Posted by Robin Diaz on November 16, 2003 at 14:00:43:
This morning I poked around Lucky Hammock (Frog Pond WMA) and the Annex (Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area). The habitat at East Lucky (east side of Aerojet Road) is much better than last year and should be very productive this season.
A Cooper's Hawk kept things subdued, but there were some interesting birds. Best bird of the morning was a Bell's Vireo in East Lucky. The broken eye ring was faint, but visible; there was uninterrupted medium/light yellow wash along sides, flanks and undertail coverts; and weak but distinct wing bars. It was shy, but fairly easy to follow because it constantly bobbed and flicked its tail. It did not vocalize. A White-eyed Vireo hangs out in same area for comparison.
I could not find Mark Berney's Clay-colored Sparrows, but I did see Savannah, Lark and Lincoln's. There was also a Least Flycatcher.
Best bird in the Annex was a (late) Rose-breasted Grosbeak. My first look was directly into the sun and the bird immediately flew across road. I could not find it, but stopped later on my way out and it was ~40 ft. from the road. I got a good look, except for the center of the breast. It has a pale orange wash, bicolor bill and medium streaking.
Other birds of interest: Broad-winged Hawk mixed in large kettle of vultures, Brown Thrasher, 2 American Pipits, abundant buntings (both species) and 7 warbler species, including Magnolia, Orange-crowned, Northern Waterthrush and Yellow-breasted Chat. The Vermilion Flycatcher is still at the Greenway and there were 2 Western Kingbirds at Flynn's.
Locations: Bell's Vireo and Least Flycatcher -> East Lucky, north of the dirt track; Lincoln's Sparrow -> same except south of track; Lark Sparrow -> south side of hammock proper; Rose-breasted Grosbeak -> between Southern Glades sign and residence driveway.