robins, neither of the whistling ducks, and any Swallow-tailed Kites.

Todays Bird List ( 60 ) - Mottled Duck, Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, 

Blue Grosbeak

Common Ground Dove, White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Limpkin, Sandhill Crane,  Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Royal Tern, Wood Stork,  Anhinga, Double-crested Cormorant, American White Pelican, Brown pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Tri-colored Heron, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Snail Kite, Northern Harrier,  Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, American Kestrel, Crested Caracara, Eastern Phoebe, western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, Tree Swallow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, American Goldfinch, Savannah Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, eastern Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal and Blue Grosbeak.

Red-shouldered Hawk

White-winged Dove

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Western Kingbird

Still Looking for Birds

Tuesday, April 25th


Rose early on the final day in the Keys to make a final look for Roseate Terns at the Marathon Government Center. Arriving at sun rise, the site was fairly quite with a Least Terns and Magnificent Frigatebird flying over head. But shortly a large flock of Roseate Terns flew in. A White-crowned Pigeon seen in the parking lot. Time to move on.

Cape May Warbler seen at Key Largo Hammock State Park

Made a return stop nest at Key Largo Hammock State Park and walked the one mile Loop Trail. Aside from Cardinals, White-eyed Vireos, Palm Warblers and a lone Cape May Warbler the location was fairly quite.

Key Largo Hammock

Sight along the Loop Trail at Key Largo Hammock Park

Before leaving the Keys made another return stop to look for the Cuban Golden Yellow Warblers at Card Sound Road toll booth area. After parking, was immediately rewarded with a singing yellow warbler with in a few feet. The Golden is a Yellow Warbler sub-species from Cuba and the Caribbean and barely reaches into the mangroves of the Florida Keys.

Cuban Golden Yellow Warbler

Northern Curly-tailed Lizard seen at Card Sound Road

Next made another return stop at Lucky Hammock, just outside of Everglades National Park. The site was loaded with Flycatchers. Eastern Kingbird, Western Kingbird, Gray Kingbird, Tropical Kingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers.

Western Kingbird

Eastern Kingbird

Tropical Kingbird

From Lucky Hammock headed up to Coral Gables to Matheson Hammock Park were American Redstarts were dominate.  Other warblers seen included Blackpoll, Prairie, Ovenbird, Black-throated Blue, Cape May and Black-and-White. Other birds included Short-tailed Hawk, Chimney Swift and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. As for exotics birds seen a pair of Common Hill Mynas and a trio of Yellow-chevroned Parakeets.

Common Hill Myna

Matheson Hammock Park also hosts numerous exotic lizards - Basilisk lizards, African Rainbow Agamas, Green Iguanas, Crested Anoles and Knight Anoles.

Knight Anole

Crested Anole

One last stop, a return visit to the Snapper Creek Canal Cave Swallow Colony. On Sunday it was too rainy, but today Cave Swallows were zipping in and out of their nesting site below the Sunset Ave bridge. This wraps up my birding vacation. Lots of good sights , missed some too. Maybe next year.

Rainy Day in Miami

Sunday April 23rd

Spring migration can be fun or frustrating for Florida Birders. It all depends of the weather conditions. So far birding activities have been slow till today. With arrival of very much needed rain and westerly winds, we're starting to see some action.

The rains also coincided with a short birding vacation I had been planning for several weeks with the idea of heading for the Florida Keys and southern Miami-Dade  County for neo-tropical migrants, as well as, South Florida specialties.

So, today it's raining. But that is actually a good thing for several reasons. Mostly though, is the fact that in this end of Florida the dangers from brush fires is quite real. In fact, as I am traveling across Alligator Alley toward my destination, smoldering, smoking, blackened remnants of has been labeled the Cowbell Fire in the Big Cypress Preserve can be seen from the highway. There's a large brush fire at Merritt Island NWR their calling the Black Point Fire, and locally in 7,000 residents had to evacuate their homes in Golden Gate Estates where several homes were destroyed and fire fighters even had to help rescue a trapped rhino from a ravaged exotic animal sanctuary.. A smaller brush fire in Lehigh Acres, near Harns Marsh was quickly contained, but more property was destroyed there as well.

Muscovy Ducks can been found in urban areas

through out Florida

Made my first stop on this trip at the Chapel Trail in Pembroke Pines.  It was a quick visit, were I was able to find a trio of Gray-headed Swamphens. Usually we can easily find them at Harns Marsh, but the marsh has been drying up and the Swamphens have had to move elsewhere.

Egyptian Goose

Then onto Kendal Baptist Hospital campus where the waterfowl didn't seem to care much about the rain. Lots of Muscovy Ducks, domestic breeds of geese and duck, a lone Egyptian Goose, a fly over of Mitred Parakeets, Common Gallinules, White Ibis, Fish Crows and House Sparrows.

Crossing over to the north side of Kendal Road, I drove around this neighborhood in search of red-whiskered bulbuls. With the rain slowing down, thought that maybe they maybe  active. Didn't see any, but one feeder was hosting a trio of Yellow-chevroned Parakeets.

The rains have slowed quit a bit now as I entered the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables. This location can be a great site for exotic parrots and other avian species. In the past we have seen Scaly-headed Parrot, Spot-breasted Oriole, Red-masked Parakeet, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, White-winged Parakeet, Chestnut-fronted Macaw and Common Hill Myna. Today I was able to add a pair of Blue and Yellow Macaws, a new bird for me, plus a single Scaly-headed Parrot and a flock of Red-masked Parakeets.

A Blue and Yellow Macaw

Scaly-headed Parrot

 After leaving the campus it was time to check-in at the hotel in Florida City, were after supper there was still time to make a run over to Aerojet Road, outside of Everglades National Park before dark.  Started with White-winged Dove and Common Mynas in town.  But near to the Park I encountered a flock of Peafowl.  Didn't expect that. As it was nearing dusk a number on Common Nighthawks were busy overhead and as I arrived outside at the Aerojet Road entrance to the Southern Glades Trail was  met by at least ten Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, a Gray Kingbird and a pair of Western Kingbirds, one of which I suspected was a Tropical Kingbird

Common Myna

A Peahen crossing the road

Western  Kingbird

Best bird seen today was the Barn Owl I spotted flying across the field where the Kingbirds were found. Another noticeable observation that so many of today's sightings were exotic birds. This area hosts a great many exotic plants, reptiles, fishes and bird life. The now infamous Python invasion is another example of a very negative  impact on the environment and Aerojet Road is a location that Python Hunters use locating and collecting these snakes

Yellow Chevroned Parakeet

Tuesday March 1st

Zenaida Dove photographed By Tammy McQuade
at Long Key SP on February 26th

An ABA Code 5 bird called a Zenaida Dove, a Caribbean bird, has been very consistently reported at Long Key State Park Park down in the Florida Keys. Today, Bob Pelkey and I traveled the four hour drive from Ft Myers arriving at 8 o'clock as the park was opening. 

We located the staked-out spot  that the dove is known to frequent. We shared the spot with a fella named Mark from Atlanta who was making his second attempt to see the bird, because he had dipped on it a couple of days before. A nice couple from Oregon were also waiting patiently.  By noon Bob and I gave up and left the park. Heard from later from Mark that he  had again dipped on the bird,  even though he had stayed until dark.

No Zenaida Dove seen by us today, but there were Hermit Crab races going on.

We next left the Keys and headed to Lucky Hammock/ the Annex sight on Aerojet  Road, outside the entrance to Everglades National Park. You never know exactly what to expect when visiting here. In the past it has been a great spot to watch raptors. We saw none today. One target we expected was a Brown-crested Flycatcher observed by friends a few weeks ago. The best we got was to hear its call. That counts but isn't as satisfying as getting a photo. Some birds we did see included Great Crested Flycatchers, Tree Swallows, Northern Flicker, Painted Bunting, Northern Parula, Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos, Common Ground Doves, a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Western Kingbird. Bob spotted an unidentifiable oriole. Don't know if it was a Spot-breasted or Baltimore Oriole.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher near Lucky Hammock

Western Kingbird near Lucky Hammock

White-winged Dove

With day-light waning we next visited the nearby Castellow Hammock Park seeking the also reliable, but rare to Florida, Buff-breasted Hummingbird. I had seen the species back in November in south Texas, but for Bob it would be a lifer. We stayed until dark and could occasionally hear the bird, but it never appeared in front of us. We did see a couple of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, plus an Ovenbird, Northern Parulas, Palm, Black-and-white,  & Yellow-rumped Warblers, heard a calling Common Hill Myna.  Also White-wing, Eurasian Collared and Mourning Doves. The star as a lone Yellow Chevroned Parakeet sitting in a tree above the butterfly garden

Yellow Chevroned Parakeet seen at Castellow Hammock Park