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Posted by Joe Barros on 00:48:40 04/02/07
It was a beautiful morning for a bird walk and I was happy to hear upon my arrival that Brian had already spotted a Sharp-shined hawk so that eliminated the possibility of a big-fat nothing for the day. A large group of Birders gathered on Saturday at Matheson Hammock for opening day of TAS's Spring Migration Birdwalks. Along with the group were Joe from the Philidelphia, A gentleman visiting from England and up & coming birder Anthony.
Our first observation as walking through the park was a specimen short-leaf fig (Ficus citrifolia) heavily weighted with fruit awaiting the arrival of the oncoming waves of migrants. It was a slow start but we were soon taking in wonderful displays of a pair of great crested flycatchers, a black vulture perched low in the canopy and a spectacular view of a piliated woodpecker just above our heads. We then turned our focus on a couple of hill mynas that were lifers for a few birders before we headed across old Cutler into the heart of the hammock.
All was quiet until Brian heard a Killdeer calling and things continued looking up when we spooked then a couple white-crowned pigeons. On the western side of the hammock a couple Lilac-crowned parrots perched on the wire allowing excellent views (as seen in the beautiful pictures posted by jnrosenthal). American kestrel, Mourning Dove, Purple Martin, and a controversial Fish Crow were added to the days list before a Blue & Yellow Macaw was heard then spotted flying. With Yellow-chevroned parakeets flying overhead it was quickly becoming an exotics day. We added a white-fronted parrot then found a pair of Red-masked Parakeets in a nest hole in one of the royal palm snags (see jnrosenthals post). Three juvenile Broad-winged Hawks came circling overhead made for an identification challange and were chased off by an irritated Red-shouldered Hawk. On our return a first-of-the-season Chimney Swift was seen by all including Brian. One of the highlights of the day was a Ruby-throated Hummingbird that was a lifer for Anthony. Only one warbler was seen all day, a Common Yellowthroat, but next weekend s TAS walk at Cape Florida should offer more opportunities as migration activity increases.
Joe
35 birds were seen on the day
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Egret
White Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
American Kestrel
Killdeer
White-crowned Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
Cedar Waxwing
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
House Wren
Purple Martin
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Cardinal
Boat-tailed Grackle
Common Grackle
Blue-and-yellow Macaw
Red-masked Parakeet
Yellow-chevroned Parakeet
White-fronted Parrot
Lilac-crowned Parrot
Hill Myna
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