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Posted by Jeff Weber on 14:21:30 09/03/06
Fifteen birders assembled for the TAS birdwalk held Saturday, Sept., 2, at Bill Baggs/Cape Fla. State Park. Migration was clearly not in full swing at the Cape (or we weren't looking carefully enough), as warbler species were limited to Prairie, Ovenbird, Yellow-Throated, and Redstart. Some interesting birds did appear, though. Chimney Swifts were found on the lighthouse grounds, and Cliff Swallows were numerous in the same area. Eastern Kingbirds were moving through in some numbers. Other birds included the expected: Ground Dove, Red-Eyed Vireo, Osprey, Belted Kingfisher, Mag. Frigatebird, Royal Tern, etc.
The walk did turn up some interesting insects, though six-legged critters admittedly aren't as thrilling to everyone as they are to me. We found a male Megaphasma walking stick on the lighthouse wall. We looked for one of the big females, which can range up to 5 inches long, but no luck. A female Robber Fly laying eggs in the sand pathway was another highlight. A Cetoniinid Flower Beetle (Euphoria sepulchralis - a truly creepy name, when translated from the Latin) was found, as well as some wildly iridescent Tortoise Beetles on a geiger tree. Tiger Beetles were common but wouldn't sit still on the sandy pathways. Top Lep was a Zebra Longwing just emerging from her chrysalis; even though her wings were still limp and filling with life fluids, several males were already trying to make her acquaintance.
Cape Florida will doubtless be birdier soon, but we just weren't there yet.
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