[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Robin Diaz on 14:18:40 12/27/08
The 9th Long Pine Key CBC was conducted Monday, 22 December and as usual, it was fantastic. We gathered 109 species, with quality birds. There were no new scrapes in the restoration areas this year so we were short on shorebirds and ducks but the 568 Gray Catbirds rocked the house from 6:30-7:30 AM! We had 15 warbler and 5 woodpecker species. Lesser Nighthawk is becoming harder to find on Research Road and we had to settle for a Count Week (CW) bird. Other CW birds: White-tailed Kite, Sora, Broad-winged Hawk and Least Flycatcher. We snagged 2 of the 3 available Brown-crested Flycatchers, while Rafael and Carlos worked hard to keep our Whip-poor-will streak unbroken.
In the raptor department, we had Snail Kite at its usual location, Bald Eagle (3 immature birds), Northern Harrier (11), Sharp-shinned (2), Cooper's (2), Red-shouldered (66), Short-tailed (6), Swainson's and Red-tailed (2) Hawks, American Kestrel (8), Merlin (2), Peregrine Falcon (2), Barn, Eastern Screech (2), Great Horned (2) and Barred (10) Owls.
Other than the disappointing low Snowy Egret count (4), the waders seem to be on track with other years. The 2,410 Red-winged Blackbirds seemed to lift off at the same time, as did the 1,892 Boat-tailed Grackles. The American Woodcock display area has been burned but 4 birds were seen along Research Road very early and late.
Many thanks to all the wonderful participants for starting early and working late to make this count a great success.
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]