Posted by Paul Bithorn on April 24, 2004 at 22:14:57:
The Western Spindalis found by my good friends, Alaskan birders, Ed Clark and Judy Dearborn on Friday, April 23, 2004, at the Dagney Johnson Key Largo Botanical Site was not relocated during my search between 3:30 and 6:00 p.m this afternoon. A White Pelican was seen on the 18-mile stretch. Black-Whiskered Vireo was seen several times, including one feeding on the fruit of a Gumbo Limbo. The "Blue Hole" (rockpit) on the nature trail had Green Heron and Spotted Sandpiper and the trail had American Redstart, White-eyed Vireo, Common Ground-doveWhite-crowned Pigeon and Yellow Billed Cuckoo. Had the pleasure of birding with Jimmy and Dorothy McHaney from Husser, Louisiana and four Ontario birders. A Faithful Beauty Moth, Mangrove Skipper and Green Darner Draonflies were seen along the paved road. Loquat St., just east of the botanical site, had Great White Heron, Black and White and Palm Warblers.
On the way home a Reddish Egret was in the Crocodile N.W.R. and a stop at Alabama Jacks produced singing Prairie Warblers and a calling Waterthrush and Cuban Yellow Warbler.
Earlier in the day, I ran into Seattle birders Paul Webster and his wife birding in Miami Springs on my way to my son Joshua's baseball game (won 10-9- Josh 2 for 4)and gave them a quick tour of the area. We had a Solitary Sandpiper in the pond in front of the Curtiss Mansion, where I had a Black-necked Stilt yesterday, Red-crowned and Yellow-crowned Parrots and Dusky-headed, Mitred, Red-fronted, Crimson-fronted and Monk Parakeets. Could not locate the Black-whiskered Vireo in my yard for them, but it was singing when I got home at noon. It hangs out feeding in my Gumbo Limbo.
Life is good............................