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Posted by Steve Fox on 12:03:43 04/21/09
Hello all,
I just wanted to thank everone for the any tips/intel sent my way, greatly appreciated. Nice to be back in my old stompin' grounds! We started in the Tampa area and worked our way south the Keys/glades, and lastly made the northen migration up the FL east coast. It was a fantastic trip with 151 birds and 17 lifers for me. We saw ALL of our target species, most being excellent views of. I won't note the entire list but some birds included SMOOTH-BILLED ANIS(3), BLACK-WHISKERED VIREOS(4), FLORIDA SCRUB JAYS(2), MANGROVE CUCKOO(2), SNAIL(4)+WHITE-TAILED KITES(2), WHITE CROWNED- PIDGEONS(15+), RED KNOTS(170), WORM-EATING WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER and many, many others.
The Smooth-billed Ani viewing was great but was a bittersweet viewing for us. Realizing that this may possibly be the last semi-stable family of SBA's in the US who encounter lots of urban industrial/people pressure, we used the "Ol' stake out method" (no recordings, lots of time, intel and patience). At the very last hour prior to us leaving, the long wait payed off and produced some great morning sun-basking shots.
Evidently the scrub/castor bean field (6th ave/OG rd) under the powerlines where they've been seen in the recent past had been cleared a week before so it's amazing they're even surviving in that limited habitat. They seem to be doing well with what they have though. I'm told there are anywhere from 6-8 birds but we saw only three that day. Anyone have any intel on plans to establish a breeding program for SBA's? Hopefully we'll see success stories there and in LOX in the near future. Anyway, thanks again everyone and give me a yell if you need any birding intel along coastal Georgia. Take care
Steve Fox
Savannah GA
sfox01@hotmail.com
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