Posted by David LaPuma on September 02, 2003 at 10:54:37:
Rock Jetty and I headed down to Key West on a pre-UHBM Tortugas scouting trip (and we were dying to possibly see the Yellow-green Vireo). We did find most of the "expected" birds in their "expected locations", and were treated to a few suprises, most notably the wet area at the west end of the Marathon Airport. Wading in the flodded grass were over a dozen Pectoral Sandpipers, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, a single Solitary Sandpiper (how appropriate), two Short-billed Dowitchers, Several Black-bellied Plovers, three Semipalmated Plovers, and two Mallard Ducks. If it stays wet (it usually is) this could be a great place for a Phalarope to stop over on its way south.
We also picked up three Piping Plovers at Ohio Key, mixed with a half-dozen more Semipalmated (both Plovers and Sandpipers).
Indigenous Park was hopping with the same birds that Larry mentioned in yesterday's post. Mark Hedden met us at the gate to help us in our quest, and although We DID see a "yellowish-greenish" vireo, it was too quick and too poor of a look to call. We did not see any Red-eyed Vireos for sure either which struck me as weird. Black-whiskered were the obvious dominant of the Vireonidae. R.J. picked up several life birds, including both races of Yellow Warbler, and Prothonotary warbler, and then both Yellow and Prothonotary in the same view! This called for a celebration, and so we took early retirement to The Wreck, on Grassy Key, for a couple of grouper sandwiches and a cold draft Key West Sunset Ale...or three. Bring on the Tortugas!
Cheers
David