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Updated on Monday, February 8 at 10:57 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.


Golden-cheeked Warbler,©BirdQuest

8 Feb Re: Sebastian Inlet (Brevard) [Deb Longman-Marien ]
8 Feb Re: Sebastian Inlet (Brevard) [Deb Longman-Marien ]
8 Feb Sebastian Inlet (Brevard) [beachbirder ]
8 Feb NW Escambia County [Lucy and Bob Duncan ]
8 Feb South Florida Notes [Jay Keller ]
8 Feb A day in the life of a County Lister [David Simpson ]
8 Feb White-faced Ibis @ Orlando Wetlands [Thomas Ford ]
8 Feb Re: Hummer's in back yard! [Randi Andersen ]
8 Feb Re: Venice Rookery [Fred ]
8 Feb Venice Rookery [Ron Wooldridge ]
8 Feb American Kestrel [Cheryl Molennor ]
8 Feb Lazuli Bunting at feeders []
8 Feb Birding Bradenton to Clewiston [Connie z ]
7 Feb Bonaparte's Gulls [Scott Patterson ]
7 Feb Blackwater River State Forest Sparrows 1/6 and 1/7 [Alex Harper ]
7 Feb Glossy Ibis [Leann Streeper ]
7 Feb Circle B Bar- 2 White-faced Ibis -signs of spring [Cameron Cox ]
7 Feb Harlequin Duck YES [Alice Horst ]
7 Feb Tundra Swan Question 2/7/10 [Danny Bales ]
7 Feb Re: White-faced Ibis - Orlando Wetlands [Dorothy Freeman ]
7 Feb No Subject [Ron Wooldridge ]
7 Feb Blue Jay harassing Bald Eagle [Ron Wooldridge ]
7 Feb Green-tailed Towhee [Lucy and Bob Duncan ]
7 Feb Hummer's in back yard! [Jeff Evans ]
7 Feb No Subject [Judie Von Eiff ]
7 Feb Honeymoon Island Reopens [Ray Dabkowski ]
6 Feb Ft. DeSoto today [donatdonlo ]
6 Feb Re: Bonaparte's Gull [Eve Parks ]
6 Feb Bonaparte's Gull [Herman Moulden ]
6 Feb Sebastian Inlet SP [Andy Bankert ]
6 Feb Birds [Scott Patterson ]
6 Feb Honeymoon Island SP Closed Until Wednesday [Ray Dabkowski ]
6 Feb White-faced Ibis - Orlando Wetlands [Reinhard Geisler ]
6 Feb Boyd Hill Prairie Warbler [Jeff Hooks ]
6 Feb Boyd Hill Barred Owl [Jeff Hooks ]
6 Feb Birding the Beach at Honeymoon Island Tomorrow [David Gagne ]
6 Feb American White Pelicans @ Feather Sound [Terry ]
6 Feb Male Baltimore Oriole, Holiday Pasco County [David Gagne ]
6 Feb New Listserv for help with bird identification [Nate Stuart ]
5 Feb Everglades Day @ Loxahatchee NWR 2/6/10 [Michael Baranski ]
5 Feb Clay-colored Sparrow, Okaloosa County [ED KWATER ]
5 Feb Re: Sebastian Inlet Reddish white morph [Nancy Soucy ]
5 Feb Feb. 5 T.M. Goodwin WMA, Viera Wetlands [Carolyn Cimino ]
5 Feb Re: Sebastian Inlet Reddish white morph [Jim McGinity ]
5 Feb Sebastian Inlet Reddish white morph [Nancy Soucy ]
5 Feb Re: Little Bird Update (Hummers) [Backes ]
5 Feb Re: Little Bird Update (Hummers) [Scott Patterson ]
5 Feb Har. Duck and request for ID help [Nancy Soucy ]
5 Feb Little Bird Update (Hummers) [joe misiaszek ]
5 Feb Harlequin Duck [Cheri Pierce ]
5 Feb Shell Point Friday ["Sean P. McCool" ]
5 Feb Alcids! [Andrew Kratter ]
5 Feb Black throated gray warbler Yes [Nathaniel Stuart ]
5 Feb FW: Probable House Finch [rlhalpin ]
5 Feb Probable House Finch [rlhalpin ]
4 Feb Green Cay, Boynton Beach [Weaver J V O ]
5 Feb Purple Sandpiper - Sebastian Inlet No, Brown Booby - Jetty Park No 2\4 [Andy Thatcher ]
4 Feb Green Heron, Eagle Crest Park, St. Pete [Jeff Hooks ]
4 Feb Egg on my face [Rick and Barb Lucas ]
4 Feb American Bittern, Celery Fields, Sarasota 2/4 [Jeffery Fisher ]
4 Feb Black-throated Green PEAR PARK, LEESBURG FL [Alice Horst ]
4 Feb Masked Duck, Viera .. Yes, Harlequin Duck, Sebastian Inlet .. Yes 2\4 [Andy Thatcher ]
3 Feb Jetty Park (2/3/10) - Brown Booby (also, quick Broad-Winged Hawk note!!) [John Thomton ]
3 Feb Viera Wetlands (2/3/10) - Masked Duck YES [John Thomton ]
3 Feb St. Marks NWR and Viera Wetlands Neotropic Cormorants [Bruce Anderson ]
3 Feb American Robins in NE St. Pete [donatdonlo ]
3 Feb Viera Wetlands and Merritt Island NWR [Eve Parks ]
3 Feb Alligator Point Sparrows and Southwood Geese ["Sean P. McCool" ]
3 Feb Re: Greater White-fronted Geese--yes, Southwood, Tallahassee Feb.2 [jw callis ]
3 Feb Townsend's warbler [Ted Center ]
3 Feb Key West [Karen Chiasson ]
3 Feb Pelagic trip List. Out of Ponce de Leon Inlet. Volusia Co. [Michael Brothers ]
3 Feb Wandering La Sagra's (2/3) [Robin Diaz ]
3 Feb Eagle Crest Park, St. Pete [Jeff Hooks ]
3 Feb Re: photographing rarities and endangered species [Renne Leatto ]
3 Feb New Sandhill Crane egg today [Maria Valentine ]

Subject: Re: Sebastian Inlet (Brevard)
From: Deb Longman-Marien <dlongmanmarien AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 23:56:57 -0500
In my first post, this part of my message went  missing. Jim you must have 
been there earlier than me. I did not see you. The Harlequin Duck and the 
Purple Sandpiper were still in the exact locations you described between 4 and 
6pm. 

Deb Longman-Marien
Viera

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Sebastian Inlet (Brevard)
From: Deb Longman-Marien <dlongmanmarien AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 23:48:35 -0500
Jim, I must have been there later than you because I didn't see you. The 
Harlequin Duck and the Purple Sandpiper between 4pm and 6pm were still in 
the exact locations you described.

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Sebastian Inlet (Brevard)
From: beachbirder <beachbirder AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 20:10:33 -0800
The Harlequin Duck and Purple Sandpiper were located this afternoon at 
Sebastian Inlet.  My 

observations were made from the north side of the inlet.   Harlequin was on the 
south side, west 

side of bridge back where road veers toward bathrooms.  The Purple Sandpiper 
was spotted 

on the north side on the rock jetty between the bridge and the opening to the 
tidal pool. 

 
Jim Eager
Cape Canaveral
beachbirder AT bellsouth.net

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: NW Escambia County
From: Lucy and Bob Duncan <town_point AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 20:34:50 -0600
Bob and I spent today birding the extreme nw corner of Escambia County in the 
area of the catfish farms. For those of you who came up here for the Western 
Meadowlark a few years ago, our excursion today was in that same general area. 
It was mostly clear, cold and windy, and passerines were loathe to sit up and 
be seen. 


Of the 63 species we found in the area, birding exclusively from the roads, 
only four were notable. They were as follows: 

    Greater White-fronted Goose (18)
    Sandhill Cranes (6)
    Brewer's Blackbirds (21)
    Rusty Blackbird (3 females, 3 males)

The most abundant species was the American Robin, found in every field, in many 
trees, and always overhead. Red-winged Blackbirds and Killdeer came in next 
with Red-wings noted squawking and chattering mostly from treetops, and 
Killdeer running up and down every corn or cotton furrow or field. 

Few ducks were tallied. Seven Bald Eagles were noted, perhaps explaining the 
paucity of ducks. 


A note about birding the privately owned catfish farms. You are welcome to bird 
the ponds FROM THE ROAD. We do not have permission to go up onto the dikes. 


Lucy and Bob Duncan
Gulf Breeze, FL




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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: South Florida Notes
From: Jay Keller <azure.jay AT EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 20:52:46 -0500
Birdbrains,

I was pleased to visit Florida again where I was able to squeeze in some 
birding after my meetings.  Not sure if anything here is useful, but just in 
case, I thought I'd share.  After observing the MASKED DUCK at Viera on 
Saturday morning, I skipped down to Bill Baggs and eventually got a good look 
at the LA SAGRA'S FLYCATCHER on the wire between the white gate and the 
fire break at about 4 PM.  Many thanks to Robin and others for the very good 
directions and information.

Sunday morning I drove down to Flamingo pre-dawn followed by Snake Bight.  
I walked the trail to the end and was very pleased with my results over a 
period of a few hours.  Along the trail a MANGROVE CUCKOO called and was 
seen zipping away, only my second ever despite numerous trips to Florida.  At 
least four WHITE-CROWNED PIGEONS kept spooking from the treetops over 
the trail ahead of me, and I only had good views of one adult that decided to 
fly a little bit ahead instead of away.

From the boardwalk, dozens of waders were present, including a white morph 
REDDISH EGRET and a good number of SPOONBILLS.  No confirmed Flamingos, 
but there were some very tall-looking pink birds waaaay out in Florida Bay 
including one very distant flying suspect bird.  Ah well, something for next 
time.

Also along the trail were a couple of PAINTED BUNTINGS, and 7 species of 
warbler including PARULA (4), YELLOW-THROATED (1), PRAIRIE (3), PALM (2), 
BLACK-AND-WHITE (1), N WATERTHRUSH (15), and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT 
(4).

Along the road somewhere west of Pine Hammock (I believe), two SHINY 
COWBIRDS were perched in a small tree, which allowed me to stop, turn 
around, and go back for some nice close-up looks.  What luck!

Lastly at AD Barnes, a number of birds were working the trees at the 
entrance, including the day's 10th warbler species, BLACK-THROATED GREEN 
WARBLER (the last two being Pine and Myrtle), but I somehow dipped on the 
Spot-breasted Oriole for the second trip in a row.

Take care,

Jay Keller,
San Diego, CA

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: A day in the life of a County Lister
From: David Simpson <simpsondavid AT MAC.COM>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 19:49:24 -0500
OK, I'm pretty much giving up on the series of "I said it couldn't be  
done."  It has been over a month since that happened and a lot of  
other stuff has happened in between.  I will pick out one of the more  
memorable days and then finish with the 31st, the last day.

29 Dec 09

The plan was to spend the night at Travis and Karen's place SW of  
Blountstown in Calhoun County.  I spent most of the morning in  
coastal Gulf County picking up a few new ticks but dipping on  
Virginia rail and screech owl.  I briefly slipped into Bay County,  
heading over to a beach spot just west of Mexico Beach at the eastern  
edge of Tyndall AFB.  Dividing ticks by effort, Bay was probably the  
most productive county of the trip.  I made one brief stop, where I  
got nothing.   On US 98 heading in and out of Bay, I picked up Bald  
Eagle and Tree Swallow.

Liberty County, oh Liberty County.  Such a great county for Henslow's  
sparrow, Yellow rail, Red-cockaded woodpecker.  But try to find a  
coot, a non-Wood duck, a shrike, a Ring-billed gull, a pigeon!  I say  
it can't be done.  At least I haven't done it.  I came in from the  
west at high noon with low hopes and riding a silver pickup truck.   
County listing in the afternoon can really be a drag.  I had flirted  
with the idea of saving this county for the next morning.  I decided  
it would be better to knock it out this day so I could spend more  
time in other counties later.  My first stop was on Turkey Creek Road  
east of Bristol and west of Hosford.  Turkey Creek Road bisects a low  
swampy area just north of SR 20.  I hoped to get some kind of  
sparrow, like maybe White-crowned.  I found some very interested  
Swamp and White-throated sparrows, but nothing I hadn't seen before.   
It was after noon and I really did not expect much, but I had to  
try.  My next stop was what I call the Hosford Pond.  From the  
intersection of SR 65 and SR 20, I head north and pull over next the  
sterile pond.  I suspect that they raise catfish here and keep the  
birds away as part of their management.  Ponds are in short supply in  
Liberty County and this one is a very convenient spot to pick up some  
of the things I am still missing like Snowy egret, grebes, Anhinga,  
ducks, Ring-billed gull, and Smew.  I have made many stops here and  
have added a few things like Purple Martin to my Liberty list, but  
never a water bird.  As I pulled up, I saw a single American Coot  
swimming away.  I was rather annoyed, thinking that would be new if  
it were on the other side of the Appalachicola River in Calhoun.  I  
did not realize until I checked the list again that it was actually  
new here in Liberty, not for Calhoun.  It's hard to keep track of so  
many counties.  So, although this five minute stop only produced,  
three individual birds of three species, it did at least produce one  
all important tick.  You gotta love a game where an old coot is an  
exciting bird.

One of my favorite, and perhaps most frustrating places to visit in  
Liberty County is the Lake Talquin Dam.  The Lake Talquin Dam holds  
back the waters of the Ocklockonee River to form Lake Talquin.  Lake  
Talquin forms the boundary between southeastern Gadsen County and  
Leon County.  At the dam, Liberty County picks up where Gadsden  
leaves off.

I just heard my FOTS Purple Martin as I sit here on the porch!

Lake Talquin hosts masses of Ring-billed gulls, Bonaparte's gulls,  
Forster's terns, white pelicans, Anhingas, ducks, Snowy egrets, and  
many other birds that seem to encounter a force field when the reach  
the dam and are faced with the possibility of entering Liberty  
County.  The dam provides the necessary substrate for Rock Pigeons to  
make a home.  The only other place I have found in Liberty is the SR  
20 bridge over the Appalachicola River.  At this time, the entire  
population of Rock Pigeons in Calhoun and Liberty Counties consists  
of the four birds at a dairy in Calhoun, north of Blountstown on SR  
69.  But anyway, the forcefield seems to have finally developed some  
cracks.  I parked on the west side of the river and north side of SR  
20 and walked up to the bridge.  From here, I was greeted with many  
new birds for Liberty and even one new one for Leon.  A Forster's  
tern had wandered to the dark side of the dam.  Not just one, but  
eight Ring-billed gulls were working the churning waters that flowed  
over the flood gates.  At least 17 Bonaparte's gulls were wandering  
up and down the river.  A single White pelican was an addition to  
both Leon and Liberty Counties.  Finally, among the 80 cormorants,  
there was an Anhinga.  Another Anhinga was seen further down the  
river.   I birded the woods a little bit and did not find any new  
ticks, so I decided to head north a bit to see what I could do with  
my Gadsden list.

My favorite spot on Lake Talquin is Pat Thomas Park at Hopkins  
Landing.  The Florida Gazeteer actually has the boat ramp at the  
wrong place.  It is at the end of the second road leading east from  
SR 267 in Gadsden County.  From here you can see the dam, barely, but  
it is hard to pick up any Liberty County birds.  The park offers a  
commanding view of the lake.  I counted 525 cormorants, 10 or so  
Anhingas, and five Pied-billed grebes.  The Anhingas had earned a  
reprieve, but I could not help but feel an urge to push a grebe over  
the dam.  Liberty is the last county where I need Pied-billed grebe.   
I still lacked some easy stuff for Gadsden, but I would not get any  
of them this day.

Back to Liberty County I rode.  Hi Ho Silver Pickup!  How many of you  
are old enough to get that reference?  Text Lone Ranger to wherever  
it is you kids text your questions.  I don't know, I can barely use a  
cell phone and Email.  Anyway, I was wandering around Liberty,  
killing time before ending in Appalachicola NF.  There, I hoped to  
get Great horned and screech owl, woodcock, and other stuff.  My  
notes say I stopped at a field on CR 12.  There was open, mowed grass  
on one side and a dense growth of pines on the other.  I stopped  
because I still lacked Savannah and Vesper sparrow for Liberty.  I  
left because that situation showed no sign of changing.  I got two  
birds at this five minute stop.  Both were American Kestrels.

Bristol High School sports a sports field complete with fences, open  
grass, and presumably grasshoppers, lizards and the like.  This is a  
great place to be a Loggerhead Shrike.  You wouldn't know that by  
looking around the many available perches.  Liberty and it's neighbor  
to the south, Franklin, are the last two counties left where I do not  
have shrike.  There is at least one reliable winter spot for shrike  
in Franklin, but I have yet to locate one in Liberty.  At least there  
was more than just kestrels at this stop.

Somewhere along the way, I picked up Savannah sparrow, so I was able  
to finally add that to the All-County List.  I think that was #45 or  
something like that.

One of the neatest sightings of the day was along Peavine Road, south  
of Bristol.  I was driving along when I noticed flocks of sparrows  
flying across the road from a field up into some trees.  I stopped  
along the edge of a huge fallow field with waist high weeds.  Across  
the road was an open grove of pines.  The trees were full of Chipping  
sparrows which had just flown up from the field.  I counted about 25  
still in the field and then watched wave after wave of chippies head  
back across the road into the field.  A conservative count put the  
total at 350.  It is not unusual to run across flocks of 50-100 while  
traveling the roads of Appalachicola NF, but this was by far the  
biggest flock I have seen.  Also in the field were at least five  
Yellow Palm Warblers, several bluebirds, Killdeer, a couple of  
meadowlarks, a harrier, and Vesper and Grasshopper sparrows.  The  
Vesper was new for Liberty.  The Killdeer, meadowlarks, and harrier,  
would have been new for neighboring Gadsden County.

I had a little bit of daylight left and I wanted to hit the boat ramp  
at Estifanulga.  Don't ask me how to get there, because half the  
time, I can't find the right turn off.  It is a great spot for bi- 
county birding if you can find it.  From this point on the river, I  
have added Cliff and Bank swallows and Tricolored heron to Calhoun  
and Liberty counties.  This day I would add nothing, not even the  
memories of another visit.  I knew I had gone too far, so I decided  
to continue down CR 333 until it came back to CR 12 and head back up  
to FR 105 en route to Camel Pond.  That was a solid plan except for  
the fact that CR 333 does not go back to CR 12.  Eventually, I came  
to a dead end at someone's horse farm.  I decided to make the best of  
it and conduct another stationary count for eBird.  The farm sloped  
down to some cypress swamps.  The swamps were buffered by open water  
which was buffered by muddy shores, trodden by the hooves of horses.   
This muddy edge is a habitat in short supply in Liberty.  I could see  
some type of shorebird in the distance.  It turned out the shorebirds  
were Killdeer.  There were not many other birds here, but in the ope  
water, I spied a Pied-billed grebe.  Yeehaw!

I had time to get back to FR 105 around sunset.  I situated myself  
along a creek with an unburned fringe of swamp.  Prescribed fire  
(along with the occasional natural fire) is an important tool in  
managing the open pine lands of the forest.  Without it, the swamps  
would migrate out from the creeks and rivers and turn the pinelands  
to hardwoodlands.  Is that a word?  Spellcheck doesn't think so.   
Sometimes, along the twists and turns of these creeks, you get a fire  
shadow where moist thickets are allowed to grow, unchallenged by  
fire.  Here is where the woodcock waits out the day to feed by the  
moonlight.  Here is where I waited to add this species and hopefully  
a screech owl to my Liberty County list.  If I had taken the time to  
look at my list, I would have realized that I already had both  
species.  I had picked up screech owl on some back road south of SR  
20 at some point in the past.  I had gotten woodcock on SR 12 NE of  
Bristol one evening at the end of another day of county listing.   
D'oh!  So I settled in to wait, picking up Great-horned owl for the  
list and hearing a few other birds settle in for the night.  I  
eventually heard the twitter of a male woodcock's display and heard  
the "peent" call after he returned to earth.  I didn't find screech  
owl, but I did get a Whip-poor-will, which I already had for  
Liberty.  When I mounted Silver Pickup, I found that I was mistaken,  
again.  I had not had Whip-poor-will, but did have woodcock on my  
list.  I was kind of glad that I did not get screech owl.  As it was,  
my mistakes canceled each other.

After that, it was off to Travis and Karen's place where I tallied my  
totals, checked the weather, and formulated Plans A-Z for the final  
48 hours.

David SImpson
Fellsmere, FL

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: White-faced Ibis @ Orlando Wetlands
From: Thomas Ford <tomf97 AT NEO.RR.COM>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 17:41:23 -0500
Well you birders will be glad to know that all 16 persons that were at
Orlando Wetlands this morning were birders. I believe all added a lifer
today.

 

Tom Ford

Merritt Island/ Ohio

 

 


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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Hummer's in back yard!
From: Randi Andersen <womanathewell AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 14:46:47 -0500
To the Wintering Hummer's in the back yard folk, 

Would you mind please telling us where you are? What county? City/town? 

Thank You,
Randi Andersen
Suntree/Melbourne
Brevard Co.

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Venice Rookery
From: Fred <fred AT CETUSSOFT.COM>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 13:48:52 -0500
> I've been visiting the Venice Rookery for at least 6 years, and it
> seems that each year the number of nesting birds, especially the
> Great Blue Herons has declined significantly. This year, I'd
> estimate that there are no more than 10-12 nesting pairs of GBH's.
> Activity is pretty intense now however and there's probably some GBH
> chicks already.

Hi, Ron.

I also visited a rookery in Venice, back on Jan 17th, late in the day
- I'm not sure if it's the same rookery or not - I don't know at all
how many rookeries there might be in Venice.

I have a small gallery of some of my photos from my visit online at
http://fredw.smugmug.com/Animals/Venice-FL-Rookery-100117/11181265_w7idn

There were a few young GBH chicks visible, both older and younger - I
did get some really good looks at a pair of growing chick "twins", and
there was also a full-size juvenile (I think).

Keep Lookin' Up !!!

Fred (Frederick Wasti)

Mostly in Marshfield Massachusetts (but in Lakeland FL for January)

fred  AT t cetussoft d0t com

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Venice Rookery
From: Ron Wooldridge <rwooldri AT TAMPABAY.RR.COM>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 10:53:41 -0500

I've been visiting the Venice Rookery for at least 6 years, and it  
seems that each year the number of nesting birds, especially the Great  
Blue Herons has declined significantly. This year, I'd estimate that  
there are no more than 10-12 nesting pairs of GBH's. Activity is  
pretty intense now however and there's probably some GBH chicks  
already. In the photo above, it's interesting to note that the lores  
on both birds are just beginning to show the powder blue color, but  
it's not really intense yet.

Ron Wooldridge
Parrish, FL

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: American Kestrel
From: Cheryl Molennor <cmolennor AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:54:12 -0500
I live in New Port Richey and I'm looking for American Kestrels. Anybody know 
of any near by and in good photo range for a 300- 600 mm lens? Thankyou

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Subject: Lazuli Bunting at feeders
From: rkruetzman AT AOL.COM
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:48:16 -0500
 

 Hi All--

The Bunting from the West has arrived at our feeders. Attached arepics of the 
Lazuli Bunting that has been here for a few days. This isapparently a 
non-breeding or juvenile male. The female with whatKaufman describes as a 
cinnamon wash on the breast was here a few daysago but has not been seen in the 
last few days. The male is stillcoming to the feeders. If anyone is interested 
in trying for it,you arewelcome to check our feeders. Let us know by e-mail. We 
live on thenorth edge of Lake Thonotosassa in Northeastern Hillsborough County. 
This is our yard bird # 143 which will probably be our last as we arescheduled 
to sell our property on 2-24. We are moving to The Villagessouth of Ocala and 
hope to be active in birding and butterflying upthere. Good Birding to 
Everyone!!!---Russ and Gail Kruetzman,Thonotosassa 



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Subject: Birding Bradenton to Clewiston
From: Connie z <zacodo AT TAMPABAY.RR.COM>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 07:42:33 -0500
A Manatee Audubon group will be heading to STA 5 on Saturday and are 
planning to bird our way there. We had a boat trip scheduled which
was canceled on Saturday.  Does anyone have information on any "hot spots" 
that wouldn't be too far off the direct route going east, then south or 
south then east?  Reply directly to me.  Thanks for any help!

Connie Zack
Field Trip Coordinator
Bradenton, FL 

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Subject: Bonaparte's Gulls
From: Scott Patterson <scottsss AT KNOLOGY.NET>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 20:15:30 -0500
After work I walked out onto the beach again (Indian Shores) - to check for 
seabirds... Spotted 1 immature gannet and, again, MANY Bonaparte's gulls. I 
have to say they are very fun birds to watch in action; any other time I've 
seen them they've just been standing there (like the attached photo). Watching 
them fly and skim the waves is just too much fun; if you want a good 
Bonaparte's show - Indian Shores is the place! Really hoping to see a jaeger 
sometime soon... 


Later!

Scott  :-)

Scott Patterson
St. Petersburg, FL
scottsss AT knology.net
...Light travels faster than sound...that's why some people seem bright until 
you hear them speak...(Unknown) 


 

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Subject: Blackwater River State Forest Sparrows 1/6 and 1/7
From: Alex Harper <alex5836 AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 18:23:15 -0500
 Alicia Gerrety and I birded the Coldwater Creek area and dove fields along 
Buddy Hardy Road on 1/6, and I returned 1/7 with Patrick James. The goal was to 
find Le Conte's Sparrow, which was seen here last winter. 

At the Coldwater Creek Recreation area, there were several Golden-crowned 
Kinglets and a Blue-headed Vireo feeding in the cedars along the creek. Many 
Chipping Sparrows and White-throated Sparrows were in the area, as well as a 
Bachman's Sparrow in the pineland. Down Buddy Hardy Road towards Munson 
Highway, we visited a dove field where many sparrows can be found: 

1/6 / 1/7
Red-cockaded Woodpecker- heard towards cluster both days, but never seen
Bachman's Sparrow 0/1 near RCW cluster
Henslow's Sparrow 1/3
Grasshopper Sparrow 20/20 
Savannah Sparrow 3/7

Vesper Sparrow 2/0
Song Sparrow 30/30
Swamp Sparrow 20/20

Another dove fields close by (#16?) had been recently mowed in parts, so 
offered little habitat for Ammodramus sparrows, but did host many more 
Chipping, Savannah, some Vesper, Song, Swamp. 


Dark-eyed Juncos (up to six) remain in the vicinity of the University of West 
Florida library. They are vocal and active while classes are in session and on 
weekends. On most days that I am walking around this area while there is little 
foot traffic, I see or at least hear them. 

Alex Harper
Miami and Pensacola


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Subject: Glossy Ibis
From: Leann Streeper <leann.jackson AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 17:57:21 -0500
Hello everyone,

Bob and I went to Emeralda Marsh this afternoon.  The wildlife drive is open
and a lot of people were there.  Had 42 species in 2 hours at noon.  Not
bad.  Only had 2 species of duck. 2 Blue winged teal and 5 Ring necked Duck.
Not many ducks due to cells are too deep for their liking.  Water levels are
way up.
Did get this poor Glossy Ibis with a badly hurt leg.  Notice it has a yellow
iris not brown.  Would this be due to his injury?? Anyone out there that can
help him? He was at the very end of the wildlife drive.

Leann Streeper
Leesburg, Fl


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Subject: Circle B Bar- 2 White-faced Ibis -signs of spring
From: Cameron Cox <cameron_cox AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 23:47:36 +0100
All,

This afternoon I saw the Circle B Bar White-faced Ibis at the same spot it has 
been reported from recently. Just a short ways down the Marsh Rabbit Run trail 
on the right side in the middle of the pool. I watched it for a while as it fed 
actively and enjoyed excellent looks at it. I walked a short ways farther up 
the trail and scanned a distant flock of dark ibis and spotted another 
White-faced Ibis. While the first bird had a pale pink face, the second bird 
had a much brighter face. Both had intense ruby-red eyes and neither showed any 
signs of hybridization. The heads of both birds were covered in fine pale 
streaking giving the head a frosty appearance. I noticed this when I saw the 
White-faced Ibis at Circle B Bar back in December and none of the Glossy Ibis 
I've seen since then have approached the amount streaking shown by these 
White-faced Ibis. Currently these two birds can be told apart by the intensity 
of the face color but if they stick around both could soon have bright faces. 
Neither has begun to show the white border around the face yet. 


There were also 8-10 Purple Martins including one female.

Singing birds:

I have never heard Blue-gray Gnatcatchers sing with the enthusiasm that they 
were singing with today. Even during the peak of the breeding season or during 
the spring on the Texas when surrounded by hoards of the little buggers have I 
hear this much singing. Not sure what was going on. 


I also heard a singing Blue-head Vireo and Black-and-white Warbler.  
              

Cameron Cox

Brandon, FL
 		 	   		  
_________________________________________________________________
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Subject: Harlequin Duck YES
From: Alice Horst <ahorst AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 17:39:10 -0500
Scoped her from the north side of Sebastian Inlet Sate Park  AT  9:00am.  Then 
drove over the bridge and got outstanding looks and pictures from the south 
side. Could not find the Purple Sandpiper anywhere. Thank you to the birders 
who helped me via BRDBRAIN with driving directions. Alice Horst, The Villages, 

Fl.

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Subject: Tundra Swan Question 2/7/10
From: Danny Bales <sueredfish AT MSN.COM>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 17:34:06 -0500
I was thinking about trying for the Tundra Swans, and was wondering if they 
have been seen recently? I'm not sure exactly of the directions, but I believe 
they are on RBA.
  I also found this picture of the Purple Sandpiper at Sabastian Inlet that I 
took the other day. Thought I'd share it. It is a nicely colored bird.

Danny Bales
Titusville, Fla.

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Subject: Re: White-faced Ibis - Orlando Wetlands
From: Dorothy Freeman <dorothyfreeman AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 16:28:20 -0500
The White-face Ibis was easily seen early this afternoon at Orlando Wetlands 
Park. Joie Clifton and I watched it between 2:00 and 3:00 pm. It is in the same 
location as described by Reihhard Geisler, Cell 14, SE side, in front of the 
second bench. At times it was as close as 50 ft. Strangely, we were the only 
birders present, however lots of photographers were around and about the park. 


Dot Freeman, Orlando

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Subject: No Subject
From: Ron Wooldridge <rwooldri AT TAMPABAY.RR.COM>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 16:22:47 -0500

Guess I should include the photo. Sorry

Ron Wooldridge
Parrish, FL

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Subject: Blue Jay harassing Bald Eagle
From: Ron Wooldridge <rwooldri AT TAMPABAY.RR.COM>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 16:20:23 -0500
It was fascinating to witness the boldness and persistence of the Blue  
Jay's attack.

Ron Wooldridge
Parrish, FL

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Subject: Green-tailed Towhee
From: Lucy and Bob Duncan <town_point AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 15:00:39 -0600
Hi everyone,

 At about 11 a.m. today Lucy, Dinny Nimmo and I saw the Green-tailed Towhee at 
Ft. Pickens at the same location where present since Nov. Also present were two 
Lark Sparrows at the beginning of the trail where they have been present since 
about Oct. Seven other species of sparrows were found including a White-Crown. 


Bob Duncan
Gulf Breeze, in the w. Panhandle

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Subject: Hummer's in back yard!
From: Jeff Evans <cjeffevans AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 10:44:04 -0500
We have 2 to 4 wintering hummers in our backyard.Waiting to hear from bander
in the Tallahassee area! Should be coming to the Apopka area this month!

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Subject: No Subject
From: Judie Von Eiff <gfvon AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 09:36:57 -0500
Friday, Pat Gladstone, Ruth Woodall and I birded Big Hickory Island and its 
adjacent sandbars here in Bonita Springs as part of Florida's Winter Shorebird 
Survey. Big Hickory is a small barrier island on the Gulf between Lover's Key 
State Park and Bonita Beach. It was overcast with heavy, heavy winds. Despite 
that, we were able to spot 37 different species. Among the usual cast of 
characters we had a flock of 55 Spoonbills fly overhead, 12 Marbled Godwits, 2 
Mag. Frigatebirds, 2 No. Gannets (one adult, one juvie), 2 Caspian Terns, 8 
Oystercatchers, a large flock...over 250....of Willets, and 21(!) Wilson's 
Plovers. All these and more in just 3 hours on a small island. 

Judie Von Eiff
Bonita Springs
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: donatdonlo 
  To: BRDBRAIN AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDU 
  Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 11:23 PM
  Subject: [BRDBRAIN] Ft. DeSoto today


 Lorraine and I birded Ft. De Soto North Beach today as part of the winter 
shorebird survey. Despite the brutal winds 20mph+ that made the scope useless 
we found a lot of good birds. Over Tierra Verde on the way in we had a male 
Purple Martin, near the north Duck Pond where a Bald Eagle Preened above the 
nest. At the spit area on North beach we had 10) Piping Plovers including 2 
banded, 230 Red Knots, 2 American Oystercatchers and 5 Snowy Plovers as well as 
a Great Black-backed Gull. At the north tip we had 2 more AMOY, 4 more Snowy 
Plover, including a banded bird and 2 each Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. We 
also had a Merlin and 8 Red-breasted Mergansers near the north tip lagoon. On 
our way home we had all the expected warblers including Orange-crowned, 
Yellow-throated, Pine, Palm, Prairie and Yellow-rumped as well as Eastern 
Phoebe and American Goldfinches. 2 female Purple Martins were seen flying north 
near the Mulberry Tree area and another male was seen flying east to west near 
the Campground, 5 American Kestrels lined the roadways along the park and 16 
Northern Gannet, including 3 adults were seen feeding offshore from the spit 
area. 


  Don Margeson 
  St. Petersburg
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____________________________________________________________________________ 


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Subject: Honeymoon Island Reopens
From: Ray Dabkowski <rayd AT EN.COM>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 09:04:49 -0500
Honeymoon Island State Park has reopened after a water main break on the
Dunedin Causeway. Originally, the park was not expected to open again until
at least Wednesday. Be aware that there may be occasional causeway closings,
and expect Porta-Potties at locations in the park until the water situation
is resolved later this week.

Thank you birders for your patience during this inconvenience.

Ray Dabkowski
Friends of the Island Parks
www.islandparks.org
Dunedin, FL

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Subject: Ft. DeSoto today
From: donatdonlo <donatdonlo AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 23:23:55 -0500
Lorraine and I birded Ft. De Soto North Beach today as part of the winter 
shorebird survey. Despite the brutal winds 20mph+ that made the scope useless 
we found a lot of good birds. Over Tierra Verde on the way in we had a male 
Purple Martin, near the north Duck Pond where a Bald Eagle Preened above the 
nest. At the spit area on North beach we had 10) Piping Plovers including 2 
banded, 230 Red Knots, 2 American Oystercatchers and 5 Snowy Plovers as well as 
a Great Black-backed Gull. At the north tip we had 2 more AMOY, 4 more Snowy 
Plover, including a banded bird and 2 each Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. We 
also had a Merlin and 8 Red-breasted Mergansers near the north tip lagoon. On 
our way home we had all the expected warblers including Orange-crowned, 
Yellow-throated, Pine, Palm, Prairie and Yellow-rumped as well as Eastern 
Phoebe and American Goldfinches. 2 female Purple Martins were seen flying north 
near the Mulberry Tree area and another male was seen flying east to west near 
the Campground, 5 American Kestrels lined the roadways along the park and 16 
Northern Gannet, including 3 adults were seen feeding offshore from the spit 
area. 


Don Margeson 
St. Petersburg

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Subject: Re: Bonaparte's Gull
From: Eve Parks <hrparks AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 22:27:36 -0500
I had only binocs, but thought I saw a Bonaparte's gull on Lake Morton in 
Lakeland about 5pm today - floating way out in the very center with a flock of 
ring-billed gulls. Anyone else see it? A few ruddy ducks and ring-necked ducks 
shared the lake with the gulls and the regular residents.

Also saw the immature purple gallinule at Circle B Bar Reserve. Loved seeing -
and hearing - a large flock of black-bellied whistling ducks there. 

Eve Parks
Deltona, FL


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Subject: Bonaparte's Gull
From: Herman Moulden <hmoul AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 21:10:07 -0500
This Bonaparte's Gull was hanging out with a couple of Caspian Terns at Circle 
B Bar Reserve (Polk County) today. 

Bonaparte's are not usual here, but one has been being reported recently.

Herman Moulden
Lakeland

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Subject: Sebastian Inlet SP
From: Andy Bankert <ravenboy AT CFL.RR.COM>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 19:12:46 -0500
Today at Sebastian Inlet SP, located between Melbourne Beach and Vero Beach, 
all birders were treated to good looks at the Harlequin Duck all morning. The 
Purple Sandpiper made a brief appearance below the bridge on the south side, 
and I think only Mark Berney and I got to see it. I also had an adult Pomarine 
Jaeger from the north jetty, and Simon Thompson found a Cave Swallow that was 
nice enough to fly from Indian River County over to the Brevard side. There 
were many loons flying south off the jetty this morning, and I also added a new 
species to my seawatching list- Wilson's Snipe. 


Good Birding,
Andy Bankert
Melbourne Beach, FL

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Subject: Birds
From: Scott Patterson <scottsss AT KNOLOGY.NET>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 19:03:22 -0500
This morning around 9:45 a.m. at work (Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary) we had 2 
Peregrine Falcons fly over - vocalizing; one chasing the other. Myself and 2 
other staff members went running to the parking lot so we could watch them. One 
headed back South while the other continued on, in a North East direction. 


This evening before I left work I walked out on the beach with my binos just to 
see if I could see any rare seabirds...no such luck. Did see quite a few 
Bonaparte's gulls though - riding the waves w/ the laughing gulls. 


Later...

Scott Patterson
St. Petersburg, FL
scottsss AT knology.net
...Light travels faster than sound...that's why some people seem bright until 
you hear them speak...(Unknown) 


 

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Subject: Honeymoon Island SP Closed Until Wednesday
From: Ray Dabkowski <rayd AT EN.COM>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 18:49:33 -0500
Due to a water main break on the Dunedin Causeway, Honeymoon Island State
Park is closed through Wednesday (and possibly longer).

Ray Dabkowski
Friends of the Island Parks
Dunedin, FL

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Subject: White-faced Ibis - Orlando Wetlands
From: Reinhard Geisler <ReinhardG201 AT REIGE.NET>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 16:41:20 -0500
Today we went to the Orlando Wetlands what was open for the first 
weekend this season.

At approx. 12 PM I found a White-faced Ibis at the southeast corner of 
cell 14. A few other birders joined us and we had continues looks until 
we left at 3 PM due to the high winds.

For those that are not familiar with the Orlando Wetlands can find 
information here:

http://www.nbbd.com/godo/orlandowetlands/index.html

Once at the parking lot go through the gate, turn right (north) towards 
the Restrooms and Picnic Pavilion. At the next intersection turn left. 
After 0.1 miles you will approach cell 14. Keep right and follow path 
until the second bench. Ibis was seen near the bench between 75 and 200 
ft out. For those familiar this bench is also the area which provides 
the closest view to the Eagle nest towards the other side of the cell.

Attached is a digiscoped image (with high winds) of the bird.

Regards
Reinhard Geisler, Oviedo FL, Seminole County

White-faced Ibis

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Subject: Boyd Hill Prairie Warbler
From: Jeff Hooks <jeff.hooks AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 14:16:05 -0500
perching in the sun
a yellow spot in the oak
the Prairie Warbler

-- 
Jeff Hooks
St. Petersburg, FL
http://jeffhooks.blogspot.com
 AT birdhaiku

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Subject: Boyd Hill Barred Owl
From: Jeff Hooks <jeff.hooks AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 13:52:41 -0500
Above the footpath
looking like a hooded monk
the quiet Barred Owl

-- 
Jeff Hooks
St. Petersburg, FL
http://jeffhooks.blogspot.com
 AT birdhaiku

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Subject: Birding the Beach at Honeymoon Island Tomorrow
From: David Gagne <oporornis77 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 10:31:02 -0800
Hi All,

I will be birding Honeymoon Island State Park in Duniden on the beach, which is 
about a 5 mile hike tomorrow morning.  The last 2 1/2 miles are my foot alone 
and back!  If anyone is interested let me know as the wind suppose to be still 
quite high, but Nothern Gannet and Jaegers and scoters along with other species 
are  quite possible.  Please post be at my email if you are interested . 


Good Birding!!

Dave Gagne
Opornis77 AT yahoo.com




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Subject: American White Pelicans @ Feather Sound
From: Terry <terry AT CHARLEYHARPERPRINTS.COM>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 11:11:56 -0500
There are a flock of over 75 American White Pelicans at Feather Sound 
this AM.  The best way to see them is from Feather Sound Drive, near the 
Earl Maize Recreation area (parking available).  The water is close to 
the road at this point and there are several breaks in the Mangroves 
through which you can get good looks.    Accompanying these birds are 
20+/- Brown Pelicans, a handful of Wood Storks and dozens of Black and 
Turkey Vultures.      Be careful to watch for snakes in this area.

Good Birding,

Terry Wright
Clearwater

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Subject: Male Baltimore Oriole, Holiday Pasco County
From: David Gagne <oporornis77 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 06:17:17 -0800
Hi All,

A male Baltimore Oriole was observed in the yard for roughly 10 minutes this 
morning!  Hopefully this bird will stick around as there are several citrus 
trees in the area! 


Good Birding!!

Dave Gagne
Holiday Florida




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Subject: New Listserv for help with bird identification
From: Nate Stuart <stuartnate AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 02:20:06 -0500
Hello,
I have created an email list with Yahoo dedicated to helping with bird
identification. I hope this will help to meet a need that seems to be
present. The group can be viewed at the following  link (
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BirdIDhelp/ ) or by looking for the
group "birdidhelp" at yahoogroups.com

Or, anyone can send an email to BirdIDhelp AT yahoogroups.com and their
message will be submitted. It is not necessary to join this group to
view its messages or to submit messages, but if you would like to join
the group you will receive all emails sent in your inbox.

I'd like to encourage anyone to submit messages or comment on them.
This list is not for me, and I can't answer or comment on many types
of questions or pictures, so experts opinions would be very helpful.

Please feel free to give me feedback. Thanks, and enjoy.



-- 
Nathaniel Stuart
561-441-2219
NathanielStuart.com

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Everglades Day @ Loxahatchee NWR 2/6/10
From: Michael Baranski <mbaranski77 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 21:20:08 -0800
For all birders out there Ken Kauffman will be  AT  Loxahatchee NWR along with 
Photographer Clyde Butcher and many, many others for the Everglades Day 
Festival on Sat Feb 6th. 

Come out and enjoy the numerous activites associated with this great festival. 

Michael Baranski 
West Palm Beach

Sent from my iPhone

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Clay-colored Sparrow, Okaloosa County
From: ED KWATER <himantopus AT MSN.COM>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 22:09:23 -0500
Sorry about the late post but yesterday at around 4.30 pm I had some killer 
looks at a Clay-colored Sparrow at Okaloosa County Holding Ponds in the 
panhandle (probably not too rare up there but I thought it was worth posting). 
The bird was hanging around in the general vicinity of the maintenance storage 
sheds on the west side of the ponds where there are some blue pipes laying on 
the ground. It later flew into a large oak tree at the northwest corner of the 
northernmost pond before disappearing from view. Continuing the Spizella theme 
there were also two Field Sparrows and lots of Chipping Sparrows in the same 
general area. 


The male Vermillion Flycatcher is still giving great views at the Fort Walton 
Beach Spray Field holding pond. 


Ed Kwater
Brandon, FL

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Sebastian Inlet Reddish white morph
From: Nancy Soucy <nan.jack AT JUNO.COM>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 20:42:27 -0500
Thanks to some very gracious id help and comparison photos, the majority 
rules and its a Imm. Little Blue Heron.  The larger-than-normal size of this 
particular bird threw me totally off and got me rethinking the obvious.   If 
anyone visits Seb.Inlet this weekend, check inside the tidal pool by the 
parking lot on the rocks (at lower tide) and see if you can find this bird and 
you will see what I mean by it being larger than the normal Little Blue. It was 

in the same area the purple sandpiper was seen in the first reports.  Happy 
birding!  - Nancy

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Feb. 5 T.M. Goodwin WMA, Viera Wetlands
From: Carolyn Cimino <Sailcarm AT AOL.COM>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 19:42:53 EST
Feb. 4   Fellsmere: T.M. Goodwin WMA including the Broadmoor Unit  
(Broadmoor Unit open only on Thursdays, Goodwin area open only on Mon. and 
Thurs.) 

 
Other than the usual suspects from among the waders, waterfowl, shorebirds, 
 and raptors were the following:
 
long-billed dowitchers
6 roseate spoonbills
1 black-bellied whistling duck 
least sandpipers
1 Caspian tern
Forster's terns
sandhill cranes
groups of white pelicans feeding and large flocks flying
 
Feb. 5: Viera Wetlands with Carmin Cimino, Pat and Jack Casselberry,  Nita 
Baker, and Joann Andrews-- We all had wonderful looks at the Masked Duck  
this morning.  In contrast to the vituperative emails of over a month ago  
concerning behavior re: the masked duck, we all found the many people there to 

be extremely gracious and helpful. People were very respectful of  the 
duck, talking softly, giving explicit directions to get people on the duck, and 

sharing scopes. 
 
Among the usual Viera suspects, in addition to the masked duck, we were  
really excited to see 2 least bitterns, 1 Am. bittern who posed for us for 
over  5 minutes in the open, 2 Crested Caracaras, 1 Caspian tern, several 
limpkins, Northern shovelers, Hooded Mergansers, a gorgeous Florida subspecies 

of the red-shouldered hawk (those of us from the north cannot get our fill 
of  this bird!), and 2 Savannah sparrows.
 
Also of interest: there were hundreds of TV's and BV's along Wickham  Rd. 
Were they there because of dead fish in the ponds or because of the  
agricultural fields? Is this common at this site? Also, 1 adult bald eagle just 

sitting in a field on the right after exiting the  wetlands.
 
Carolyn Cimino
Vero Beach, FL / Waterford, CT

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Sebastian Inlet Reddish white morph
From: Jim McGinity <jimmcginity AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 19:33:40 -0500
Nancy,

I think what you have is an immature Little Blue Heron.  Attached is a  
photo I took this morning on the shorebird count out at 3 Rooker Bar  
(north of Honeymoon Island).  As you can see in the photo, the Reddish  
Egret (white morph) has dark legs (not greenish as with your bird) and  
the base of the two-toned bill is pink.  The other things to watch are  
the feeding behavior (stealthy of the little blue, manic of the  
reddish).  I hope this helps.

Happy birding!

Jim McGinity
Dunedin






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____________________________________________________________________________


On Feb 5, 2010, at 7:21 PM, Nancy Soucy wrote:

> Most of you (8) who responded so far to my request for id help on  
> the seb.
> inlet bird photo said they thought is was a white phase little  
> blue.  In my
> question, I did state that this bird was smaller than a mature Great  
> Egret (who
> was hanging in the same area with it) but larger than the Snowy who  
> was also
> nearby.  Both Snowy and Little Blues average 24 inches and Great  
> Egrets go
> 39 inches.  Reddish Egrets are generally 30 inches so I believe that  
> what I
> have here is a white morph.  I have 2 who responded that said it was  
> White
> morph Reddish Egret and 2 who responded that said it was a Great White
> Heron which I would LOVE it to be but they are generally up to 47  
> inches, so I
> think that rules that out.  I have included a 2nd photo of this bird  
> from a
> slightly different angle, but further out so you can see a little  
> more of the size
> perhaps.  This goes to show us how important it is to get multiple  
> bird species
> in one photo for size comparison.  I still would love to hear what  
> others think
> it is, so if you have not responded yet, please do so and let me know.
>
> Nancy Soucy
> Barefoot Bay, FL
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv  
> list,
> please visit us on the web at:
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> LISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDU
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> ____________________________________________________________________________
> 


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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Sebastian Inlet Reddish white morph
From: Nancy Soucy <nan.jack AT JUNO.COM>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 19:21:34 -0500
Most of you (8) who responded so far to my request for id help on the seb. 
inlet bird photo said they thought is was a white phase little blue.  In my 
question, I did state that this bird was smaller than a mature Great Egret (who 

was hanging in the same area with it) but larger than the Snowy who was also 
nearby.  Both Snowy and Little Blues average 24 inches and Great Egrets go 
39 inches.  Reddish Egrets are generally 30 inches so I believe that what I 
have here is a white morph.  I have 2 who responded that said it was White 
morph Reddish Egret and 2 who responded that said it was a Great White 
Heron which I would LOVE it to be but they are generally up to 47 inches, so I 
think that rules that out.  I have included a 2nd photo of this bird from a 
slightly different angle, but further out so you can see a little more of the 
size 

perhaps. This goes to show us how important it is to get multiple bird species 

in one photo for size comparison. I still would love to hear what others think 

it is, so if you have not responded yet, please do so and let me know.   

Nancy Soucy
Barefoot Bay, FL

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Little Bird Update (Hummers)
From: Backes <backes1 AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 19:08:21 -0500
Doreen stopped by my Valrico yard after leaving Lakeland and banded another
6 Ruby-throateds. Fred banded 12 on January 8th so we've banded 18
Ruby-throateds in my yard in the last 28 days. I observed an unbanded female
around the cage that remains unbanded along with at least one young male who
would not enter the trap. That's at least 20 hummingbirds using my yard in
the past month. 

 

Steve Backes

Valrico, FL

backes1 AT verizon.net   

http://mysite.verizon.net/resu64md/yardhummers/ 

http://floridahummingbirds.net/

http://floridahummingbirds.proboards.com/

 

 

 

 

From: Birdbrains - Florida Birds/Natural History
[mailto:BRDBRAIN AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDU] On Behalf Of joe misiaszek
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 3:21 PM
To: BRDBRAIN AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDU
Subject: [BRDBRAIN] Little Bird Update (Hummers)

 

Doreen Cubie, Master Bander from SC, came through central FL this past week
and has banded two female Rufous in Lakeland. I don't believe we have ever
had two reported here in Polk Co. during the winter months, let alone having
any banded.

Keep an eye out for these uncommon visitors.

Joe Misiaszek

Lakeland, Fl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Little Bird Update (Hummers)
From: Scott Patterson <scottsss AT KNOLOGY.NET>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 16:37:33 -0500
I personally would love to see how you band a hummingbird (warblers too for 
that matter)! Amazing - seeing that their little legs are so tiny... I help out 
with banding pelicans, herons, egrets, cormorants, (larger birds) etc... Maybe 
someday I'll get to see this side of it... 


Scott  :-)

Scott Patterson
St. Petersburg, FL
scottsss AT knology.net
...Light travels faster than sound...that's why some people seem bright until 
you hear them speak...(Unknown) 


 On Fri 02/05/10  3:21 PM , joe misiaszek jjmjrfl AT VERIZON.NET sent:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Doreen Cubie, Master Bander
> from SC, came through central FL this past week and has banded two female 
Rufous 

> in Lakeland. I don't believe we have ever had two reported here in Polk Co.
> during the winter months, let alone having any banded.
> Keep an eye out for these 
> uncommon visitors.
> Joe
> MisiaszekLakeland,
> Fl 
> 
>  
>  
> 
>  
> Note the
> band! 
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list,
> please visit us on the web at:
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> LISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDU
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> ___________________________________________________________________________
> _
> 
> 
> 

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Har. Duck and request for ID help
From: Nancy Soucy <nan.jack AT JUNO.COM>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 16:22:13 -0500
I saw the Harlq. Duck at Sebastian Inlet this morning (10:30) south side closer 

to the 2nd parking lot than the main one that you come into when you enter 
the south entrance.  While I was there, a motor boat came into the inlet on 
that side and went very close to her, she spooked and flew to the north side 
near the rocks in the tidal pool. Lost sight of her at that point. On the north 

side on the rocks next to the tidal pool, there were Forster and Sandwich 
Terns, along with many Black Skimmers and Royal Terns.  I found 2 
Blackbacked gulls with the ringbilled and lots of small sandpipers. The image I 

have attached was hanging out with these birds along with a mature Great 
Egret.  I found the light bill and legs confusing, am I looking at a young Gr. 
Egret or something else?  This bird was smaller than the Gr. Egret but much 
larger than a snowy.  Could it be possibly a white morph of a reddish egret?  
His behavior was not skittish, like the Reddish Egrets usually display, but 
then 

he did not seem to be actively feeding at the time I saw him.  Thanks in 
advance for any ID help.

Nancy Soucy
Barefoot Bay, FL

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Little Bird Update (Hummers)
From: joe misiaszek <jjmjrfl AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 15:21:11 -0500
Doreen Cubie, Master Bander from SC, came through central FL this past week and 
has banded two female Rufous in Lakeland. I don't believe we have ever had two 
reported here in Polk Co. during the winter months, let alone having any 
banded. 

Keep an eye out for these uncommon visitors.
Joe Misiaszek
Lakeland, Fl






Note the band!

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Harlequin Duck
From: Cheri Pierce <cheripierce AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 14:26:40 -0500
The Harlequin Duck was still present at the south side of the inlet at
Sebastian this morning around 10:00am. It was on the rocks at the side of
the bank directly across from the green marker. Nice looks with no scope
necessary.

 

Cheri Pierce

Sorrento


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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Shell Point Friday
From: "Sean P. McCool" <swamphen AT HEIRBORN.NET>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 14:01:10 -0500
A foggy, rainy 30 minutes at Shell Point in Wakulla County this  
morning turned up a nice crop of shorebirds.

Location:     Shell Point
Observation date:     2/5/10
Number of species:     24

Redhead     9
Lesser Scaup     19
Bufflehead     18
duck sp.     13
Common Loon     4
Brown Pelican     2
Double-crested Cormorant     6
Wilson's Plover     1
Semipalmated Plover     4     Minimum count
Killdeer     1
Willet     37
Ruddy Turnstone     25     Minimum count
Sanderling     6     Minimum count
Western Sandpiper     2
Least Sandpiper     3
Dunlin     51     Minimum count
Short-billed Dowitcher     19
Laughing Gull     6
Ring-billed Gull     2
Forster's Tern     1
Eurasian Collared-Dove     7
Mourning Dove     1
European Starling     14
Palm Warbler     8
Boat-tailed Grackle     3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

-Sean P. McCool
Wakulla County, Florida, USA

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Alcids!
From: Andrew Kratter <kratter AT FLMNH.UFL.EDU>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 10:32:21 -0500
Although Florida may not be the first place you think of to see alcids, 
the past few weeks have produced three extraordinary records:

Ancient Murrelet, Dec 16; Ponce Inlet (as reported earlier); 1st FL record
Atlantic Puffin, 29 Jan; Hobe Sound NWR (beached specimen to FLMNH), 3rd 
FL record
Razorbill, ca 2 Feb, Cocoa Beach, (beached specimen to FLMNH), 14th FL 
record

Too bad they were all washed up on beaches.  It would be nice to see 
some bobbing in the ocean.


Andy

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Black throated gray warbler Yes
From: Nathaniel Stuart <stuartnate AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 09:27:14 -0500
Black throated gray warbler is active in a mixed flock of palm, pine,  
yellow rumped, and prairie warblers all over the parking lot at Green  
Cay in Delray Beach

Nathaniel Stuart
Delray Beach
561.441.2219
NathanielStuart.com

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: FW: Probable House Finch
From: rlhalpin <rlhalpin AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 09:16:00 -0500
Forgot attachment

 

From: rlhalpin [mailto:rlhalpin AT gmail.com] 
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 9:15 AM
To: Birdbrains - Florida Birds/Natural History
Subject: Probable House Finch

 

Shot yesterday in Mims Florida.  I have never seen one in this area before.
Experts please verify ID.

 

Roy Halpin

Welaka, Florida

 

 


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Subject: Probable House Finch
From: rlhalpin <rlhalpin AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 09:14:30 -0500
Shot yesterday in Mims Florida.  I have never seen one in this area before.
Experts please verify ID.

 

Roy Halpin

Welaka, Florida

 

 


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Subject: Green Cay, Boynton Beach
From: Weaver J V O <jvo243 AT COX.NET>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 22:10:52 -0600
Sharon and I birded Green Cay yesterday and found this beauty sitting on a dead 
tree.... 


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© J V O Weaver, 2010
Green Cay, Boynton Beach, Fl



J V O Weaver
Niceville, FL
850-897-5464









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Subject: Purple Sandpiper - Sebastian Inlet No, Brown Booby - Jetty Park No 2\4
From: Andy Thatcher <andy.thatcher AT ATT.BLACKBERRY.NET>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 01:38:25 +0000
As emailed earlier I managed to pick up both the rare ducks in the area however 
as the title says I tried to find the Purple Sandpiper and Brown Booby but no 
luck. 


Plenty of bird activity at both venues. 

In fact outside of breeding colonies in the UK do not think I have seen as many 
Gannets in one area as I did at Jetty Park today. 


Cheers
Andy
East Orlando


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Subject: Green Heron, Eagle Crest Park, St. Pete
From: Jeff Hooks <jeff.hooks AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 17:31:17 -0500
in afternoon light
the Green Heron's dark shadow
makes the water clear

-- 
Jeff Hooks
St. Petersburg, FL
http://jeffhooks.blogspot.com
 AT birdhaiku

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Subject: Egg on my face
From: Rick and Barb Lucas <lucasbirders AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 15:44:06 -0500
After getting several responses to my RFI (see below) regarding birding in 
Panama City, I realized my error. I did not mention which Panama City. We will 
be in Panama City, FL and am looking for some birding spots in that area. My 
appologies and thanks to those who responded earlier. 


Call me senile,

Rick Lucas
Sebastian, FL


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Rick and Barb Lucas 
  To: BRDBRAIN AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDU 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 7:51 AM
  Subject: RFI 


  All,

 My wife and myself will be in the Panama City area next week visiting 
relatives. We have never been there and was wondering if anyone on this list 
has any birding places to recommend. We have Pranty's guide to help, but local 
knowledge is sometimes better. 


  Thanks in advance,

  Rick and Barb Lucas
  Sebastian, FL

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Subject: American Bittern, Celery Fields, Sarasota 2/4
From: Jeffery Fisher <jrzman1 AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 20:06:03 +0000
haven't been very busy at work so i have had time to check the celery fields on 
my lunch break. today, among the usuals I had an American Bittern flush from 
the last patch of reeds alond ther north side of the mowed path. (closest to 
the construction barracades) It flew overhead southward and landed in the reeds 
near the gazebo. This is where i saw one a few months back so I'm thinking it's 
the same guy. 


 

 Jeff Fisher,

 Bradenton
 		 	   		  
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Subject: Black-throated Green PEAR PARK, LEESBURG FL
From: Alice Horst <ahorst AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 14:58:07 -0500
Pear Park this morning: 
  In pond on right behind a house before entering the park: Male Redhead duck 
with 3 ducks with bright yellow bills. I assumed they were females, but I do 
not see any ID books confirming yellow billed female Redheads, so, can't ID 
them the 3 yellow-billed ducks.
We parked at the Butterfly Garden and walked past it to the stream and 
pathway.  Walked left on path, down some wooden steps, crossed over a 
bridge over the stream into a heavily treed area.  We saw: Hermit Thrush, 
Carolina wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Titmice, Black/White Warbler, Blue-gray 
Gnatcatchers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and others. At the same spot I saw a 
Black-throated Green Warbler. He was brillianty marked and was with a 
Blk/Wht Warbler.  He flew off, but I had my bird-pod with me and played his 
song. He returned and stayed around for some time, although I don't think I 
got pictures because he was flitting and eating and very busy.  I was 
supprised to see him here so early, or maybe even at all. I can't omit the 
numerous Meadowlarks and Bluebirds and 2 Harriers at PEAR Park.    Alice 
Horst, The Villages, Fl.

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Subject: Masked Duck, Viera .. Yes, Harlequin Duck, Sebastian Inlet .. Yes 2\4
From: Andy Thatcher <andy.thatcher AT ATT.BLACKBERRY.NET>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 17:22:28 +0000
Happy to report both ducks doing well.

The track around Viera is still closed however the Masked Duck was most 
co-operative in Cell 4. 


The Harlequin is currently on the south side of the Inlet, about 15 ft in front 
of me. 


Cheers
Andy Thatcher
East Orlando
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Subject: Jetty Park (2/3/10) - Brown Booby (also, quick Broad-Winged Hawk note!!)
From: John Thomton <jthomton AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 22:36:06 -0600
Hey everyone,

 

After a great lunch in Cocoa, Sam Burkhardt and I continued on to Jetty Park 
for a brief 20 minute sea/beach/jettywatching session before we had to head 
back to Orlando. It was pretty birdy and I wish we could have stayed longer: 


 

BROWN BOOBY (1, immature bird landed right next to us on the Jetty just as we 
were thinking about leaving. It sat for about 2-3 minutes and then took off 
again) 


Northen Gannet (lots of all plumages, very close and flying up and down the 
cruise ship canal - spectacular close-ups today!) 


Brown Pelican

Double-Crested Cormorant

Snowy Egret

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Ruddy Turnstone

Sanderling

Pomarine Jaeger (1 seen well by Sam, so-so by me)

Laughing Gull

Bonaparte's Gull

Ring-Billed Gull

Herring Gull

Great Black-Backed Gull (1 or 2)

Gull-Billed Tern (1 seen by Sam)

Royal Tern

Forster's Tern

Black Skimmer

Boat-Tailed Grackle

 

Jetty Park is located at Port Canaveral, Brevard County. There is a $10 day use 
fee for non-Brevard County vehicles ($5 with Brevard tags). 


 

ALSO, last Friday (1/29) before I had to be at my booth at Space Coast, I did a 
little target birding. I ran up and got the Tundra Swans in St. John's County, 
and I ran down for the Harlequin at Sebastian Inlet (got her too!). On my way 
down A1A towards Sebastian Inlet, I saw the adult Broad-Winged Hawk reported by 
John Pushock a few days before. It's right where he saw it, on a wire above a 
bait and tackle store, just a couple of miles before the inlet. The bird was 
not there 20 minutes later on the return trip back up A1A. I was very happy 
about three state birds in one day! 


 

Good birding,

 

John Thomton

Winter Park, Orange Co.

 

 
 		 	   		  
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Subject: Viera Wetlands (2/3/10) - Masked Duck YES
From: John Thomton <jthomton AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 22:17:26 -0600
Hey everyone,

 

I headed out to Viera Wetlands today with visiting Chicago birder Sam 
Burkhardt. The berm roads were closed due to yesterday's rains, so it was 
actually the first time I've hiked all the way around! Our primary target was 
the Masked Duck, but we were up for anything. Despite the wind and chilly (for 
Florida!) temps, we had a great walk: 


 

Mottled Duck

Blue-Winged Teal

Ring-Necked Duck

Lesser Scaup (Click Ponds)

Hooded Merganser

MASKED DUCK (seen in Cell 4 from a distance - identifiable in binos but best in 
a scope - with 2 coots for about 5 minutes. When we moved to try to get closer, 
we couldn't re-find it. Other birders seemed to have trouble finding it today) 


Ruddy Duck (Click Ponds)

Pied-Billed Grebe

Double-Crested Cormorant

Anhinga

American Bittern 

Least Bittern (1)

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Little Blue Heron

Tricolored Heron

Cattle Egret

Green Heron

Black-Crowned Night-Heron

White Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Wood Stork

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Bald Eagle (2)

Northern Harrier

Red-Shouldered Hawk

Crested Caracara (at least 2)

Sora (1 - in the same bino view as the Least Bittern!)

Common Moorhen

American Coot

Limpkin (7-8?)

Sandhill Crane

Killdeer

Lesser Yellowlegs

Yellowlegs sp.

Long-Billed Dowitcher

Wilson's Snipe

Ring-Billed Gull

Herring Gull (near the pond on the north side of the road before the Click 
Ponds as you approach Viera Wetlands on Wickham) 


Caspian Tern

Forster's Tern

Mourning Dove

Common Ground-Dove

Belted Kingfisher

Eastern Phoebe

Loggerhead Shrike

White-Eyed Vireo

Fish Crow

Purple Martin (1)

Tree Swallow

Marsh Wren (1)

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Palm Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Savannah Sparrow

Red-Winged Blackbird

Boat-Tailed Grackle

 

Viera Wetlands is off of Wickham Road near Melbourne in southern Brevard 
County. 


 

Good birding,

 

John Thomton

Winter Park, Orange Co.

 

 
 		 	   		  
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Subject: St. Marks NWR and Viera Wetlands Neotropic Cormorants
From: Bruce Anderson <Scizortail AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 22:52:44 EST
Hi, BiRDBRAINers.

We are getting the State reports together for publishing in the Florida 
Field Naturalist and North American Birds, as well as for the Florida 
Ornithological Society Records Committee records. 

If you personally saw the Viera Neotropic Cormorant after 2 December 2009, 
please send your report directly to me with the date.

If you personally saw the St. Marks Neotropic Cormorant after 15 November 
2009, please send your report directly to me with the date.

Many thanks for your help.

Bruce

Bruce H. Anderson
member, Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee
regional editor, FOS Field Observations Committee
regional coeditor, Florida region, "North American Birds"
scizortail AT aol.com
Florida Ornithological Society
http://fosbirds.org

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Subject: American Robins in NE St. Pete
From: donatdonlo <donatdonlo AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 21:34:02 -0500
In addition to the Robin Roost we've been recording and reporting on for years, 
there appears to be another Roost Ring within the Weedon Island Preserve or 
adjoining Bartow Power Plant ( Progress Energy property ). While I 
conservatively estimated 125,000 AMRO heading into the Roost Site at the east 
end of 74th Ave. NE, we also watched over 175,000 Robins flying toward a roost 
site somewhere within the Weedon Island Preserve area. Last year St. Pete 
Audubon member Dave Kandz and associates discovered a Robin Roost north of 
Ulmerton Road and East of 28th St. that at it's peak held over 1 million AMRO 
around the mid February timeframe. I'm interested to know what some experts 
might think is the reason we receive so many Robins each year. Is it because 
they fly down our peninsula and are then faced with a long flight over water? 
Or is it because the lack of eradication of invasive exotic species by our 
local city and county governments allows species like Brazilian Pepper and 
Camphor to flourish providing an unlimited bounty for the "snowbirds"? 


Thanks!

Don Margeson
St. Petersburg

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Subject: Viera Wetlands and Merritt Island NWR
From: Eve Parks <hrparks AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 20:48:18 -0500
A whole day birding started off with a bald eagle swooping down in front of my 
car to drag a road-kill opussum onto the verge [FL hwy 46 east of Sanford]. I 
spent 2 hours this morning in the cold walking around Viera Wetlands - saw 
numerous birds but missed the masked duck.

VIERA WETLANDS 10-12 am
American Coots
Moor Hens
Blue-wing Teals
Mottled Ducks
Ring-necked Ducks
Hooded Mergansers
Northern Shovelers
Pied-bill Grebes
Snowy Egrets
Great Egrets
Woodstorks
Great Blue Herons
Sand Hill Cranes
Tricolore Herons
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Ospreys
Ring-billed Gulls
Tree Swallows
Red-shouldered Hawk
Yellow-rump warblers
Palm Warblers
Eastern Phoebees
Robins
Limpkin
Forster's Terns
Belted Kingfishers
Anhingas
Double-crested Cormorants

MERRITT ISLAND-Causeway to the Refuge 2-3 pm
Brown Pelicans [Where were the white pelicans today?]
Brownheaded Cowbirds
Rock Pigeons
6 Ruddy Turnstones
1 Sanderling
Ring-billed Gulls
1 Immature Herring Gull
1 Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-necked Ducks
Forster's Terns
Cattle Egrets
Belted Kingfishers
Fish Crows

MERRITT ISLAND - Black Point Drive 3-6 pm
Red-tailed Hawk
Turkey Vultures 
Black Vultures
Little Blue Herons
Tricolor Herons
Great Blue Herons
Great Egrets
Snowy Egrets
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Woodstorks
Anhingas
Pied-bill Grebes
American Coots - huge flocks with some B-W Teals and Shovelers
Pintail Ducks - large flock with B-W Teals, Shovelers, American Wigeons
1 Black Skimmer - never lighted, always in motion
Moor Hens
Pair of Bald Eagles on the nest
Tree Swallows
Roseate Spoonbills - very vividly colored - would make great photos
Numerous small shorebirds too far away on the flats to identify with binocs
I thought the weather would be too cold for alligators, but I saw many at 
Viera and on BPDrive. Could not identify the Eurasian Widgeon posted earlier 
this week at BPDrive. :-(

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Subject: Alligator Point Sparrows and Southwood Geese
From: "Sean P. McCool" <swamphen AT HEIRBORN.NET>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 20:01:53 -0500
Early this afternoon at Alligator Point I found an interesting group  
of sparrows in an overgrown lot at the intersection of Alligator Drive  
and Clemen Street, containing four Vesper Sparrows and a single Lark  
Sparrow.

Earlier at Bald Point it was the Day of the Dunlin, however a lone  
Piping Plover was notable.

At dusk this evening the blue-morph Snow Goose and two Greater  
White-fronted Geese were still present with the 100 Canada Geese in  
the fields on the east side of Biltmore Drive in the Southwood  
development in southeast Tallahassee.

- Sean P. McCool
Wakulla County, Florida, USA

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Subject: Re: Greater White-fronted Geese--yes, Southwood, Tallahassee Feb.2
From: jw callis <soturin AT EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 17:36:31 -0500

drove down Biltmore ave. today about 3:30 pm saw 500 cows. That pond has a big 
dead tree at one end usually snowy egrets and cattle egrets there. But I did 
happen upon a male and female Blue-wing Teal at the pond on Blairstone by the 
golf course on the way out of Southwood. 


jwcallislll
tallahassee,fl

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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Townsend's warbler
From: Ted Center <tdcenter AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 16:46:34 -0500
The Townsend's warbler that was in our yard Sunday showed up again today at
about 4:30.  He's coming to the bubbler in our front yard.  Directions are
in previous posts and on the Florida Rare Bird Alert. 

 

Ted & Barb Center

Fort Lauderdale, FL


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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Key West
From: Karen Chiasson <kchiasson74 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:59:33 -0800
Not much happening on this front.  It's been really slow, but new birds to add 
to my list since arriving in the area include: 

 
Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron
Common Myna
Cedar Waxwing
Brown-Headed Cowbird
Great-Crested Flycatcher
 
Karen Chiasson
Silverhill, AL
 




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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Pelagic trip List. Out of Ponce de Leon Inlet. Volusia Co.
From: Michael Brothers <mbrothers AT CO.VOLUSIA.FL.US>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 15:54:49 -0500
On Monday, Feb. 1, 2010, a boat load of intrepid adventurers sailed out
of Ponce de Leon Inlet in search a winter pelagic birds. The seas had
calmed considerably from the day before and we did manage to get out to
about 25 miles offshore. The highlights of the trip included two North
Atlantic Right Whales, the rarest of the great whales.  Here is the
preliminary information on one of the whales from Tom Pitchford at FWC:

One of them is likely Catalog #3681, a juvenile whale of unknown gender
born in 2006.  This whale has been seen in Cape Cod Bay and the Bay of
Fundy in non-winter and Georgia and Florida in winters.

#3681's mom is #1281, a whale known since 1981.

You can check out this whale via the catalog curated by the New England
Aquarium at: http://rwcatalog.neaq.org/ 

It is important to try to identify the whale accompanying #3681 off
Ponce Inlet so please let me know if any other photos surface. 

Thanks for your help and interest.  --Tom

Thomas D. Pitchford
Wildlife Biologist 
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Right Whale Project 

If anyone else has more photos, you can forward them to me so that they
can try to identify the other whale.

We were able to find a good selection of jaegers, with several Pomarine
Jaegers and Parasitic Jaegers. We kept meeting small flocks of Red
Phalaropes, with an estimated total of about 250 sightings. However, it
is difficult to determine if these were all different flocks. We
encountered only one shearwater, a Manx Shearwater. I have attached the
accompanying photos with details on the diagnostic features that
differentiate this species from an Audubon's Shearwater. Thanks to Bob
Wallace for the use of the photos.

Here is the species list. I separated the birds seen offshore from the
birds that we saw in the river portions of the trip:

Pelagic Trip
Out of Ponce de Leon Inlet, Volusia County
February 1, 2010
Aboard the Pastime Princess

Offshore Species
Common Loon
Manx Shearwater -- 1
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
Red Phalarope  -- 250
Pomarine Jaeger --  6
Parasitic Jaeger – 6
Herring Gull
Laughing Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Royal Tern
Forster’s Tern

Inshore Species
Northern Gannet
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Double Crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
White Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper’s hawk
Red-shouldered hawk
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Spotted Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Purple Sandpiper
Dunlin
Laughing Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Sandwich Tern
Forster’s Tern
Black Skimmer
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Boat-tailed Grackle

Additional Species

Northern Right Whale
Spotted Dolphin
Bottled-nose Dolphin
Loggerhead Turtle

It was a great trip especially considering the conditions. If anyone
has any additional species that I missed please let me know.
Michael

Michael Brothers
Marine Science Center
Ponce Inlet


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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Wandering La Sagra's (2/3)
From: Robin Diaz <rd4birds AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 15:13:39 -0500
All,

John Puschock reports that the La Sagra's wandered away from its usual area 
this afternoon. John wandered also and located the bird about 1:15 PM. It was 
west of the dirt Nature Trail, along the paved bike path and ~100 yards north 
of the "bathroom" road. At 3 PM John continues to watch the bird preen and 
catch an anole. See below for Google Earth map. 


http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/tasboard/messages/33132.html

Robin Diaz
Key Biscayne, FL

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Subject: Eagle Crest Park, St. Pete
From: Jeff Hooks <jeff.hooks AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 14:04:43 -0500
twenty-three species
by the lake near the college
February third

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Praire Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Palm Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Cooper's Hawk
Green Heron
Tri-colored Heron
Little Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Great Egret
Cattle Egret
Pied-billed Grebe
Anhinga
Double-crested Cormorant
Mallard Species
Common Moorhen
Ring-necked Duck
Eurasian Collard Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Turkey Vulture
Northern Mockingbird
Jeff Hooks
St. Petersburg, FL
http://jeffhooks.blogspot.com
 AT birdhaiku

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Subject: Re: photographing rarities and endangered species
From: Renne Leatto <renne AT IKARUMBAH.COM>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 13:50:35 -0500
Jeff said:
 
"At any rate, since I am a birder who loves taking photos, "
 
This points to the problem, IMO, that most of the offenders are NOT
primarily birders.  
 
I base that opinion on the fact that I tend to talk to people I see "out
there" and often find that they 1) Don't even know the species of the
bird(s) they're trying to photograph,  2) Don't know that the birds are
rarities, unless some birder present told them, 3) Don't know about Federal
protections, laws, or penalties,  4) Don't have a clue how their behavior
might disturb or hurt the birds,  5) Don't subscribe to BRDBRAIN or any
other birding list.
 
So sure, you can rail against "the photographers," but they won't hear you
if you do it here.  You'll only alienate the birders who are ALSO
photographers, people who care about the birds as much as you do.
 
Instead, submit an article about this issue to a photography magazine.
That's probably your best chance to reach the worst offenders.
 
Renee Leato  
Windermere, Orange County
 
 

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Subject: New Sandhill Crane egg today
From: Maria Valentine <mvalentine9 AT TAMPABAY.RR.COM>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 13:07:12 -0500
Clear Lake Sandhill mama laid egg at 11:29 this morning. Photos show her 
laying posture and parents just before starting incubation.

Maria Valentine
New Port Richey

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