Posted by Brian Ahern on December 06, 2002 at 18:19:49:
RBA
* Florida
* Statewide
* Date December 6, 2002
* FLFL0212.06
-Birds mentioned:
Snow Goose
American Black Duck
EURASIAN WIGEON
Greater Scaup
Long-tailed Duck
Black Scoter
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
PURPLE SANDPIPER
Pomarine Jaeger
LESSER NIGHTHAWK
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbird
Least Flycatcher
VERMILION FLYCATCHER
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Nashville Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Dickcissel
Clay-colored Sparrow
BRONZED COWBIRD
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 12/06/02. 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.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
On Friday 29th a single PURPLE SANDPIPER was seen along the shore in front of the KOA campground at Alligator Point (T. Rodriguez) & was still present on Tuesday 2nd (J. Dozier). DeLorme p. 61; Pranty p. 73
WAKULLA COUNTY
On Friday 29th, at St. Marks NWR, a probable LESSER NIGHTHAWK was seen over the north end of Mounds Pool #3 in the evening. Earlier that day a female LONG-TAILED DUCK was spotted at Picnic Pond (R. Miller). On Monday 2nd the Long-tailed Duck was still present at Picnic Pond along with a female WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. The scoter moved to Stony Bayou in the afternoon. 3 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS were seen in the back of Mounds Pool #3, better viewing could probably be attained at the S fork of Mounds Pool 2 T Trail. At least one HENSLOW’S SPARROW is still at the “helicopter-pad field” (J. Hintermister). The imm. male VERMILION FLYCATCHER is still 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 (T. Curtis). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 58
DUVAL COUNTY
A sea watch off of 16th ave. south in Jacksonville on Thursday 5th produced: 40 BLACK SCOTERS & 3 POMARINE JEAGERS close into shore (N. Wamer). DeLorme p. 58
VOLUSIA COUNTY
2 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were found on the jetty off the boardwalk at Smyrna Dunes Park on the northern tip of New Smyrna on Friday 29th (S. Backes). DeLorme p. 75; Pranty p. 176
BREVARD COUNTY
The EURASIAN WIGEON has been present at Merritt Island NWR all this week. It is currently being seen along Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, anywhere between markers #6 & #8 with 200-300 American Wigeon (D. Simpson & B. Ahern). There is a possibility that there are actually two Eurasian Wigeons present in the area, one “pure” while the other could be a hybrid. They have yet to be seen together, so check out each wigeon flock carefully. A dark morph SNOW GOOSE was also seen along Blackpoint Drive on Sunday 1st. The bird was located after signpost #4 and just before the blockaded road on the right (K. Allie). DeLorme p. 81/82; Pranty p. 176
ORANGE COUNTY
Near the east side of Lake Apopka, at the intersection of SR-437 and Hooper Farm’s Road 4 SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS and many Western Kingbirds were seen in the afternoon last week. Last winter this area was a big kingbird roost in the evenings. Another Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was seen near the gate at the end of Lust Road (J. Flynn). DeLorme p. 79
CITRUS COUNTY
Along Crystal River, around the manatee sanctuaries a 1st year SURF SCOTER and an adult male GREATER SCAUP were seen on Friday 29th. They were west of Buzzard Island and Banana Island, respectively (A. & R. Paul). DeLorme p. 77
PINELLAS COUNTY
At Ft. DeSoto Park on Tuesday 3rd, a male NASHVILLE WARBLER was seen with a mixed wintering flock of birds at the Oak Grove. The Oak Grove is located at the end of the Parking lot for North Beach, on the right side. However, the bird was not re-located the next day. The single SNOW GOOSE still remains, the routine of the goose seems to be to feed during the morning and roost at night in the field across the street from the Mulberry Tree Area, but rest in the afternoon by the Bay Pier, usually within 20 yards or so of the west side of the pier. Near dusk, it flies back over the house and into the field to spend the nights and mornings (L. Atherton). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 126
On Friday morning 6th, a DICKCISSEL was seen sitting on a phone wire at 9th
St, N and 54th Ave, N in St Petersburg (J. Gaetzi). DeLorme p. 90
HENDRY COUNTY
The VERMILION FLYCATCHER continues to be seen on Government Road, 13.8 miles north of Alligator Alley exit 49. A flock of at least five SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER and two Western Kingbirds were also seen a couple of hundred yards south of the vermilion location on Saturday 30th (B. Roberts). DeLorme p. 113
COLLIER COUNTY
At Eagle Lakes Park in Naples, the group of BRONZED COWBIRDS continues to be seen, check the mixed flocks of Boat-tailed Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds in the park for them (L. Lucas & D. Thurston). The park is located on South US 41 1-2 miles north of CR951. DeLorme p. 111
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
A BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER was found at Lucky Hammock on Sunday 1st. The flycatcher was flitting around in the bushes and small trees, across the road from Lucky Hammock. Also seen in the area was a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. Lucky Hammock is on County Road 9336 (also know as Palm Drive and 344th Street) between Everglades National Park and Florida City. From Florida City, travel west on 9336/Palm Drive/344th Street. About 1/2 mile before the entrance to ENP, there is a large sign on the left (south) side of the road for a "Youth Camp" or "Boy's Camp". Turn left (south) and you will see an isolated square of trees, in front of you and to your right. This little square of trees on the west side of the north/south road is Lucky Hammock (Atherton’s & J. Palmer). On Tuesday 3rd, a WILSON’S WARBLER, a calling LEAST FLYCATCHER & two YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were found in the area (L. Manfredi). DeLorme page 122; Pranty p. 234
On Monday 2nd at the Visitor’s Center to Everglades National Park, a female RUFOUS/ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD & a female BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD were seen feeding on the firebushes around the restrooms. A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird is also present (D. Simpson). 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/
FLORIDABIRDS-L website: http://bkpass.tripod.com/floridabirds.htm
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://www.lists.ufl.edu/archives/floridabirds-l.html
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