[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Scott Atkinson on 09:52:09 06/07/04
To Tropical Audoboners and psittacid enthusiasts:
I read Paul Bithorn's post with great interest, because I passed through most of the areas he mentioned, during the conclusion of a first-ever Florida trip. Although it was a family vacation that began in Orlando and reached as far as Dry Tortugas, I did have mornings and eves by prior arrangement, and found 118 species over 9 days. My exotics totals were 12 psittacids and 18 total exotics. I'll post the other highlights separately, but on the exotics my results were as follows:
1. MATHESON HAMMOCK PARK dawn to about 8:30 a.m. June 5: I had surely the same RED-MASKED PARAKEETS and ORANGE-WINGED PARROT on territories that Paul had. HILL MYNAS were my main target, and they were pretty common--I went way down the old road grade along a heavily-vegetated residential area to the left as the nature trail opens up. I figured on 8 mynas total. Also here were 8 YELLOW-CHEVRONED PARAKEETS and 3 Amazona, sp. (flybys; seemed basically unmarked and showed drab underwing coloration). Right close to the parking area in dense vegetation, I heard a BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO but for the life of me--bird right in front singing at one point--could not spot it! (I also heard 3 at Key Hammock near Key Largo June 3, and another at Camp Owouissa in Homestead June 5, but found them similarly invisible!)
2. BAPTIST HOSPITAL and nearby sites were checked next, just MONK PARAKEETS and MUSCOVIES but I did not even get out and walk.
3. MS. FURCHOTT'S PLACE (as described in Pranty). About 10-10:30 a.m. Nicest person to visit with! I had a few more birds than Paul, including about 23 YELLOW-CHEVRONS there and in the neighborhood nearby, 2 MITRED PARAKEETS and (heard-only) one RED-WHISKERED BULBUL. No activity near adjacent tennis courts.
4. APACHE & WREN (eve: 6 p.m.)--quiet.
5. MIAMI SPRINGS/FAIRHAVEN NURSING CENTER--Many MONKS and about a dozen MITRED PARAKEETS 6:30-7:15 pm June 5; there could have been a RED-FRONTED in there too but I did not see one. Also at the nursing center amid the swirling winds and gathering clouds was a BLUE-FRONTED PARROT that made quite a ruckus.
6. PARROT ROOST at 62nd x 64th--Paul had much more here than I, but on the eve of June 5 (7:30-8:10 pm) I had--RED-CROWNED PARROT 5, LILAC-CROWNED PARROT 1, WHITE-FRONTED PARROT 5, YELLOW-HEADED PARROT 1-2 (presumed juvs., bird(s) had all-green head). The parrots were on the wires and at the crowns of the Australian pines on the s.w. corner.
7. Hwy 826 JUST NORTH OF KENDALL DRIVE--while driving north from Kendall, I saw two huge macaws fly right over the highway ahead of me that could only have been BLUE-AND-YELLOW MACAWS. They were long-tailed and about 3' ft. long, but as I was driving their coloration was hard to make out but looked mostly dark in the sun's sheen.
OTHER EXOTICS--on June 2, we stopped for groceries at the Winn Dixie right along the east side of Hwy 1 in Homestead (I think the closest cross street is 268th SW but I'm not sure). Highlights here were GRAY KINGBIRD (1) and WHITE-WINGED PARAKEET (2). There was also a COM. MYNA but I had several right from the car coming south along Hwy 1 through Miami at various spots along the way; I also saw one in Key Largo later.
At the Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale June 3 (10-10:30 am), I heard only a SPOT-BREASTED ORIOLE. Doggone it, I never did see my first and will have to come back for it.
Lastly--does anyone know if RED JUNGLEFOWL is ferally established in the Keys? I had a pair in the central section (I'd have to check the map for precise location) but don't know their status in Florida.
--Scott visiting form Lake Stevens (north of Seattle), WA
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]