Larry and Penny Thompson, Dump Marsh, and Lucky Hammock

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Posted by Alex Harper on 20:10:55 01/01/05

Felipe Guajardo and I made a quick 3 hour trip from 3:00-6:00 in search of year birds, state birds, and life birds. The first stop was Larry and Penny Thompson Park, near Miami Metro Zoo. Equiped with my new scope, and Felipe with his new monster camera, we strutted down the crowned park towards the lake. No Ruddy Duck today, but we did find seven Ring-necked Ducks, two Lark Sparrows, and the Common Loon. The loon was a state bird for both of us, and the sparrows new to Felipe. About twenty minutes later, we reached Dump Marsh, where upwards 10,000 gulls, ibis, egrets, and blackbirds flew around. We carried an umbrella over us, needless to say. We set up the scope near the northeastern pond, and tallied American Wigeon, pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Mottled Duck, three Bonaparte's Gulls, American White Pelican, a few heron species, and a Red-shouldered Hawk. We spooked one sparrow out of hiding, but didn't find it after it landed. At about 4:45 we were on our way to Florida City.
Right after turning onto Palm Drive in Florida City, we spotted four Scissor-tailed Flycatchers along the busy intersection of Palm Drive and Krome Avenue! Heading on, we figured it would be smart to check Flynn's before getting to Lucky Hammock. Along the small detour, we found about 10 Western Kingbirds hanging out with about 10 American Robins. As much as I searched while Felipe rattled off pictures, I could not find anything Cassinsish. A brief stop to see the Vermilion Flycatcher at Greenway, we moved on. We got to Lucky Hammock at about 5:30, where a few other birders were hanging out, waiting for dusk. Nothing much was was going on at Lucky Hammock, since the sparrow fields were plowed. A few sparrows wer seen and heard, including a possible Clay-colored. House Wrens were calling, as were buntings and warblers (one sounded like an Orange-crowned). At 5:40, nighthawks started moving around. We found a good amount of them, but not close to 75. Heading back to Miami, a large owl flew over just near the toll booth in Homestead.

I had 73 year birds, and Felipe got somewhere over 50.

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Comments:	: Felipe Guajardo and I made a quick 3 hour trip from 3:00-6:00 in search of year birds, state birds, and life birds. The first stop was Larry and Penny Thompson Park, near Miami Metro Zoo. Equiped with my new scope, and Felipe with his new monster camera, we strutted down the crowned park towards the lake. No Ruddy Duck today, but we did find seven Ring-necked Ducks, two Lark Sparrows, and the Common Loon. The loon was a state bird for both of us, and the sparrows new to Felipe. About twenty minutes later, we reached Dump Marsh, where upwards 10,000 gulls, ibis, egrets, and blackbirds flew around. We carried an umbrella over us, needless to say. We set up the scope near the northeastern pond, and tallied American Wigeon, pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Mottled Duck, three Bonaparte's Gulls, American White Pelican, a few heron species, and a Red-shouldered Hawk. We spooked one sparrow out of hiding, but didn't find it after it landed. At about 4:45 we were on our way to Florida City. : Right after turning onto Palm Drive in Florida City, we spotted four Scissor-tailed Flycatchers along the busy intersection of Palm Drive and Krome Avenue! Heading on, we figured it would be smart to check Flynn's before getting to Lucky Hammock. Along the small detour, we found about 10 Western Kingbirds hanging out with about 10 American Robins. As much as I searched while Felipe rattled off pictures, I could not find anything Cassinsish. A brief stop to see the Vermilion Flycatcher at Greenway, we moved on. We got to Lucky Hammock at about 5:30, where a few other birders were hanging out, waiting for dusk. Nothing much was was going on at Lucky Hammock, since the sparrow fields were plowed. A few sparrows wer seen and heard, including a possible Clay-colored. House Wrens were calling, as were buntings and warblers (one sounded like an Orange-crowned). At 5:40, nighthawks started moving around. We found a good amount of them, but not close to 75. Heading back to Miami, a large owl flew over just near the toll booth in Homestead. : : I had 73 year birds, and Felipe got somewhere over 50.
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