[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Alex Harper on 16:40:47 11/13/05
Today, Paul Bithorn, Juan Vilamil and I birded Lucky Hammock and the Annex, Research Road in ENP, and Cutler Wetlands. We had 81 species of birds, with many birds missed that we could have easily seen if we cared for a high day list (American Coot being a good example). A little after 7:00 am we arrived at Flynn's in Florida City. No kingbirds or scissor-tails yet, but we did have a myarchius flycatcher that we thought could be a Brown-crested. It was very pale below, and an all black bill, but with it's back to us, and the fact that it was between us and sun, made us uncomfortable calling it BCFL. A Great-crested Flycatcher was in the same area. The birds were in the grove on the north side of Flynn's.
The Vermilion Flycatcher was not seen at it's usual spot.
Lucky Hammock was very active at 7:30 when we arrived. The hammock took a beating from Wilma, but that made it all the easier to see the birds. Pileated Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, House Wren, Brown Thrasher, Magnolia Warbler, and a beautiful Northern Parula were all seen in the hammock. Overhead, Tree and Barn Swallows buzzed around, and many sparrows were flying back and forth between fields, and many landed around the hammock itself. Savannah Sparrows could be seen perched on top of the tallest trees in the hammock, while several Grasshopper Sparrows fed around the edges.
On the other side of the road (east side), the birds were just as active at first. Out in the fields were Northern Harriers, Sandhill Cranes, swallows, and again a couple flocks of sparrows. It was quieting down quickly after twenty minutes, and we only gained a couple day birds, such as Orange-crowned Warbler, and Painted and Indigo Buntings. We were told that earlier there were four chats, Blue Grosbeak, three Lincoln's and some Clay-colored Sparrows. After about an hour of pretty much no excitement, I happened upon a VESPER SPARROW. It was sitting out in the open, and I immediatly picked up on the eye ring. Then the bird turned and gave me a body profile. A pretty nondescript bird. As Paul came to check it out, I stepped back to tell him it was a Vesper, and I stepped on a branch. The bird dropped down never to be seen again, but not before giving a flash of his white outer tail feathers. To get to the sparrow, walk the dirt road from Lucky Hammock east. It was seen right at the north corner, where Clay-colored Sparrows hung out last year.
We made a phone call after 9:30, and found out the Bell's Vireo and White-crowned Sparrow where actually at the Annex. It was fairly late in the morning, but we headed over to the Annex any way. As we closed our doors, a female Wood Duck flew out from the canal and past us. A juvenile dark morph Swainson's Hawk flew by on two occasions, as well as a dark morph Short-tailed. A Lincoln's Sparrow was seen along the northernmost edge of the Annex. Park your car right where the fields meet the Annex, and walk east on the dirt road (if you could even call it a road). The Lincoln's Sparrow was seen about 300 feet down.
After a drive through Coe's Visitor Center, we decided to check to see if we could enter the park. We pulled up, and we were told we could go as far as Mahogany Hammock, and there was no fee! Eastern Meadowlarks and a couple waders were seen on the way to Research Road. A dead-on-road Rough Green Snake and a juvenile Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake were seen as well.
We didn't see much on Research Road on our way to the old missle site, and we turned back to Florida City for lunch.
Well, we had a craving for some Franklin's Gulls, and headed over to Cutler Wetalnds. Along with a handful of Franklin's, we spotted a couple Great and Lesser-black Backed Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls mixed in the the hundreds of Laughing Gulls. Four Northern Shovelers were also seen in the wetlands. A Ring-necked Duck was in the large lake east of Cutler Wetlands across the road.
A couple species later, and I was dropped off at 3:30 in Miami Shores. Two Spot-breasted Orioles were feeding in my banana trees at about 4:00. Thanks a lot to Paul for a great trip. I got a life bird (VESP), state bird (WODU), and year bird (LISP).
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]