[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Carlos Jose Sanchez on 20:31:37 01/01/13
After celebrating in Coconut Grove (and having a simply amazing venison dinner... the plate was spotless after I was done), I went to sleep only to wake up a few hours later for my Big Day. I started off along Research Road to pick up nocturnal species, turning up multiple Eastern Screech-Owls (one perched on a speed limit sign) and two Great Horned Owls calling to each other in the distance.
Lucky Hammock and the Annex were my choice for starting the day and focusing the bulk of my attention. Lucky Hammock had Lincoln's Sparrow, Wilson's Snipe, and Swainson's Hawk as highlights. There were multiple Sedge Wrens west of the hammock and the fields to the north had White-tailed Kite. The Annex was very birdy with American Bittern, Least Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Magnolia Warbler, Merlin, and American Goldfinch. There was a calling Sora and a Brown-crested Flycatcher.
I continued on my way (stopping at Robert is Here for House Sparrow and the Burger King site for Common Myna) to Dante Fascell Park to begin picking up warblers. Dante Fascell continues to have a stunning Black-throated Green Warbler, while Merrie Christmas Park still has the Wilson's Warbler. Matheson Hammock County Park (where I felt very rushed) had Yellow-throated Vireo and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker as highlights.
I pushed onward to Virginia Key, adding Magnificent Frigatebird and Broad-winged Hawk. Crandon Beach was busy with both people and shorebirds -- Black-bellied, Piping, Wilson's, and Semipalmated Plovers were all present, as were Least and Western Sandpipers, Dunlin, Sanderling, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Common Loon. On my way out from Virginia Key, I got lucky and picked up the adult Great Black-backed Gull and an adult Herring Gull on the next lamp post.
A.D. Barnes added Ovenbird, Black-throated Blue Warbler, American Redstart, Hermit Thrush, Cooper's Hawk, and White-winged Dove. Cutler Wetlands added Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, American Avocet, and both Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal.
I ended the day at Dump Marsh where (with some bushwacking) saw both Gadwall and American Wigeon. The ponds behind the pumphouse added American White Pelican and the last bird of the day at the eleventh hour -- Green Heron (how did this one keep evading me?).
I ended the day with 122 species seen and 6 species heard for 128 species seen for my Big Day, including 16 species of shorebird and 16 species of warbler.
Carlos
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]