Posted by Brian Ahern on January 09, 2004 at 14:21:29:
RBA
* Florida
* Statewide
* Date January 9, 2004
* FLFL0401.09
-Birds mentioned:
++BREWER'S SPARROW**++ probable
PACIFIC LOON
EARED GREBE
BRANT
Short-tailed Hawk
Long-billed Curlew
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD**
BELL'S VIREO
Least Flycatcher
VERMILION FLYCATCHER
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Winter Wren
Nashville Warbler
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER**
Wilson's Warbler
"Slate-colored" Junco
Clay-colored Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK
**This is a review species in Florida. Any details of sightings should be sent to the FOS Records Committee at the address given at the end of this report
Hotline: FLORIDA RARE BIRD REPORT
to report e-mail: BrianAhern@aol.com
compiler: Brian Ahern
transcriber: Same
This is Brian Ahern reporting the Florida Rare Bird Alert for 01/09/04. Reports are followed by coordinates from the DeLorme Florida Atlas & Gazetteer and the page number of Bill Pranty's ABA guide "A Birder's Guide to Florida" when possible.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
The an adult male BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD that was banded by Fred Bassett in Pensacola continues to be seen. It is at the Bowman home at 7980 Boyd Avenue, Pensacola at (850) 494-2346. Permission has been granted by the homeowner to post this for birders. 7980 Boyd Avenue From the east: From I-10 take the first exit north after crossing Escambia Bay. Drive north to Olive Road and turn west on Olive. After passing the intersection with 9th avenue, you will turn left on Boyd Avenue. According to my outdated Pensacola map, that would be the second left. Yo u are looking for the home of Glenda Bowman. From the west: Exit I-10 on Davis Highway and go north to Olive Road. Turn right (east). Turn south on Boyd Avenue. If you get to the intersection of 9th Avenue and Olive, turn around and go back (fide L. & B. Duncan). DeLorme p. 42
A BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK has been coming to a feeder in north Pensacola since 20 Dec. The bird is frequenting the feeder of Brenda Francisco, 8867 Shoal Creek Ct., Pensacola, FL 32514 She works full time, but is willing to have visiting birders try for the bird. You may come along the fenceline, or enter her backyard and sit quietly on the patio 'though it will take the birds a long time to get used to your presence and come back to feed, she said. DIRECTIONS: In Pensacola go north on Davis Highway past University Mall and just north of West Florida Hospital. Turn left into the Shoal Creek subdivision and take the first left which is a cul-de-sac. Her home is the middle unit of the three-unit condo that is at the very middle end of the cul-de sac. The unit on the right (as you face the home) is vacant and you can go in that back yard. The backyard is tiny and backed with a small wooded patch behind where the bird hangs out. The homeowner has cats that are friendly and apparently don't bother the birds. If you do go to try and see the Grosbeak, please be sure to close any gates and be respectful of neighbors. (fide L. & B. Duncan). DeLorme p. 42
A PACIFIC LOON that was found near the west end of the Lillian Bridge (US 98) has been seen again several times this week. It is hanging out at Ft. Pickens along the wall area both east and west of the fishing pier (S.P. McCool). DeLorme p. 42; Pranty p. 46
Both the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW & LARK SPARROW continue to be seen at Ft. Pickens (A. Knothe & all). Inside the fort in front of 'stop # 12' there is a weedy hill, this is where the sparrows have been found. The probable BREWER'S SPARROW was last seen in the thicket just to the west of and adjacent to the last green and white two story park house (L. & B. Duncan). DeLorme p. 42; Pranty p.46
Up to five 'SLATE COLORED" JUNCOS have been seen at the I-10 rest area just east of the Apalachicola River - Earl W. Scarborough Park (S. Backes & all). DeLorme p.32
OKALOOSA COUNTY
On the 3rd at the Ft. Walton Beach County Landfill a WINTER WREN was found down the power line road at the Landfill, the two EARED GREBES are still in the City Holding Pond, and a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was found on Timberlake Road (A. Knothe). DeLorme p. 44; Pranty p. 52
WAKULLA COUNTY
Thursday 8th, at St. Marks Lighthouse a SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was present in the marsh on the ocean side of the north dike. Park at the lighthouse and walk the shore on your right, perhaps 100 yards to a large oak tree 20+yards short of the rock jetty. The bird was just short of the oak tree half way between the ocean on the left and the shrubs on the right. Highlights included an orange superciliary with thin gray lines and rather wide discrete dark streaks on the underparts-especially on the sides. Breast was very light buff in color. The bird flew into a bush but quicky reappeared in response to sqeaking. Three Nelson's Sharptails were also present back toward the lighthouse in the marsh (J. Cavanagh). DeLorme p. 50; Pranty p. 76
LEON COUNTY
On the 4th, at Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park off of U.S. Highway 27 (N. Monroe St.) in Tallahassee, a WINTER WREN was found on the nature trail near the bridge crossing (D. & S. Jue). DeLorme p. 50/34
ALACHUA COUNTY
There have been no sightings of the BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD for over the last week and a half. The CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD has not been seen in the last week either.
BREVARD COUNTY
A LONG-BILLED CURLEW was spotted at Canaveral National Seashore on Tuesday 6th, at about 10:30am. It was at marker #31 on the beach which is south of parking lot #5 (K. Hunter). DeLorme p. 82
Three BRANTS were seen at Pelican Island over the weekend, however later attempts to locate them have been unsuccessful. They had been hanging out in a location to the right (west) and readily visible from the observation tower. To get to the tower: In Brevard County, on the Atlantic coast (highway A1A), just south of Sebastian Inlet State Park is a turnoff called Jungle Trail. Follow signs to the Pelican Island Preserve and the tower which overlooks the Island. When looking at the right side of the Island (west), look between the shore and a mushroom shaped Mangrove (R. Book). DeLorme p. 88
SARASOTA COUNTY
On Saturday the two SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS were present again on Sidell Road north of Route 72, 13 miles east of entrance to Myaaka SP (B. & S. Slayton). DeLorme p. 97/98
COLLIER COUNTY
On the 4th, a dark morph SHORT-TAILED HAWK was seen soaring over Corkscrew Sanctuary in Naples (V. Lucas & all). DeLorme p. 112; Pranty p. 203
BROWARD COUNTY
The MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER was observed from 9:00 to 9:05 Sunday moring at Tree Tops Park, Davie, Fla. It was calling from the eastern end of the long brush pile at 9:00am (W. George). DeLorme p. 115; Pranty p. 216
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
A BELL'S VIREO was seen at Luck Hammock on the 5th. Take the dirt path on east side of Aerojet Road until it ends at plowed field. Turn north (left) and continue along the edge until a large ficus-type tree is to the left. The bird sticks with a White-eyed Vireo and seems to prefer the taller vegetation. Look for its constant tail twitching and flicking. Also seen at Lucky Hammock were two LEAST FLYCATCHERS (R. Diaz). DeLorme p. 122
The NASHVILLE WARBLER is still being seen in Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP. Park in the lighthouse parking lot and enter the Pond Trail (dirt path) from the south end. Bear left, away from the restricted area. Continue ~ 30 yards, using a dead coconut palm trunk as a reference. The flock using this area consists of ~12 Palm Warblers, White-eyed Vireo, Orange-crowned Warbler, Northern Parula, Nashville Warbler and several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. To reach BBCFSP, take Rickenbacker Causeway (toll) to the end and drive as far south as you can in the park, without turning west (toward bay). Park entrance is $5 per car (R. Diaz). DeLorme p. 119; Pranty p.222
On Tuesday 6th, a WILSON'S WARBLER was found at A.D. Barnes Park. DeLorme p. 119; Pranty p. 222
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
The VERMILION FLYCATCHER continues to be seen along the south side of the Miami-Dade Greenway about a mile from the entrance to Everglades NP. On the 3rd a LINCOLN'S SPARROW was found along road edge in campground area, across from sign that reads B 41-48, in Campground “B” loop (R. Smith & all). DeLorme p. 121/122; Pranty p. 234
Good Birding!
Documentation of rarities for FL Ornithological Society Records
Committee should be sent to:
FOSRC, c/o Archbold Biological Station, PO Box 2057,
Lake Placid FL 33862.
Website: http://www.fosbirds.org/
Florida Rare Bird Alert Mail-list: To subscribe go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FLRBA
FLORIDABIRDS-L website: http://bkpass.tripod.com/floridabirds.htm
For more information on Florida bird sightings, locations, and
discussion please visit the following archives:
Statewide sightings/discussion listserv:
BIRDBRAINS: http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.html
FLABIRDING: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlaBirding/
FLORIDABIRDS-L: http://www.lists.ufl.edu/archives/floridabirds-l.html
Regional sightings/discussion listservs:
North Florida: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nflbirds/
East Florida: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Eastbirders/
Southwest Florida: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SWFLBirdline/
Southeast Florida: http://tropicalaudubon.org/tasboard/index.html
Brian Ahern
Tampa, FL.
BrianAhern@aol.com