Posted by Robin Diaz on November 01, 2002 at 16:12:02:
Conditions seemed right this afternoon for thermals over Key Biscayne and the bay. Sorting through slugs of vultures produced an interesting assortment of raptors: Osprey, Red-shouldered, Cooper's, Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Merlin, 2 Peregrine Falcons (1 adult and 1 very dark immature). More were beyond scope ID.
Crandon Flats had usual wintering shorebirds: Dunlin, Semipalmated, Piping, Wilson's Plovers, dowitcher sp., Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone. Gulls have not arrived in numbers yet, but there are Herring, Lesser Black-backed, Ring-billed and Laughing Gulls. Terns: Royal, Caspian and 1 Forster's. Three flocks (15-18 birds) of Northern Gannets were fairly close to shore.