Bahama Swallow (?), Bronzed Cowbird, Kendall--LONG

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Posted by Scott Atkinson on 13:39:20 06/29/04

To Tropical Audoboners:

I returned to the state again this last few days, by sheer dumb luck I was compelled to come down on business right on the heels of a first-ever visit. I did not find anywhere near the birds I had back May 29-June 6 family trip, but this was business and so birding was squeezed in on a few mornings. Still, over the course of driving from Tampa to Miami and then up to Jacksonville, I did manage to find a few good birds, although I missed alot, too.

Highlights:

KENDALL JUNE 27 MORN. I went to Toby's residence at 8860 SW 87th in hopes of seeing my first SPOT-BREASTED ORIOLE. Although waiting there/walking the neighborhood over an hour and a half produced 3 RED-WHISKERED BULBULS (right at their place), it was not until I went over and walked the edge of the Kendall Baptist Hospital nearby that I at last got great looks at an adult oriole--gorgeous! It flew up and landed right in a tree along Kendall Drive itself close to the entrance, staying there the whole time, although it switched to a tree closer to the pond after awhile. There were also two noisy WHITE-WINGED PARAKEETS here, along with MONKS, a number of MUSCOVIES (including two with large broods), and one or more GRAY KINGBIRDS.

Surprisingly, while driving the neighborhood in hopes of the oriole and possibly a Shiny Cowbird, I had an up-close look at a male BRONZED COWBIRD at the edge of SW 94th Avenue, just blocks from the hospital on the opposite side of Kendall Drive. The site is the S.W. Langer/Kendall Unit of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Miami. 94th skirts the border of the club grounds where there are several ballfields; you can pull off along this quiet back street and scan the fields. The Bronzy had the telltale very thick ruff and glowering red eyes. The bird was on the ground just beyond the screen fence bordering 94th, it did not linger for long.

JUNE 26 EVERGLADES DRIVE. I made the mistake of trying for Shiny Cowbird, Gr. Flamingo, Mangrove Cuckoo and BW Vireo here early, getting skunked at the the Flamingo Visitor center for the cowbird (saw 4 Brown-headed) and at Snake Bight for the latter three. Wow--they should rename Snake Bight "Mosquito Bite"! I pretty much got chased off the trail when I realized the bugs could find spots where the repellent was more thinly applied, and can bite through the shirt as well (on the back/shoulders), and generally buzz all around your face even if they decide it's not worth landing.

So I was almost convinced that I erred in coming, except for a strange swallow I encountered just outside the park entrance as I was coming in. I had left the Florida's turnpike and about midway (or closer) to the park entrance when I found myself driving along a piney section (lots of prominent snags in there) on the right hand side; I neglected to get the name of it but it seemed to be the only such grove along this stretch. In any event, at one point I spotted a white-bellied, sharp-tailed swallow wheeling right over the edge of the grove/9336. I pulled off immediately to get a better look, but I could only watch as the swallow flew away. The impression was much like a Violet-green Swallow: same colors above (light green) and below (white). But wrong for V-Green were a deeply sharp-pointed tail and a much more rapid flight pattern than I associate with V-Greens. The flight away from me was impressively direct and much like Barn Swallow. Alas, from the angle I was viewing, the underwings were thus not visible at all, unfortunately. Both from the car and stopped these were fleeting views, but could this have been a BAHAMA SWALLOW?

I have no sense (other than what Pranty has in his book) for what the pattern of reports/records has been for this species in recent years, and have seen zero recent internet entries, so I take it the species is casual at best here. Does anyone out there have anything on this score? Any inputs would be most appreciated.

JUNE 27 MIAMI SPRINGS. I was there pretty late morning (after Kendall) and only managed MONK and MITRED PARAKEETS. Clearly I'll need to come back for my missing exotics.

Also, up in Tampa June 24, at the Gulfport Marina I had no trouble finding BLACK-HOODED PARAKEETS in numbers, but could only hear a single Black Rail at the Boyce-Werner Preserve; and lacking a specific stake-out, I missed Budgerigar in Hernando Co.

Scott Atkinson

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Comments:	: To Tropical Audoboners: : : I returned to the state again this last few days, by sheer dumb luck I was compelled to come down on business right on the heels of a first-ever visit. I did not find anywhere near the birds I had back May 29-June 6 family trip, but this was business and so birding was squeezed in on a few mornings. Still, over the course of driving from Tampa to Miami and then up to Jacksonville, I did manage to find a few good birds, although I missed alot, too. : : Highlights: : : KENDALL JUNE 27 MORN. I went to Toby's residence at 8860 SW 87th in hopes of seeing my first SPOT-BREASTED ORIOLE. Although waiting there/walking the neighborhood over an hour and a half produced 3 RED-WHISKERED BULBULS (right at their place), it was not until I went over and walked the edge of the Kendall Baptist Hospital nearby that I at last got great looks at an adult oriole--gorgeous! It flew up and landed right in a tree along Kendall Drive itself close to the entrance, staying there the whole time, although it switched to a tree closer to the pond after awhile. There were also two noisy WHITE-WINGED PARAKEETS here, along with MONKS, a number of MUSCOVIES (including two with large broods), and one or more GRAY KINGBIRDS. : : Surprisingly, while driving the neighborhood in hopes of the oriole and possibly a Shiny Cowbird, I had an up-close look at a male BRONZED COWBIRD at the edge of SW 94th Avenue, just blocks from the hospital on the opposite side of Kendall Drive. The site is the S.W. Langer/Kendall Unit of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Miami. 94th skirts the border of the club grounds where there are several ballfields; you can pull off along this quiet back street and scan the fields. The Bronzy had the telltale very thick ruff and glowering red eyes. The bird was on the ground just beyond the screen fence bordering 94th, it did not linger for long. : : JUNE 26 EVERGLADES DRIVE. I made the mistake of trying for Shiny Cowbird, Gr. Flamingo, Mangrove Cuckoo and BW Vireo here early, getting skunked at the the Flamingo Visitor center for the cowbird (saw 4 Brown-headed) and at Snake Bight for the latter three. Wow--they should rename Snake Bight "Mosquito Bite"! I pretty much got chased off the trail when I realized the bugs could find spots where the repellent was more thinly applied, and can bite through the shirt as well (on the back/shoulders), and generally buzz all around your face even if they decide it's not worth landing. : : So I was almost convinced that I erred in coming, except for a strange swallow I encountered just outside the park entrance as I was coming in. I had left the Florida's turnpike and about midway (or closer) to the park entrance when I found myself driving along a piney section (lots of prominent snags in there) on the right hand side; I neglected to get the name of it but it seemed to be the only such grove along this stretch. In any event, at one point I spotted a white-bellied, sharp-tailed swallow wheeling right over the edge of the grove/9336. I pulled off immediately to get a better look, but I could only watch as the swallow flew away. The impression was much like a Violet-green Swallow: same colors above (light green) and below (white). But wrong for V-Green were a deeply sharp-pointed tail and a much more rapid flight pattern than I associate with V-Greens. The flight away from me was impressively direct and much like Barn Swallow. Alas, from the angle I was viewing, the underwings were thus not visible at all, unfortunately. Both from the car and stopped these were fleeting views, but could this have been a BAHAMA SWALLOW? : : I have no sense (other than what Pranty has in his book) for what the pattern of reports/records has been for this species in recent years, and have seen zero recent internet entries, so I take it the species is casual at best here. Does anyone out there have anything on this score? Any inputs would be most appreciated. : : JUNE 27 MIAMI SPRINGS. I was there pretty late morning (after Kendall) and only managed MONK and MITRED PARAKEETS. Clearly I'll need to come back for my missing exotics. : : Also, up in Tampa June 24, at the Gulfport Marina I had no trouble finding BLACK-HOODED PARAKEETS in numbers, but could only hear a single Black Rail at the Boyce-Werner Preserve; and lacking a specific stake-out, I missed Budgerigar in Hernando Co. : : Scott Atkinson : :
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