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Posted by Joe Barros on 10:19:54 05/08/11
The TAS Key Largo Bird, Butterfly and Plant walk yesterday had an early start and was filled with birds before and after lunch. Twenty or so birders enjoyed birding upper Key Largo.
In Florida City we had the regular birds found in the South Florida urban environment with the highlight being Common Myna. We headed off to Alabama Jacks where along mangroves & buttonwoods past the toll we had multiple Gray Kingbirds perched, singing Prairie Warblers, White-crowned Pigeons flying here and there, and finally we had great looks at the Cuban race of the Yellow Warbler. Brown-headed Cowbirds were at the end of the causeway where we set our sights to sandbar with Black-necked Stilts, Laughing Gulls, and Least Sandpipers Also flying in the area were Magnificent Frigatebirds, Royal Terns, and Brown Pelicans. Heading back to the cars we ran in to Lori and Stan Isley who informed us Clapper Rails were seen at Crocodile Lakes.
At the Crocodile Lakes Refuge the water level was very low and many waders were active. White Ibis, Reddish Egret, Tricolored Heron, Little Blue Heron, Semi-palmated Plovers and both Yellowlegs. When the Clapper Rail responded to the call we ran over to glimpse through the mangrove roots. The rail then made his way to the far right bank and on swimming across gave us clear wonderful looks and then just sat on the bank again giving us all a clear view. TAS thanks the Isley s.
Along Dynamite Trail (a Back Country Permit is required) we slowly added to our song bird count, Common Yellowthroat, White-eyed vireo, Black-whiskered vireos, Great Crested flycatcher, Ovenbird and at the very end of the trail along the shoreline Blackpoll Warbler. Also along the trail were Giant Swallow-tailed butterflies, Julias and Zebra Longwings.
We moved on to Carysfort Circle where we heard & saw a Red-shouldered Hawk. Ground Doves flew and a Cape May Warbler. A Prairie Warbler was low in the deep shrubs and had us hoping we had a Connecticut but it was not to be.
At Dagney Johnson Key Largo Botanical State Park we added Northern Parula, A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was seen by a few. Mangrove Skippers and Cassius Blues were seen throughout. Paul called in an Eastern Screech Owl who sat and allowed wonderful close-up views as a Black& White Warbler came in to scold the unfazed owl. On the way for lunch we added Black-throated Blue Warbler and American Redstart.
We headed to lunch the Buzzard s Roost Restaurant whose gracious staff accommodated our large party for dolphin sandwiches and schooners of Key West Pale Ale when Brian checked the Tropical Audubon Society Birdboard and The Isley s came through again posting Bahama Mockingbird at John Penekamp State Park,. Within minutes the group was listening to the song and viewing the bird.
Not a bad day as Paul, Linda and I enjoyed the satisfying mocha and chocolate flavor of a Lions Stout and toasted another fine year of TAS Fieldtrips. Thank you Brian and all the fieldtrip leaders and those who have participated in our yearlong calendar of events.
Magnificent Frigatebird
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
Brown Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Reddish Egret (6)
Green Heron
White Ibis
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Short-tailed Hawk
Semi-palmated Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Clapper Rail
Laughing Gull
Royal Tern
Rock Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove
Mourning Dove
Ground Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Common Nighthawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Screech Owl
Great Crested Flycatcher
Gray Kingbird
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Northern Mockingbird
Bahama Mockingbird
European Starling
Common Myna
White-eyed Vireo
Black-whiskered Vireo
Cape May Warbler
Black & White Warbler
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow Warbler, Cuban Race
Prairie Warbler
American Redstart
Blackpoll Warbler
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Sparrow
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