Birding in September

Tuesday, October 2nd

Ovenbird

Ovenbird

The Birding this September along the boardwalk at Six-mile Cypress Slough Preserve has been quite rewarding. Were not seeing any great fall-outs, but there has been a steady movement of birds passing through. Acadian Flycatchers and Eastern Wood-Pewees are seen almost daily. But perhaps one those Black-billed Cuckoos or Yellow-bellied Flycatchers or a Philadelphia Vireo may yet stop by. They are unusual sightings along the Florida peninsula, but are being reported at migrant hotspot to our North.

One recently seen, but infrequent species to observe here were multiple sighting of  a couple of Canada Warblers. 

Baltimore Oriole
Photo courtesy of Tammy McQuaid

The earlier arriving species like Louisiana and Northern Waterthrushes have been passing through as have Ovenbirds, 

Black-and-White Warblers,

Yellow Warblers, 

Worm-eating Warblers, 

Summer Tanagers, 

Bobolinks, 

Yellow-throated Vireos, 

Red-eyed Vireos,

Yellow-billed Cuckoos, 

Hooded Warblers, 

Northern Parulas, 

Prairie Warbler, 

Yellow-throated Warblers and 

Prothonotary Warblers. 

The Prothonotary Warblers were seen in very good numbers in August, but have become uncommon lately. 

Louisiana Waterthrush

We're now enjoying sightings of Blackburnian Warblers, 

Tennessee Warblers, 

American Redstarts, 

Veery, 

Swainson's Thrush, 

Coopers Hawk, 

Baltimore Orioles, 

Blue-winged Warbler, 

Bay-breasted Warbler, 

Chestnut-sided Warbler, 

Black-throated Blue Warbler, 

Black-throated Green Warbler, 

Magnolia Warbler, 

Pine Warbler and Palm Warbler

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Eastern Wood Pewee

Canada Warbler

But perhaps one those Black-billed Cuckoos or Yellow-bellied Flycatchers or a Philadelphia Vireo may yet stop by. They are unusual sightings along the Florida peninsula, but are being reported at migrant hotspots to our North. 

American Redstart

This Bobolink was photographed at Harns Marsh,
but they can heard as they fly over Six-mile

Canada Warbler - Migration Continues

Monday September 24th



Canada Warbler seen at Six-Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Fort Myers
Photo courtesy of Dr Jose Padilla-Lopez

Fall migration continues here in Southwest Florida with more good birds continuing to passing through our area.

 

Several of us have been visiting the boardwalk at Six-Mile Cypress Slough Preserve looking for interesting birds. We usually do not expect the numbers seen at migrant traps in Tampa and Miami, but this season seems to be developing well.

 

In the past week or so this venue was hosted a nice variety of warblers with thrushes showing up recently. This morning, the numbers seemed way down, but I did manage Chestnut-sided and Cape May Warblers. Yesterday was outstanding with our group of birders including Vince McGrath, Dr Jose Padilla-Lopez, Walt Winton and myself, getting great looks at a Canada Warbler, which is an uncommon bird in Florida.  The birds seen included Hairy Woodpeckers, Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, Veery, Swainsen's Thrush, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Blackburnian Warbler,  Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Chimney Swifts, Tufted Titmice, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-shouldered Hawk and Carolina Wren.

 

Other birds seen earlier included Louisiana Waterthrush, Nashville Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Gray-cheeked Thrush and Baltimore Oriole. Hopefully we can enjoy additional snow birds passing through in the coming weeks.



Rufous Hummingbird
Photo courtesy of Dr Jose Padilla-Lopez
 

 



Rufous Hummingbird
Photo courtesy of Dr Jose Padilla-Lopez

Of note was a friend of ours has spotted a Rufous Hummingbird hanging out in his neighbors yard and several of us have been to see it. Personally, I dipped on it as I had to leave for work. But Dr Jose did get a couple of photos after a couple of long waits.

 

 

 

Today, Stan Ogle and Vince McGrath ventured out to the Everglades Ag fields and have reported finding three Buff-breasted Sandpipers

             

Canada Warbler at Six-Mile Cypress

Saturday October 1st

Female Canada Warbler - photo by Jose Padilla

Saturday I wanted to squeeze in some birding in the morning before going into work.  First checked out my patch along Domestic and Lee Streets in San Carlos Park to see if the burrowing owl are present. Seems that following the fledgling of the chicks the two families of owls that I have been watching  have moved to new digs elsewhere. As of this visit none are found.  Did have some Palm Warblers and a FOS American Kestrel, plus a few Mourning Doves, a couple of Loggerhead Shrikes including one with a dragonfly skewered on some barbed wire, some singing Eastern Meadowlarks and a juvie Red-shouldered Hawk.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Next onto Six-Mile Cypress Slough Preserve to look for migrants. Bird-wise things were actually slow. Ran into Stan Daman who had already done some birding, finding a couple of warblers.  As we were speaking we came up with a male American Redstart and a Northern Parula, plus Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, singing Carolina Wrens and Tufted Titmice. Later we ran into Jose Padilla at the far side of the boardwalk.  Still the birding was slow, but as we were talking a couple of warblers did show up.  The first was a Black-and-White Warbler and then to our surprise we were able to id the second bird as a female Canada Warbler,  The canada is not very common at all in Florida during migration as they generally travel down through Texas. So it was a welcome addition to my Life list As we were leaving we were to locate an Ovenbird near the pavilion.

Pileated Woodpecker at Six-Mile Cypress

Yellow Rat Snake explorering the boardwalk