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

Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area

Friday December 29th

Spent the morning explorering the roads at Babcock-Webb looking for interesting birds. I arrived just at dawn, as usual, to wait on the red-cockaded woodpeckers  emergence from their nest holes.

Waiting on the morning egress and the evening entrances at their nest holes can be the most reliable option for getting to spot these birds. The RCW colonies are well  mapped and nest trees have been marked with a white band.  I have had good success with this method with staking out the closest colony on Oil Well Grade. But on my past two visits I had dipped.  In fact a few weeks ago, I did have woodpeckers emerge, but they were Red-bellied Woodpeckers.  So this morning, I visited the colony at the junction of Tram Grade and Oil Well Grade and was rewarded with a pair of Red-cockaded   Woodpeckers. A plus here was hearing a calling King Rail from a nearby marshy area.

The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker is an endangered species and no form of harassment is permitted including play-backs. 

Other woodpeckers today included Downy and Northern Flickers. Some of the expected species common here like Eastern Towhee, Eastern Meadowlark and Eastern Bluebird were uncommon sights today. Found a an American Bittern skulking in the reeds and had a Purple Gallinule amongst some Pond Flag. Lots of Pine, Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, plus a couple of Common Yellow-throats. Plenty of waders on hand and a couple of Swamp Sparrows too. Raptors include American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk and Bald Eagle. Some misses included brown-headed nuthatch and limpkins.

Swamp Sparrow

Green Heron

A Visit to the Celery Fields and Big Cypress

Tuesday, November 17

Today, with Bob Pelkey behind the wheel, we had planned a stop at the Celery Fields in Sarasota. Then the reports came out about the Mountain Bluebird being seen at the Oasis Visitor Center at Big Cypress Preserve. So a stop was planned for there as well.

Mountain Bluebird

We arrived in early afternoon and easily spotted the Mountain Bluebird. It was sitting on its spot on a fence near the parking lot. Very unusual to have this western bird in the Everglades. The bird is reported to be a juvenile female and is a lifer for me. Hasn't been reported here since about the 20th.

Some other species seen at the visitor center.

American Alligator

Tricolored Heron

Great Blue Heron

Snowy Egret

Great Egret

American Crow

The Celery Fields - Sarasota

Bob and I arrived at dawn and spent the morning mostly around the south cell. Soras could be heard calling and Marsh Wrens heard babbling. Least Bittern was hiding in the flag weed and Purple Gallinule were active as well. Rosette Spoonbills, Glossy Ibis and Wood Storks were flying over head. Limpkins were calling and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were just hanging around. Calling Nanday Parakeets and a flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds too.

Loggerhead Shrike

Savannah Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Limpkin

Marsh Wren

From here traveled about a mile up Palmer Road to Palmer Lake were we added Northern Shovelers, Lesser Yellowlegs, Glossy Ibis, Laughing Gulls, Forster's Terns Long-billed Dowitchers and a Crested Caracara

Winter Birding in North Carolina

February 9th - 12th

Mute Swans at Lake Mattamuskeet, North Carolina

With some encouragement from a co-worker, I set-up a three day trip to North Carolina. I had a long standing goal to see the wintering masses of  swans and geese that congregate in the Carolinas. But have been putting it off for some time. So with a little push, I pulled the trigger.

While planning this trip, I expanded the itinerary to include venues around Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. Stayed at a hotel on the beach near Kitty Hawk. Being off-season the rates were very good.

Day One - Virginia

Bufflehead at Pleasure House Point - Virginia Beach

Arrived in Norfolk, Virginia  just past noon and was at my first venue within the hour. Checked out Pleasure House Point in Virginia Beach. A good spot for waterfowl and passerines. Lots of Buffleheads and Gadwalls, plus American Wigeons, Red-breasted Mergansers, Ruddy Ducks, Cormorants, Bonaparte's Gulls, Great Black Back Gulls, Carolina Chickadees, and Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow at Pleasure House Point, Virginia Beach

Bonaparte's Gull at Grandview Nature Preserve, Hampton, Virginia

Then onto Grandview Nature Preserve in Hampton, Virginia. The preserve stretches along several miles of coast line and was an excellent spot for viewing sea ducks.  The weather conditions were a bit rough with temps in the thirties, overcast skies and gusty winds. The wetlands that sit between the street parking and the beach held Canada Geese, Hooded and Red-breasted Mergansers, American Black Ducks and Mallards.  At the beach I had a Lifer in sighting several Red-throated Loons. Also had a suspected red-necked grebe. Did have a lone Horned Grebe, many Ringed-billed, Bonaparte's and Great Black Backed Gulls and all three Scoters. Lots of Buffleheads, plus a small flock of Long-tailed Ducks flying-in to join a few Common Goldeneye.  Also large numbers of Sanderlings and Dunlin.  The much hoped for snow buntings and lapwing longspurs were not present at the expected location.  Perhaps due to the presence of a hunting Northern Harrier

Day Two - North Carolina

The weather conditions for the day have worsen. Colder, windier with a very heavy surf. On this day I visited two new venues. Mattamuskeet NWR in Hyde County, NC and Pettigrew SP in Creswell, NC. Before reaching the refuge several hard flocks of Snow Geese and Tundra Swans were seen resting in farm fields. The refuge features lots of Canada Geese, Tundra Swans, Mallards, Northern Pintails,  Northern Shovelers, American Coots, Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, American Black Ducks, Greater Yellowlegs, DC Cormorants, Great Egrets, Northern Harriers, a Cackling Goose and even a pair of Mute Swans. One nice sighting was a mixed flock of birds including Carolina Chickadees, Cardinals, Downy Woodpecker, Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets, a Fox Sparrow and American Robins.

Tundra Swans at Mattamuskeet NWR

Northern Pintail

Tundra Swan

Canada Goose

Tundra Swans at rest in Farm Field - North Carolina

At Pettigrew, spent time on the very cold but birdy boardwalk at the boat launch location. More Robins and several Sparrows including White-throated, Savannah, Swamp Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. Also Carolina Chickadees, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmice, Cardinals, Blue Jays, American Kestrel and Sharp-shinned Hawk. Even flushed an American Woodcock. No waterfowl could be seen on the choppy lake.

Swamp Sparrow at Pettigrew State Park

Dark-eyed Junco at Pettigrew State Park

Day Three - The Outer Banks

Nasty weather conditions continue. Visited two new venues today. Currituck Heritage Park in  Corolla, NC and a drive south on the Outer Banks terminating at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

White Ibis at Currituck

 in Buxton, NC. At Currituck I had many of the same waterfowl - Tundra Swans, Canada Geese, Buffleheads, Red-breasted Mergansers, American Wigeons and Mallard hybrids, More Ring-billed Gulls, White Ibis and Savannah Sparrows. On the drive out to Cape Hatteras saw hundreds of Snow Geese flying northward. The wetlands area at the lighthouse featured more Canada Geese, Mallards, American Black Ducks, Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks, Green-winged Teal and a Wilson's Snipe   

A surprise find of a water moccasin on a cold day at Currituck

Hybrid Mallards

American Robin

Song Sparrow

Whale Skull on Display at Currituck

Lighthouse at Currituck

Redhead at Hatteras Lighthouse

White-tailed Deer at Lighthouse

Snow Goose ( formerly Blue Goose)

Snow Geese

Great Black Back Gulls

Trip Species List (89)
Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Tundra Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Brown Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
White Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bald Eagle
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Dunlin
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch