Posted by Robin Diaz on February 27, 2002 at 14:05:49:
There are still substantial numbers of gulls on Crandon Beach flats at low tide. Mixed in with usual wintering gulls are Great Black-backed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. This is a great spot for all you gull enthusiasts (masochists?) to age these guys.
The wintering light phase Short-tailed Hawk is still around. I was able to get some photos of it kiting off my balcony.
Activity is slowly picking up at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. In addition to the usual wintering species, new birds are adding to the numbers of: Eastern Phoebe, Gray Catbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Prairie Warbler and American Kestrel. Pablo, the young Broad-winged Hawk, is still easily seen from the interior trail. Common Yellowthroats are beginning to sing. It has been interesting to watch the dynamics of Northern Parula flocks change; 2/4 found mostly adult males; 2/24 had 2 of 8 birds immature males and the rest females; 2/27 was a smaller flock with adult males and females. A true sign of migration was the "beautiful male" Cape May Warbler. Breeding-plumaged males were seen recently on the north coast of Cuba so I wonder if our South Florida migration Cape Mays come through there.