Fort DeSoto Park

 April 23rd

Nanday Parakeet

Spent the day looking for interesting birds at Fort DeSoto Park, which is located south of Tierra Verde in Tampa Bay. The park can be a great venue for birding during spring migration. So, a springtime visit is almost mandatory. 

eBird Checklist - 23 Apr 2023 - Fort De Soto Park - 54 species

Some of my better pics

Brown-headed Cowbird

Least Sandpiper

Cape May Warbler

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Swainson's Thrush

Willet

White Ibis

Swainson's Thrush

Ovenbird

Veery

Laughing Gull

April Birds and Such

 Saturday April 30th

Spring migration has been very weak this season.  Not much activity. Seems either the migrates took advantage of the winds to speed on past us or stayed further west as they crossed the Gulf of Mexico, coming ashore around East Texas / Louisiana. So, I've posted a few miscellaneous sightings of interesting fauna see this month.

Blue Jay

Possum Family

Mayan Cichlid

Tufted Titmouse

Gray-headed Swamphen

Northern Waterthrush

Rosette Spoonbill

Swallow-tailed Kite

Southern Black Racer

Island Glass Lizard

Baby Gator

Gray-headed Swamphen

Female Black-throated Blue Warbler

Mangrove Skipper

Northern Parula

Northern Parula

Palm Warbler

Eastern Kingbird

Northern Mockingbird

Bobolink

Female Black-and-White Warbler

Short-tailed Hawk

Gray Kingbird

Female Cape May Warbler

Black-necked Stilt

Snowy Plover

Northern Cardinal

Glossy Ibis

Little Blue Heron

Fish Crow

Tricolored Heron on the Nest

Juvenile Tricolored Heron

Juvenile Tricolored Heron

Bahama Mockingbird

 Sunday April 18th

Northern Curly-tailed Lizard

Today I made the five hour round trip from Fort Myers to Boca Raton to twitch after the Bahama Mockingbird hanging at at Spanish River Park. This rare visitor to Florida has been a nemesis species for me, as I had dipped on finding it on several occasions in the past. But this bird was seen in the exact tree as reported by several people. And was a Lifer. A few other sightings included Painted Buntings and Palm, Cape May, Northern Parula, Black-and-White and Prairie Warblers. Nice to spot Bank Anole and Northern Curly-tailed Lizards. Lots of butterflies too including Ruddy Daggerwing.

Bahama Mockingbird

Cape May Warbler

Spring Time

 Wednesday April 13th

Worm-eating Warbler
Pinecraft Park, Sarasota, Florida

Spring migration is getting started. A storm front came through on Monday which supported speculation that we'd have some local activity. Folks headed to our local spring migration hot-spot, The Sanibel Island Lighthouse, with high but unfulfilled expectations.

Scarlet Tanager
Rotary Park, Cape Coral, Florida

So on Tuesday we headed to Rotary Park in Cape Coral and had a better time. Some of the migrants on-hand included Cape May Warbler, Summer Tanagers, Scarlet Tanagers and Orchard Orioles. Some other migrants seen included Black-whiskered Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Ovenbirds and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Worm-eating Warbler
Pinecraft Park, Sarasota, Florida

Today, traveled to Sarasota to check the activity at Pinecraft Park. Reports on the activity, from yesterday were very encouraging. Today wasn't as busy though, but  had a few good birds including Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Red-eyed Vireo, Hooded Warblers, Worm-eating Warbler

Bobcat
Pinecraft Park, Sarasota, Florida

Cape May Warbler
Rotary Park, Cape Coral, Florida

Hooded Warbler
Pinecraft Park, Sarasota, Florida