Friday, December 31, 2021

Year in Review

 Friday December 2021

An active year with a lot of travel.  Birders need to travel to seek out interesting birds in interesting places. Always on the watch for anything new or rare. My travels took from Biloxi, Mississippi all the south to the Dry Tortugas. Saw a few good birds and some lifers too. Went after interesting flora and fauna as well. Doing the all-naturalist thing.

A few of my lifers this year included 

Scaly-breasted Minia at Lucky Hammock

Bahama Mockingbird at Spanish River Park

Black Noddy at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas

Brown Creeper at Roche-A-Cri State Park in Wisconsin

Yellow-green Vireo at Biscayne National Park

- Sabine's Gull in the Gulf of Mexico off Fort Myers Beach

Dipped on a few birds as well.  Just missed the lapwing longspur that visited the Venice Airport for a few days.  But there were many good finds too, like in the Keys with a Cuban Pewee, Antillean Nighthawk, Purple Sandpiper, American Flamingo, Brown Noddies and White-crowned Pigeons.  Or on my trip to Mississippi to look for the rarest subspecies of Sandhill Crane - the Mississippi Sandhill Crane.  Or to Wisconsin and Illinois for Whooping Cranes and Trumpeter Swans. St Marks NWR is aways a great stop with another American Flamingo, numerous species of wintering waterfowl. Lake Apopka and Merrit Island NWR were also great venues for waterfowl. Locally we a great looks at a Grove-billed Ani and an Ash-throated Flycatcher at Festival Park in Cape Coral, were Florida Scrub Jays and Burrowing Owls are found. 

In 2022, I don't expect to get around as much as this year, but I'm still setting goals and making plans.


Zebra Longwing


2021 Year List and Gallery (299)





1     Red-shouldered Hawk

A young, Red-shouldered Hawk
Everglades National Park
January 2021



2     Wood Stork
Wood Stork
Church Road, Felda, Florida
January 2021



3     Mottled Duck
Mottle duck
Lakes Park, Fort Myers, Florida
January 2021



4     Great Egret
Great Egret
Six-mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Fort Myers, Florida
January 2021


5     Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret
Fort Myers Beach - Florida
January 2021


6     White Ibis
White Ibis
Myakka River State Park, Florida
January 2021




7     Black Vulture
Black Vultures
Myakka River State Park, Florida
January 2021


8     Fish Crow



9     Black-bellied Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
January 2021


10    Snowy Plover
Northern Snowy Plover
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
January 2021



11   Piping Plover
Piping Plover
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
March 2021

Piping Plover
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
January 2021
'This banded bird is nesting currently at Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore. She has 4 eggs and we’re expecting them to hatch June 9th.' Received this report in May



12   Ruddy Turnstone
Ruddy Turnstone
Carlos Point, Fort Myers Beach, Florida
January 2021



13   Sanderling



Sanderling
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
January 2021




14   Dunlin
Dunlin
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
March 2021




15   Least Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Fort DeSoto Park, St Petersburg, Florida
February 2021



16   Short-billed Dowitcher
Short-billed Dowitcher
Fort DeSoto Park, St Petersburg, Florida
February 2021

Short-billed Dowitcher
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
January 2021


17   Spotted Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Harry Harris Park, Tavernier, Florida
January 2021


18   Laughing Gull

Laughing Gulls
Fort DeSoto Park, St Petersburg, Florida
February 2021


19   Ring-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Parrish Beach Park, Merritt Island, Florida
January 2021


20   Royal Tern


21   Sandwich Tern


22   Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant
Fort DeSoto Park, St Petersburg, Florida
February 2021


23   American White Pelican
American White Pelican
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
January 2021



24   Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
January 2021


25   Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
January 2021



26   Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron
Harns Marsh. Lehigh Acres, Florida
January 2021


27   Tricolored Heron
Tricolored Heron
Buckingham, Lee County, Florida
January 2021




28   Reddish Heron



Reddish Egret
Fort DeSoto Park, St Petersburg, Florida
February 2021

29   Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vultures
Everglades National Park
January 2021

30   Osprey


Osprey
Pelican Blvd - Cape Coral, Florida
February 2021




31   Pied-billed Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Babcock-Webb Wildlife Manage Area, Charlotte County, Florida
January 2021


32   Ruby-throated Hummingbird

33   Cooper's Hawk

34   Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker dining on Dahoon Holly berries
Six-mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Fort Myers, Florida
January 2021


35   Loggerhead Shrike

Loggerhead Shrike
Lakes Park, Fort Myers, Florida
January 2021


36   Blue Jay




37   Blue-grey Gnatcatcher


38   Northern Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird
Lakes Park, Fort Myers, Florida
January 2021


39   Boat-tailed Grackle
Female Boat-tailed Grackle
Harns Marsh, Lehigh Acres, Florida
January 2021


40   Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Rotary Par, Cape Coral, Florida
October 2021



41   Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pembroke Pines Florida
January 2021


42   Anhinga
Anhinga
Lakes Park - Fort Myers, Florida
February 2021


Anhinga
Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Wellington, Florida
February 2021


43   Carolina Wren




44   European Starling
European Starling
My Yard, Florida


45   Red-bellied Woodpecker




46   Common Grackle




47   Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove
Fort DeSoto Park, St Petersburg, Florida
February 2021



48   Monk Parakeet



49   American Kestrel
American Kestrel
Hendry County, Florida
March 2021







50   Muscovy Duck
Muscovy Duck
Lee County, Florida
January 2021


51   Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret
Harns Marsh, Leigh Acres, Florida
January 2021

Cattle Egret riding on the back of a steer
Hendry County, Florida
February 2021


52   Rock Pigeon




53   Blue-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
Lake Apopka, Florida
January 2021


54   American Coot


55   American Crow
American Crow
Everglades National Park
January 2021


56   Florida Sandhill Crane


        Mississippi Sandhill Crane
Mississippi Sandhill Crane - Rarest sub-species of Sandhill Crane
Vancleave, Mississippi
May 2021

      Greater Sandhill Crane
Greater Sandhill Crane
Necedah NWR  Wisconsin
June 2021

57   Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Alva, Florida
February 2021



58   Tree Swallows

59   Common Gallinule

Common Gallinule aka Mud Hen
Harns Marsh, Lehigh Acres, Florida
January 



60   Gray-headed Swamphen
Gray-headed Swamphen
Harns Marsh - Lehigh Acres, Florida


61   Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Rotary Park - Cape Coral, Florida
November 2021




62   Gray Catbird
Gray Catbird
Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve - Lee County, Florida
October 2021

Gray Catbird
Lucky Hammock, Florida City, Florida
January 2021


63   Belted Kingfisher


64   Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Phoebe
Festival Park, Cape Coral, Florida
January 2021


65   Common Ground-dove
Common Ground-dove
Lee County, Florida
January 2021


66   Eurasian Collared-dove


67   Common Myna
Common Mynah
Florida City, Florida


68   House Sparrow
House Sparrow
Sem-Chi Rice Mill, Palm Beach County, Florida
March 2021


69   Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Glades County, Florida
March 2021




70   White-crowned Pigeon
White-Crowned Pigeon
Key West, Florida - May 2021


71   Magnificent Frigatebird
Magnificent Frigatebird
Dry Tortugas National Park - May 2021


72   Purple Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
Harry Harris Park, Tavernier, Florida
January 2021


73   Cuban Pewee
Cuban Pewee
Blue Hole - National Key Deer Refuge, Big Pine Key, Florida
January 2021


74   Great Crested Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Blue Hole - National Key Deer Refuge,  Big Pine Key, Florida
January 2021


75   American Redstart


76   Northern Parula


77   American Flamingo
American Flamingo
Sammy's Creek Landing, Sugarloaf Key, Florida
January 2021


78   Broad-winged Hawk

79   Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Rotary Park - Cape Coral, Florida
October 2021



Pileated Woodpecker
Sanibel Lighthouse, Florida
March 2021


80   Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal
Harns Marsh, Lehigh Acres, Florida
February 2021


81   Limpkin
Limpkin
Lake Apopka, Florida
January 2021




82   Glossy Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Lake Apopka, Florida
January 2021




83   Northern Harrier


84   Brown-crested Flycatcher

85   Brown Thrasher
Brown Thrasher
Lucky Hammock, Florida City, Florida
January 2021


86   Scaly breasted Munia

87   Swamp Sparrow



88   Eastern Meadowlark








89   Brown-headed Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
My Yard
February 2021

Brown-headed Cowbird
Sem-Chi Rice Mill, Palm Beach County
March 2021




90   Painted Bunting
A female Painted Bunting
at the visitor center bird feeders at the Merritt Island WMR
January 2021






91   Purple Martin




92   Short-tailed Hawk


93   Indian Peafowl


94   Wood Duck
Wood Duck
Six-Mile Cypress Slough Preserve - Ft Myers, Florida
October 2021


95   Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve - Ft Myers
November 2021


96   Common Yellowthroat

97   American Goldfinch

98   Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse
Six-mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Fort Myers, Florida
November 2021



99   Indigo Bunting
Indigo Bunting
Mayaca Locks, Okeechobee, Florida
February 2021


100 Scissor-tailed flycatchers









101 Audubon's Crested Caracara
Audubon's Crested Caracara
Okeechobee, Florida
February 2021


102 Black-crowned Night-heron
Black-Crowned Night-Heron
Six-Mile Cypress Slough Preserve - May 2021




103 White-winged Dove


104  Nanday Parakeet

105 Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill
Myakka River State Park, Florida
January 2021


106 Black-and-White Warbler

Black-and White Warbler
Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve, Lee County, Florida
October 2021




107 Eastern Towhee


108 House Wren
House Wren
Babcock-Webb WMA - Charlotte County, Florida
March 2021


109 Northern Flicker

110 Red-cockaded Woodpecker



111 Killdeer
Killdeer
Fort Myers Beach, Florida
March 2021





112 Purple Gallinule
Purple Gallinule
Babcock-Webb WMA, Charlotte County, Florida
January 2021


113 Bald Eagle
Bald Eagles
Pine Island, Lee County, Florida
April 2021

Bald Eagle
Festival Park, Cape Coral, Florida
January 2021


114 Groove-billed Ani
Grove-billed Ani
Festival Park, Cape Coral, Florida
January 2021


Grove-billed Ani
Festival Park, Cape Coral, Florida
January 2021


115 American Robin
American Robin
St Marks NWR, Florida
January 2021


116 Black Skimmer
Black Skimmer
Fort Myers Beach, Florida
February 2021


117 Forster's Tern
Foster's Tern
Port Mayaca Lock, Okeechobee County, Florida
February 2021

118 Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
January 2021


119 Lesser Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Ollies Pond, Port Charlotte, Florida 

Lesser Yellowlegs
Ollies Pond, Port Charlotte, Florida 



120 Greater Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Buckingham, Lee County, Florida
January 2021



121 Long-billed Dowitcher


122 Black-necked Stilt
Black-necked Stilt
Myakka River State Park, Florida
January 2021


123 Solitary Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Buckingham, Lee County, Florida
January 2021


124 Wilson's Snipe
Wilson's Snipe
Buckingham, Lee County, Florida
January 2021




125 Wild Turkey

126 Green Heron
Green Heron
Lake Apopka, Florida
January 2021


127 Ruddy Duck
Ruddy Duck
Lake Apopka, Florida
January 2021


128 Lesser Scaup

129 Ring-necked Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Lake Apopka, Florida
January 2021


130 Green-winged Teal

131 Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler
Lake Apopka, Florida
January 2021


132 Fulvous Whistling Duck
Fulvous Whistling-duck
Lake Apopka, Florida
January 2021

Fulvous Whistling-duck
Lake Apopka, Florida
January 2021

133 Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling-duck
Lake Apopka, Florida
January 2021




134 Willet


135 Western Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
March 2021


136 Hooded Merganser
Juvenile Hooded Mergansers
Adams County, Wisconsin
June 2021


137 Redhead
Redhead
St Marks NWR, Florida - January 2021

Redhead
St Marks NWR, Florida - January 2021

Redhead
St Marks NWR, Florida - January 2021


138 Burrowing Owl
Burrowing Owl
Festival Park, Cape Coral, Florida
January 2021


139 Florida Scrub Jay
Florida Scrub Jay
Festival Park, Cape Coral, Florida
January 2021


140 Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Babcock-Webb WMA, Charlotte County, Florida
May 2021

141 Yellowthroat Warbler

142 Red-tailed Hawk


143 Western Kingbird

Western Kingbird
Church Road, Felda, Florida
April 2021


144 Herring Gull
Herring Gull
Fort DeSoto Park, St Petersburg, Florida
February 2021




145 Red-breasted Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas County, Florida
January 2021


146 Bufflehead
Bufflehead at Sweetwater Wetlands
Gainesville, Florida
January 2021

147 Wilson's Plover
Wilson's Plover
Fort Myers Beach, Florida
January 2021


148 Common Loon
Common Loon
Lovers Key State Park, Florida
February 2021

149 Whimbrel
Whimbrel
Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas County, Florida
January 2021

150 Semipalmated Plover


151 Rusty Blackbird

152 Merlin

153 Sora
Sora
St Marks NWR - Wakulla County, Florida
January 2021

Sora
STA-1W, Palm Beach County, Florida
April 2021



154 Eastern Bluebird

155 Orange-crowned Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Tallahassee, Florida
January 2021


156 Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow
St Marks NWR - Wakulla County, Florida
January 2021


157 Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Sweetwater Wetlands, Gainesville, Florida
April 2021


158 Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Rotary Park, Cape Coral, Florida
April 2021

Cedar Waxwing
My Yard, Florida
March 2021


159 Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Babcock-Webb WMA, Charlotte County, Florida
April 2021

Brown-headed Nuthatch
Babcock-Webb WMA, Charlotte County, Florida
April 2021


160 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
St Marks NWR - Wakulla County, Florida
January 2021


161 Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Chickadee
St Marks NWR - Wakulla County, Florida
January 2021


162 Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Ding Darling NWR, Sanibel Island, Florida
January 2021

163 Bonaparte's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
St Marks NWR - Wakulla County, Florida
January 2021


164 American Avocet
Avocet
Bunche Beach, Fort Myers, Florida
March 2021


165 Clapper Rail

166 Common Goldeneye

167 Greater Scaup
Greater Scaup
St Marks NWR - Wakulla County, Florida
January 2021


168 Canvasback
Canvasback
St Marks NWR - Wakulla County, Florida
January 2021


169 Northern Pintail

170 American Black Duck

171 Mallard

172 American Wigeon
American Wigeon
St Marks NWR - Wakulla County, Florida
January 2021


173 Gadwall

174 Canada Goose
Canada Goose
Tallahassee, Florida
January 2021


175 White-Crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Tallahassee, Florida
January 2021


176 Chipping Sparrow

177 Snail Kite

178 Whooping Crane

179 Ash-throated Flycatcher


180 Blue-headed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Rotary Park - cape coral, Florida
November 2021


181 Cave Swallow

182 White-tailed Kite
White-tailed Kite
Lucky Hammock, Florida City
January 2021


183 Barn Owl


184 White-eyed Vireo


185 Swainson's Hawk

186 Bronzed Cowbird



187 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Fort Myers Beach, Florida
February 2021


188 King Rail

189 Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Port Mayaca Locks, Okeechobee, Florida
February 2021

190 Red Knot
Red Knot
Bunche Beach. Lee County, Florida
April 2021


191 Northern Bobwhite


192 Cinnamon Teal

193 Least Bittern
Least Bittern seen beside the boardwalk
Lakes Park, Fort Myers, Florida
2021

194 Great Horned Owl
Great Horn Owlets about a week old
Fort DeSoto Park, Pinellas County, Florida
February 2021

195 Northern Gannet

196 Marbled Godwit


197 American Oystercatcher

American Oystercatchers
Fort DeSoto Park, Pinellas County, Florida
February 2021


198 Black Scoter
Black Scoter
Fort DeSoto Park, Pinellas County, Florida
February 2021

199  Neotropic Cormorant
Neotropic Cormorant
Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, Florida
February 2021

200 Prairie Warbler


201 Bachman's Sparrow

202 Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Ding Darling NWR, Sanibel Island, Florida
March 2021


203 Iceland Gull
Iceland Gull
Fort Myers Beach, Florida
February 2021

204 House Finch

205 Swallow-tailed Kite




206 Black-throated Green Warbler

207 Eastern Screech-Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl
Sanibel Lighthouse, Florida
March 2021


208 Gull-billed Tern


209 Blue Grosbeak

210 Shiny Cowbird
Female Shiny Cowbird
Sem-Chi Rice Mill, Palm Beach County, Florida
March 2021

Male Shiny Cowbird
Sem-Chi Rice Mill, Palm Beach County, Florida
March 2021


211 Yellow-throated Vireo

212 Barred Owl


213 Wood Thrush

214 Chuck-will's-Widow

215 Western Spindalis
Western Spindalis
Pelican Island NWR - Florida
March 2021


216 Barn Swallow

217 Yellow-headed Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird
At the Sem-Chi Rice Mill, Palm Beach County, Florida
April 2021

218 Helmeted Guineafowl

219 Marsh Wren

220 Chimney Swift

221 Northern Waterthrush


222 Semipalmated Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Bunche Beach, Lee County, Florida
April 2021


223 Gray Kingbird
Gray Kingbird
Fort Myers Beach - September 2021


224 Orchard Oriole 

225 Cape May Warbler
First year Female Cape May Warbler
Rotary Park, Cape Coral, Florida
April 2021


226 Summer Tanager

227 Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Rotary Park, Cape Coral, Florida
April 2021


228 Rose-breasted Grosbeak

229 Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Ft Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park
May 2021

Hooded Warbler
Pinecraft Park, Sarasota, Florida
April 2021


230 Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Pinecraft Park, Sarasota, Florida
April 2021



231 Prothonotary Warbler

232 Red-eyed Vireo

233 Least Tern


234 Common Nighthawk


235 Yellow-billed Cuckoo

236 Bahama Mockingbird
Bahama Mockingbird
Spanish River Park, Boca Raton, Florida
April 2021


237 Mangrove Cuckoo

238 Gray-cheeked Thrush

239 Magnolia Warbler



240 Bobolink

241 Bank Swallow

242 Black-whiskered Vireo

243 Blackpoll Warbler
Female Blackpoll Warbler bathing
at Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park


244 Roseate Tern

245 Antillean Nighthawk

246 Audubon's Shearwater

247 Masked Booby

248 Veery

249 Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird
Babcock-Webb WMA, Charlotte County, Florida
June 2021


250 Bridled Tern
A pair of Bridal Terns
at Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park


251 Sooty Tern
Sooty Terns
at Nesting Colony at Dry Tortugas National Park


252 Black Noddy

253 Brown Noddy
Brown Noddies
at Nesting Colony at Dry Tortugas National Park


254 Common Hill Myna
Common Hill Myna nesting at
Nesting at Mathesson Hammock Park
Coral Gables, Florida
May 2021

Common Hill Myna nesting at
Nesting at Mathesson Hammock Park
Coral Gables, Florida
May 2021


255 Red-masked Parakeet
Red-masked Parakeet
Nesting at Mathesson Hammock Park
Coral Gables, Florida
May 2021


256 Orange-winged Parrot
Orange-wing Parrot
Nesting at Mathesson Hammock Park
Coral Gables, Florida
May 2021


257 Egyptian Goose

258 White-rumped Sandpiper

259 Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Rotary Park, Cape Coral, Florida
October, 2021


260 Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
Roche-A-Cri State Park, Wisconsin
June 2021


261 Field Sparrow 

262 Brown Creeper

263 White-breasted Nuthatch 

264 Brewer's Blackbird

265 Dickcissel





266 Yellow Warbler 

267 Baltimore Oriole

268 Cliff Swallow 

269 Warbling Vireo 

270 Trumpeter Swan


271 Virginia Rail

272 Yellow-green Vireo

273 Budgerigar

274 Pectoral Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Everglades Ag Area, Palm Beach County
August 2021




275 Stilt Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Everglades Ag Area, Palm Beach County
August 2021


276 Black Tern
Black Tern
Everglades Ag Area, Palm Beach County
August 2021


277 Wilson's Phalarope
Wilson's Phalarope
Everglades Ag Area, Palm Beach County
August 2021


278 Upland Sandpiper

279 Sharp-shinned Hawk

280 Ovenbird

281 Blackburnian Warbler

282 Chestnut-sided Warbler

283 Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Rotary Park - Cape Coral, Florida
October 2021


284 Great Shearwater

285 Red-Necked Phalarope

286 Tennessee Warbler

287 Common Tern
Large Congregation of Common Terns
Gulf of Mexico off Fort Myers Beach, Florida
October 9, 2021

Common Tern
Bonita Beach, Florida
November 2021


288 Sabine's Gull

289 Cory's Shearwater

290 Swainson's Thrush

291 Bay-breasted Warbler

292 Yellow-breasted Chat

293 American Bittern

294 Great Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, Florida
November 2021


295 Snow Goose
Snow Goose
West Marsh Preserve - Lehigh Acres, Florida
November 2021

296 Tropical Kingbird

Tropical Kingbird
Belle Glade, Florida
December 2021

297 Vermilion Flycatcher

Vermilion Flycatcher
Belle Glade, Florida
December 2021





 298 Grasshopper Sparrow

299 Horned Grebe

300 
































Monday, December 27, 2021

The Day of the Raptor

 Sunday, December 26th

Belted Kingfisher

In the quest for some final year birds went out to chase a Cassin's kingbird found in Holey Land WMA in Palm Beach County on Christmas Eve. Tried to access the location by driving south along the Miami Canal from US 27.  Seemed to be the most direct route when traveling from the Gulf Coast. But it is not.  Encountered closed roads and detours but did arrive just yards from the location only to be blocked by a water management project that had removed a bridge. 

Barn Owl

Okay so I doubled back to try to access the property from another direction.  Planned to go east along Bolles Canal but encountered a locked gate on this road adjacent to a pumping station. Have access this road many times over the years and hadn't ever seen it closed before. Elected to head home from here.

But before leaving I did take a look for any Barn Owls at the pumping station and did find an owl. This was actually a nice addition to todays. Because I had already encountered a number of interesting raptors while driving around the cane fields.

There were many dozens of American Kestrels present. Added a couple Peregrine Falcons, a couple of Caracaras, several Red-tailed Hawks and Northern Harriers. White-tailed Kites were working the fields, observed a lone Swainson's Hawk. saw a couple of Bald Eagles, several Ospreys and at least one Short-tailed Hawk. Turkey and Black Vultures round out the raptors seen today. Hundreds of Tree Swallows and a single Northern Rough-winged Swallow, plus Belted Kingfishers, Grackles, Cormorants, Anhingas, Wading Birds, Meadowlarks, Phoebes, Palm warblers and Common Yellowthroats were seen too.


Eastern Meadowlark seen along the Miami Canal

Northern Harrier seen along the Miami Canal

Bald Eagle seen on Blumberg Road

Peregrine Falcon seen on Rogers Road

Fort De Soto Park

 Friday December 24th


Red Knot

As a Lister,
I set a goal every year, as to how many species I can locate and more importantly get that photo of. My 2021 goal is 300 species of birds. Should have easily reach my goal earlier this if not for the numbers of birds I have dipped on or hadn't worked hard enough. Some of the awesome sightings I had seen this year included Whooping Cranes in Florida and Wisconsin, Trumpeter Swans in Wisconsin and Illinois, the Iceland Gull that showed up on Fort Myers Beach, Yellow-Green Vireo at Biscayne Bay National Park, a lifer Brown Creeper in Wisconsin, Brown and Black Noddies at Dry Tortugas National Park, a Lifer Sabines Gull out in the Gulf of Mexico thanks to Dave McQuade and Edwin Wilke and a Grove-bill Ani in Cape Coral Florida to name a few. 

Tagged Piping Plover 


What have I dipped or slipped up on chasing? Dipped on the lapwing longspur that spent few days at the Venice Airport, winter wrens or golden-crowned kinglets in the panhandle, hermit thrushes, vesper sparrow, least grebe in Miami, whip-poor-will, spot-breasted oriole, American golden plover, gray-tailed tattler in the Keys, Mississippi kite, Rose-ringed parakeet, Acadian flycatcher and Red-legged thrush that was at Key West to name a few

So, with running out days on the calendar I elected to head up to Fort De Soto for the potential of seeing the last two species needed to reach my goal. Targets were horned grebe and the American golden plover reported there. Missed on seeing the plover, which was photographed in the park today.  But added three Horned Grebes. 


With the removal of the Australian Pines, the character of North Beach has really changed, Miss all the shade. But it seems that their removal may have improved habitat for shore birds. Counted at least 15 Piping Plovers, 6 Snowy Plovers and several Black-bellied Plovers, Red Knots, Sanderling, Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Dunlins and a Wilson's Plover. Other species encountered included Common Loons, Red-breasted Mergansers, Brown and White Pelicans, Laughing, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls, Forsters Terns, Kestrels and Nanday Parakeets.
Herring Gull

Christmas Count

 Monday December 20th



Joined with Vince McGrath and Toni Sutton
 on Monday the 20th for the annual Audubon Christmas Count. Due to conflicts with my work schedule, I had never participated in the count in the past. No excuse now that I've retired. So, meet up with Vince and Toni at 7 am at Lakes Regional Park in Fort Myers to start the day. 

Arrived at Lakes Park as large clouds of birds - Fish Crows, White Ibis, Boat-tailed Grackles, Glossy Ibis, Cormorants and Snowy Egrets were leaving their roosts to start a new day.  Other good finds included King Rail, Northern Waterthrush, Summer Tanager, A Sharp-shinned Hawk, Limpkins, Least Bittern, a Great Blue Heron gathering nesting material, a momma Mourning Dove feeding a pair of begging juveniles and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Dipped on a sora, hummingbirds and Great Horned Owl.



From Lakes Park we explored Vince's assigned territory stopping at various locations and venues in the area. we were able to add Blue-winged Teal, Spotted Sandpiper, nesting Bald Eagles, Anhingas, Ring-billed Gull, Brown Pelicans, Eurasian Collared-Doves, Coots, Red-tailed Hawk, Ospreys, Gnatcatchers, Loggerhead Shrikes, Muscovy Ducks, Red-shouldered Hawks, House Finches, House Sparrows, Common Gallinule, Tufted Titmouse, Gray Catbirds and a Black-and-White Warbler.

I believe we scored 65 species which Vince lamented on this as a low number. He focused on how the residential development of the area has affected the numbers and varieties of birds.

The Summary created by Toni Sutton

eBird Checklist Summary for: Dec 20, 2021


Number of Checklists: 18
Number of Taxa: 65

Checklists included in this summary:
(1): Lakes Park
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 7:13 AM
(2): 15290 Bass Rd, Fort Myers US-FL (26.5221, -81.9120)
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 9:34 AM
(3): 14943–14973 A and W Bulb Rd, Fort Myers US-FL (26.5245, -81.9196)
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 9:50 AM
(4): 10032 Forest River Ln, Fort Myers US-FL 26.53282, -81.92023
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 10:08 AM
(5): 14245–14259 A And W Bulb Rd, Fort Myers US-FL 26.53733, -81.91991
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 10:13 AM
(6): McGregor Pointe Shopping Center, Fort Myers US-FL 26.52047, -81.93945
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 10:24 AM
(7): Ruttenberg Park
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 10:39 AM
(8): 8932 Banyan Cove Cir, Fort Myers US-FL 26.56811, -81.90129
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 11:31 AM
(9): Edwards Kontinos Dr, Fort Myers US-FL 26.59544, -81.89017
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 11:48 AM
(10): 1470 Royal Palm Square Blvd, Fort Myers US-FL (26.5937, -81.8869)
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 11:56 AM
(11): 4785 Barkley Cir, Fort Myers US-FL (26.5914, -81.8812)
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 12:09 PM
(12): 5652–5666 Sunrise Dr, Fort Myers US-FL 26.58596, -81.88513
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 12:28 PM
(13): 5298 Cedarbend Dr, Fort Myers US-FL 26.58140, -81.88108
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 12:58 PM
(14): Auto selected 26.57837, -81.88160
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 1:01 PM
(15): 5249 Summerlin Commons Blvd, Fort Myers US-FL 26.57850, -81.87901
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 1:03 PM
(16): Florida Southwestern State College - Lee Campus, Fort Myers US-FL 26.55404, -81.88901
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 1:13 PM
(17): US-Florida-Fort Myers-13250 University Center Boulevard - 26.548x-81.885
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 1:41 PM
(18): Lakes Park - US-Florida-Fort Myers 
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 2:23 PM

18 Muscovy Duck (Established Feral) -- (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (15), (16)
8 Blue-winged Teal -- (8)
1 Mottled Duck -- (1)
30 Mallard x Mottled Duck (hybrid) -- (1), (8), (11), (15), (16)
2 Pied-billed Grebe -- (1)
1 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) -- (17)
4 Eurasian Collared-Dove -- (1), (3)
2 Common Ground Dove -- (1)
24 Mourning Dove -- (1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (17)
1 King Rail -- (1)
22 Common Gallinule -- (1), (10), (11), (18)
8 American Coot -- (1)
4 Limpkin -- (1)
1 Spotted Sandpiper -- (11)
1 Laughing Gull -- (18)
3 Ring-billed Gull -- (1)
1 Wood Stork -- (1)
20 Anhinga -- (1), (6), (9)
52 Double-crested Cormorant -- (1), (6), (9), (10), (11)
4 Brown Pelican -- (1)
1 Least Bittern -- (1)
12 Great Blue Heron -- (1)
8 Great Egret -- (1), (4), (7), (10), (16)
21 Snowy Egret -- (1), (16)
2 Little Blue Heron -- (1),(16)
10 Tricolored Heron -- (1), (7), (11)
5 Cattle Egret -- (6), (7)
1 Green Heron -- (1)
562 White Ibis -- (1), (7), (11), (17)
46 Glossy Ibis -- (1)
12 Black Vulture -- (3),(18)
10 Turkey Vulture -- (2), (3), (8)
9 Osprey -- (6), (7), (13), (16), (18)
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk -- (1)
2 Bald Eagle -- (3),(18)
2 Red-shouldered Hawk -- (3), (11)
1 Belted Kingfisher -- (16)
2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -- (1), (12)
9 Red-bellied Woodpecker -- (1), (3), (18)
5 Downy Woodpecker -- (1), (11), (16), (18)
2 Pileated Woodpecker -- (3), (5)
4 Eastern Phoebe -- (1), (12)
1 Blue-headed Vireo -- (1)
6 Loggerhead Shrike -- (1), (6), (7), (12)
12 Blue Jay -- (1),(2),(3),(8)
214 Fish Crow -- (1), (5), (7)
1 Tufted Titmouse -- (18)
42 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher -- (1), (3), (7), (10), (12), (18)
1 House Wren -- (1)
148 European Starling -- (1), (5), (6), (7), (15), (16), (17)
8 Gray Catbird -- (1),(4),(18)
7 Northern Mockingbird -- (1), (7), (11), (16)
6 House Sparrow -- (17)
2 House Finch -- (16)
75 Common Grackle -- (1)
152 Boat-tailed Grackle -- (1), (2)
1 Northern Waterthrush -- (1)
1 Black-and-white Warbler -- (18)
3 Common Yellowthroat -- (1)
48 Palm Warbler -- (1), (2), (5), (7), (12), (16)
12 Pine Warbler -- (18)
15 Yellow-rumped Warbler -- (1), (2), (8)
2 Yellow-throated Warbler -- (1), (7)
1 Summer Tanager -- (1)
10 Northern Cardinal -- (1), (18)

This trip summary was created using the eBird app for iPhone and iPad.
See eBird for more information.

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Some Recently Seen Birds

 Wednesday November 24th

Some of the birds spotted around Lee County this month.

Loggerhead Shrike
Seen at Harns Marsh - Lehigh Acres, Florida

Florida Scrub Jay
Lehigh Acres, Florida

Tufted Titmouse
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Blue-headed Vireo
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Black-and-White Warbler
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Pine Warbler
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Downy Woodpecker
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Pine Warbler
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Tufted Titmouse
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve


Thursday, November 18, 2021

 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



Monday, November 15, 2021

Walked Carlos Point

 Monday November 15th

Appears to be a problem for someone


Walked Carlos Point beach, At the south point of Estero Island. Large numbers of shorebirds were present, mostly nestling in the sand on this cool morning. 


A lone Marbled Godwit on the beach

Came across a resting flock of American Oystercatchers.  Counted 35 birds and looked for any wearing leg bands. Noted two - CA2 and HM - were birds I had photographed back on December 28, 2019, on the same beach.





Other birds included a large number of Semipalmated Plovers, Black-bellied Plovers, Sanderlings, Willets, Snowy Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, Wilson's Plovers, Dunlins and a few Laughing Gulls, Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, a couple of Forster's Terns and my FOS Ring-billed Gulls.

Several flotillas of American White Pelicans passed  overhead.  Well over a hundred pelicans were seen.

Snowy Plover

Snowy Plover

Snowy Plover

Dunlin

Least Sandpiper

Sanderling