Very weird bird sighting.

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Posted by Larry Manfredi on 01:12:33 06/12/04

I went to dinner this evening with my wife and son here in Homestead at a Ruby Tuesday Restaurant. While I was getting my son out of his car seat I heard what sounded like an American Robin singing directly across the street from the Ruby Tuesday Restaurant. I first thought that perhaps a Northern Mockingbird was doing what they do best imitating a singing American Robin. But as I heard it singing again I said to myself there is no way that this was a Northern Mockingbird imitating an American Robin because I did not hear any other songs. So after my wife and son got seated in the Restaurant I had my wife order my dinner and excused myself to track down the bird. I went across busy s.w. 312 st. and onto the Homestead City Hall property where I quickly found of all things an American Robin feeding on the lawn next to a long hedge. It sang a few times while on the ground and feed some more. I ran back to the restaurant and told my wife that I need to get some photos of the bird.

Now David LaPuma reported an Antillean Nighthawk calling at s.w. 392st. and s.w. 217 ave., this area is not far from the entrance to Everglades National park. He saw and heard the bird last night, so before we left for dinner I put my camera in the car thinking that after dinner we would go see the Antillean Nighthawk and with luck get a few photos. So now I have the camera handy to get photos of an American Robin singing in Homestead in June!!! Very, very weird!! So I grab the camera and walk across the street to look and listen for the robin. After about 10 minutes of looking I hear the call of the bird about 200 yards from where I first saw it. I continue walking in the direction of the call to find it feeding in a field with several Northern Mockingbirds, Common Mynas and European Starlings. I took several photos of the bird to document the sighting and hurried back for dinner. By the time I made the walk back the Robin flew back to the area where I originally saw it, this time I it was singing in a West Indian Mahogany tree. If you stand by the front door of the Ruby Tuesday Restaurant and look due south across the street you will see the West Indian Mahogany tree.

Now what make this sighting even stranger is that while birding on Saturday June 5 in upper Key Largo I ran across birders and butterfly watchers who were doing a butterfly count. Lyn Atherton was in the group and was gracious enough to show me a photo of a rarity she took while counting butterflies. She had a very nice photo of a Hermit Thrush!!! I hope Lyn will post some photos of that bird when she gets the chance.

So now you have to ask your self what the heck are these two birds doing down here so far from their normal breeding range? While I watched the American Robin feed with the Northern Mockingbirds and the others; it took off to chase a Northern Mockingbird very hard and fast. I think that it was defending a territory; I just wonder if the bird may actually have a mate and maybe it has a nest in the Mahogany tree?

I will check it out in the next few days and see if the bird is still there and if it does have a mate and maybe a nest. I have included two photos I took of the bird below. The bird perched on some construction equipment at the south end of the Homestead City Hall property. I know that everyone who lives up north is laughing at this post because robins are so common there but they are not supposed to be here in South Florida at this time of year.

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Directions:

From US1 in Homestead turn west on s.w. 312 st. turn left into the driveway of the Homestead City Hall. Drive to the northwest end of the parking lot and park by a field. Look for the bird in this area. The West Indian Mahogany is located next to the long hedge directly across from the Ruby Tuesday Restaurant.

Larry Manfredi
Homestead, FL
E-mail: birderlm@bellsouth.net
http://www.southfloridabirding.com

P.S. We did hear and see the Antillean Nighthawk at s.w. 392 and s.w. 217ave.

Follow Ups:

Robin still there... - Maria 18:54:02 06/12/04 (0)
Good show! - Paul 07:39:42 06/12/04 (1)
- Re: Good show! - Jay 20:37:45 06/12/04 (0)

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Comments:	: I went to dinner this evening with my wife and son here in Homestead at a Ruby Tuesday Restaurant. While I was getting my son out of his car seat I heard what sounded like an American Robin singing directly across the street from the Ruby Tuesday Restaurant. I first thought that perhaps a Northern Mockingbird was doing what they do best imitating a singing American Robin. But as I heard it singing again I said to myself there is no way that this was a Northern Mockingbird imitating an American Robin because I did not hear any other songs. So after my wife and son got seated in the Restaurant I had my wife order my dinner and excused myself to track down the bird. I went across busy s.w. 312 st. and onto the Homestead City Hall property where I quickly found of all things an American Robin feeding on the lawn next to a long hedge. It sang a few times while on the ground and feed some more. I ran back to the restaurant and told my wife that I need to get some photos of the bird. : : Now David LaPuma reported an Antillean Nighthawk calling at s.w. 392st. and s.w. 217 ave., this area is not far from the entrance to Everglades National park. He saw and heard the bird last night, so before we left for dinner I put my camera in the car thinking that after dinner we would go see the Antillean Nighthawk and with luck get a few photos. So now I have the camera handy to get photos of an American Robin singing in Homestead in June!!! Very, very weird!! So I grab the camera and walk across the street to look and listen for the robin. After about 10 minutes of looking I hear the call of the bird about 200 yards from where I first saw it. I continue walking in the direction of the call to find it feeding in a field with several Northern Mockingbirds, Common Mynas and European Starlings. I took several photos of the bird to document the sighting and hurried back for dinner. By the time I made the walk back the Robin flew back to the area where I originally saw it, this time I it was singing in a West Indian Mahogany tree. If you stand by the front door of the Ruby Tuesday Restaurant and look due south across the street you will see the West Indian Mahogany tree. : : Now what make this sighting even stranger is that while birding on Saturday June 5 in upper Key Largo I ran across birders and butterfly watchers who were doing a butterfly count. Lyn Atherton was in the group and was gracious enough to show me a photo of a rarity she took while counting butterflies. She had a very nice photo of a Hermit Thrush!!! I hope Lyn will post some photos of that bird when she gets the chance. : : So now you have to ask your self what the heck are these two birds doing down here so far from their normal breeding range? While I watched the American Robin feed with the Northern Mockingbirds and the others; it took off to chase a Northern Mockingbird very hard and fast. I think that it was defending a territory; I just wonder if the bird may actually have a mate and maybe it has a nest in the Mahogany tree? : : I will check it out in the next few days and see if the bird is still there and if it does have a mate and maybe a nest. I have included two photos I took of the bird below. The bird perched on some construction equipment at the south end of the Homestead City Hall property. I know that everyone who lives up north is laughing at this post because robins are so common there but they are not supposed to be here in South Florida at this time of year. : : : : : <img src="http://southfloridabirding.com/americanrobin1.jpg" : : : : : : : <img src="http://southfloridabirding.com/americanrobin2.jpg" : : : : : : Directions: : : From US1 in Homestead turn west on s.w. 312 st. turn left into the driveway of the Homestead City Hall. Drive to the northwest end of the parking lot and park by a field. Look for the bird in this area. The West Indian Mahogany is located next to the long hedge directly across from the Ruby Tuesday Restaurant. : : : Larry Manfredi : Homestead, FL : E-mail: birderlm@bellsouth.net : http://www.southfloridabirding.com : : : P.S. We did hear and see the Antillean Nighthawk at s.w. 392 and s.w. 217ave. : : : : : : :
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