summer rarities and early migrants

Last weekend, between work related overnights in Martin County and Kennedy Space Center with teenagers through my summer position at the Miami Science Museum, Rosana and I stole away to Marathon in the Keys for some birding and relaxing. We got down there Saturday afternoon, stopping first at the Marathon municipal buildings. This is the one reliable nesting location in the U.S. for ROSEATE TERN, and they were there for us. The roof was mostly bustling with FORSTER'S TERN, which we at first thought were COMMONs. The ROSEATEs took some work to figure out.

That night, we stopped at the Marathon Airport, to see if we could spot ANTILLEAN NIGHTHAWKS. We heard them before we saw them, but they did end up coming close enough to get a definitive look. Later, we had dinner and some drinks at a tiki bar, and stayed, of course, at the Sandpiper Motel. The next morning we got up early and headed to Long Key State Park to look for BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO. We did not come up with it after about one and half hours of hiking, but we celebrated the two from the night before with a dip in the ocean off U.S. 1. That morning we packed up, and got home at about noon.

This morning, after dropping Rosana off at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport, I stopped by Matheson Hammock to see if the early migrants reported were around. My first of the season BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, AMERICAN REDSTART, RED-EYED VIREO, and a lifer LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH were all in the park. Not bad for summer down here.

Panhandler

Rosana and I headed up to Tallahassee for several days. We headed to Leon Sinks Geological Area south of town on Sunday, and were treated to heat. Lots of it. Fortunately, we did get a look at a ACADIAN FLYCATCHER. We then went to Wakulla Springs State Park to cool down, which was quite nice. On our way back to the city, I got my second year-bird of the day, a MISSISSIPPI KITE soaring over the road.

Cowbirded

Rosana and I went camping at Flamingo in the Everglades this weekend. I had a few birds to try to pick up there, now that summer seems to have set in.

First up was another try at the Cape Sable SEASIDE SPARROW, which turned up nothing. Next was locating a SHINY COWBIRD in a flock of about 40 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS in the parking lot area of the Flamingo visitor's center. Luckily, there were two males SHINYS in the pack, which were very easy to spot. Next up was checking out Eco Pond. We were there at dusk on Saturday with a lot of great birds including AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, WOOD STORK, AMERICAN AVOCET, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, BLACK-NECKED STILT, and so on. My goal was to try to find a LESSER NIGHTHAWK. With no luck that evening, I woke up at 6am to try again on Sunday, and did not see one then either.

Cuckoo

At Matheson Hammock in Miami this morning, I saw my first of the year MANGROVE CUCKOO.

Western migrant in Florida

On Friday morning, I saw that the birdboard was ablaze with birders having seen a male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at Kendall Indian Hammocks park, not too far from the house. I got myself together quickly, and got there at about 11am. I was the only one at the spot, looking for it in my post-op shoe from Wednesday's ingrown toenail surgery. I spent about a half-hour looking, to no avail. Carl Edwards, a local birder, then came. He played the call, and within 20 minutes, we were treated to great looks at it. Here's a picture that a local birder Toe got of this common western U.S. migrant, but Florida super-rarity.

This was a life bird for me, having just missed its presence on the west coast this past fall.

Dade-land

After substitute teaching at Rosana's Waldorf school on Wednesday, we went to A.D. Barnes to have a look at the fall-out that seemed to occur that day. It was pretty good. We caught up with local birder Rock Jetty, and got great looks at male BLACKPOLL WARBLER, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, tons of WORM-EATING WARBLERS, and a lifer BLUE-WINGED WARBLER.

3 females

Rosana and I went to the Everglades this week, camping at Long Pine Key. I was hoping to see the real BAR-TAILED GODWIT at Flamingo, but it seems that it has moved on. While in the parking lot of the Flamingo visitor's center, we located a flock of INDIGO BUNTING. Among the group was one female BLUE GROSBEAK, new for my year. (female #1)


Yesterday morning, I went out to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park to find the female WESTERN SPINDALIS that had been reported two days prior, and within 15 minutes, the 6 other birders that were there and I had gotten on it. (female #2)
Rosana and I left in the early afternoon to head to Lake Wales and visit her parents. On the way we stopped at a Palm Beach County reliable location for roosting BARN OWL. It was reliable indeed.

I have hit 450 birds for the year. My goal.

Rosana and I are getting married. (female #3)