Posted by Bill Boeringer on February 23, 2002 at 12:01:13:
On Friday 2/22 I went to Key West on business, and had the following quick observations:
At Homestead High from 0730-0800 there was NO Western Kingbird, Cassin’s Kingbird, or Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Did get Pledge of Allegiance over school loudspeakers, though.
Numerous Wood Storks and other waders, plus 6 White Pelicans on Big Stretch.
At Bahia Honda Key there was a wayward Black Vulture–I can’t remember seeing one that far down the Keys before.
At pond approximately MM9, lots of Coots but only 2 Blue-winged Teal besides.
On return, I stopped for about an hour (~1700-1800) at usual shorebird gathering spot on ocean side of Ohio Key, opposite the campground. Obvious highlight was an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER among the numerous Black-bellied Plovers. With a scope and afternoon light, you can get good looks at the shorebirds, and the AMGP stood out in direct comparison to BBPLs by the evident smaller size, obviously pronounced cap, and the entire “jizz” of the head and neck, which appeared clearly smaller and slighter. Bird never flew. Also present were numerous Short-billed Dowitchers, Dunlins, Red Knots, Ruddy Turnstones, Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Willets, some Killdeer, a couple of Western Sandpipers, and a lone Greater Yellowlegs. There was also a Reddish Egret and singing Northern Parula.