Posted by Paul Bithorn on December 13, 2003 at 19:58:28:
Highlights of a whirlwind day of birding were a Lark Sparrow in the small oaks around the playground at Larry & Penny Thompson around 8 a.m., Bonaparte's Gull at Convoy Point in Biscayne National Park, a Yellow-breasted Chat at Lucky Hammock and two calling Barred Owls at the lookout on the canal at the end of the Annex road from Lucky Hammock and dark morph Short-tailed Hawks were all over the place.
Four hours (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) were spent looking for the Purple Sandpiper at Convoy Point. High Tide was around 12 noon. Besides the Bonaparte's Gull, new birds not seen yesterday were Least Sandpipers and Black-bellied Plover. Don't be discouraged Alex...... nothing ventured-nothing gained.
Found a Royal Tern standing on a rock past the end of the jetty at Convoy Point with a metal band on the right leg. Notified Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel Maryland on-line with as many numbers as I could read. Will post their response when I get it. Unfortunately, I could not get the tern to turn so I could get all of the numbers.
Life is good.................when birding on a picture perfect day.