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Posted by Thor on 08:19:30 04/09/11
Hi all: I went out to the Tortugas yesterday on the Yankee Freedom. Luckily, for all, it looks like the park will remain open for, at least, the near future.
With a following sea, conditions were good heading out. Coming back a few passengers said hello to ralph, and huey.
Down in the bowl at the Fort, there was little breeze, and with no cloud cover, it was a bit of a sweatbox, at least to a Canadian's heat tolerance!
Heading out birds seen: Least Tern, Roseate Tern, Magnificent Frigatebird, Masked Booby,and Brown Booby. There were 3 birders on board and one said a booby perched on a can getting closer to the Fort had orangy/red feet. That darend boat travels so quickly, I never got on it, but worth keeping an eye out on future trips.
Of course, the Sooties,and Brown Noddies were there in great numbers. It seemed like every square inch of pile-on at the coaling dock on the East side had a Brown Noddy on it. Despite scoping for 2 1 hour sessions, I couldn't pick out a Black.
Hopefully, Larry, or others, will be able to find this year's " needle in a haystack".
Other birds around the shoreline: Ruddy Turnstone, Black bellied Plover, Whimbrel, Black Skimmer, Royal Tern, Lauging Gull.
Inside the Fort: With optimum flying conditions, and, with the major migration push still to occur, pickings were a little slim for the Merlin(s), on patrol:
Black Whiskered Vireo, White eyed Vireo
Gray Kingbird
Gray Catbird
Ruby throated Hummingbird
Indigo Bunting
Warblers: Palm, Prairie, Northern Parula, Black and White, American Redstart, Prothonotary, Worm Eating, Ovenbird, Hooded.
When the three of us heard a rattling call, there was a brief moment of excitement kingbird wise, but without seeing the bird, park staff said they had kingfisher around.
Just a preview of things to come, I guess. Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson
Oliver, British Columbia
currently in Key Largo.
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