Posted by Rangel Diaz on May 07, 2015 at 22:00:41
Mark Kosiewski and I made a specialties run this past week starting with Shiny Cowbirds on May 2nd (I originally posted the 3rd but that was the wrong date) and ending with an Arawak (Short-eared) Owl on May 6th. On May 3rd I went down to John Pennekamp to pick up any rarities while Mark birded Everglades National Park (thanks to Robin Diaz for getting him on 'Cape Sable' Seaside Sparrows). I did not turn anything up but did find a Florida Dingywing at the beginning of the Wild Tamarin Trail. I met up with Mark later and we tracked down a Mangrove Cuckoo at Black Point Marina in the canoe launch parking lot. The 4th was spent picking up all the countable exotics he needed that were attainable in Miami-Dade County which was very successful thanks to tips from Carlos Sanchez and Angel and Mariel Abreu! Tuesday the 5th was our Fl Keys day. Starting with Dagny Johnson we began picking up tons of warblers. The numbers were high but none of Toe's marquee warblers. We also failed to relocate the Cuban Pewee. Afterwards we continued south and hit the Marathon Government Center for Roseate Tern followed by No Name Key for Key Deer and lunch at No Name Pub. We hit Fort Zachary right before sunset and continued to have high numbers of Caribbean warblers but the highlight being a beautiful male Chestnut-sided. May 6th was finally Dry Tortugas time. On the way out things were very slow, but the tortugas did not disappoint. Off the bat we went to the coal docks that were full of Brown Noddys and scanned for Black. Unfortunately we ended up dipping on the bird but flushed the caribbean race of Short-eared Owl! The island itself was pretty birdy and we managed to pick up 12 warbler and 3 thrush species. We also had tons of Yellow-billed Cuckoos, a Black-whiskered Vireo, a gorgeous male Scarlet Tanager, both grosbeaks, an Eastern Wood-Pewee and Whimbrel that appeared to be in bad shape. We also picked up a cowbird that we originally thought was Bronzed but now that I am sitting back looking through my photos was most likely a Shiny with weird light hitting the eye. I am waiting on Mark to send me his photos to compare. All in all it was a great time with a buddy from my year in NC. I cannot wait to get back out there but right now I have to figure out how to see that Curlew Sandpiper... Full list to come once Mark and I compare notes.