Posted by Robin Diaz on October 16, 2016 at 17:24:19
Twenty-three amiable and skilled birders joined me this morning in Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP to look migrants, residents and wintering birds. We started off with knock-out looks at a perched adult White-crowned Pigeon. Next, the Cape Florida Banding Station provided close-up looks at Gray Catbird, Black-throated Blue Warblers (including an adult male Appalachian race) and an Indigo Bunting. Seeing these birds in the hand always gives a fresh perspective. We tallied 32 species, including 3 falcon species and 10 warbler species, including Yellow-throated and Cape May. Rain delayed us for a few minutes but as we finished the walk, a treat was an adult male Painted Bunting brought to us by bander Michelle Davis. CFBS banded this bird in fall 2014 as a "greenie." The best non-bird sighting was a large 5-6' Tarpon that jumped up through a large mullet bait ball. The Hunter's Moon tide pushed water around the base of the lighthouse so further exploration of the compound was impractical. Many thanks to the wonderful participants who shared the morning. I reacquainted with old birding colleagues and and met new friends.