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Posted by Robin, Audrey, David on 20:04:18 04/24/12
Audrey, David and I birded the Upper Keys yesterday (4/23) and though we didn't intend to try for a big list, we ended up with 95 species. We covered just north of Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical SP to Long Key SP at ~MM 72.
Throughout the day, most abundant were Indigo Buntings, with >300 birds tallied along C-905, US 1 and in Long Key SP. As always in April, Long Key SP did not disappoint. We observed birds continually coming in and we needed to assist a Black-throated Green Warbler that was too exhausted to move off the road. We made a sweep of expected spring migration thrushes, picking up the majority in Long Key SP. Though we saw many warblers at other locations, we saw all 21 of our species in Long Key SP. To paraphrase Wallace and Gromit, it was a grand day out!
Highlights:
21 warbler species, including Kentucky, Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided and Hooded. Except for these four, the other 18 species were multiples.
4 thrush species, including Gray-cheeked (12), Veery (8), Swainson's (5) and Wood (2)
Mangrove Cuckoo; 1 visual early morning and 2 others heard in morning and late afternoon.
14 Brown-headed Cowbirds, a very uncommon species in Monroe County.
People: We birded with terrific people in Dagny Johnson, answered tourists' questions about the birds they were seeing in Long Key SP and we met a very friendly resident who proudly showed us "his" bird nest in a broken candy machine. We then watched a parent Carolina Wren bring food to 4 newly-hatched babies.
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