Posted by Brian Ahern on February 07, 2003 at 14:13:32:
RBA
* Florida
* Statewide
* Date February 7, 2003
* FLFL0302.07
-Birds mentioned:
RED-THROATED LOON
GREATER FLAMINGO
Greater White-fronted Goose
ROSS’S GOOSE**
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK
Common Goldeneye
COMMON EIDER
SWAINSON’S HAWK
SLATY-BACKED GULL**
CALIFORNIA GULL** (possible)
SHORT-EARED OWL
Mangrove Cuckoo
LESSER NIGHTHAWK
Vermilion Flycatcher
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER
CAVE SWALLOW
BELL’S VIREO
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Nashville Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE** (possible)
Henslow’s Sparrow
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
White-crowned Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
RUSTY BLACKBIRD
**This is a review species in Florida. 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 02/07/03. 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.
LEON COUNTY
A WILSON’S WARBLER was found at the US 27 North Landing, which is located about 4.0 miles north of I-10 in Tallahassee on US 27. The warbler was in the bushes on the right side, close to the lake. More specifically, park in the area just to the right (south) of the actual ramp facing the lake. Then walk along the brush to the right toward the lake. You should be able to hear the bid giving its chip note (R. Lengacher). DeLorme p. 50
FRANKLIN COUNTY
A RED-THROATED LOON was seen from a viewing area overlooking the Gulf about a quarter-mile before you reach Bald Point Park, and a female COMMON GOLDENEYE was seen from a trail off to the right of the parking lot insided Bald Point Park (R. Kruetzman & G. Jackson). DeLorme p. 61; Pranty p. 56
WAKULLA COUNTY
At St. Marks NWR the RUSTY BLACKBIRDS are still being found around the first bridge along the main road. A HENSLOW’S SPARROW was seen at the “helispot” field and the AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS are still at Mounds Pool #3 (C. Borg). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 76
The SHORT-EARED OWL is still being seen at Bottoms Road in Panacea. Be there at 5:30 pm and scan the marsh on the left side of the road after the dirt parking area on the left (C. Borg & S.P. McCool).
TAYLOR COUNTY
Seven GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and one ROSS’S GOOSE were found in an open field between Perry and Steinhatchie on Saturday 1st. The group was located west of highway 19, 6.4 miles north of the intersection of Hwy 19 and Hwy 51 in Taylor County (R. Kruetzman & G. Jackson). On Sunday the geese were seen in the morning but not in the afternoon, however several LARK SPARROWS were found in the same area (J. Dubi & all). DeLorme p. 62/63
LAKE COUNTY
A LINCOLN’S SPARROW was found at Emeralda Marsh Saturday 1st. The Lincoln's and a Blue Grosbeak were both in the brushy fields on the east side of Airstrip Road (S.N. Knight Parking Area), where it meets Emeralda Island Road (P. May). DeLorme p. 79 http://www.stetson.edu/~pmay/emeralda/direct.htm
SEMINOLE COUNTY
The HARRIS’S SPARROW is still being seen at the Marina Isles fish camp on the north side of highway 46 just east of the bridge over Lake Jessup/St Johns River. Please stay on the small dirt road and do not go near the mobile homes. 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 (J. Guerard & all). DeLorme p. 80
BREVARD COUNTY
The COMMON EIDER is still being seen at Jetty Park. It has been found close to the jetty where it swims and feeds near the bases of the boulders between the concrete boardwalk and the jetty less than fifty feet away. On Sunday 2nd a ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was found beachside in the wispy sea oats just south of the Jetty, but has since not be relocated (B. Paxson). DeLorme p. 88; Pranty p. 176
PASCO COUNTY
The NASHVILLE WARBLER is still in the "Oriole Hedge", a 200 foot long Cape Honeysuckle in Colonial Hills just off Moog Rd and US Hwy 19. Directions; US Hwy 19 to Moog Rd east to Grand, north to Dove Rd left then right on Drew Lane. Please be very discreet as this is private property (K. Tracey). It has been seen several times since. DeLorme p. 82
PINELLAS COUNTY
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE was reported to be seen at Honeymoon Island SRA by a visiting birder on Wednesday 5th. It was in the bushes approximately northeast of the parking lot (where there are a lot of service roads going toward the picnic ground) near the set of cabanas (to the north of the main beach). This was all the information I was given. There is an entrance fee for the park (J. Ford). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 121
The 3 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS continue to be seen at Walsingham Park. Park at shelter #6 and walk to the main road and they are feeding in the oaks (J. Fisher). DeLorme p. 90
SARASOTA COUNTY
Two LINCOLN’S, WHITE-CROWNED and Field Sparrows are still being seen on Center Road, right behind the hill at the Celery Fields. Please park at the recommended parking area on the left (west) side of Center Road, about halfway down the road from Palmer. There is an old foundation(s) of a building here. This is where you should park. Walk north a little ways - there is a shallow ditch perpendicular to the road. The ditch has a white pipe in the middle of it. Most of the sparrows have been either on the ground in the ditch or in the bushes just behind (north side) the ditch. But they flit all the way over to the trees and bushes at the north end of the parking slabs. DO NOT park or walk on the property (including the driveway) of the property owner on the east side of Center Rd (V. Lucas, J. Gaetzi, & all). Directions: Take the Fruitville Road Exit off of I-75 in Sarasota, head east. Make the first right (Coburn Rd) as you head east on Fruitville from I-75. You will pass Ackerman Park (a small lake) on your right. The area across from the park is the northern part of the celery fields. Continue straight to the intersection with Palmer Rd and make a left. Both sides of this road, up to the gazebo are the celery fields DeLorme p. 97; Pranty p. 140
HENDRY COUNTY
The wintering VERMILION FLYCATCHER can be found in its usual spot, on a fence post behind the gate, about 14 miles north of Government Road's southern terminus at I-75. From the north, it's less than a mile south of the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation (B. Rapoza). DeLorme p. 113
COLLIER COUNTY
A LESSER NIGHTHAWK was again seen at Eagle Lakes Park in Naples on Sunday 2nd. The bird showed up over the western most pond (Pond A) just after sunset @ 6:10pm, but may show up slightly earlier under overcast conditions. Around five BRONZED COWBRIDS are still wintering at the park. To reach the park from I-75, take exit 101, go south on CR 951 (Collier Blvd.) @ 8 miles to US 41 (Tamiami Trail), then west @ 1 mile to the park which will be on the right (north side of US 41). The ponds are to the north of the ball fields (T. Doyle & B. Pranty). DeLorme p. 111
PALM BEACH COUNTY
The VERMILION FLYCATCHER is still being seen at The Belle Glades Campground (P. Bithorn & all). DeLorme p. 108; Pranty p. 205
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
A BELL'S VIREO was found at the Flamingo Road ESL Site, which is west of Flamingo Road where SW 36th Court turns north to become 130th Avenue. The vireo was west of the old Kapok Tree Restaurant location where the dirt road turns south away from the power lines then east into the large open area. It was foraging low in the two small brushy areas west and southwest of the dirt road before the concrete (B. Roberts).
At Easterlin Park (1000 NW 38th St., west of Powerline Rd. and north of Oakland Park Blvd.) eleven species of warblers were seen including a NASHVILLE WARBLER. It was found near the eastern perimeter fence near the campground. The Nashville has been seen off and on all winter in the park (B. Roberts).
A first winter SWAINSON’S HAWK was seen perched along the railroad tracks just south of Kendall Ave. along Krome Ave. near dusk on the Tuesday 28th. (J. Bouton). At least three WHITE-TAILED KITES are also in the area (J. Boyd).
Just south of W. Kendall, the LARK SPARROWS continue to be present at Larry and Penny Thompson Park. Enter from SW 184th St (Eureka) and park near shelters 2 & 4. They have been seen near the playground and also in and under the trees across the grassy field (J. Boyd).
MONROE COUNTY
A CAVE SWALLOW was seen in with a group of Tree Swallows that were working Eco Pond at 7:30 am. Wednesday 29t. A LINCOLN’S SPARROW was found along the Bay Loop trail off of the Coastal Prairie Trail which leaves from the Campground loop at Flamingo. It was seen near the middle of the trail. The water is visible to your left and the trail angles back towards the prairie to go around a slight intrusion of the flats into the mangroves. At the terminus of this intrusion (before the trail bend slightly back away from the Prairie) the bird was in the under story to the right. Also a MANGROVE CUCKOO was seen on the south side of the Coastal Prairie Trail, in the Buttonwood Hammock, 50 paces west of the entrance gate and a GREATER FLAMINGO was found at the end of Christian Point (J. Bouton). DeLorme p. 121/122; Pranty p. 234
The SLATY-BACKED GULL has been relocated. It was feeding with Ring-billed Gulls in the Publix parking lot in Key West. There is also a possible first winter CALIFORNIA GULL here as well. It has been hanging out with the Ring-billed Gulls. As you enter Key West turn right at the T-intersection, go about 1 mile or so and look for a large parking lot with a Publix supermarket on your left. There is also a Wendy's Hamburger Restaurant in the same parking lot. Drive into the parking lot a look for the gulls (fide L. Manfredi). Delorme p. 127; Pranty p. 258
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