Posted by Brian Rapoza on January 11, 2019 at 12:10:54
North Florida 2019 Trip Summary
Seven birders joined Paul Bithorn and me this week for the annual TAS winter birding tour to North Florida. The weather was sunny and dry throughout the tour, unseasonably warm the first two days but turning colder and windier the last two days. Our itinerary took us to birding hotspots that included Sweetwater Wetlands in Alachua County, Tall Timbers Research Station in Leon County, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Wakulla County, Alligator Point in Franklin County and Huguenot Memorial City Park in Duval County. We tallied 145 species during the tour, including nineteen waterfowl, seven woodpeckers and both kinglets. Birds seen for the first time on this tour included American Flamingo, Snail Kite, Red Knot, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern and Black Skimmer. Other highlights included American Black Duck, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, White-faced Ibis, Vaux's Swift, Vermilion Flycatcher, Rusty Blackbird, Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Siskin. A link to a trip summary is below.