Posted by Brian Ahern on December 27, 2002 at 18:03:24:
RBA
* Florida
* Statewide
* Date December 27, 2002
* FLFL0212.27
-Birds mentioned:
Eared Grebe
GREATER FLAMINGO
TRUMPETER SWAN**
EURASIAN WIGEON
COMMON EIDER
Long-tailed Duck
White-tailed Kite
Short-tailed Hawk
Long-billed Curlew
Lesser Black-backed Gull
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (probable)
Gull-billed Tern
Smooth-billed Ani
Black-chinned Hummingbird
ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD**
Rufous Hummingbird
LEAST FLYCATCHER
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER
Vermilion Flycatcher
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD**
Yellow-breasted Chat
LE CONTE’S SPARROW
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
“Slate-colored” Junco
Bronzed Cowbird
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
BREWER’S BLACKBIRD (possible)
RUSTY BLACKBIRD
Pine Siskin
**This is a review species in FL. Any details of 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 12/27/02. This report is sponsored by FLORIDA NATURE TOURS, which offers tours to the Dry Tortugas, South Florida, and private guiding. 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.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
An ALLEN’S HUMMINGBRD is in Pensacola. This is an immature male that is halfway through its molt, with the tail 1/2 adult, buff rump and a green back. This bird was banded by Fred Bassett, at the home of Marge Godwin -- 8230 Sixpence Drive, Pensacola. This address is just off of Olive Road (an east west road in north Pensacola). Marge's house is on the corner. You can see the back yard gate from the road. Her back yard is thickly vegetated, and there are two feeders. Marge is going to be out of town but welcomes you to come into the backyard and look for the hummer. She has alerted the neighbors that folks may be visiting her back yard. She doesn't need you to call first, nor to knock on the door. There is one very small problem: there is a female Rufous Hummingbird (marked with a yellow stripe of fabric paint on the crown) that "owns" the yard and chases the Allen's off. The Allen's was banded on Monday, but it could have been on Sunday, and there have been no reports if it is still there or not (fide L. Duncan). This is only the third or fourth record of this species for Florida. DeLorme p. 42/26
OKALOOSA COUNTY
On Saturday 21st, the four TRUMPTER SWANS were still present at Rocky Bayou. Go north on Range Road, 2nd stoplight east of Rocky Bayou Bridge. Just past the school turn left into Parkwood Estates and tell the gate guard you came to see the swans. They should not need a name of a resident, but if they do Mr. and Mrs. Groundwater gave permission to use theirs. Go to the stop sign; turn right and park in front of the vacant lot. Walk towards the water until you see the swans. If they are not there, go right to the lake crossing for a broader view of the lake. If you see them turn right and park just beyond the 15 mph sign briefly. On the way out, approach the gate slowly, and it will open. The only other place we have seen them recently is on a mud bar at the north end of Rocky Bayou. Cross the bridge and turn right at the third street. Continue straight through the Huntington subdivision and turn right into Huntington Circle. Park by the Island and look over the fence from the wide driveway on the left (D. Wassmer & L. Saul) DeLorme p. 28
On Sunday 22nd at the Okaloosa County Landfill there were two LINCOLN’S SPARROWS on the sparrow trail. The snipe field had several LECONTE’S SPARROWS. The city holding ponds had an EARED GREBE and the spray field had an adult male VERMILION FLYCATCHER. The County holding ponds had a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (A. Knothe). DeLorme p. 44; Pranty p. 52
JACKSON COUNTY
At Florida Caverns SP on Friday 20th a small flock of ten “SLATE-COLORED” JUNCOS were seen at the equestrian center/blue hole and a WINTER WREN was found near the canoe launch (D. Wassmer & L. Saul). DeLorme p. 32; Pranty p. 66
FRANKLIN COUNTY
At the Apalachicola Airport on Monday 23rd two SPRAGUE’S PIPITS were seen. One of the Sprague's Pipits was located at the NW corner of the field in front of the yellow buildings, which is around the corner to the left of the office. This is near where everyone else has been seeing them. The second bird was in the field just west of the windsock where the two runways cross (D. Wassmer & L. Saul). DeLorme p. 60; Pranty p. 56
At Alligator Point a LESSER NIGHTHAWK was seen flying over the KOA Campgrounds about 20 minutes after sunset (J. Murphy & J. Dozier). DeLorme p. 61; Pranty p. 73
WAKULLA COUNTY
At St. Marks NWR two BROWN CREEPERS were seen in the wooded area around Picnic Pond. They were first seen about midway along the 1/4 mile path to the Duck Pond viewing platform. Also one LONG-TAILED DUCK continues to be seen at Picnic Pond (D. Wassmer & L. Saul). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 76
BREVARD COUNTY
At Merritt Island NWR the LONG-BILLED CURLEW was seen again in the pond behind pumphouse road on Friday 20th (T. Rodriguez). DeLorme p. 81/82; Pranty p. 176
The 1st year male COMMON EIDER was seen on Friday 20th, about 150 yards east of the Grill and Tiki Bar Restaurant at Port Canaveral. Parking was convenient at nearby Freddie Patrick Park on 9500 Flounder Street (T. Rodriguez). DeLorme p. 88
PASCO COUNTY
One of the SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS wintering in west Pasco was found about a mile east of Little Road on SR 54. The bird was perched on the wire fence on the south side of the highway, directly across from the Fairway Springs complex (R. Smart). DeLorme p. 82; Pranty p. 116
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
A group of five RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen at Flatwoods County Park on Morris Bridge Rd on Wednesday 25th. They were seen near the start of the paved seven mile loop bike trail (K. Allen) DeLorme p. 83; Pranty p. 132
There is an adult male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD visiting a yard in Riverview. It is feeding in a large loquat tree at the house end of the driveway. The tree has a hummingbird feeder hanging from it and some red Pentas beneath it. The bird has apparently been there for at least two months. From Tampa, take I-75 south to the 301 exit and take 301 south. Almost immediately there's a major intersection with Bloomingdale Avenue. Go left (east) on Bloomingdale and go for about a mile until you get to Providence. Turn right on Providence and keep going (through 2 stop signs) to a small road called Carmon, which is on the left very soon after the second stop sign. Go a couple of blocks along Carmon and turn right on Mays. #8204 is the second house on the left. The homeowner (Patricia Moore) welcomes birders (E. Kwater). DeLorme p. 91
The PINE SISKIN continues to come to a bird feeder at Steve Backes’ house in Valrico. Go south on Valrico Rd. from SR 60 to Durant Rd. (through one traffic light to the stop sign). Go west (right) on Durant to the second left (Meadowridge Dr.). Head Southwest on Meadowridge to 1512. The feeders are in the backyard on the left. Listen for the goldfinches. They may be in my yard or across the street. They spook easily but usually come back fairly soon after things calm down (S. Backes). DeLorme p. 91/92
PINELLAS COUNTY
At Lassing Park in SE St. Pete an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen Wednesday 25th in the afternoon (R. & A. Smith). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 126
COLLIER COUNTY
There are now two male EURASIAN WIGEON at Eagle Lakes Park in Naples. The birds are located on the western side of the west pond. They are with a group of American Wigeons. There is a berm around the pond and the ducks was located where the paved berm veers off towards an apartment complex (C. Ewell). At least nine BRONZED COWBIRDS are in the area too (V. Lucas). There is a map of the site on the following website http://www.co.collier.fl.us/natresources/wildlife/elakes.htm Looking at the map the bird is located where the P labeling pond A is. The park is located on South US 41 1-2 miles north of CR951 (C. Ewell). DeLorme p. 111
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Saturday evening two LESSER NIGHTHAWKS were seen at Loxahatchee NWR. They were flying over the northernmost impoundment of the marsh trail area around 5:40pm (L. Most). A small group of possible BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS were feeding a couple miles past Parkside Dr. near the ranch house on the N side of the canal (M. Reid). DeLorme p. 115; Pranty p. 211
BROWARD COUNTY
A late report that on Wednesday 18th, a probable adult BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was seen on a lake in the Hollywood Oaks Subdivision at the intersection of SW36th Avenue and Hollywood Oaks Drive (B. Heimlich). DeLorme p. 115 D2; Pranty p. 215
On Tuesday 23rd, At Perimeter Park on the south side of the Ft. Lauderdale International Airport off of the Griffin Rd. Exit of I-95, two SMOOTH-BILLED ANIS were found along the chain-link fence on West Perimeter Rd. directly in front of the tower (M. Wald). DeLorme p. 115
DADE-MIAMI COUNTY
At Lucky Hammock a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was in a bramble pile on the south side of the hammock. A calling LEAST FLYCATCHER was also in the area on Sunday 22nd (V. Lucas). On Thursday 26th a 2nd year male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was in the dirt fields around Lucky Hammock. It was hanging out with a large group of Red-winged Blackbirds. There is also a LEAST FLYCATCHER and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT within the Hammock (B. Ahern, D. Powell, B. Pranty) DeLorme p. 122
DADE-MIAMI/MONROE COUNTIES
The following reports are all from inside Everglades NP. The female MOUNTIAN BLUEBIRD was last seen on Tuesday 24th in the same area as before at the Research Center. Enter ENP and turn left (south) toward Royal Palm. Turn right at sign for Research Center and stay on paved road as it turns sharply to the right and becomes "Research Road." Follow this as far west as it goes and turn south, going ~1/2 mile. On the west side of road will be mounds of debris. The bird was staying in the area of the mounds #2-6. On the east will be a sign stating "Notice: Closed to the Public" and farther south will be a single galvanized pole on the west side of road. The bird prefers this area. Please note that this is an active construction site and do not block the heavy machinery or trucks. If accepted this will be the first state record of this species for Florida! On Thursday 26th a WHITE-TAILED KITE was seen hunting over the field just south of the Bluebird location (B. Pranty & all). The two BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS at still at Long Pine Key. The birds were found in the hardwood hammock adjacent to the picnic area on Long Pine Key. Take the Long Pine Key Campground road (a few miles after the turnoff to Gumbo Limbo/Anhinga Trail) and continue past the entrance to the campground and you will enter the picnic area. At the end of this short road is a hardwood hammock and the birds were chasing each other throughout this wooded area. Early morning or late evening are the best times to search for the flycatchers. Eleven GREATER FLAMINGOS and one GULL-BILLED TERN were seen at the end of Snake Bight Trail on Sunday 15th (R. Clark). At Flamingo a dark morph SHORT-TAILED HAWK was flying over the marina on Sunday 22nd (V. Lucas). DeLorme p. 121/122; Pranty p. 234
Good Birding!
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