Posted by Paul Bithorn on December 03, 2001 at 16:31:29:
In Reply to: Bell's Vireo posted by Larry Manfredi on December 01, 2001 at 17:26:05:
Thanks go out to C.J. Grimes and Larry Manfredi for posting their sightings of the Bell's Vireo in Florida City. I went with my wife Pam and the two younguns' Sunday and got a great look at the Bell's. It was flicking its' tail like crazy and was also giving its' scold note to some nearby catbirds . Nice honey hole! See exact location below. Other good birds that we saw:
Swainson's Hawk (Light Juvenile)
Summer Tanager (Rare in Winter)
Baltimore Oriole (Female)
Wilson's Warbler (Male)
Black-throated Green Warbler (Female)
Painted Bunting (Female)
Savannah Sparrow
Western Kingbirds (4) One Avenue west of Flynn's
Instead of my usual celebratory libation I settled for a Mamey milkshake at "Robert Is Here's" fruitstand in Florida City.
Saw the Thayer's Gull juvenile on Friday, November 30 at Ft. Desoto on my way back from a conference in Orlando (1 1/2 hour drive). Took 11 hours total, including 7 hours on Wednesday to find the bird. Thanks go out to Lynn Atherton for her help and words of encouragement. You will not mistake this bird for anything else. I spent a lot of time studying all of the Herring Gulls between the Gulf Pier and the North Beach Lagoon, trying to turn one into a Thayer's. I spotted a very pale gull standing on the beach in the gull/tern resting area, looking north along the beach with my scope from the Gulf Pier. I fixed on the trees behind it and zoomed over there by car. Paydirt! I watched the Thayer's bathe in a tidal pool along the the beach for 10 minutes before beachcombers flushed it. The bird is really pale, even though considered on the dark side of the scale for Thayer's. It is finely checkered and has a smudge on the face. The bill is all black and much smaller than a Herring Gull. Celebratory libation: Newcastle Brown Ale. While tere, look for two Long-billed Curlews frequenting the North Beach Lagoon. Life is really good...............