Posted by Larry Manfredi on March 27, 2003 at 19:19:35:
On Tuesday March 25th. at approximately 11:00 a.m. Toby Obenauer found and
identified a Red-legged Honey Creeper on Boca Chita Key. Boca Chita Key is
located several miles east from the Biscayne National Park visitor center.
Toby was not 100% sure of the I.D., so after work that day, he looked in the
Birds of the West Indies book owned by a friend and confirmed his sighting.
Toby is an employee of Biscayne National Park which is why he was on Boca
Chita Key to begin with.
For the last 8 days prior to this bird being found, the winds were blowing
steady and fairly strong out of the south to southwest. Cuba is in that
direction and these birds are found there on the north coast (facing
Florida). Other areas in Cuba have these birds as well. They are also
found in Central, South America and Mexico for what it's worth.
After arriving back home on Wednesday afternoon I called Toby a friend of
mine, to get details on his sighting. He invited me to go with him the
following day (which is today) to look for the bird and to confirm his
sighting. Other local birders were called and who made plans with their
private boat to visit today.
I arrived with Toby at about 8:00 am this morning and began searching the
area where the bird was last seen. While walking the nature trail I thought
I heard a call note that was not familiar with but could not locate the
source of the call. Toby then walked me to the Seagrape tree where he last
saw the bird, we did not see anything here. I found another flowering
Seagrape tree nearby but did not see or hear anything. By this time the
other group of birders arrived to help search for the bird. After looking
for quite some time we went to the area where the bird was seen on Tuesday.
I searched a mini disc of Cuban birds for a recording of a Red-legged Honey
Creeper and played this next to the Seagrape tree where the bird was seen on
Tuesday. Within a couple of seconds a beautiful male RED-LEGGED HONEY
CREEPER flew into the Seagrape tree to give us all stunning views at close
range! And it is stunning!!
Directions to the bird once on the Island:
When you arrive on the Island take the Bay side trail or west side over a
wooden foot bridge. Look and listen in the Green Buttonwood tree on your
left just over the bridge, if no luck here look for a Seagrape tree on the
left side of the trail, not far from the Green Buttonwood tree. There is a
small fruiting Strangler Fig tree growing here as well. The bird was eating
this fruit today. Behind this tree back several yards is another flowering
Seagrape that was good for the bird. If no luck here continue down the
trail until you find another Seagrape tree right next to the trail. This is
the tree it was found in on Tuesday.
I have tried all day to get this post out and to give directions for other
birders who want to try and see this bird. It has been a big pain in the
neck to try and deal with the concessions people to try and find a time when
birders can go. I left a message with the owner to call me as soon as he
got in from a snorkel trip. He came back to the office got the message and
then left to go home!!! I don't think he is going to call me tonight to
work out trips for birders. So.......... the best thing that I can do is to
give directions to Biscayne National Park and to give out a phone number to
call to try and make reservations. The reservations number does not have a
recording to make reservations! The first scheduled trip going tomorrow is
supposed to be a snorkel trip leaving at 10:00 am, if birders got there
earlier if may be possible to book the boat before this time.
John Puschock and Barbara Passmore both have given me permission to give out
this phone number.
Call: 305-230-1100
The boat holds 49 people and the cost should be around $25.00 per person.
To charter the boat it will cost $700, that's what I have been told. The
minimum number of people to take a snorkel trip is 6 people. I was told all
of this at the office, so don't ask me how this is all figured.
I don't have any idea when they arrive in the office tomorrow morning, I
would call if interested, many times tomorrow to find out when and if they
will take birders over.
Good luck to whoever looks for this stunning bird, the weather is not good
here at this time, but perhaps tomorrow it will be better.
Here are a few images that I took of this bird today, enjoy.
http://www.southfloridabirding.com/Red-legged-Honey-Creeper1.jpg
http://www.southfloridabirding.com/Red-legged-Honey-Creeper2.jpg
http://www.southfloridabirding.com/Red-legged-Honey-Creeper3.jpg
http://www.southfloridabirding.com/Red-legged-Honey-Creeper4.jpg
http://www.southfloridabirding.com/Red-legged-Honey-Creeper5.jpg
http://www.southfloridabirding.com/Red-legged-Honey-Creeper6.jpg
Directions:
From the Florida Turnpike heading south take exit 6 (Speedway Blvd.) go
south on Speedway Blvd. to S.W. 328 st. (Canal Street). Go east or left
here and follow it to the end, make a left at a little fork in the road and
look for the sign for Biscayne National Park. Park in the parking lot and
go upstairs to the concessions booth and start bugging them about taking
birders over.
Larry Manfredi
Homestead, FL.
E-mail: birderlm@bellsouth.net
http://www.southfloridabirding.com