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Posted by Ken Blankenship on 08:30:57 04/10/09
Hi, folks. First off, if ANYONE is able to verify the Thick-billed Vireo sigting, please post to TAS Birdboard ASAP... or, just as importantly, if a thorough attempt is fruitless let us know. I have Saturday "open" though technically I was going to drive back to Georgia tomorrow... but for that kind of rarity, I'll make an exception :)
Second, the mis-identification of the KING RAIL at Shark Valley (not "Alley," oops) is one of those humbling reminders that everyone makes mistakes. Keeping all factors in mind, all the time, is the challenge of what we do - time, place, migration, habitat, behavior, feeding, breeding, etc., etc. And the one major factor that just slipped my mind being in unfamiliar territory was habitat. In fact, it reminded me of a situation which now has me eating humble pie. At our biggest birding festival (Colonial Coast, in October, you gotta come sometime), one of the participants came to show off a digiscoped pair of "King Rails" that he took. I was talking with a GOS officer at the time, and we said hello and checked out his photos. I quizzed him about where he saw it - specifically, on which side of the dike at our state's best waterfowl wetlands (Altamaha WMA). He described a spot that put the birds in the tidal spartina marsh, NOT in the freshwater cattail-dominated areas. Later, I told my colleague - "You know those were Clappers, right? We never get Kings on that side, and they looked like Clappers, too. Kings in the fresh, Clappers in the salt. That's OK, he doesn't know that and it wasn't worth challenging him, would seem rude." And yet, the same person being glib in that instance made the exact same mistake the other day! Live, learn, repeat ;)
Yesterday I made a second attempt at the Ft. Lauderdale Anis. After a thorough walk up and down the canal, I drove over the bridge and across the street to the entrance to a large botanical farm. I called 411 and got their number and called to try to get permission to bird over there. The gentleman was very nice, but said it's an insurance risk so no way. But he also told me that a day use area on US 27 was great for Snail Kite, so I was glad I called! Something made me want to make another try for the Anis. I parked again, got out, and started scanning the scrubby lot across the canal to see if I could find them sunning. I could not. Just then, the signature raspy sound of Ani came from behind me! I wheeled around just in time to see a train of one, two, three, then four SMOOTH-BILLED ANIS come flop-flying across the road and perched literally next to my car in some exposed bare branches!!! They fluffed up, looking around and blinking like good little Anis should - I love Anis! One hopped over to get a little grooming from his/her buddy... and all the while my shutter release was snapping as fast as it could. In less than three minutes, one by one, they moved 30 yards down through the scrubby edge and disappeared. If I had not been standing right there, right then, I would have missed them. Incredible experience.
I headed over to U.S. 27 and found at least four SNAIL KITES cruising around over the marsh! Also seen here were many COMMON GROUND-DOVES, a NORTHERN HARRIER, a juvenile BALD EAGLE, GLOSSY IBIS, and other more common marsh birds.
From there, I headed north in search of my last major quarry - Short-tailed Hawk, I drove US 27, always keeping my eyes on the skys, hoping to get lucky. I did spot tons of vultures (whoo-hoo!), a few RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, a RED-TAILED HAWK, many OSPREY, and even a soaring CRESTED CARACARA north of Clewiston. Ended up searching in the state forest where they are known to nest east of Avon Park, but I never found one. Hey - you gotta have a few misses on birding trips so you'll come back :) Lounging SANDHILL CRANES in various pastures and a cute group of NORTHERN BOBWHITES crossing the road on my way to visit family in Seminole were a nice way to end the day.
Ken Blankenship
Marietta, GA (Cobb County)
currently in Seminole, FL (Pinellas County)
http://www.wingsoverga.com
770-317-8486 (cell)
p.s. - If anyone knows of a reliable Short-tailed Hawk between St. Pete and Ocala, or anywhere within 45 minutes of there, please give me a call, thanks!
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