Had been aware that a Mountain Bluebird had taken up a winter residence on Trilby Road in Pasco County. Its very unusual for this species to be found in Florida. It's normally a western bird that winters a thousand miles away in southwestern United States and Mexico.
 |
Mountain Bluebird
Trilby Road, Pasco Road
March 2020
|
So today, I used the well documented stack of information on ebird and was able to travel right up to the bluebird. Nice.. Other sightings in the vicinity included a pair of Burring Owls at rest on the fence line, plus American Kestrel, Eastern Meadowlarks, Northern Harriers, and Tree Swallows.
About four years ago, we did have a mountain bluebird, visit the Big Cypress National Preserve's Oasis Visitor Center, near the Everglades.
 |
Mountain Bluebird
Big cypress National Preserve - Ochopee. Florida
November 2015
|
Another site to check out in Pasco County is Auton Road near Dade City. It can be good sparrows. Found several Vesper and Savannah Sparrows today.
 |
| Vesper Sparrow |
Earlier, on the drive up from Fort Myers, made a quick stop at the Celery Fields and Ackerman Park in Sarasota.
Added Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Common Gallinule, Purple Gallinule, Purple Martins, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Nanday Parakeets
 |
| Purple Martins |
 |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler |
 |
| Nanday Parakeets |
 |
| Brown-headed Cowbirds |
Some Wildflowers seen along Trilby Road
 |
| Drummond's Phlox |
 |
| Wand Mullein |
 |
| Hastate-leaved Dock |