Posted by Paul Bithorn on November 26, 2003 at 20:58:03:
The previously reported Black Scoters (Steve Siegel, Alex, Bill Boeringer) continue to be seen between the mainland and the toll booth on the Broad Causeway. I saw a single female within 25 yards from the south side of the Broad Causeway (N.W. 125th Street)drift north under the bridge. There is a park with a boardwalk to the south of N.W. 125th Street, just before the causeway, where the Scoters may be seen. I accidentally passed the turnoff and scoped the bird from the causeway itself. The toll is $.50 cents and you can turn around at the tollbooth and pay another $.50 if you pass the turnoff. The Scoters could be on either side of the causeway. This was the first Black Scoter I had seen in Miami-Dade County since December 1985, when I almost had a heart attack when my CBC group found a male in a manmade rockpit at Amelia Earhart Park on December 21, 1985. Several more Black Scoters were seen on Virginia Key, Key Biscayne that winter during an irruption year for this species.
On the way back to my office, scouting for my CBC count in Opa-Locka on Saturday, December 20, 2003, I found a pair of Burrowing Owls outside of Opa-Locka Airport. Go to the intersection of N.W. 139th Street (Fisherman Rd.) and N.W. 38th Avenue(Bennett Rd.) and look to the east. You will see bright yellow fire hydrants. Park adjacent to them and walk east until you see some pink flags. This marks the nest site. Please do not harass the birds. Life is good...............................knowing that a Lapland Longspur may be on the horizon in Viera tomorrow.