Posted by Brian Ahern on February 14, 2003 at 14:49:50:
RBA
* Florida
* Statewide
* Date February 14, 2003
* FLFL0302.14
-Birds mentioned:
RED-THROATED LOON
GREATER FLAMINGO
Snow Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK
EURASIAN WIGEON
Long-tailed Duck
Surf Scoter
Short-tailed Hawk
Long-billed Curlew
SLATY-BACKED GULL**
HEERMANN’S GULL**
Smooth-billed Ani
SHORT-EARED OWL
LESSER NIGHTHAWK
Rufous Hummingbird
Least Flycatcher
Vermilion Flycatcher
LA SAGRA’S FLYCATCHER (possible)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Nashville Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE**
Henslow’s Sparrow
HARRIS’S SPARROW**
White-crowned Sparrow
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
BRONZED COWBIRD
BREWER’S BLACKBIRD
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 02/14/03. 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 WINTER WREN was found at the Gate to the entrance of Black Swamp Nature Preserve. Directions: Start at the junction of CR 263 (Capital Circle Southwest) and CR 373 (Springhill Rd.) East of the main Tallahassee airport. See DeLorme p 50 or Pranty (Springhill Road sewage treatment facility). Go north on CR 373 1.4 miles to jct. with Orange Ave at first light. Go left (west) on Orange 0.8 miles to crossing power lines with sign on right (Florida State Un. Nursery) and a small water treatment plant of brick on the left. Go left and park beyond the plant. Walk past the green BSNP sign and go around the gate, this is where the wren was seen. (R. Lengacher). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 69
FRANKLIN COUNTY
On Thursday 13th, several RED-THROATED LOONS and a flighty flock of twelve SURF SCOTERS were found at Mud Cove which is in front of the KOA, and a few hundred yards to the East (J. Dozier & J. Cavanagh). DeLorme p. 61; Pranty p. 76
WAKULLA COUNTY
At St. Marks NWR, two LONG-TAILED DUCKS are still at Picnic Pond and a BROWN CREEPER was seen just south from Picnic Pond, opposite side of the road. At least one HENSLOW’S SPARROW is still at the “Helispot” field and the RUSTY BLACKBIRDS are still being seen around the second bridge along the main road. A SNOW GOOSE and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, plus AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS were found at Mounds Pool #2 on Saturday 8th (T. Curtis & all). DeLorme p. 50: Pranty p. 76
The SHORT-EARED OWL was seen again on Saturday 8th. Along Bottoms Rd. after the dirt parking area on the left and then preceded to hunt it's way right over to Piney Island (C. Borg).
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 (D. & S. Jue & all). DeLorme p. 80
BREVARD COUNTY
Two SNOW GEESE are at the following location, US 1 from Titusville to John's Road, turn east and drive almost to the left turn in the road where there are both the white and blue
morph Snow Geese in a field on the left side of the road (M. Wilson). DeLorme p. 81
HERNANDO COUNTY
The two RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS continue to visit a feeder in Elaine and Andy Maywalts' backyard. The Maywalts invite any birders to visit their backyard, whether they are home or not. Park in the street and walk around the left side of their house to the cement slab. The Maywalts live at 5194 Mosquero Rd., Spring Hill; phone (352) 686-8195; e-mail: amaywalt@bellsouth.net
Directions: Coming from the north or south on US-19, turn east at the light on Northcliffe. (This is the first traffic light south of SR-50, and the fifth light north of CR-574, Spring Hill Drive.) Take the third right onto Beachview Drive, and, when it dead-ends, right onto Mosquero (fide B. & A. Hansen). DeLorme p. 77
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 discreet as this is private property (K. Tracey). It has been seen several times since during the week. DeLorme p. 82
On Tuesday 11th a BREWER’S BLACKBIRD was found in an old field in Pasco County. Directions: US Hwy 19 North to Sunray Blvd in Holiday, east past Anclote River after the road changes name to Perrine Ranch Rd. The field that the Brewer's was in is on the right side past the river; it is best to continue to Olde Farm Road turn right and continue on the gravel road till a small pond comes in view while looking back towards Perrine Ranch Road. The Brewer's was along the edge of this pond and then flew over and perched on top of cow dung (K. Tracey & all). DeLorme p. 82
PINELLAS COUNTY
The GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE at Honeymoon Island SRA has been relocated! After paying the $4 entry fee, follow the main park road to the north. When you come to the turn to the picnic area, continue straight. After this point, the road will curve to the left. Watch for a service road going to the right. This is the area where the bird is. Turn right at the first right turn and park your vehicle in the big parking lot. Proceed on foot back to the previously mentioned service road. From the service road you will see some scrub and brush on the left hand side, there are three tall thin wooden poles stuck in the ground, the Towhee was found in around this area and sang up in the middle of the leafless bush just to the right of the three poles. However the bird could also be in the thick grass & brush on both sides of the service road. It is very secretive staying on the ground or in the dense low scrubs. Its song is a bubbly warble and it gives a call somewhat like a catbird. A tape of it’s call can be helpful in locating this bird, however it has been reported that this technique has been abused in the area recently. Since this is now fast becoming a heavy birded area, tape playing should be kept to a minimum and not left running for lengths of time. PLEASE DO NOT OVER USE A TAPE!! Normally it only takes less than a minute of hearing a taped call for the bird to respond. A suggestion was made that as many birders as possible arrive when the gate opens, and the group get together at the towhee patch and then play the tape together so that there will be minimal disturbance. This is only the second record of this species for Florida!! (E. Haney & all). Also on Tuesday 11th, a LONG-BILLED CURLEW was seen on the south side of the causeway leading to Honeymoon, just before the first bridge (B. Ahern). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 121
He’s back!! The “Ft. DeSoto” HEERMANN’S GULL is back after several months of hiatus. The gull has been found at East Beach in the morning around 8:30am, but in the past he has been found anywhere along the beach in the Park. Lately he has also been seen along the beaches between the Gulf Pier and North Beach (L. Atherton & I. Hernandez). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 126
SARASOTA COUNTY
At least nine species of sparrows including Two LINCOLN’S, two 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 by the platform feeder 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 (C. Ewell & 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
LEE COUNTY
On Friday 7th at Ding Darling NWR on Sanibel Island a SMOOTH-BILLED ANI was found along the wildlife drive near Red Mangrove Overlook. This is the first one seen on the island since 1989. Also there are 3 SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS on Gulf Drive (M.S. Brady). DeLorme p. 110; Pranty p. 191
COLLIER COUNTY
On Friday 7th, the male EURASIAN WIGEON was found again on the western-most pond (bordering the apartment complex) at Eagle Lakes Community Park in Naples. It was feeding with American Wigeons. 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 (D. Thurston). Also several BRONZED COWBIRDS are on the south side of the center pond associating with a larger number of Brown-headed Cowbirds (B. Roberts). DeLorme p. 111
GLADES COUNTY
A female VERMILION FLYCATCHER was seen on Friday 7th at Harney Pond Canal Recreation Area off Highway 78, on the west side of Lake Okeechobee. The bird was seen in a tree along the lakeside canal, halfway between the entrance and observation ramp (P. Cunningham). DeLorme p. 100/101Pranty p.173
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. A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was found about a mile to half mile south of the vermilion site (V. Lucas & all). DeLorme p. 113
DADE COUNTY
Two SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS came in to roost at an area known as Flynn's on the loop between S.W. 209 Ave. and S.W. 212th Ave, well described in the third paragraph on Page 232 of Pranty's; A Birder's Guide to Florida, just off of the main road into Everglades National Park (SR-9336) in Florida City (P. Bithorn & all).
At Lucky Hammock a LEAST FLYCATCHER and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT are still present (P. Bithorn & all). DeLorme p. 122
DADE/MONROE COUNTY
Inside Everglades NP a GREATER FLAMINGO was seen from the end of Christian Point and several LESSER NIGHTHAWKS can still be seen during dusk at Eco Pond (B. Carr). A RUFOUS/ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD was seen feeding in the firebush at the Cole Visitors Center. At Flamingo at least four SHORT-TAILED HAWKS have been seen often over the past week (P. Bithorn). A late report that on the 6th a possible LA SAGRA’S FLYCATCHER was seen at Eco Pond (A. Hensley & S. Edwards). The GREATER FLAMINGO continues to make appearances on the mudflat visible from the visitor center at Flamingo. DeLorme p. 122/123 Pranty p. 234
The SLATY-BACKED GULL is still being seen at Key West. It is with Ring-billed Gulls in the Publix parking lot in Key West. . 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 and look for the gulls. He seems to like to stand out of site on the roof of the Sears in the same shopping center as the Publix (M. Hedden & R. Diaz). 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