"Swainson's Warbler and Lark Sparrow near Redland"

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Posted by Alex Harper on 16:42:06 09/06/05

I read an interesting post to the BRDBRAIN listserv today, submitted by Jeff Bouton in Port Charlotte. I am going to copy and paste his report for my fellow south Florida birders.
The posts title is "Swainson's Warbler and Lark Sparrow near Redland"

"All,

Austin and I finally got out after a TOO long hiatus. We made our way over toward the Everglades NPP and joined Larry Manfredi and his son Phillip (now 4) for a couple hours of birding yesterday AM. We boys, all had a grand old time, and Austin now at 7 really seemed to enjoy the position of a mentor for a change. I think this is the first time he had ever birded with someone younger than himself! ;)

At any rate, amidst the fallen branches, and Golden Orb Weavers at Mray Krome Park, we managed to see (and photograph) a fresh looking Swainson's Warbler, along with a Prothonotary male, im m Redstart, a couple of Ovenbirds, and Yellow-throated Warblers and numerous Red-eyed Vireos and Gnatcatchers.

We later saw 2 dark morph Short-tailed Hawks (1 adult, and 1 immature) hunting over the agricultural areas between here and the entrance to the Everglades NPP. Even though his Dad had pointed all of these species out before, Austin looked at a number of these birds through his bins, and gleefully announced, "... that's another lifer ..." upon seeing nearly every one. (That's OK, we can start again).... I did ask though and happily he does recall the Eurasian Kestrel seen a few years ago, he replied, "You mean the reddish bird with only one stripe on its face?..." I was relieved to hear the description as that one may be a bit more problematic to duplicate than some of the others on the old list!.... ;)

After leaving the Manfredi's, we headed over toward Everglades entrance. The fields around Lucky Hammock were full of Shorebirds, with numerous Leasts, both Yellowlegs, Pectorals, both Dowitchers, plus Semipalmated Plovers, and Killdeer. There were undoubtedly more but we didn't scour, this was more about a Dad and son rebuilding a lifelist and having fun! As I looped the back side of Lucky Hammock, I saw a sparrow working the edge of the grass and the plowed field. Closer inspection revealed it was an immature Lark Sparrow, loosely associating with a group of 5 Common Ground Doves.

At first I was both surprised to excited to have this turn out to be a Lark Sparrow, but in retrospect, I don't really know which other sparrow species I would have expected in early September out there. Certainly, Lark Sparrows have a history of showing up in the east in August and September, while the vast majority of other Sparrow migrants seem to arrive much later (well into October and building throughout the winter months).

Otherwise the mid day Lucky Hammock visit was less than overwhelming. There were more Red-eyed Vireos, many Eastern Kingbirds, Prairie Warblers, Gnatcatchers, a small group of Baltimore Orioles, a House Wren, and Common Yellowthroats. From here we made our way into the Everglades proper. They had waived the entrance fee and were open only to Mahogoney Hammock.

We made our way to Anhinga Trail, where we saw very few birds along the boardwalk: 1 Green Heron, 1 male Anhinga, and 2 Great Egrets (plus heard one Least Bittern "Kacking" from some unseen location)! An immature Broad-winged Hawk spun overhead which was perhaps the most interesting sighting. I expected to see an adult given the date, but who can predict these things? In the Hammock there was a bit more happening, with Pewees, a couple Worm-eating Warblers, numerous White-eyed Vireos, Black & White Warbler, a few more Ovenbirds, and many Great Crested Flycatchers. Two Barred Owls were in great voice and were carrying on with an amazing show of whooping and wailing beyond the typical "Cooking for you alls". Austin laughed as he thought they sounded like Monkeys at times!

A real highlight though, was the near utter lack of Mosquitoes here. I was amazed and quite relieved by this.

As we prepared to leave an adult male Red-shouldered Hawk swung in and landed right over a car with a small circular object in its bill. After glassing, we realized it was a small FL Soft-shelled Turtle. My ever sensitive son, was adament that we should throw sticks and try to save the baby turtle. I explained that it was part of the natural cycle, and that it was too late for the turtle anyway (and hoped desperately I wouldn't be caught in my lie for I could now see the legs and head wiggling as the hawk transferred its prey from beak to talons). Austin decided not to watch but Dad had to rattle off a dozen frames or so before driving out.

On the way home to Port Charlotte on the Gulf, we poked our heads into Shark Valley. The entrance road had water sheeting over it 2-3 inches deep moving from west to east. As we had seen in parts of Redland, some hurricane damage was evident here with small trees here and there sheered, but by comparison to what Katrina had done a week later, its almost seems like a non issue. There were a handful of Herons and Egrets on the road proper (Green, Little Blue, Tricolored, and Great Blue, plus Snowy and Great Egrets), and we saw one adult male Snail Kite along 41 about a mile west of the Shark Valley entrance.

Good birding,

Jeff Bouton
Leica Sport Optics
Port Charlotte, FL
jbouton2@earthlink.net"

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Comments:	: I read an interesting post to the BRDBRAIN listserv today, submitted by Jeff Bouton in Port Charlotte. I am going to copy and paste his report for my fellow south Florida birders. : The posts title is "Swainson's Warbler and Lark Sparrow near Redland" : : : "All, : : Austin and I finally got out after a TOO long hiatus. We made our way over toward the Everglades NPP and joined Larry Manfredi and his son Phillip (now 4) for a couple hours of birding yesterday AM. We boys, all had a grand old time, and Austin now at 7 really seemed to enjoy the position of a mentor for a change. I think this is the first time he had ever birded with someone younger than himself! ;) : : At any rate, amidst the fallen branches, and Golden Orb Weavers at Mray Krome Park, we managed to see (and photograph) a fresh looking Swainson's Warbler, along with a Prothonotary male, im m Redstart, a couple of Ovenbirds, and Yellow-throated Warblers and numerous Red-eyed Vireos and Gnatcatchers. : : We later saw 2 dark morph Short-tailed Hawks (1 adult, and 1 immature) hunting over the agricultural areas between here and the entrance to the Everglades NPP. Even though his Dad had pointed all of these species out before, Austin looked at a number of these birds through his bins, and gleefully announced, "... that's another lifer ..." upon seeing nearly every one. (That's OK, we can start again).... I did ask though and happily he does recall the Eurasian Kestrel seen a few years ago, he replied, "You mean the reddish bird with only one stripe on its face?..." I was relieved to hear the description as that one may be a bit more problematic to duplicate than some of the others on the old list!.... ;) : : After leaving the Manfredi's, we headed over toward Everglades entrance. The fields around Lucky Hammock were full of Shorebirds, with numerous Leasts, both Yellowlegs, Pectorals, both Dowitchers, plus Semipalmated Plovers, and Killdeer. There were undoubtedly more but we didn't scour, this was more about a Dad and son rebuilding a lifelist and having fun! As I looped the back side of Lucky Hammock, I saw a sparrow working the edge of the grass and the plowed field. Closer inspection revealed it was an immature Lark Sparrow, loosely associating with a group of 5 Common Ground Doves. : : At first I was both surprised to excited to have this turn out to be a Lark Sparrow, but in retrospect, I don't really know which other sparrow species I would have expected in early September out there. Certainly, Lark Sparrows have a history of showing up in the east in August and September, while the vast majority of other Sparrow migrants seem to arrive much later (well into October and building throughout the winter months). : : Otherwise the mid day Lucky Hammock visit was less than overwhelming. There were more Red-eyed Vireos, many Eastern Kingbirds, Prairie Warblers, Gnatcatchers, a small group of Baltimore Orioles, a House Wren, and Common Yellowthroats. From here we made our way into the Everglades proper. They had waived the entrance fee and were open only to Mahogoney Hammock. : : We made our way to Anhinga Trail, where we saw very few birds along the boardwalk: 1 Green Heron, 1 male Anhinga, and 2 Great Egrets (plus heard one Least Bittern "Kacking" from some unseen location)! An immature Broad-winged Hawk spun overhead which was perhaps the most interesting sighting. I expected to see an adult given the date, but who can predict these things? In the Hammock there was a bit more happening, with Pewees, a couple Worm-eating Warblers, numerous White-eyed Vireos, Black & White Warbler, a few more Ovenbirds, and many Great Crested Flycatchers. Two Barred Owls were in great voice and were carrying on with an amazing show of whooping and wailing beyond the typical "Cooking for you alls". Austin laughed as he thought they sounded like Monkeys at times! : : A real highlight though, was the near utter lack of Mosquitoes here. I was amazed and quite relieved by this. : : As we prepared to leave an adult male Red-shouldered Hawk swung in and landed right over a car with a small circular object in its bill. After glassing, we realized it was a small FL Soft-shelled Turtle. My ever sensitive son, was adament that we should throw sticks and try to save the baby turtle. I explained that it was part of the natural cycle, and that it was too late for the turtle anyway (and hoped desperately I wouldn't be caught in my lie for I could now see the legs and head wiggling as the hawk transferred its prey from beak to talons). Austin decided not to watch but Dad had to rattle off a dozen frames or so before driving out. : : On the way home to Port Charlotte on the Gulf, we poked our heads into Shark Valley. The entrance road had water sheeting over it 2-3 inches deep moving from west to east. As we had seen in parts of Redland, some hurricane damage was evident here with small trees here and there sheered, but by comparison to what Katrina had done a week later, its almost seems like a non issue. There were a handful of Herons and Egrets on the road proper (Green, Little Blue, Tricolored, and Great Blue, plus Snowy and Great Egrets), and we saw one adult male Snail Kite along 41 about a mile west of the Shark Valley entrance. : : Good birding, : : Jeff Bouton : Leica Sport Optics : Port Charlotte, FL : jbouton2@earthlink.net" :
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