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Posted by Mark Adams on 20:22:40 05/31/10
After a wk of business in Miami, I spent Friday and Saturday, 28-29 May, birding around south FL. Friday started poorly: at dawn, I failed to find White-winged Parakeet at a couple locations near the Miami Airport that had been suggested; I did not see or hear a Mangrove Cuckoo at the Black Pt Marina canoe launch area (8-9:45 am); and I was unable to re-locate either the La Sagra's Flycatcher or Smooth-billed Ani at Royal Palm Hammock in the Everglades NP, despite careful searches around the visitor center (strangler fig et al), and on the Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo Trails. Like Brian Rapoza and others, though, I had nice views of an unexpected Northern Parula that was singing in a mahogany tree in the Royal Palm parking lot median. And though I struck out on my rarer target species, I saw and heard many interesting birds (Gray Kingbird, Black-whiskered Vireo et al) and had a fine time. I also bought some cool books at the visitor center (b4 the toll booth) & enjoyed a pineapple/coconut milkshake, fresh mango and bananas from the "Robert Is Here" roadside store near Homestead. Excellent!
My luck with target species changed in the afternoon: Pranty's ABA/Lane guide led me to success with Common Myna at the fast food restaurants in Homestead. Another great wilderness experience! :-)
I drove to Marathon & in late afternoon stopped at the adjacent parking lots of the Monroe County Marathon Government Center and the State of Florida Regional Service Center, enjoying great views of multiple Roseate Terns (a lifer) and Least Terns (always a great bird) as they flew to and from their rooftop nests on these buildings. Since it was after business hours, I walked behind the FL Regional Service Center and was able to watch the terns flying just above and diving into the water. Several Magnificent Frigatebirds soared past, and White-crowned Pigeons darted by at tree top level every few minutes.
I drove to the west end of the Marathon Airport at 7:30 pm and quickly heard then saw my first Antillean Nighthawk. A second Antillean soon arrived, and the 2 birds called and chased each other around the sky. Just after sunset, I had 3 Antillean Nighthawks and a Common Nighthawk calling for a few minutes.
I planned to start Saturday searching for Mangrove Cuckoo on Boot Key, a site noted by Pranty, but the bridge to the island was up and the road was marked "closed". So I drove to Big Pine Key and birded Long Beach Rd, seeing many birds, including Yellow-billed Cuckoo, but no Mangrove.
I visited No Name Key later, finding my first Reddish Egret (adult, dark morph) there and an unexpected Spotted Sandpiper. I hiked a good part of Paradise Rd, and again found Yellow-billed but no Mangrove Cuckoo.
At Lake Edna, on Grassy Key, I found my first Great White Heron, cooperatively standing still in plain view. I also had my only Wilson's Plover here.
A serious-looking FL thunderstorm developed while I was hiking the Golden Orb Trail at Long Key State Park. This storm included the stub of a funnel cloud that was trying to form and held my attention for 10 minutes. But the storm soon dissipated without consequence.
The most unexpected bird I saw at Long Key State Park was a female Belted Kingfisher.
On my way back north, I stopped at the Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, starting at the Port Bouganville entrance and hiking around the public parts of this impressive W Indian hardwood hammock. Butterflies were numerous, and the beautiful Julia Helliconia were downright abundant. I walked the open paved roads and followed the Nature Trail to its junction with a water-filled sinkhole. A 3-foot iguana decided to drop by while I was there and startled me. I suppose Floridians are used to these critters.
One of the Black-whiskered Vireos I studied at Dagny Johnson had 2 colored bands on each leg: red (near foot) and green (above) on the right leg; red (near foot) and silver (above) on the left leg.
Is this enough info to narrow down or determine where this vireo was banded?
If, like me, you prefer non-national-chain motels, I would recommend the Marathon motel where I spent Friday night: the Sea Dell. The motel staff recommended the Castaway Restaurant for dinner, and I would, too. It's off the main drag, but not hard to find, and I had a very good seafood dinner and service.
I lived and worked in Melbourne, FL from 1981-1994, though I was not a bird-watcher then, unfortunately. I formed the bird-watching habit in 1995, after relocating to the wilds of West Texas (Davis Mountains). Since then, I have had a couple brief opportunities to bird central and southern FL and have always had a great time. I hope to be back again sometime soon.
Regards,
Mark Adams
Charlottesville, VA
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