Florida RBA 03/28/03 RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER & LA SAGRA'S FLYCATCHER

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TROPICALAUDUBON.ORG WWWBoard ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Brian Ahern on March 28, 2003 at 15:01:04:

RBA
* Florida
* Statewide
* Date March 28, 2003
* FLFL0303.28

-Birds mentioned:
++RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER**++
++LA SAGRA’S FLYCATCHER++
++EURASIAN KESTREL**++ (no reports)

BROWN BOODY
Surf Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Short-tailed Hawk
SWAINSON’S HAWK
American Golden-Plover
Long-billed Curlew
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE**

**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 03/28/03. 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.

LEON COUNTY
At the Spring Hill Sewage Treatment Plant a female SURF SCOTER was found in one of the holding ponds on Saturday 22nd and has been seen on a daily basis since then. You must ring the doorbell at the admin. bldg. for entrance into the plant. The SWT is located on Springhill Rd. by the Tallahassee Airport (B. Bergstrom & all). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 69

WAKULLA COUNTY
At St. Marks NWR the LONG-TAILED DUCK that has wintered at Picnic Pond was still seen there on Saturday 22nd and on Thursday 27th (T. Curtis & J. Cavanagh). On Thursday 27th an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was found in a large flock of shorebirds that was seen south of the observation tower next to the Lighthouse on the flats (J. Cavanagh). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 76

ORANGE COUNTY
There have been no reports this week of the EURASIAN KESTREL at Lake Apopka. It is unknown if the bird is still there or if people are still being allowed in on the weekends.

BREVARD COUNTY
An immature BROWN BOOBY has been hanging out on Pelican Island for the earlier in the week

PINELLAS COUNTY
The GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE at Honeymoon Island SRA was again seen on Wednesday 26th. 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!!(P. May, W. Yusek & all). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 121

At Ft. DeSoto the LONG-BILLED CURLEW was seen on Wednesday 26th at North Beach, between the concession area and the footbridge (B. Ahern). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 126

OSCEOLA COUNTY
A SWAINSON’S HAWK was seen on Saturday 22nd flying over Three Lakes WMA (D. Goodwin & all). DeLorme p. 95

COLLIER COUNTY
A SHORT-TAILED HAWK was seen from the observation platform at Corkscrew Swamp on Thursday 27th (J. Joyal & D. Thurston). DeLorme p. 112; Pranty p. 155

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
A male RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER was first found on Tuesday 25th on Boca Chita Key by a park ranger Toby Obenauer, and then was relocated on Thursday 27th by a group of south Florida birders. When you arrive on the Island take the Bay side trail or west side over a wooden footbridge. 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 fruiton Thursday. 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. Photos, videotape and audiotape of the bird were taken to document this potential first North American record. The bird’s range includes the island of Cuba, where it could have been blown in from, due to the strong southeasterly winds, which have occurred throughout the month of March. There were no bands on the bird and it was in perfect alternate plumage. It seemed to favor the two large Sea Grapes in the area and appeared wild in nature while hopping and creeping amongst the limbs. Boca Chita Key is an island just north of Elliot Key; unfortunately there are no tour boats to the key so birders will have to make their own arrangements to get there for the time being. Also there is no fresh drinking water. If arrangements can be made to ferry birders to the island in an organized way an update will be posted ASAP. There is also a boat that does Snorkel trips near by that might be able to take birders over. 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 inquiring about taking birders over, Phone # 305-230-1100 (P. Bithorn & all). Delorme p. 119
Photo link: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/Red-legged-Honey-Creeper1.jpg
Several people were able to search for the Honecreeper for only one hour on Friday morning and as of yet have not found it. They will make every attempt to go back to Boca Chita Key in the afternoon and on Saturday to look for it.

MONROE COUNTY
Inside Everglades NP a BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER was seen and heard calling at Mahogany Hammock on Tuesday 25th. DeLorme p. 121; Pranty p. 234

On Key West at Indigenous Park an active LA SAGRA’S FLYCATCHER was seen on Wednesday 26th (D. Simpson). DeLorme p. 127; Pranty p. 258

Another LA SAGRA’S FLYCATCHER was found at the Dry Tortugas NP [assuming on Garden Key] on Thursday 27th (D. Simpson). DeLorme p. 126; Pranty p. 262

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

Follow Ups:

Re: Florida RBA 03/28/03 RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER & LA SAGRA'S FLYCATCHER Jeff 23:24:51 05/05/03 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: RBA : * Florida : * Statewide : * Date March 28, 2003 : * FLFL0303.28 : -Birds mentioned: : ++RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER**++ : ++LA SAGRA’S FLYCATCHER++ : ++EURASIAN KESTREL**++ (no reports) : BROWN BOODY : Surf Scoter : Long-tailed Duck : Short-tailed Hawk : SWAINSON’S HAWK : American Golden-Plover : Long-billed Curlew : BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER : GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE** : **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 03/28/03. 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. : LEON COUNTY : At the Spring Hill Sewage Treatment Plant a female SURF SCOTER was found in one of the holding ponds on Saturday 22nd and has been seen on a daily basis since then. You must ring the doorbell at the admin. bldg. for entrance into the plant. The SWT is located on Springhill Rd. by the Tallahassee Airport (B. Bergstrom & all). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 69 : WAKULLA COUNTY : At St. Marks NWR the LONG-TAILED DUCK that has wintered at Picnic Pond was still seen there on Saturday 22nd and on Thursday 27th (T. Curtis & J. Cavanagh). On Thursday 27th an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was found in a large flock of shorebirds that was seen south of the observation tower next to the Lighthouse on the flats (J. Cavanagh). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 76 : ORANGE COUNTY : There have been no reports this week of the EURASIAN KESTREL at Lake Apopka. It is unknown if the bird is still there or if people are still being allowed in on the weekends. : BREVARD COUNTY : An immature BROWN BOOBY has been hanging out on Pelican Island for the earlier in the week : PINELLAS COUNTY : The GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE at Honeymoon Island SRA was again seen on Wednesday 26th. 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!!(P. May, W. Yusek & all). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 121 : At Ft. DeSoto the LONG-BILLED CURLEW was seen on Wednesday 26th at North Beach, between the concession area and the footbridge (B. Ahern). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 126 : OSCEOLA COUNTY : A SWAINSON’S HAWK was seen on Saturday 22nd flying over Three Lakes WMA (D. Goodwin & all). DeLorme p. 95 : COLLIER COUNTY : A SHORT-TAILED HAWK was seen from the observation platform at Corkscrew Swamp on Thursday 27th (J. Joyal & D. Thurston). DeLorme p. 112; Pranty p. 155 : MIAMI-DADE COUNTY : A male RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER was first found on Tuesday 25th on Boca Chita Key by a park ranger Toby Obenauer, and then was relocated on Thursday 27th by a group of south Florida birders. When you arrive on the Island take the Bay side trail or west side over a wooden footbridge. 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 fruiton Thursday. 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. Photos, videotape and audiotape of the bird were taken to document this potential first North American record. The bird’s range includes the island of Cuba, where it could have been blown in from, due to the strong southeasterly winds, which have occurred throughout the month of March. There were no bands on the bird and it was in perfect alternate plumage. It seemed to favor the two large Sea Grapes in the area and appeared wild in nature while hopping and creeping amongst the limbs. Boca Chita Key is an island just north of Elliot Key; unfortunately there are no tour boats to the key so birders will have to make their own arrangements to get there for the time being. Also there is no fresh drinking water. If arrangements can be made to ferry birders to the island in an organized way an update will be posted ASAP. There is also a boat that does Snorkel trips near by that might be able to take birders over. 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 inquiring about taking birders over, Phone # 305-230-1100 (P. Bithorn & all). Delorme p. 119 : Photo link: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/Red-legged-Honey-Creeper1.jpg : Several people were able to search for the Honecreeper for only one hour on Friday morning and as of yet have not found it. They will make every attempt to go back to Boca Chita Key in the afternoon and on Saturday to look for it. : MONROE COUNTY : Inside Everglades NP a BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER was seen and heard calling at Mahogany Hammock on Tuesday 25th. DeLorme p. 121; Pranty p. 234 : On Key West at Indigenous Park an active LA SAGRA’S FLYCATCHER was seen on Wednesday 26th (D. Simpson). DeLorme p. 127; Pranty p. 258 : Another LA SAGRA’S FLYCATCHER was found at the Dry Tortugas NP [assuming on Garden Key] on Thursday 27th (D. Simpson). DeLorme p. 126; Pranty p. 262 : 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

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TROPICALAUDUBON.ORG WWWBoard ] [ FAQ ]