[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Alex Harper on 20:34:48 04/20/14
I hit a few spots this weekend, with John D. MacArthur (Palm Beach) Saturday and a brief visit to Evergreen Cemetery (Broward) on Sunday.
MacArthur was loaded with birds in the main parking lot and on the nature trail. Cape May, Ovenbird, Blackpoll, and Black-throated Blue Warblers dominated. Any fruiting Mulberry, Gumbo Limbo, or Shortleaf Fig was sure to harbor at least a small group of birds. I could not pull out any "marquis" warblers; all were typical Caribbean migrants. Other migrants included a Merlin, Black-whiskered and Blue-headed Vireo and Indigo Bunting. The best bird may have been an adult White-crowned Pigeon flushed from a fruiting fig; these birds are rare anywhere in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
A quick stop at Evergreen around 2:00 pm produced a huge number of warblers. A large group of Palm Warblers were combing the open area, and every tree had at least a bird or two. In forty-five minutes, my girlfriend and I saw at least 200 migrants. Blackpolls, Cape Mays, and Black-throated Blues were seemingly everywhere. Birders often use the "f-word" too liberally, but I'm comfortable with the use of the word fallout in describing today's numbers.
Back in Miami Shores, my neighborhood was loaded with birds. Cape Mays and Blackpolls again dominated. Family obligations kept me indoors, but north winds ahead may keep some of these birds hunkered down in our area for a bit longer. I'll be out again after work tomorrow.
Alex
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]