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Posted by Larry Manfredi on 17:39:09 11/28/12
Robin had American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin today at Bill Baggs. I decided to drive over in that direction in hopes of seeing Pine Siskin. I stopped by Virginia Key first to see if I could find the Great Black Hawk that has been present for years. I did not have luck with that, but continued on past what was "Jimbo's" to the end of the road. There is a fairly new mountain bike trail here. Along the dirt trail that runs along the north side of the Sewage Treatment Plant, I found a female Western Spindalis. It was feeding in a fruiting Brazilian Pepper Tree about a quarter mile or less from the start of the bike trail.
Directions:
Drive towards Key Biscayne after paying a $1.50 toll on Rickenbacker Causeway. Go about 4-5 miles to Virgina Key across from the Miami Seaquarium. Pay the $5.00 entrance fee and drive Arthur Lamb Jr. road about a mile or so past old "Jimbo's", the Sewage Treatment Plant will be on your left. Park near the signs for the Mountain Bike trails. Take the dirt trail north through a chain link fence and gate. Walk the "wrong way" path heading west, the sewer plant will be on your left. Go about a quarter mile or less until you see a bright green/yellow flagging tape hanging on a Brazilian Pepper tree on your left. These trees have bright red berries that many birds love. The Western Spindalis was feeding on this fruit around noon time today. The bird then flew north into the more dense trees where we found it later.
Also seen was a dark morph Short-tailed Hawk that caught and eat an American Goldfinch. There were quite a few American Goldfinch feeding in the Australian Pines here but no Pine Siskins, darn it!
Larry Manfredi
Homestead, FL
E-mail: birderlm@bellsouth.net
http://www.southfloridabirding.com
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