Exotics in Miami

Wednesday May 1st

Loggerhead Key

The Florida Keys is such a unique place. A string of sandy, lime-rock islands stretching over a hundred miles, from Key Largo to Key West and beyond to the Dry Tortugas. People come to the Keys from all over the World.  To fish the waters, to dive on the reefs, to enjoy the beaches and to Party. Many of us come on down here to Bird the Keys. 

Tomorrow I'm taking the ferry from Key West out to the Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas National park for some birding. Today was spent time looking for interesting birds in Miami.  Especially the exotics. 

Red-Whiskered Bulbuls

Checked on a number of venues. Mathessen Hammock Park, A B Barnes Park, Kendall Baptist Hospital, Snapper Creek Canal, Pine Woods Park.  For the most part, I didn't see too much today.  Never even heard a parrot, dipped on spot-breasted orioles, but did  find the Red-Whiskered Bulbuls  and Cedar Waxwings at Pine Wood Park. 

A male Rainbow Agama at Mathessen Hammock Park

A female Rainbow Agama

Curly-tailed Lizards are native to the Bahamas and West Indies

 Exotic reptiles are a problem in Florida. We have heard able the Burmese Pythons and Monitor Lizards, but we have lots of other exotics.  My home, for example, has been a host to Cuban Brown Anoles, House Geicos, Brahminy Blind Snakes and Greenhouse Frogs.  Haven't seen any Cane Toads around here yet, but have experienced them most everywhere we have lived in South Florida. So we have a great many exotics gaining  a foot hold. Iguanas are everywhere and on this trip I noticed Curly-tailed Lizards all through the Keys. And the African Rainbow Agamas are easily seen at Mathessen Hammock Park in Coral Gables.

A huge Green Iguana at Matheson Hammock Park