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Posted by Ken Blankenship on 23:31:26 04/02/09
Hi, folks. Looking forward to my first South Florida birding adventure this weekend and the first half of next week. The trip out to Key West/Dry Tortugas will have to wait until next time ($$$). However, I was wondering if it will be too early to make it worth going halfway for possible arriving Antillean Nighthawk at Marathon. Please let me know - all the resources I'm using seem to point to later in April as key arrival time but even a few early birds would make it worth it. Recent posts... and prevailing winds over the weekend... have me hoping for some nice migrant waves down there as well as your awesome specialties.
I am a fairly experienced travel-birder, and as such I've learned that no amount of ListServ lurking, ABA/Lane Guide reading, etc. can substitute for good, friendly advice from local birders on the ground. Therefore, I'll go ahead and post a list of "priority species" below. Maybe I've already picked up on the best spots using on-line and print resources for a lot of this stuff... but I am very appreciative of personal tips, landmarks, lesser-known spots, etc. Of course, I'm throwing in a few wild-and-crazy rarities just for karma and conjuring sake ;) Hope to meet some of you in the field!
Smooth-billed Ani
Florida Scrub-Jay
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Spot-breasted Oriole
Black-whiskered Vireo
Mangrove Cuckoo
Common Myna
Red-crowned Parrot
White-crowned Pigeon
Antillean Nighthawk
Short-tailed Hawk
Snail Kite
Roseate Tern
Bananaquit
Western Spindalis
La Sagra's Flycatcher
Thick-billed Vireo
Bahama Swallow
Bahama Mockingbird
Loggerhead Kingbird
...OK, this is getting out of hand. Just promise me everyone will blow the conch when a Code 4 bird shows up down there :)
Thanks!!!
Ken Blankenship
Marietta, GA (Cobb County)
http://www.wingsoverga.com
770-317-8486 (cell - I'll have it on!)
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