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Posted by Larry Manfredi on 16:34:04 06/04/14
I had to go downtown today for an appointment, after that my son Philip and I headed over to Crandon Beach. We were hoping for some shorebirds or gulls for the June Challenge. We got some gulls and terns but no shorebirds. We walked down near lifeguard tower "lucky number 13" to look into the roped off area for shorebirds and terns. None there at all so I decided to scope offshore. The first bird I get on was about 200 yards out and is a Sooty Shearwater! A lifer for my son and a state and county bird for me! At that same time looking at the shearwater as it was heading south, Rangel sent a text about a Smooth-billed Ani. This bird was seen at the Nature Center at the north part of Crandon Beach. We got into the car and drove over to North Beach by the Nature Center and parked. We spent a little time looking around the west side of the building by the employee parking. After about 30-minutes we heard the bird calling. My son Philip spotted the ani in a tree near the boardwalk that leads north of the Nature Center and comes down to ground level. We got good looks at it and left to try and beat the traffic heading back home.
It is a shame that I grew up seeing Smooth-billed Anis and now they have become so rare that it is exciting to see one. They are still very common in the West Indies, just not in Florida any more!
Larry and Philip Manfredi
Homestead, FL
http://www.south.floridabirding.com
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