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Posted by Rock Jetty on 17:43:50 01/09/05
The South Dade Birding TAS walk on Saturday, Jan. 8, was a success! A total of 18 birders participated in this popular event which covered areas between and including the Everglades Nat l Park Homestead entrance and the Biscayne Nat l Park rock jetty . This weekend celebrates The King s 70th birthday, so I expected this trip to provide us with a hunk a hunk a burning love and no heartbreak hotel . I arrived at the Burger King on US1 before 7 AM in order to greet birders as they arrived (I noticed Steve Riddle was already there looking at the nightjar page in his Sibley s) and heard, then saw, the first bird of the day: Common Myna. This bird was seen by everyone else as they arrived along with European Starling, Common and Boat-tailed Grackles, Red-winged Blackbird, Eurasian Collared and Mourning Doves, Rock Pigeon, House Sparrow, and American Goldfinch.
The caravan of birders (up to 11 cars at one time) made its way down SR9336; stopping shortly past the correctional facility intersection to observe two juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks perched near the road. A Broad-winged Hawk flew over an adjacent field. Along the road, we saw American Kestrels and Loggerhead Shrikes perched on the wires. We proceeded to make our way through Flynn s, where bird activity was high and birders saw all, or at least most, of the following: Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Northern Cardinal, Eastern Phoebe, a large flock of American Robins, Northern Mockingbird, White-winged Dove, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and a couple of Western Kingbirds (these were perched on a wire but then spooked by a large raptor that flew in front of our car, so not everyone got to see them).
Our next stop was the Greenway Trail Park, where the Vermilion Flycatcher was easily spotted and Eastern Meadowlarks were found in the surrounding field. Next, it was on to Lucky Hammock where we were greeted by Painted Bunting, Magnolia Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird, Blue Jay, White-eyed Vireo, and Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher in the hammock proper. A House Wren called from the hammock s periphery, but always managed to remain out of sight. Killdeer were calling as they flew over our heads followed by a Peregrine Falcon that brought up the rear, flying low enough for remarkable looks. The ag-fields east of the hammock provided us with Savannah, Grasshopper, and Swamp Sparrows, as well as Palm Warbler, Summer Tanager, Common Ground-Dove and Yellow-breasted Chat. A Carolina Wren called nearby, and like his relative, managed to remain hidden from view. The REAL treat was my lifer Least Flycatcher (thanks Albert) which had eluded me for a couple of winters! On to the Annex it was. Here we saw Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Parula, Orange-crowned Warbler, a soaring Anhinga, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Turkey and Black Vultures, and an amazing view of a calling Barred Owl, with a second one calling nearby!
Our rest-stop at Coe Visitor Center, ENP provided great looks at Yellow-rumped, Prairie, and Pine Warblers, with an Eastern Towhee thrown in for good measures. A couple of Eastern Screech Owls were calling from inside a patch of mixed pine and hardwood adjacent to the parking lot, responding to Paul Screech Bithorn s uncanny imitation of their call. We attempted to locate the suspects by surrounding (triangulating) the patch but no such luck. Our next stop: Homestead Airport, where Burrowing Owl was hoped for. Along the way, Tree Swallows were seen and once in the airport, the owls were easily spotted. Because of the number of cars, we decided to skip Mary Krome Park and go straight to Castellow Hammock Park, where we would break for lunch and hopefully pick up some good birds. The park was quiet, with Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Black-throated Green Warbler, and Ovenbird being the only additions. Our next stop was hopefully going to be our best: Dump Marsh.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by thousands of vultures (both kinds), Laughing, Herring and Ring-billed Gulls, Cattle Egret, and White Ibis. An awesome sight, although the thousands of gulls that may appear during certain times of the day were absent. A couple of Red-tailed Hawks were thrown into the mix, one of which snatched a Laugher in mid-air. The SW pond contained American White Pelican, Pied-billed Grebe, Tricolored and Little Blue Herons, Snowy Egret, Glossy Ibis, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Blue-winged Teal, Mottled Duck, Belted Kingfisher, and Northern Harrier. The NE pond added American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, and American Coot to our day s list. We headed to Black Point Marina where we parked and started to walk toward the jetty, an area that is part of Biscayne Nat l Park. Before reaching the jetty, we saw Osprey, Spotted Sandpiper, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Brown Pelican, and Double-crested Cormorant.
Walking on the jetty, we noticed it was low tide and our group enjoyed views of several hundred larids on the rocks (several thousand out in the distance, on the water, and pretty much out of scope s range). This explained the lack of gulls at Dump Marsh. Here we picked up Black Skimmer, Royal Tern, and Black-crowned Night-Heron. When we reached the end of the jetty, we enjoyed views of Ruddy Turnstone, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Sanderling, and Great Black-backed Gull. It was then that Brian Rapoza spotted something in the distance which he first thought was a duck and later turned out to be a HORNED GREBE. What was that birder s name who correctly ID d it? John something? What a treat!
After doubling back from the jetty, most of the group disbanded, it was late afternoon and everyone was pleased by the day s birding. I mentioned I would continue birding until dusk, and it didn t take any arm twisting for a handful of birders to join me. But first, we needed refreshments and to tally up the day s total so far. Brian Rapoza, Paul Bithorn, Steve Riddle, and I went over to the Pirate s Den in the Marina for celebratory Amber Bocks and munchies. The day s total so far was 100 species! With Bald Eagle and Cooper s Hawk fly-bys (and a West Indian Manatee swim-by) as we re having our first sips, the total jumped to 102! It was back to Dump Marsh where, about an hour earlier, Toe had mentioned over the phone he was hearing a Northern Waterthrush. No luck with the waterthrush and no gulls had arrived (no Bonaparte s today).
We drove back to Lucky Hammock and located some Muscovy Ducks (103) in a pond next to the turnpike. We arrived at the hammock at exactly the right time. The dove hunters were still lingering but calling it a day (even though some yokels were still firing off a few shots in the twilight). We spotted two Sandhill Cranes (104) across the field south of Lucky. At approx. 5:50 PM, the first Lesser Nighthawks (105) appeared over the horizon where the sun had set. Eventually, at least 50 nighthawks made their way over to the hammock area giving the four of us incredible looks. It was a lifer for Steve Riddle and a year bird for both Paul and Brian. On to ENP! The four of us carpooled in Paul s van and searched Research Road until we came up with Whip-poor-will (106). Finally, we concluded our marathon birding day at Royal Palm where a family of Barn Owls (107) were heard and seen flying against the starlit sky, circling over a Royal Palm stump.
107 species in 13 hours. Not exactly a David Simpson day, but not too shabby either. Is this a record for the South Dade birding trip? Not really important. I enjoyed making all the new acquaintances and had a great time doing this trip; I hope everyone who participated did too, that s of real importance. Thank you all, see you next time. Bird on!
Cheers,
RJ
Today I didn't even have to use my A.K.
I got to say it was a good day Ice Cube
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