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Posted by John Kellam on 09:22:03 05/05/08
Hello. I arrived at Key West yesterday morning (05/04/2008) with the necessary supplies to camp at Fort Jefferson for three days - including an inflatable boat, so that I had the option of paddling near Long Key for potentially better views of the Red-footed Booby. At the dock waiting to board the Yankee Freedom, I bumped into Bruce Mack of South Carolina a great birder and fun guy to bird with. We searched for White-tailed Tropicbirds and planned our RFBO strategies en route to the fort. Once there, we quickly located a Black Noddy at the north coaling docks (the BLNO(s) favor the northernmost pilings adjacent to the northernmost horizontal wood beam structure; best viewed in late afternoon) and scanned the trees at Long Key for the Red-footed Booby. A birder from PA joined our search and quickly directed my scope to a bare snag surrounded by bushes that is just NE (left) of the center of the line of trees/bushes on Long Key at middle canopy height on the snag sat the Red-footed Booby (@ 11:15 am). I was told that this has been the birds favored perch for the last couple of days after a series of strong wind events. I patiently watched the RFBO @ 60X until I eventually saw enough detail to identify it as a RFBO I wanted a better view I later saw a zodiac boat with three guys in it preparing to launch from the landing beach and head back to their sailboat I hurried over to them and explained that a rare bird that Bruce & I had traveled quite far to see was hanging out in a tree on Long Key that we had poor views of it at the fort and would be willing to give them $40 to take us over there for only a brief minute or two" They said O.K.! Soon Bruce & I had stunning views of the RFBO while keeping a safe distance from the bird and drifting within the bay. The three guys then dropped us back off at shore - accepted no $$$ - and told us they really enjoyed learning about the RFBO, the names of the birds surrounding us and about the people who go through great lengths to see rare birds. Great Bird. Great People. Great Trip. John
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