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Posted by Jocelyn on 20:35:44 04/04/10
Finally Gary and I saw the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow yesterday, Saturday morning around 8:15 A.M. approximately 1/2 mile south of Mahogany Hammock.
We ran into Judd and another birder, Bob, who had a scope, and we all were able to get good looks at a sparrow perched at the top of the grass and singing! There were two other birds, also perched and singing, but were too far away to be sure they were the Cape Sable. Finally this third bird popped up much closer. All three birds were on the east side of the road.
We also got a sweet look at the two young Barred Owls in Mahoganny Hammock.
While on vacation last week and on our way up to Gainesville we did some birding along the west coast in places we had not visited yet. Here are some highlights:
Babcock Webb Wildlife Management Area - Red-cockaded Woodpeckers close up, along with Brown-headed Nuthatches, Bluebirds.
We had the pleasure of meeting Leon and Lois White in Alva, Florida. While stopped to enjoy their birdfeeders in the front yard, they graciously invited us to go around back and see what else might be around. At the time, there were Indigo Buntings, American Goldfinches, Chipping Sparrows and Northern Parulas around their home. We then went in search of Red-Headed Woodpeckers, which eluded us the entire trip!
Oscar Sherer State Park - Florida Scrub Jays - two right at the entrance of a trail, one of which tried to land on Gary's hat. Talk about a close encounter!
Fort DeSoto Park - (See Dan's earlier report)- Right away next to the Headquarter's building we had Hooded, Prothonotary, Tennessee, and Black & White warblers all in the same tree!! What a great start! The Hooded warblers were everywhere!! even some out on the beach! Also seen were both Waterthrushes, Worm-eating,Palm, Yellow-throated, Yellow-rumped and No. Parula warblers. At East Beach we also had Oyster Catchers, Marbled Godwits, Black Skimmers, Forster's Tern along with the Laughing and Ring-billed Gulls.Considering the variety of birds all over the park already, the TAS group coming up in two weeks should have an awesome time!
While in Gainesville we enjoyed birding the La Chua Trail in Paynes Prairie, where we watched two Brown Thrashers building a nest together, and visited the Morningside Nature Center on Route 26, which has beautiful trails and a working farm on its grounds. I don't think we've ever seen so many Eastern Towhees in one place before!
Thanks Brian, again, for your wonderful book, Birding Florida. It had all the directions and details needed to help us have a great time.
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