Posted by Paul Bithorn on April 22, 2002 at 09:49:47:
On Sunday, April 21, I had the distinct pleasure of spending the day birding with Fred and Christine Pratt from South Duxbury, Vermont. Florida birders may remember the Pratts as the birders who discovered the North Lapwing on Mossy Cove Rd. in Lake Placid in December of 1997.
Our first stop was Baptist Hospital and surrounding environs, where we saw Red-Whiskered Bulbul, Spot-breasted & Northern Oriole, White-winged Dove, Least Tern and Monk Parakeet. The area around the Royal Palm Tennis Club had more Bulbuls and Yellow-chevroned Parakeet.
The area around the Miller parrot roost had White-crowned Pigeon, Swallow-tailed Kite, Orange-winged and White-fronted Amazon and a Pied-billed Grebe.
A.D. Barnes Park had Eastern Screech Owl (heard), Swallow-tailed Kite, Prairie Warbler, American Redstart and Northern Parula.
Matheson Hammock had Hill Myna, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black & White, American Redstart.
Bill Baggs State Park on Cape Florida, Key Biscayne had Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female), Ovenbird, Cape May Warbler, Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Black-throated Blue Warbler, American Redstart and Least Sandpiper.
We finished our day at the nursing home in Miami Springs. We were not disappointed.We got good looks at three Aratinga parakeets; Green Parakeet, Red-fronted Parakeet (wagleri) and Mitred Parakeet. The ubiquitous Monk Parakeets and a solitary Yellow-chevroned Parakeet were also in the area.
A great day of birding in a great city. Life is good.............