Posted by Larry Manfredi on February 17, 2004 at 08:04:17:
In Reply to: Hill myna posted by Paul on February 16, 2004 at 23:35:04:
: A small flock of Hill Myna were seen foraging around cars at the McDonalds in Homestead by Palm Drive and US 1.
: Our trip to ENP produced a renewed acquaintance with the Vermillion flycathcer, his faithful companion, Eastern Phoebe and many birders who had picked up the news from this board. At Mrazek...all quiet, ducks were absent two days. Eco-pond has major kill on encroaching vegetation but still no clearing or removal. White-eyed vireos were increasing in numbers. Red-shouldered hawk and perigrine were sighted. The mud flats were well populated with herons,egrets, ibis. Saw a strange sight with a flock of white ibis fly over with one light-colored roseate...guess birds with strange beaks only have each other! Anhinga shows an anhinga nest with maturing babies right by the walk way. Many people reported seeing bitterns, and of course the usual coots, moorhens, egrets, ibis, and one wood stork that for three days running was sitting down on the grass...couldn't tell if it was injured or sick but it was not very active.
: Crowds were very heavy, but polite. Met many birders from England, Canada, and other places. All enjoying the long weekend..'til it rained. Nevertheless we managed to get great photo shoots on the Kestrel (often fighting with the R-S hawk) in the cleared field by the fish cleaning station, the osprey and one chick in the radio tower, the black-capped night heron at the docks, a late night feeding great blue heron at the boat ramp (10:00 PM) and the eastern meadowlarks now appearing around Lucky Hammock. Vireos, sparrows and buntings were about but scarce.
Here is a Common Myna photo of a molting bird in Florida City at the McDonalds.
I will post another photo of a Hill Myna next.
Larry Manfredi