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Posted by Robin Diaz on 21:18:51 08/26/05
Yesterday's early west winds and rain made finding birds difficult, but the weather did drop birds into Cape Florida. I ended up with 8 wabler species, including Hooded. Estimated Prairie Warblers were 60-65. Flycatchers are showing up, with FOS Eastern Wood-Pewee and Great Crested. Flocks of Eastern Kingbirds roam the park and Gray Kingbirds are also flocking. An unusual sighting for the park was a flock of 7 Glossy Ibis.
A huge movement of swallows continued throughout yesterday, with an estimate of 2,000+ by 3 PM. In the morning most were young Barns with some Northern Rough-wingeds mixed in. By afternoon, numbers of NRWS picked up and I picked out 1 Bank. If yesterday was Swallow Day, today was Purple Martin Day with numerous birds moving through the Key all day.
After the winds shifted today, Sooty Terns were seen not far offshore. Periodic scanning accumulated 58 birds and a flock of 4 terns was probable Bridled. Their flight style (buoyant) and behavior (dipping in and out of the water) distinguished them from Sooties but distance and lighting made positive ID difficult. Common Terns (10) were the only unexpected birds on Crandon Beach.
Cape Florida suffered substantial tree damage and is without electricty so will probably remained closed for a while.
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