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Posted by Frank on 15:43:08 04/22/12
I took a friend out birding (first time for him) to Pinetree Park in Miami Beach. I wasn't too sure what to expect, since migration has been very quiet lately. Right away, there were 2 male indigo buntings in the Australian pines. The park was fairly birdy, with 3 migrant flocks. Expected birds (blackpoll and parula most common) were around. In the north end of the park, a perfect chestnut-sided was foraging right at eye-level. It stayed close for a long time, got excellent looks at very close range, likely a male- it had a very strong pattern- the first time in Miami I've seen it in spring! Saw several more male and female indigos, a northern waterthrush, a large flock of palms and single prairie, and black and white. Two barn swallows passed by. Probably would have got more if I 'combed' the park, but since it was my friend's first time birding, I didn't overdo it...He appreciated my excitement over the chestnut-sided, and when I asked which bird was his favorite, he immediately answered "black-throated blue"! We did get great close-ups of him, in bright sunlight....
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