Posted by Henrik Druid on May 09, 2001 at 11:52:51:
Encouraged by the posting by Paul Bithorn, I headed to John U. Lloyd State Park this morning, 8.15-9.15:
Leache´s Storm-Petrel 2 going S
Gannets 15, all subad/juv, mostly going N
Arctic Tern 2 going N
Sandwich " 2 going N
Royal " 40 going N
Least " 24 going N
Frigatebirds 10
Brown Pelicans 15
Y-c Night-Heron 1
Thank you, Paul, for your posting. I was standing, sheltered from the wind, behind the seagrapes on the northernmost part of the park and had most of the birds pretty close (except for the gannets). This was certainly a very good spot.
One of the Leache´s had reduced amount of white on the rump. A couple of the "gannets" looked different, so I was considering booby, but the distance was too long. I have made some unsuccessful attempts to watch pelagics from Key Biscayne and South Beach previously, but I believe the water around there is too shallow, reducing the waves, not providing the necessary upwinds for petrels et al.