Posted by Stefan on May 19, 2003 at 14:17:23:
Fresh from the my Keys/Tortugas trip last weekend:
At Windley Key, BLACK-WHISKERED VIREOS (10+) were all over the place. A few Prairie Warblers, Redstarts and an immature White-eyed Vireo were lingering present.
In Key West, Ft. Zachary Taylor only yielded Sandwich and Least Terns. The Roseates reported here a couple of weeks ago could not not be relocated.
At the Dry Tortugas, a few migrants (mostly immatures)were hanging around in the Fort: A BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (first spotted by RaulU, later relocated by myself), Prairie Warblers and Redstarts. There also was a well-fed Merlin. Definitely no Honeycreeper around any more. On Busch Key, thousands of breeding Brown Noddies and Sooty Terns plus hordes of Magnificent Frigatebirds. On Hospital Key, a good 12 Masked Boobies. Unfortuately, the Black Noddy did not show itself on Sunday, yet I was told that it was seen on Saturday.
On the way back, I checked the Publix parking lot for the Slaty-Backed Gull, but to no avail. Bt the way, an out-of-state birder had reported about 10 Antillean Nighthawks there Saturday night.
As you are passing through Big Pine Key, check out the Pilot Whale rescue site right when you leave the key (on your left, going towards Key West). There are still about 7 in this facility and they are easy to observe. You may even be lucky to attend a feeding session.
The timing was right to check for nighthawks at Marathon airport shortly after sunset. Both ANTILLEAN and COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were present.