Posted by Brian Ahern on February 28, 2003 at 12:55:17:
RBA
* Florida
* Statewide
* Date February 28, 2003
* FLFL0302.28
-Birds mentioned:
++EURASIAN KESTREL**++
EARED GREBE
GREATER FLAMINGO
EURASIAN WIGEON
Short-tailed Hawk
Long-billed Curlew
HEERMANN’S GULL**
SLATY-BACKED GULL**
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Smooth-billed Ani
Vermilion Flycatcher
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Nashville Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE**
White-crowned Sparrow
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
BREWER’S BLACKBIRD
BRONZED COWBIRD
**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 02/28/03. 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.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
An EARED GREBE was found at the Naval Live Oaks section of Gulf Islands National Seashore in Gulf Breeze on Tuesday 25th (A. Knothe). DeLorme p. 42
DUVAL COUNTY
On Sunday 23rd, in the dunes just east of A1A and 1/2 mi south of entrance to Little Talbot Isl. SP, at least 4 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were found in a mixed flock with Chipping Sparrows and several other species (B. Bergstrom). DeLorme p. 58
BREWARD COUNTY
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen 0.1 miles north of the county line on County Line Road. From US1 at the Brevard/Volusia line, head east to Dixie Way. Turn left and go about 0.1 miles. The bird was on the west side of the road (D. Simpson). DeLorme p. 81
ORANGE COUNTY
A 100% positively identified and confirmed female EURASIAN KESTREL has been found at Lake Apopka Restoration Area, which is northwest of Orlando. It was first found on Wednesday afternoon and was seen again on Thursday and today (Friday 28th). It is in a restricted area but birders will be allowed in Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Harold Weatherman of Land Management will escort birders into the area where the Kestrel is. Please meet promptly at 9am at the gate at the end of Lust Road. For more information about accessibility you may contact Harold at (352) 303-3007. Directions: From 441 (Orange Blossom Trail) in Apopka turn south onto SR-437. Follow SR-437 for several miles and Lust Rd will be on your right. If you reach Magnolia Park you have gone too far! Follow Lust Rd. all the way to where it ends at the gate and make sure to be there by 9am. If the Kestrel continues to be seen during the weekend, then most likely controlled access to the location will continue in the same way during the next week. Pending acceptance this represents a first state record and only one of a dozen or so for the U.S.! (H. Robinson & all). DeLorme p. 79
PASCO COUNTY
On Sunday 23rd, the wintering SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER is still along SR-54, about a mile east of Little Road. It was across from a housing development called Longfellow or Long something else. Please note that Hwy 54 is only two lanes at this point, and very busy. It is not a particularly good place to look at birds. The bird was on the south side of the road on the fence (D. Powell). DeLorme p. 82; Pranty p. 116
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 (R. Smart, B. Wallace & all). It has been seen several times since during the week. DeLorme p. 82
The BREWER’S BLACKBIRD that was found in an old field in Pasco County is still present. 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. However, the bird works the fields on both sides of the road, since earlier in the week it was seen in the right-hand field (R. Paxon, D. Powell & all). DeLorme p. 82
PINELLAS COUNTY
The GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE at Honeymoon Island SRA is being seen on a daily basis now. 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!!(W. Yusek & all). On Tuesday 25th a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen on the left side of the causeway between the first bridge and the concession stand (A. & B. Hansen & all). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 121
At Ft. DeSoto the HEERMANN’S GULL has been seen recently at East Beach in the mornings between 8 and 8:30am and also in the late afternoon if the beach isn’t crowded, but in the past he has been found anywhere along the beaches in the Park. (W. Yusek & all). On Sunday 23rd two LONG-BILLED CURLEWS were seen at North Beach (P. Bithorn & all). 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 (D. Powell). 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
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was found at Myakka River State Park on Monday 24th. The Chat was located on the river trail near the front entrance. Turn right immediately after entering and park in the first parking area on the left. Enter the playground field and bear left past the large swings. About 150 feet down the trail on the left side are two palms about 40 feet apart. The Chat was seen on both sides of the trail in this area (B. Landry). DeLorme p. 97; Pranty p. 140
LEE COUNTY
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found on Sunday 23rd at Ft. Myers Beach on the Gulfside of the estero near the Holiday Inn (C. Ewell, V. Lucus & all). DeLorme p. 110/111
COLLIER COUNTY
On Friday 21st, two 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. Also several BRONZED COWBIRDS are on the south side of the center pond associating with a larger number of Brown-headed Cowbirds (W. ). DeLorme p. 111
HENDRY COUNTY
The wintering VERMILION FLYCATCHER can still 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 SHORT-TAILED HAWK has also seen in the area frequently (S. Garcia & all). DeLorme p. 113
At Loxahatchee NWR two SMOOTH-BILLED ANIS were seen at South Refuge parking lot on Monday 24th and along Lox Rd. on Friday 28th (M. Reid). DeLorme p. 108; Pranty p. 258
MONROE COUNTY
On Monday 24th at Everglades NP a GREATER FLAMINGO was seen from the end of Christian Point Trail and a light morph SHORT-TAILED HAWK was seen over Bear Lake Rd (T. Mossbarger & J. Dubi). DeLorme p. 123; Pranty p. 234
The SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen on Tuesday 25th at Key West on top of the Sears building. 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 (R.D. Wallace) 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