Cuban Pewee

 Sunday November 22nd

White-crowned Pigeon seen on Key Largo

Today, I went on a twitch to see the Cuban Pewee on Big Pine Key.  This rare-to-Florida visitor, was located at Blue Hole in the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Pine Key. 

Common Myna seen in Florida City

For me, its a five hour drive from Fort Myers down into the Florida Keys. Made the trip into a two day overnighter, because I also wanted to explorer some of the unique floral communities found nowhere in the US but in the Keys. 

Did make a stop on Key Largo to look for interesting birds, flora and the endangered Florida Tree Snails

Moved on to Big Pine Key, which is just south of the famous seven mile bridge. Much of this Key is  a part of the National Key Deer Refuge. Key Deer are a diminutive and endangered subspecies of White Tail Deer totally endemic to the Keys. Blue Hole is a former rock quarry used to provide material in the construction of Henry Flagler's Railroad through the Keys. Its now the only freshwater lake in the Keys

A Key Deer seen near Blue Hole

As for the Cuban Pewee, it was easily located from the Blue Hole overlook, were it is drawing many interested observers. It would pose nicely for photographs. 

Cuban Pewee seen at Blue Hole

Gallery of Scenes from Key Largo and Blue Hole

Poisonwood at Key Largo
Look but don't touch

Everglades Velvetseed at Key Largo

Lancewood at Key Largo

Florida Tree Snail at Key Largo

Bahama Strongbark

Blackbead at Blue Hole

Everglades Greenbriar at Blue Hole

Coker's Creeper at Blue Hole

Smooth Devil's Claws seen at Blue Hole

Mangrovevine at Blue Hole

Goatweed at Blue Hole

Rough Velvetseed seen at Blue Hole

Florida Thatch Palm seen at Blue Hole

Key Thatch Palm seen at Blue Hole

Chapman's Wild Sensitive Plant 

Kestrel at Big Pine Key

Locustberry at Blue Hole