Posted by Brian Ahern on March 07, 2003 at 14:48:08:
RBA
* Florida
* Statewide
* Date March 7, 2003
* FLFL0303.07
-Birds mentioned:
++EURASIAN KESTREL**++
GREATER FLAMINGO
Canada Goose
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
EURASIAN WIGEON
Long-tailed Duck
HARLEQUIN DUCK (possible)
SLATY-BACKED GULL**
Smooth-billed Ani
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD**
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (possible)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Brown Creeper
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE**
HARRIS’S SPARROW (not seen)**
Dickcissel
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 03/07/03. 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
Two CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS are visiting the feeders at Fran C. Rutkovsky home in Tallahassee. If interested in viewing them please contact her at 850-422-3636 or prutkov@garnet.acns.fsu.edu
At Black Swamp Nature Preserve a BROWN CREEPER was working the trees just to the
left of the gate as you approach it from the road (J. Chapman). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 69
WAKULLA COUNTY
At St. Marks NWR one LONG-TAILED DUCK is still being seen at Picnic Pond (J. Cocke & T. Curtis). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 76
ORANGE COUNTY
The EURASIAN KESTREL at Lake Apopka Restoration Area, which is northwest of Orlando has been seen on a daily basis since last Wednesday 26th. It is in a restricted area but birders will continue to be allowed in. As long as the bird is on their property the St. Johns River Water Mgt. District will make every effort possible to get birders in to see it. The same routine used in the past few days will be in place at least through this coming weekend, Sunday March 9th. 2003. Harold Weatherman (possibly another SJRWMD employee next weekend), will be at the Lust Rd. gate at 8:30 AM to guide people to the bird. If the bird is still there after the 9th. either the same schedule will continue or some modified version. Please meet promptly at 8:30am at the gate at the end of Lust Road. 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 8:30am. 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
BREVARD COUNTY
This just in, a late report, that a possible HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen on Sunday 2nd off of a sand bar off the end of the boat docks at Finns Grill in Sebastian. From I-95 from Cocoa take the SR-514 Malabar exit, to US1 and head south about 12 miles to Sebastian and Captain Hirams restaurant. You will need a boat to view the area (B. Krikorian). DeLorme p. 88
PASCO COUNTY
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 (S. Whiting & all). DeLorme p. 82
PINELLAS COUNTY
The GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE at Honeymoon Island SRA continues to be seen during this week. 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. Woodruff & all). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 121
On Tuesday 4th, a CANADA GOOSE was found on the large Terra Verde Duck Pond. The pond is on your right as you head to Ft. DeSoto Park. The goose was first found at the end of the pond where a few Black-crowned Night Herons roost (B. Ahern). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 126
COLLIER COUNTY
The two male EURASIAN WIGEON were still being seen 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 five BRONZED COWBIRDS were found with a larger number of Brown-headed Cowbirds (R. Diaz & all). DeLorme p. 111
A DICKCISSEL has been found in down town Naples. The bird frequents the southwest corner of the intersection at Third Street South and 13th Avenue near Tony's on Third (restaurant) and the immediate surrounding area. Friday, the Dickcissel was found in the oak tree (possibly a Water Oak) to the left of the Sassy Boutique where the stairs go up to the second floor shops (V. Lucas). DeLorme p. 111
PALM BEACH COUNTY
At Loxahatchee NWR one FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK was feeding with a small group of two Green-winged Teal and several Blue-winged Teal on Monday 3rd. The bird was feeding in impoundment C6 closer to Lee Rd than to the Marsh Trail Parking lot. C6 impoundment is the first impoundment you come to driving west after entering the Refuge on Lee Road off of 441. If you go to the Marsh Trail Parking lot face west and C6 is the impoundment on the right (K. Walters). DeLorme p. 108; Pranty p. 258
BROWARD COUNTY
SMOOTH-BILLED ANIS are still being seen near the Ft Lauderdale airport. Five were quickly located from the small park on Griffin Road. All were perched on the inner fence of the perimeter road. From the park parking lot, cut over to the airport fence. These were right (east) about 100 yards (D. Cahpman & all). DeLorme p. 115; Pranty p. 216
MONROE COUNTY
In side Everglades NP a GREATER FLAMINGO was seen off of Christian Point on the 24th during low tide (D. Chapman). Also along the trail to Christian Point three possible BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS were reported.
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was seen at the entrance to Little Hamaka City Park on Tuesday 4th (S. White).
The SLATY-BACKED GULL was last reported to be seen on Saturday 1st at Key West around noon at the Publix Parking lot near the water. 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 (G. & J. Halleron) 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