Tuesday March 1st
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Scissor-tailed Flycatcher near Lucky Hammock |
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| Western Kingbird near Lucky Hammock |
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| 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
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| Yellow Chevroned Parakeet seen at Castellow Hammock Park |
I wish I had a pic of that oriole, Tom. It was a fun trip. Not to be made in one day again for sure. Your photography has greatly improved in enhancing your blog. I'm not sure the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet was the bird seen at Miami U. I think the species may have been a lifer for me at Castellow Hammock Park. Don't forget to figure out how the video feature works.
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