Christmas Count

 Monday December 20th

Joined with Vince McGrath and Toni Sutton on Monday the 20th for the annual Audubon Christmas Count. Due to conflicts with my work schedule, I had never participated in the count in the past. No excuse now that I've retired. So, meet up with Vince and Toni at 7 am at Lakes Regional Park in Fort Myers to start the day. 

Arrived at Lakes Park as large clouds of birds - Fish Crows, White Ibis, Boat-tailed Grackles, Glossy Ibis, Cormorants and Snowy Egrets were leaving their roosts to start a new day.  Other good finds included King Rail, Northern Waterthrush, Summer Tanager, A Sharp-shinned Hawk, Limpkins, Least Bittern, a Great Blue Heron gathering nesting material, a momma Mourning Dove feeding a pair of begging juveniles and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Dipped on a sora, hummingbirds and Great Horned Owl.

From Lakes Park we explored Vince's assigned territory stopping at various locations and venues in the area. we were able to add Blue-winged Teal, Spotted Sandpiper, nesting Bald Eagles, Anhingas, Ring-billed Gull, Brown Pelicans, Eurasian Collared-Doves, Coots, Red-tailed Hawk, Ospreys, Gnatcatchers, Loggerhead Shrikes, Muscovy Ducks, Red-shouldered Hawks, House Finches, House Sparrows, Common Gallinule, Tufted Titmouse, Gray Catbirds and a Black-and-White Warbler.

I believe we scored 65 species which Vince lamented on this as a low number. He focused on how the residential development of the area has affected the numbers and varieties of birds.

The Summary created by Toni Sutton

eBird Checklist Summary for: Dec 20, 2021

Number of Checklists: 18
Number of Taxa: 65

Checklists included in this summary:
(1): Lakes Park
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 7:13 AM
(2): 15290 Bass Rd, Fort Myers US-FL (26.5221, -81.9120)
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 9:34 AM
(3): 14943–14973 A and W Bulb Rd, Fort Myers US-FL (26.5245, -81.9196)
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 9:50 AM
(4): 10032 Forest River Ln, Fort Myers US-FL 26.53282, -81.92023
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 10:08 AM
(5): 14245–14259 A And W Bulb Rd, Fort Myers US-FL 26.53733, -81.91991
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 10:13 AM
(6): McGregor Pointe Shopping Center, Fort Myers US-FL 26.52047, -81.93945
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 10:24 AM
(7): Ruttenberg Park
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 10:39 AM
(8): 8932 Banyan Cove Cir, Fort Myers US-FL 26.56811, -81.90129
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 11:31 AM
(9): Edwards Kontinos Dr, Fort Myers US-FL 26.59544, -81.89017
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 11:48 AM
(10): 1470 Royal Palm Square Blvd, Fort Myers US-FL (26.5937, -81.8869)
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 11:56 AM
(11): 4785 Barkley Cir, Fort Myers US-FL (26.5914, -81.8812)
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 12:09 PM
(12): 5652–5666 Sunrise Dr, Fort Myers US-FL 26.58596, -81.88513
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 12:28 PM
(13): 5298 Cedarbend Dr, Fort Myers US-FL 26.58140, -81.88108
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 12:58 PM
(14): Auto selected 26.57837, -81.88160
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 1:01 PM
(15): 5249 Summerlin Commons Blvd, Fort Myers US-FL 26.57850, -81.87901
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 1:03 PM
(16): Florida Southwestern State College - Lee Campus, Fort Myers US-FL 26.55404, -81.88901
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 1:13 PM
(17): US-Florida-Fort Myers-13250 University Center Boulevard - 26.548x-81.885
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 1:41 PM
(18): Lakes Park - US-Florida-Fort Myers 
Date: Dec 20, 2021 at 2:23 PM

18 Muscovy Duck (Established Feral) -- (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (15), (16)
8 Blue-winged Teal -- (8)
1 Mottled Duck -- (1)
30 Mallard x Mottled Duck (hybrid) -- (1), (8), (11), (15), (16)
2 Pied-billed Grebe -- (1)
1 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) -- (17)
4 Eurasian Collared-Dove -- (1), (3)
2 Common Ground Dove -- (1)
24 Mourning Dove -- (1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (17)
1 King Rail -- (1)
22 Common Gallinule -- (1), (10), (11), (18)
8 American Coot -- (1)
4 Limpkin -- (1)
1 Spotted Sandpiper -- (11)
1 Laughing Gull -- (18)
3 Ring-billed Gull -- (1)
1 Wood Stork -- (1)
20 Anhinga -- (1), (6), (9)
52 Double-crested Cormorant -- (1), (6), (9), (10), (11)
4 Brown Pelican -- (1)
1 Least Bittern -- (1)
12 Great Blue Heron -- (1)
8 Great Egret -- (1), (4), (7), (10), (16)
21 Snowy Egret -- (1), (16)
2 Little Blue Heron -- (1),(16)
10 Tricolored Heron -- (1), (7), (11)
5 Cattle Egret -- (6), (7)
1 Green Heron -- (1)
562 White Ibis -- (1), (7), (11), (17)
46 Glossy Ibis -- (1)
12 Black Vulture -- (3),(18)
10 Turkey Vulture -- (2), (3), (8)
9 Osprey -- (6), (7), (13), (16), (18)
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk -- (1)
2 Bald Eagle -- (3),(18)
2 Red-shouldered Hawk -- (3), (11)
1 Belted Kingfisher -- (16)
2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -- (1), (12)
9 Red-bellied Woodpecker -- (1), (3), (18)
5 Downy Woodpecker -- (1), (11), (16), (18)
2 Pileated Woodpecker -- (3), (5)
4 Eastern Phoebe -- (1), (12)
1 Blue-headed Vireo -- (1)
6 Loggerhead Shrike -- (1), (6), (7), (12)
12 Blue Jay -- (1),(2),(3),(8)
214 Fish Crow -- (1), (5), (7)
1 Tufted Titmouse -- (18)
42 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher -- (1), (3), (7), (10), (12), (18)
1 House Wren -- (1)
148 European Starling -- (1), (5), (6), (7), (15), (16), (17)
8 Gray Catbird -- (1),(4),(18)
7 Northern Mockingbird -- (1), (7), (11), (16)
6 House Sparrow -- (17)
2 House Finch -- (16)
75 Common Grackle -- (1)
152 Boat-tailed Grackle -- (1), (2)
1 Northern Waterthrush -- (1)
1 Black-and-white Warbler -- (18)
3 Common Yellowthroat -- (1)
48 Palm Warbler -- (1), (2), (5), (7), (12), (16)
12 Pine Warbler -- (18)
15 Yellow-rumped Warbler -- (1), (2), (8)
2 Yellow-throated Warbler -- (1), (7)
1 Summer Tanager -- (1)
10 Northern Cardinal -- (1), (18)

This trip summary was created using the eBird app for iPhone and iPad.
See eBird for more information.

Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve in Grayslake, Illinois

 Tuesday, July 20th

Trumpeter Swans at Rollins Savanna

On my recent visit with family in Illinois, I spent some of my time birding and doing some nature photography. Always enjoy spending time at Rollins Savanna which is a considered to be an outstanding  birding location.

The popular trails circle the oak savannas and wetlands at this preserve. Lots of joggers, walkers, bicycle riders, dog walkers and nature lovers. lots of birds and wildflowers too.

Great Blue Heron

Canada Geese

Meadow Anemone

BIRD LIST - Canada Geese, Tundra Swans, Blue-winged Teal, Mallards, Hooded Mergansers, Mourning Dove, Virginia Rail, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Double-Crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Tree Swallows, European Starlings, American Robins, House Sparrow, American Goldfinches, Song Sparrow, Bobolinks, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Common Grackles, Common Yellowthroat and Dickcissel.

Foxglove Beardtongue

Dickcissel

Brown-headed Cowbird

Hoary Vervain

Wild Quinine

American Robin in the Dogwoods

Compass Plant

Honeysuckle

Pale Cone Flower

Baby Mallard

Wild Bergamot

Prairie Coreopsis

Wakodahatchee Wetlands

 Sunday February 21st

Neotropic Cormorant

For several years now, the only reliable venue to look for Neotropic Cormorants is at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach in Palm Beach County. The bird is nested here and has young in the nest.

This venue is owned and operated by the Palm Beach County Utilities as a water reclamation project for the processing of treated waste water. The marsh they created acts a natural filter as these waters are returned to the environment. It is also open to the public to enjoy the great array of Florida wetland wildlife attracted to the marsh. Gators, turtles and green iguanas are common and the huge numbers of wading birds are on present and nesting within feet of curious visitors.

Believe this is an offspring of the Neotropic and a Double crested Cormorant

Nesting Wood Stork

Nesting Wood Stork

Nesting Wood Stork

Double-crested Cormorant on the nest

Male Anhinga sporting his breeding plumage

Male Anhinga sporting his breeding plumage

Female Anhinga

Green Iguana

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

Gray-headed Swamphen

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

Purple Gallinule

Glossy Ibis

Sailfin Mollies are a food source for many species here

Purple Martins have arrived

Great Blue Herons on a nest

Road Trip

Sunday December 15th

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Its been awhile since I've been able to go on a birding road trip.  But this weekend I headed up to Lake Apopka and Gainesville looking for wintering Sparrows and Waterfowl.

Fulvous Whistling Ducks

Ash-throated flycatcher 

 Arrived on Friday morning at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive to look for interesting waterfowl and other birds. First task  was to seek out the Ash-throated Flycatcher that has been hanging out close to the entrance gate. Almost got a great pic as the bird fly across the road to pose in a nearby tree. 

There were thousands of American Coots seen here and maybe another thousand Common Gallinules. The most interesting bird of the day was a male Painted Bunting seen near the Pump House. A Merlin was also cruising the Pump House area.

A Male Painted Bunting

A Peregrine Falcon and  Kestrel would be seen later along the drive.

Anhingas, Pied-billed Grebes and Double-crested Cormorants were also very numerous. As for the waterfowl, we had hundreds of Ring-necked Ducks, plus Fulvous and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, American Wigeons, Blue-winged Teal and Northern Shovelers.  Additional sightings included Swamp Sparrows, all of the expected Wading Birds, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Yellowthroats, a couple of calling Soras, Palm Warblers, House Wrens, Belted Kingfishers, a juvenile Purple Gallinule and Eastern Phoebes. 

Bur Marigolds were in Bloom

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Blue Herons were numerous

Merlin at the Pump House Area

From Lake Apopka, traveled up to Gainesville with plans to check-out The La Chua Trail and Sweetwater Wetlands located on the northern edge of Paynes Prairie, tomorrow. But today as day was waning went over to an area called Magnolia Parke with the idea to see if any Rusty Blackbirds were coming in to roost. Didn't identify any rustys, among the Red-winged Blackbirds but had a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Carolina Chickadee and black-and-White Warbler.

Swamp Sparrows dining on Spanish Needle seeds

Snowy Egret

Day two was spent visiting venues in Gainesville.
 First stop was a stretch of the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail - North, walking from SE 4th Street to the Sweetwater Spur and back. Only spotted a single Chipping Sparrow, that was identifiable. Other sightings included Eastern Towhees, Northern Flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, Eastern Phoebes, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Carolina Chickadees, Gnatcatchers, Blue-headed Vireo and Black-and-White Warbler

American Bittern

Next up was the Sweetwater Wetlands Preserve. Haven't visited here in almost two years and there was quite a different experience today. Back then the water level was lower with plenty of exposed muddy shores to attract Long-billed Dowitchers, various Sandpipers, Wilson's Snipes and a rare to Florida, female Ruff. Lots of waterfowl too.

Today the American Coots, Common Gallinules, Anhingas and Double-crested Cormorants are very abundant, But not a lot of other waterfowl - Blue-winged Teal, Mottled Ducks, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and a lone American White Pelican. Heard a Sora and photographed a Purple Gallinule, but dipped on any snipes or other rails

Purple Gallinule

Common Gallinules

Snail Kites have also moved into this venue since my last visit. Which is a good sign that this once threatened species is expanding their range.

 I also  joined a stack-out for another rare in Florida bird, LeContes Sparrow. As I waited on the bird, an American Bittern made an appearance as did a trio of Savannah Sparrows and a Song Sparrow. 

Turns out that the last sighting of the LeContes was made yesterday, before a strong storm, with tornados passed through the area last night. 

Snail Kite at the Sink Boardwalk

It didn't take long to cover the LaChua Trail at Paynes Prairie State Park as much of the area was flooded. The park volunteers I talked with said that the water levels were actually falling, and that the Spanish Horses and the Bison herd had been moved to another area of the park because of the high water.

At the Sink Boardwalk, several Snail Kites were active and very tolerant of the human visitors as were the huge alligators. Other sightings included a White-crowned Sparrow, more American Coots and Common Gallinules, Limpkins, Sandhill Cranes, Anhingas and Double-crested Cormorants

Bluejacket