Posted by Brian Ahern on November 29, 2002 at 16:27:51:
RBA
* Florida
* Statewide
* Date November 29, 2002
* FLFL0211.29
-Birds mentioned:
EARED GREBE
GREATER FLAMINGO
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Snow Goose
EURASIAN WIGEON
LONG-TAILED DUCK
Surf Scoter
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Black Scoter
White-Tailed Kite
Short-Tailed Hawk
SWAINSON’S HAWK
Pomarine Jaeger
Smooth-Billed Ani
LESSER NIGHTHAWK
Rufous Hummingbird
VERMILION FLYCAHER
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER
TROPICAL/COUCH’S FLYCATCHER**
Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher
CAVE SWALLOW
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
SPRAGUE’S PIPIT
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER
Clay-Colored Sparrow
Henslow’s Sparrow
LECONTE’S SPARROW
Bobolink
BRONZED COWBIRD
RUSTY BLACKBIRD
** This is a review species in FL. Details of any sightings should be sent
to the FOS Records Committee at the address given at the end of this
report.
Hotline: FLORIDA RARE BIRD REPORT
to report e-mail: BrianAhern@aol.com
compiler: Brian Ahern
transcriber: Same
This is Brian Ahern reporting the Florida Rare Bird Alert for 11/29/02. This report is sponsored by FLORIDA NATURE TOURS, which offers tours to the Dry Tortugas, South Florida, and private guiding, plus a special Pelagic Trip off of Ponce Inlet on Saturday, December 7th. For information go to http://www.floridanaturetours.com or call 407-363-1360. Reports are followed by coordinates from the DeLorme Florida Atlas & Gazetteer and the page number of Bill Pranty's ABA guide "A Birder's Guide to Florida" when possible.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
On Saturday 23rd a WINTER WREN and a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (in with Chipping Sparrows) were seen along Vagrant Trail at the Ft. Walton Beach Spray Fields. At the WFB Holding Pond an EARED GREBE was present, plus 7 SNOW GEESE, 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, & a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER were seen at the Mama Rosa Pond on Tuesday 26th (B. Monk & D. Simpson). DeLorme p. 44; Pranty p. 52
On Friday 22nd, a BROWN CREEPER was spotted at Fred Gannon State Park, off of Hwy 20, in Niceville. The bird was among a mixed flock on the Rocky Bayou trail, seen about at the halfway point on the loop (L. Fenimore). DeLorme p. 28
JACKSON COUNTY
Two WINTER WRENS were found on Monday 25th at Florida Caverns State Park. Park at the canoe launch site parking area on the road to the picnic and camping areas, then follow the trail along the stream into the swamp for about 50 - 100 yards and start checking fallen logs and piles for the wrens (D. Goodwin & all). DeLorme p. 32; Pranty p. 66
LIBERTY COUNTY
A large group of HENSLOW’S SPARROWS were found in a field along SR 379 in Apalachicola National Forest on Monday 25th. They are located on CR 379 in Apalachicola National Forest, several miles northwest of it's intersection with SR 65 at Sumatra. Look for a very large open grassy wet prairie on the east side of the road. The field is also full of Pitcher Plants and Sedge Wrens (D. Goodwin & all). DeLorme p. 48; Pranty p. 63
FRANKLIN COUNTY
On Monday evening 25th, a LESSER NIGHTHAWK was seen flying over the Apalachicola Bay Causeway (E. Haney & all). DeLorme p. 60; Pranty p. 56
On Tuesday 26th 2 SPRAGUE’S PIPITS were found at the Apalachicola Airport (D. Goodwin & all). DeLorme p. 60; Pranty p. 56
BLACK, SURF, & WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS have been seen off Alligator point, close into shore from the KOA Campgrounds over the past week (J. Dozier, D. Goodwin & all). DeLorme p. 61; Pranty p. 74
WAKULLA COUNTY
On Saturday 23rd a probable LESSER NIGHTHAWK was seen at St. Marks NWR, over mounds pool #1 in the late afternoon/evening (S.P. McCool). On Sunday 24th a late BOBOLINK was found on the south dike of Stony Bayou #2, ca. 100-200 yards west of the oak tree where Vermilion Flycatchers have been found in past winters. At the intersection of the double dikes with the northwest corner of Stony Bayou #2, near a metal marker with the number "127" on it: VERMILION (imm. male), WESTERN, & TROPICAL/COUCH’S KINGBIRDS have been present (D. & S. Jue). On Tuesday 26th, a LECONTE’S SPARROW, along with more HENSLOW’S SPARROWS, was found in the Stony Bayou Field at St. Marks NWR. After passing the two bridges on the main road, park at the first dike gate on the east side of the road. This is the trailhead for the Stony Bayou and Deep Creek Trails. Walk east about 100 yards to the first trail that turns to the right (south). The LeConte’s was flushed in the northern 1/3 of the large field on the right along with Swamp Sparrows, Sedge Wrens, and Henslow's Sparrows. This field is sometimes used as a helicopter-landing site (D. Goodwin & all). Several RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found around the second bridge past the Visitor Center on Wednesday 27th (R. Smith & all). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 76
DUVAL COUNTY
A sea watch off of 16th Ave. South in Jacksonville produced 2 POMARINE JAEGERS & 3 BLACK SCOTERS (N. Wamer). 7 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen from another sea watch off of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island (E. Colborn). DeLorme p. 58
ALACHUA COUNTY
Bob Wallace has an immature male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD coming to his feeder, if interested in viewing the bird please contact Bob at 386-462-5825.
LAKE COUNTY
At the Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area on Saturday 23rd, an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was found in the thickets along the Yale-Griffin Canal, a little less than a mile east of Emeralda Island Rd. For more directions go to: http://www.stetson.edu/~pmay/emeralda/emindex.htm (P. May). DeLorme p. 79
BREVARD COUNTY
On Tuesday 26th at Merritt Island NWR a male EURASIAN WIDEON was found along Black Point Drive. The bird was in the impoundment to the east of Sign Post #7 among 200-300 American Wigeon. This is the same area where one was seen last winter (K. Allie). DeLorme p. 81/82; Pranty p. 176
PASCO COUNTY
The 3 SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS (two short tailed, one long) are still in the same area as previously reported on SR54, 1/4 to 1 mile east of where Little Road intersects with SR54 (R. Smart & K. Tracey). DeLorme p. 82; Pranty p. 116
PINELLAS COUNTY
The four SNOW GEESE at Ft. DeSoto were seen near the Mulberry Tree area on Saturday 23rd (N. Miller), but unfortunately 3 of the Geese were killed from cars later on. One still remains around the Mulberry Tree & Bay Pier area. 3 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were present in the Tower area on Monday 25th, plus WESTERN & EASTERN KINGBIRDS were reported along the wire near the Fort (L. Atherton & I. Hernandez). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 126
At Walsingham Park, Wednesday 27th, at least 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were seen across from shelter #5 (J. Fisher). DeLorme p. 90
SARASOTA COUNTY
At Stump Pass State Park on Manasota Key, Saturday morning, 3+ GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were found feeding in black mangroves (M. & B. Dunson). DeLorme p. 97
OKCHOBEE COUNTY
On Saturday 23rd at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, a pair of WHITE-TAILED KITES can be easily observed in the park. The birds are located approx 300 yards north of the park office. Follow the road north from the parking lot across from the office. As the road turns to the left look straight ahead. Both birds are perch in one of three oak trees, which are lacking leaves in the upper halves of the trees. To reach the park take 441 south, then head west on SR-724 (Eagle Island Rd.), follow the signs to the park from here (P. Small). DeLorme p. 101
LEE COUNTY
At Ft. Myers Beach and Bodwitch Point Park, a female SURF SCOTER was seen out in Estero Pass from the north end of Bodwitch Point. Better viewing might be possible at Bunche Beach as the Scoter was closer to shore from there (V. Lucas). DeLorme p.110; Pranty p. 191
COLLIER COUNTY
At Eagle Lakes Park in Naples, a group of 5 BRONZED COWBIRDS were seen in a mixed flock of Boat-tailed Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds on Monday 25th. The birds were in the central bermed pond behind the baseball fields (D. Suitor). The park is located on South US 41 1-2 miles north of CR951. DeLorme p. 111
HENRY COUNTY
The male VERMILION FLYCATCHER continues to be seen on Government Rd., 13.5 miles north from the Miccosukee Plaza off of Exit 49 on I-75 (Alligator Alley). Two SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS and a WESTERN KINGBIRD are also in the same area (V. Lucas & all). DeLorme p. 113
PALM BEACH COUNY
Monday 25th at Loxahatchee along the Lox Road Impoundment Trails, a SMOOTH-BILLED ANI flock (4), was roosting near the trail in the Fragmites, about one half of a mile up the S side, just before the first lock (M. Reid). Delorme p. 115; Pranty p. 211
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
Three SWAINSON’S HAWKS were seen soaring with Vultures over Lucky Hammock on Sunday 24th (B. Roberts). DeLorme p. 122
On Nov. 27th the BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was refound at Royal Palm Hammock (Anhinga/Gumbo Limbo Trails) in Everglades National Park. The bird was first seen near the small building on the right side of the road just before reaching the parking lot to Royal Palm Hammock. On the 27th it was about 25 meters before that small building and across the street, hanging around with a couple of blue-gray gnatcatchers and myrtle warblers (L. Morales). DeLorme p. 122; Pranty p. 234
MONROE COUNTY
At the end of Snake Bight Trail, 14 GREATER FLAMINGOS flew in around 9:45am on Monday 18th. Also in the area was a lone CAVE SWALLOW (B. Labio & T. Hince). At Eco Pond on Saturday 23rd 3 LESSER NIGHTHAWKS showed up around 6:30pm over the pond and parking lot. Earlier in the afternoon over Eco Pond were 2 SHORT-TAILED HAWKS and 6 CAVE SWALLOWS of the Mexican race (L. Manfredi). DeLorme p. 121; Pranty p. 234
Good Birding!
-End transcript
Documentation of rarities for FL Ornithological Society Records
Committee should be sent to:
FOSRC, c/o Archbold Biological Station, PO Box 2057,
Lake Placid FL 33862.
Website: http://www.fosbirds.org/
Florida Rare Bird Alert Mail-list: To subscribe go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FLRBA
Florida Birding website: http://www.javaswift.com/floridabirds/
For more information on Florida bird sightings, locations, and
discussion please visit the following archives:
Statewide sightings/discussion listserv:
BIRDBRAINS: http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.html
FLABIRDING: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlaBirding/
FLORIDABIRDS-L: http://bkpass.tripod.com/floridabirds.htm
Regional sightings/discussion listservs:
North Florida: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nflbirds/
East Florida: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Eastbirders/
Southwest Florida: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SWFLBirdline/
Southeast Florida: http://tropicalaudubon.org/tasboard/index.html
Brian Ahern
Tampa, FL.
BrianAhern@aol.com