Posted by Brian Ahern on May 02, 2003 at 16:06:03:
RBA
* Florida
* Statewide
* Date May 2, 2003
* FLFL0305.02
-Birds mentioned:
++RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER**++
++WHITE-TIPPED DOVE**++
++SLATY-BACKED GULL**++
++ELEGANT TERN**++
++RED-FOOTED BOOBY**++
++LA SAGRA’S FLYCATCHER++
Audubon’s Shearwater
Canada Goose
SWAINSON’S HAWK
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER
White-rumped Sandpiper
Bridled Tern
ROSEATE TERN
Gull-billed Tern
Black-billed Cuckoo
ANTILLEAN NIGHTHAWK
“CARIBBEAN” SHORT-EARED OWL
Philadelphia Vireo
Golden-winged Warbler
“AUDUBON’S” Yellow-rumped Warbler
Canada Warbler
Swainson’s Warbler
White-crowned Sparrow
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
Dickcissel
Shiny Cowbird
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 05/02/03. 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.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
BAIRD’S & WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were found at the county holding ponds in Ft. Walton Beach on Friday 2nd. (A. Knothe).
FRANKLIN COUNTY
On St. George Island SP at the Youth Camp four DICKCISSELS were seen resting in the top of an oak on the little ridge that runs parallel to the road from the restroom area and reportedly a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was also seen in the area on Saturday 26th (J. Chapman). Monday 28th a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was found in the back area of the camp (near the closed area) (J. Bass). DeLorme p. 60/61; Pranty p. 61
BREVARD COUNTY
A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen at Turkey Creek Sanctuary in Palm Bay along with many species of warblers on Saturday 26th. The sparrow was also seen again on Wednesday 30th (S. & B. Hills & all). DeLorme p. 88/96; Pranty p. 181
POLK COUNTY
SHORT-TAILED HAWKS were seen from Walk-in-Water Road 1.1 miles south of Tiger Creek on Monday 28th. One dark morph adult started soaring over the road at 8:45 and was joined shortly by a light morph immature. Another dark morph adult appeared at the top of a kettle of vultures just west of Jennings Fish Camp on Watkins Rd at 9:50. (B. & L. Cooper). DeLorme p. 94
PINELLAS COUNTY
On Saturday 26th at Ft. DeSoto a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was associating with a flock of 25 or so Indigo Buntings and Blue Grosbeaks in the Radio Tower Area and five fly-over CANADA GEESE were seen on the eastern side of the park, also four DICKCISSELS were reported along the road to East Beach (R. & L. Smith). Later in the afternoon another DICKCISSEL was found with the group of buntings and grosbeaks at the Tower Area (T. Rodriguez & all). On Tuesday 29th a PHILADELPHIA VIREO was found at the Arrowhead picnic area circle and a SHINY COWBIRD was seen next to the road when you leave the East Beach parking lot the day before (L. Atherton & all). A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen Wednesday 30th in the Arrowhead picnic area. About 30 yards from where the loop starts (red 'No Swimming sign is there) as your driving or walking in, look to your left. Thru the trees is a white sand clearing. It has a bunch of 'Rosemary Scrub' signs in it. Standing in the middle of the clearing with your back to the road, look right. It was in the brush next to a path leading to a picnic table. It could also be described as behind restroom #6, which is the second one around the loop (D. Richardson). DeLorme p. 90; Pranty p. 126
At Lake Seminole Park a SWAINSONS WARBLER, was seen 2/3 of the way down the berm along the lake on Saturday 26th (J. Fisher & R. Smart). DeLorme p. 90
LEE COUNTY
On Sanibel Island MANGOVE CUCKOOS have been seen and heard calling along the wildlife drive at Ding Darling NWR. Early morning is best for a chance to see or hear them (M. Brady). DeLorme p. 110; Pranty p. 191
COLLIER COUNTY
Three WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, one GULL-BILLED TERN and six BRONZED COWBIRDS were reported from Eagle Lakes Community Park in Naples on Sunday 27th (V. Lucas). DeLorme p. 111
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
A LA SAGRA’S FLYCATCHER was found Sunday afternoon 27th at A. D. Barnes Park. It was found on the nature trail. Follow the trail behind the buildings, taking the unpaved path going off to the left (this path links up to the paved trail further on). The La Sagra's was spending most of its time close to the beginning of this unpaved path. The bird was heard calling too (B. Mathys & A. Kirschel & all). The La Sagra’s was seen again in the same area on Monday 28th (M. Reid). DeLorme p. 119; Pranty p. 222
A male GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was found at Cape Bill Baggs Cape SP on Thursday 1st. It was with the group of warblers that were mostly in the hammocks around the bike path and the dirt road (M. Davis).
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
SHINY COWBIRDS can still be found around Flamingo, lately they have been seen close to the lodge. Over Mazrek Pond a juvenile intermediate phase SWAINSON’S HAWK was seen soaring on Sunday 27th (M. Reid & L. Manfredi). DeLorme p. 123; Pranty p. 234
MONROE COUNTY
The SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen again at the Publix parking lot on Key West on Saturday 26th, and on Wednesday 30th between 8am & 8:45am (B. Wallace & P. Rice). A CARRIBEAN SHORT-EARED OWL was seen at Fort Zach at 8:10am Monday 28th morning. It was flushed from the middle of the trash pile at the end of the vacant field beyond the fort (B. Wallace). An ANTILLEAN NIGHTHAWK was seen/heard in Fort Zachary Taylor SP just before
dusk on Thrusday 1st. (J. Puschock). DeLorme p. 126; Pranty p. 258
DRY TORTUGAS
A RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER first found on Tuesday 29th on Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas, was spotted and photographed by Murray Gardner and crew, and also by NPS biologist Sonny Bass and Elsa Alvear. Since then it has been seen on a daily basis all over the island, on the parade grounds, within the line of seagrape trees and the Geiger Tree seem to be the best place to look for it. It is a beautiful metallic blue and the black markings were easily observed. This represents only the second report of a Red-legged Honeycreeper for North American, with the first one being reported only a month ago off of Key Biscayne in Dade County. The WHITE-TIPPED DOVE and BLACK NODDY have been seen almost everyday this past week. The Black Noddy is usually seen on the North Coaling Docks on Garden Key; late afternoon seems best. On Saturday 26th a DICKCISSEL was also seen on Garden Key, plus seven WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS (M. Gardler & all). An “AUDUBON'S” YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was seen on Garden Key on Sunday 27th (B. Percival) and a CANADA WARBLER was seen later in the week (J. Puschock). An ELEGANT TERN was seen on the boat dock on Loggerhead Key on Wednesday 30th (E. Alvear). An immature RED-FOOTED BOOBY was seen at the Marquesas Keys the same day and on Monday 28th (B. Wallace & D. Richardson). AUDUBON’S SHEARWATERS, BRIDLED TERNS, ROSEATE TERNS have been sighting during the ferry trips to and from the Tortugas. Day trips to the Dry Tortugas can be arranged through: www.yankeefreedom.com 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