Bananaquit

 Sunday October 27th

Recently, a rarity has popped up in Roca Raton. A Bananaquit is currently present feeding on the flowers at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. They are nectivore feeders. This bird is probably a vagrant from the Bahamas

Very useful data was shared from the many birders who had already posted their photos on eBird. Basically, to stack-out the butterfly garden. Yesterday I arrived at 8:30 in the morning and waited. Waited almost four hours when the bananaquit arrived at 12:22 to feed on the fire spike flowers. There was a dozen of us present, waiting to capture that great photograph of a very interesting bird. Its arrival was very satisfying. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Mangrove Skipper

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Rotary Park

 Sunday October 20th

Coming to the end of the fall migration season.  I headed over to Rotatory Park in Cape Coral to see what's up. Here, Eary Warren was kind enough put me on the location to spot Mangrove Cuckoos and it was a success with an individual seen within a few feet.  Nice!!

Mangrove Cuckoo

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Other migrants seen today included Ovenbird, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, American Redstarts, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Rose-breasted Grossbeak, Indigo Buntings and Scarlet Tanager

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Ovenbird

Scarlet Tanager

Monarch Butterfly

California Towhee

 Sunday October 6th 

Had recently made a short trip out to Ventura, California and birded the Ventura Harbor and Lake Los Carneros Park near Santa Barabara.

Lake Los Carneros Park bird list

California Towhee

California Towhee

Black Phoebe

Mallards

Northern Shovelers

Ventura Harbor bird list   Ventura Harbor bird list

Western Gull

Western Grebe

California Sea Lion

Great Blue Heron

Purple Gallinule

 Monday September 16th 

Babcock-Webb bird list

Today is part of a four-day white-tail deer archery hunt at Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area in Charlotte County. Why go birding during a hunt, because the gates are unlocked. In the past year the property's management has closed the roads in the eastern half of the property. Probably to reduce the expense of maintaining of several miles of roads. During hunting season, the gates are opened for the hunters' access and to birders too.  For several years the gates had been left open allowing access to all motorized visitors. 

Sherman's fox Squirrell

The best birding of the day was enjoying a family of Purple Gallinules feeding right alongside of the road. Two adults and four very young chicks.

Pineland Chaffhead

Sandhill Crane

Common Myna

 Sunday September 15th

Spotted a pair of Common Mynas, hanging out at the McDonalds parking lot in Belle Glade, Florida

Bunche Beach

 Sunday September 6th

Bunche Beach bird list

A typical visit to Bunche Beach at a low tide.  The best time to bird here is at low tide. Especial early in the morning on a hot day.

Fish Crows

Black-bellied Plover

Reddish Egret

Reddish Egret

Semipalmated Plover

Piping Plover

Short-billed Dowitcher

Sanderling

Marbled Godwit

Ruddy Turnstone

Wilsons Plover

Willet