Posted by Brian Ahern on January 03, 2003 at 17:23:45:
RBA
* Florida
* Statewide
* Date January 3, 2003
* FLFL0301.03
-Birds mentioned:
RED-THROATED LOON
PACIFIC LOON
Eared Grebe
GREAT CORMORANT
TRUMPTER SWAN**
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Snow Goose
EURASIAN WIGEON
COMMON EIDER
Long-tailed Duck
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Long-billed Curlew
ICELAND GULL
Vermilion Flycatcher
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Brown Creeper
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
SPRAGUE’S PIPIT
Yellow-breasted Chat
WESTERN TANAGER
LE CONTE’S SPARROW
Henslow’s Sparrow
HARRIS’S SPARROW
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
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 01/03/03. This report is sponsored by FLORIDA NATURE TOURS, which offers tours to the Dry Tortugas, South Florida, private guiding and a special Pelagic Trip off of Ponce Inlet on May 17th. 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.
BAY COUNTY
A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER has been seen at Tyndall AFB. The bird has been at this location for the past 10 days or so. The bird is located just past the NCO Club area as one heads to Tyndall AFB Beach. Park in the huge parking lot next to the washrooms, and walk about 100 yards down the beach boardwalk. Look towards the right and the bird has been seen in the large pond/lagoon area in the west. If you go past the lookout tower on the right side of the boardwalk, you have gone to far (T. Menart). DeLorme p. 47
OKALOOSA COUNTY
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. DeLorme p. 28
On Tuesday 31st. at the Okaloosa Landfill, five WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, a LE CONTE’S & HENSLOW’S SPARROW were seen. The EARED GREBE continues to be seen at the city holding ponds, plus a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER at the county holding ponds (A. Knothe). DeLorme p. 44; Prany p. 52
FRANKLIN COUNTY
At Apalachicola Airport, the two SPRAGUE’S PIPITS continue to be 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 (A. Knothe & A. Bankert). DeLorme p. 60; Pranty p. 56
BLACK & SURF SCOTERS have been seen in small numbers from the KOA at Alligator Point (A. Bankert). On the 29th twenty-one RED-THROATED LOONS and two PACIFIC LOONS were seen offshore from the KOA at Alligator Point (D. Simpson). DeLorme p. 61; Pranty p. 74
LIBERTY COUNTY
HENSLOW’S SPARROWS and a few LECONTE’S SPARROW can be found in a field along SR 379 in Apalachicola National Forest. They are located on CR 379 in Apalachicola National Forest, several miles northwest of it's intersection with SR 65 at Sumatra. Just before Sumatra look for 379, make a right here and go 5 miles until you see a large field on the right or east side of the road. The sparrows were all through this very large wet field. The field is also full of Pitcher Plants and Sedge Wrens. Bring Rubber Boots for this area as well. (T. Hince). DeLorme p. 48; Pranty p. 63
WAKULLA COUNTY
At St. Marks NWR two LONG-TAILED DUCKS are still present at Picnic Pond and at least one COMMON GOLDENEYE is still at Stony Bayou Pool No. 1, viewed from the double dikes while hiking out for the flycatchers (D. & S. Jue). Twenty-nine GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and one SNOW GOOSE can be seen very far off in the back of mounds pool 2 (T. Curtis). At least one BROWN CREEPER is still in the parking area at Picnic Pond and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was seen near the Lighthouse over the weekend (A. Bankert). The VERMILION FLYCATCHER was seen on Thursday 2nd at Gate #129, which is the boundary of Stony Bayou #1 and Mounds Pool #1 (S.P. McCool). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 76
DUVAL COUNTY
A first winter ICELAND GULL was seen late Tuesday 31st at Huguenot Park in Jacksonville. The bird was on the south (river) side of the north jetty with other gulls, pelicans etc. Time was 5:00 pm with a rising tide. Gulls tend to concentrate at this location and at the north point of the park late in the afternoon. Directions - from I-95 take Hecksher Dr (1st exit north of Trout River Bridge) east to the ocean. The park is at the mouth of the St. Johns River, admission 50 cents per person. An adult GREAT CORMORANT was seen by boat on the south jetty on the 28th and could be in the area. A first winter female LAPLAND LONGSPUR was found south of the rock jetty along the dune line in some vegetation at a washed out parking lot (J. Palmer). DeLorme p. 58; Pranty p. 102
SEMINOLE COUNTY
The HARRIS’S SPARROW has been seen every day this week at the Marina Isles fish camp on the north side of highway 46 just east of the bridge over Lake Jessup/St Johns River. Access however has been limited. Birders are not to go past the “residence only” sign, even on foot unless invited to. Birders are also encouraged to go into the general store to make a “purchase” and obtain permission. The bird seems fond of the grassy area to the west side of the parking lot in front of the River Hilton houseboat, but has been found in several other locations. It is usually seen feeding in the company of Savannah Sparrows and Palm Warblers. (C. Peirce & all). DeLorme p. 80
BREVARD COUNTY
The LONG-BILLED CURLEW is still being seen behind the pump house at Merritt Island NWR, but not on a daily basis (fide P. Mansfield). DeLorme p. 81/82; Pranty p. 176
The COMMON EIDER was seen on Wednesday 1st, by the Jetty at Jetty Park in Port Canaveral (E. Haley). DeLorme p. 88; Pranty p. 176
CITRUS COUNTY
On Sunday 29th two LONG-TAILED DUCKS were found at Crystal Springs (T. Hince). DeLorme p. 77
PASCO COUNTY
An adult PACIFIC LOON in basic plumage was seen on Thursday 2nd from Green Key Park. From the small parking lot take the boardwalk to the north and follow it till it ends with a view of the open water. The loon was seen pretty far out so a scope is needed. To reach the park, follow Green Key Rd. west from US-19 in New Port Richey (M. Gardler & all). DeLorme p. 82; Pranty p. 116
At Starkey Wilderness Park a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was found on Thursday 2nd. Take the 3-mile bike path to almost the end and head down the last pump house road on the south side. The sparrow was seen in the brush near the small pump house (B. Ahern & D. Powell). DeLorme p. 82/83; Pranty p. 116
PINELLAS COUNTY
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen on Saturday 28th in Pinellas County. From the intersection of East Lake and Keystone, go east just a little over a half-mile and turn left on Old Keystone Road. Go .6 of a mile and turn left at the East Lake Youth Sports Complex. Go .3 of a mile and stop at the wooden telephone pole on your left. It should have a power label number on it that reads 6062400. Park your car. The chat came out of the brush behind the pole within five seconds of me playing a screech-owl tape. It Perched up for quite some time (R. Smith). DeLorme p. 90
Two GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were seen at Walsingham Park on Friday 3rd. birds moved from the oaks East of Shelter 6 to just along the maple swamp, which is located straight across the main road (J. Fisher). DeLorme p. 90
MANATEE COUNTY
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was seen on the telephone wire one block east of the intersection of Experimental Farm Rd. and Ellenton-Gillette Rd. (49th St. E. and 36th Ave. E) on Thursday 2nd (J. Turner & all). DeLorme p. 91
LEE COUNTY
A LONG-BILLED CURLEW has been hanging around for the past few weeks on Bunche Beach. This bird can be very tame, feeding only 40 feet away at times (G. & S. Hampton). DeLorme p. 110; Pranty p. 191
COLLIER COUNTY
There is still at least one 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. At least ten BRONZED COWBIRDS are in the area too. 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 (D. Thruston & V. Lucas). DeLorme p. 111
HENDRY COUNTY
The VERMILION FLYCATCHER continues to winter off of Government Road, 13.8 miles north of Alligator Alley exit 49 (B. Roberts). DeLorme p. 113
DADE-MIAMI COUNTY
A quick walk through south part of Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Saturday 28th produced a beautiful male WESTERN TANAGER. He was seen at 5 PM in top of Green Buttonwood. The area is near bike path restrooms where Pond Trail intersects (R. Diaz). DeLorme p. 119; Pranty p. 222
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