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Posted by Roxanne Featherly on 18:23:03 04/28/09
Although this report is a few days old (computer malfunction), the memories of a gorgeous day spent with good friends finding great birds are still fresh.
Strong winds and the closing of the 7 mile bridge in the Keys from 6:45AM to 9AM convinced Jocelyn, Gary and I to bird Key Largo Botanical State Park in hopes of finding a Mangrove Cuckoo. Once there we bumped into Carlos Sanchez. Our search produced singing WHITE-EYED and BLACK-WHISKERED VIREOS, BLACKPOLL WARBLER and a pair of WHITE-CROWNED PIDGEONS. No cuckoos. By this time we figured that the bridge would be cleared, so we car-pooled and headed for Key West in search of the Yellow-faced Grassquit.
On the way down we stopped at the Marathon Government Center buildings on the right on MM 48.5. Here we easily found a pair of ROSEATE and LEAST TERNS perched on the pilings along the shoreline. Although we could see distinquishing features with binoculars, a scope on the birds gave us great comparison looks of these two species: a white forehead against a black cap, yellow bill and legs, and dark outer primaries of the Least Tern; Red legs, black bill, black cap, white underparts with a faint rosy tinge, and considerably larger bird....the Roseate Tern. The Roseate Terns were Life Birds for Carlos and me.
Onward to Key West. As we drove through Big Pine Key, a late record BELTED KINGFISHER was sitting on a wire. Upon arriving at Ft. Zach around 1PM, we met several birders who had arrived much earlier in the morning. No one had seen the Yellow-faced Grassquit, but a FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER had been seen. As we stepped onto the nature trail, the first bird to pop into view was a beautiful male HOODED WARBLER. This was followed by WORM-EATING, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, REDSTART, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, BLACK and WHITE, BLACKPOLL, OVENBIRD, PARULA, PALM, PRAIRIE, AND CAPE MAY warblers. Also seen on the way to the Fork-tailed Flycatcher spot were INDIGO BUNTINGS AND BLACK-WHISKERED VIREOS.
At the end of the berm trail where it opens up, we saw a fellow birder wave us over to where he was standing about 20-30 feet away. Facing the fort, perched in a small tree behind a lone picnic table, sat the FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER on a branch on the right side of the tree, and a GRAY KINGBIRD on the left. The tail of the flycatcher was small, but a forked tail none-the-less. Chaulk up another Life bird for me, and one for Gary and Jocelyn. Carlos had the good fortune to see his Life Fork-tailed Flycather last fall at Pelican Island. Just before we stopped for lunch around 2PM Jocelyn spotted a MERLIN flying overhead. We had also spotted here, and on the way down to Key West, several MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS. More Redstarts, Palm, and Black and White Warblers were seen as we sat at a picnic table under the pines near the beach. After we ate lunch we checked out the nature trail and surrounding area one more time No Yellow-faced Grassquit, but we added WOOD THRUSH to our list.
Since we had just enough time before closing, we stopped at the Key West Botanical Gardens on Stock Island to look for the BAHAMA MOCKINGBIRD that had been reported the week before. Once in, we had about 40 minutes before closing time. I will have to return again to admire the plants, trees and orchids throughout the garden when I can spend more time. The first bird we saw upon entering the gardens was a perched, light juvenile BROAD-WINGED HAWK. We saw more Parulas, Redstarts, Black-throated Blues, Blackpolls and Indigo Buntings in this one spot designated by a large fruiting Gumbo Limbo and picnic table. Stretched out on the seat of the table and looking up was this one "lazy birder." Gary decided to try this bird watching technique, and agreed with Mr. Lazypants that this was the way-to-go to avoid "warbler neck." (Just kidding, Mr. Lazypants) We did not find the Bahmama Mockingbird nor spot the tanagers or grosbeaks reported earlier. Instead we ended our brief stay with excellent looks of a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH and another HOODED WARBLER; this time a beautiful female, olive above, bright yellow below, and long tail with conspicuous white spots. No Bahama Mockingbird was seen or heard, but the Louisiana Waterthrush gave us a total of 13 WARBLER species for the day!
Back on the road and headed for Miami, Gary's favorite bird, the BALD EAGLE, flew above and across the car between MM 30 and 31, and landed on top of a utility pole. We dropped Carlos off somewhere in Key Largo? at a Publix shopping center where he had left his car. Gary and Jocelyn drove me back to my house where we were treated to looks of my EASTERN-SCREECH OWL. One parent was sitting on top of the bedroom window hurricane shuttter keeping a sleepy, albeit "watchful" eye as the baby owl sat with its downy head poking out of the box just a few feet away. As Jocelyn said, this was a great way to end a wonderful day of birding!
And remember....
DRIVE FAST
BIRD LIKE CRAZY
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