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Posted by David S. on 19:56:35 05/01/15
Eight birders accompanied Elsa Alvear out of Biscayne National Park Headquarters on one of their boats at 10:00 am. Winds were NW about 15 mph with sunny, 70 degree conditions. We traveled thru Ceasar's Creek and made our 1st stop at Pacific Lighthouse. En-route, we encountered a Red-winged Blackbird, Laughing Gulls, Double-crested Cormorants, Mag. Frigate-birds, and a couple of Brown Boobys. From there, we headed north to Fowery Lighthouse. On the way and at Fowery, we observed flocks of Bobolinks, various warblers, a species of swallow, a Masked Booby, and 11 Northern Gannets and a white morph Great Blue Heron perched under the main part of the lighthouse. 28 Brown Boobys with a few D-C Comorants were perched on the lighthouse. At 12:30, we headed south back to Pacific Light and observed more Brown Boobys, a Common Loon in flight, and other previously seen birds. After heading back through Ceasar's Creek, we headed north to Elliot Key Marina. After a so-so day on the water, we experienced a mini-fallout of migrants on the island. A fruiting Strangler Fig tree located behind the bathrooms, supported about 40-50 birds feeding on the berries, mainly Warblers. About 10 species of birds were using that tree and 10 other species we located in the general area. Highlights were Scarlet Tanagers, Coopers and Short-tailed Hawks, Great-crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed and Black-whiskered Vireos, Gray and Eastern Kingbirds, Shiny Cowbird, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and about 25 Bobolinks grazing in the grass. Our time was too short and we had to leave after 1/2 hour, or we'd still be there! Birds observed are listed below.
Common Loon 1
Magnificent Frigatebird 8
Brown Booby 42
Masked Booby 1
Northern Gannet 11
Double-crested Cormorant 22
Great Blue Heron, white morph 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Short-tailed Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 7
Least Tern 4
Great-crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 1
Gray Kingbird 2
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Black-whiskered Vireo 1
Swallow sp. 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Parula 1
Cape May Warbler 25
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Black-and-White Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 6
Blackpoll Warbler 20
Common Yellowthroat 1
American Redstart 3
Palm Warbler 8
Scarlet Tanager 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 36
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Shiny Cowbird 1
total Species: 34
Thank You Elsa for organizing a good pelagic and excellent Elliot Key bird trip, and all other participants for finding all the birds.
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