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Posted by Toe on 07:59:54 11/20/09
I went to Virginia Key Beach Park yesterday in the afternoon to do a sea watch. On the way to the beach area, I made a couple of stops along the road to look for other stuff. About 1 1/4 mile past the guard shack there is a sign on the right that reads Virginia Key Hammock and a red arrow. Across from the sign, on the left side of the road, there is a small trail between some grassy areas. About 50 ft. in there is a old boat with some Australian Pines and other trees. I found a very interesting Empid in the first Australian Pine on the right. It had a VERY PROMINENT teardrop eye ring behind the eye. The greenish color on the back, dark wings and tail, light wingbars, NOTCHED TAIL, and somewhat long primaries seem to point to a Hammond's Flycatcher. I saw the one at Hal Scott Preserve, but I just don't have as much experience with this species to call this one "on the fly."
Virginia Key Beach Park is located on Rickenbacker Causeway after the large bridge just past Mast Academy on your left. There is a $1.50 toll at the entrance to the causeway, and a $5.00 fee to the park. I didn't see anything interesting on the water except for hordes of gannets heading south.
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