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1 Jul Recent Big Bend Birds [Robert Lengacher ] 29 Jun Gail Menk: Cornerstone Bird List ["Julie Duggan" ] 29 Jun Re: Bald Pt sightings - Saturday ["Jim Stevenson" ] 29 Jun Re: Bald Pt sightings - Saturday [David Simpson ] 29 Jun Re: Bald Pt sightings - Saturday [David Simpson ] 29 Jun Re: Bald Point State Park sightings, Saturday afternoon 6/27 PM ["Jim Stevenson" ] 29 Jun Bald Point State Park sightings, Saturday afternoon 6/27 PM ["markkiser9" ] 27 Jun Re: Bald Pt sightings - Saturday ["Jim Stevenson" ] 27 Jun Bald Pt sightings - Saturday ["John Murphy" ] 27 Jun Friday at St. Marks NWR [] 24 Jun Piney Z Southwood and the Southeast Farm [] 21 Jun New Approaches to Teaching Ornithology - a Gail Menk posting ["Marvin Collins" ] 21 Jun Homage to Senator Mallory Horne (Gail Menk) ["Julie Duggan" ] 20 Jun MIssissippi Kites at Lake Killarney [] 19 Jun A Birder's Passing ["glendajoyce6009" ] 16 Jun Some Notable Bird Records for Leon County April/May 2009 - A Gail Menk Posting ["Marvin Collins" ] 15 Jun Bald Point Scoters 6-15-09 [Melissa Forehand ] 12 Jun Goldfinch [] 11 Jun Reminder: Swift movie Saturday [Pam Flynn ] 11 Jun Surf scoters/Bald Pt ["John Murphy" ] 11 Jun Wakulla River birds etc [Linda Most ] 10 Jun Kirklands Warbler, Michigan ["nptf4us" ] 8 Jun Birdsong Open House, 6/13 [Fran Rutkovsky ] 04 Jun Unusual foraging of Eastern Kingbird ["phhomann" ] 04 Jun Dixie County - Roseate spoonbill ["Sharon" ] 4 Jun Northbound Migrants (Gail Menk) [Fran Rutkovsky ] 4 Jun Identify hawk/kite? [mulberry ] 3 Jun TFS Movie-June 13 [Pam Flynn ] 30 May Swallow-tailed Kite & Bluebird Nesting Behavior ["glendajoyce6009" ] 29 May Correction on YCNH location [Angela Johnson ] 29 May Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, interesting behavior [Angela Johnson ] 28 May Re: Owl Question [Melissa Forehand ] 28 May Owl sounds ["John E" ] 27 May Owl Question [Melissa Forehand ] 26 May Monday at St. Marks NWR [] 26 May Audubon banquet--Thurs. [Fran Rutkovsky ] 25 May Greater Sand-Plover in JAX [bessinger janice ] 25 May off topic: scope [bessinger janice ] 24 May Rough-winged Swallow at Tallahassee Sears ["phhomann" ] 24 May Rough-Winged Swallow with signature ["phhomann" ] 24 May Rough-winged Swallow at Sears ["phhomann" ] 23 May St. Marks NWR Saturday ["Marvin Collins" ] 22 May Huguenot Memorial Park, 5/22 [Robert Bowman ] 20 May Mississippi Kite - Tallahassee [Linda Most ] 20 May Ring-necked pheasant---Franklin County [] 20 May Moorhen at Lake Killarney Tallahassee [] 19 May Carpool for Greater Sand Plover? [Luke DeGroote ] 19 May Posting for Mr. Gail Menk: LAKE PATE, BIRDING SITE ["Julie Duggan" ] 19 May Huguenot Park conditions [bessinger janice ] 19 May Fw: [FLBIRDS] Huguenot Park conditions [Linda Most ] 18 May North Georgia Mountains [Andy Wraithmell ] 18 May VERY RARE BIRD GREATER SANDPLOVER [bessinger janice ] 18 May Apalachee Audubon Banquet-Red Knot Presentation [Pam Flynn ] 17 May a charismatic plover in Jacksonville [Linda Most ] 17 May Re: How do I join this group? [Fran Rutkovsky ] 17 May How do I join this group? [dee wilder ] 16 May Greater Sand Plover [] 15 May Greater Sand Plover [Robert Bowman ] 15 May TTRS Bird Window Summer Feeding Schedule [CK Borg ] 13 May Cornerstone birds (Gail Menk) [Fran Rutkovsky ] 13 May Wednesday - South side of Tallahassee [] 14 May For Swainson's Warbler fans ["phhomann" ] 12 May Strange markings on Egret [judy cooke ] 12 May bike to work (bird) week [Luke DeGroote ] 11 May Video of Acadian Flycatcher calling taken this am- Good sound [eliza hawkins ] 11 May Re: Acadian Flycatchers/Yellow breasted chat/Juv Broadwinged hawk [] 10 May Acadian Flycatchers??/Yellow breasted chat/Juv Broadwinged hawk [eliza hawkins ] 10 May Another addendum ["phhomann" ] 10 May Addendum to Yard Blues ["phhomann" ] 10 May Yard blues ["phhomann" ] 8 May Limpkin Piney Z ["Candy and Michael Hill" ] 07 May Shiny cowbird/Alligator Pt ["John Murphy" ] 6 May cedar waxwings Wednesday evening Tallahassee [] 6 May Cedar Waxwings Lee Vause Park Tallahassee [] 6 May Wednesday Stoneler Rd Tallahassee [] 6 May Posting for Mr. Gail Menk: SOME NOTABLE RECORDS IN THE BIG BEND ["Julie Duggan" ] Subject: Recent Big Bend Birds From: Robert Lengacher <rlengach AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 22:03:10 -0400 I have been working at the FSU Coastal Marine Lab at Turkey Point for the last week and a half for some professional development. It has been awesome becoming much more familiar with the richness of the coastal ecosystems that we enjoy here in the Big Bend. Best birds at the lab so far were 3 Magnificent Frigatebird on June 22. Best shorebird was a Marbled Godwit yesterday. Purple Martins are staging and some small groups appear to have migrated south with many others to follow. Nothing else has been earth shattering in the bird world at the lab, but I have 4.5 more weeks to go. Last Saturday morning (June 27) I helped a fellow participant and birder from Washington D.C get started on an incredible day of birding. I only had time to bird close to town, so we headed out to the Longleaf Pine/Wiregrass loop off of FR 309. The target birds were Bachman's Sparrows and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Bachman's were singing everywhere, but we were able to get absolutely crippling views and close encounters on FR 350 in some recently burned sections of the forest. Many of the sparrows were staying near ground level, probably near nests. All of my other views of this species have been at a distance, so I was shocked when a number landed withing 15 feet and others allowed even closer approaches. They were everywhere. We also found a nice, vocal group of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers around the fourth main group of marked trees on FR 350. I would highly recommend making a trip soon if you are interested in either species. My friend went on to Mashes Sands, St. Marks, and Lake Henrietta and ended the day with 11 lifers. He said the highlight was adding number 11 as a Limpkin called at Lake Henrietta as the day was ending. Directions to the Longleaf Loop from Tallahassee: - South on 319 (Crawfordville Hwy) - West on 267 (Bloxham Cutoff) about 4 miles - South (left) on FR 309 - East (left) on FR 350 (RCW nesting trees have wide, white bands painted on them) - Right at the end of FR 350 just a little way - Right on FR 352 (which will take you back to FR 309) Keep looking up! Rob Lengacher Tallahassee, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Gail Menk: Cornerstone Bird List From: "Julie Duggan" <jvduggan AT embarqmail.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:52:17 -0400 What follows is a current bird species list at Tallahassee's Cornerstone Learning Community on Hartsfield Road (as of May 31, 2009). Listings include records by Yours Truly, Instructor Matt Morris, students and faculty at sites within an approximate 1 mile radius which includes 2 retention ponds, a pond south of the campus and a wetlands on the corner of Trimble and Pecan roads. Fly-overs have been included: Great Egret White-eyed Vireo Snowy Egret Red-eyed Vireo Little Blue Heron Blue Jay Wood Stork American Crow Turkey Vulture Fish Crow Canada Goose Purple Martin Wood Duck Northern Rough-winged Swallow Hooded Merganser Carolina Chickadee Osprey Tufted Titmouse Swallow-tailed Kite White-breasted Nuthatch Mississippi Kite Carolina Wren Red-shouldered Hawk Ruby-crowned Kinglet Red-tailed Hawk Eastern Bluebird PHALAROPE (hypothetical) American Robin Solitary Sandpiper Grey Catbird Forster's Tern Northern Mockingbird Mourning Dove Brown Thrasher Barred Owl Cedar Waxwing Ruby-throated Hummingbird Northern Parula Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Red-headed Woodpecker Pine Warbler Red-bellied Woodpecker Palm Warbler (western) Downy Woodpecker Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Northern Cardinal Pileated Woodpecker Common Grackle Great Crested Flycatcher House Finch Eastern Kingbird American Goldfinch Gail E. Menk Julie Duggan Tallahassee [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Re: Bald Pt sightings - Saturday From: "Jim Stevenson" <galornsoc AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:46:27 -0500 Gannets may well be suffering from the same issues many northern nesting shorebirds are, but it'll be interesting to see what happens to these birds David saw. And probably not necessary, but to anyone birding out to sea this summer and early fall, various of the boobies in certain plumages can look an AWFUL lot like gannets! Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: David Simpson To: John Murphy Cc: NFLBirds Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 6:38 PM Subject: Re: [nflbirds] Bald Pt sightings - Saturday John and all, I had 27 Northern gannets off Destin while heading out on a party boat for a six hour tour. I had nothing for pelagics. There were two adult gannets in the first 12 birds seen, then a flock of 15 on the water which held a few more adults. There were lots of fish feeding outside the inlet. The gannets seemed to have gotten their fill and were mostly sitting on the water when we headed out. A few were flying around on the way back. David Simpson Crestview, FL (temporarily) On Jun 27, 2009, at 4:23 PM, John Murphy wrote: > > > Birds of interest observed this morning at Bald Pt St Park...all > seen from beach near old Pt Lounge property: > > N gannet; 1 > Surf scoter; 4 > Common tern; 3 > > John Murphy > Alligator Pt, FL > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.94/2207 - Release Date: 06/28/09 17:54:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Re: Bald Pt sightings - Saturday From: David Simpson <simpsondavid AT mac.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:42:53 -0400 The date of my pelagic dud trip out of Destin was Saturday 27 Jun 09 David Simpson Crestview, FL for now On Jun 27, 2009, at 4:23 PM, John Murphy wrote: > > > Birds of interest observed this morning at Bald Pt St Park...all > seen from beach near old Pt Lounge property: > > N gannet; 1 > Surf scoter; 4 > Common tern; 3 > > John Murphy > Alligator Pt, FL > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Re: Bald Pt sightings - Saturday From: David Simpson <simpsondavid AT mac.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:38:59 -0400 John and all, I had 27 Northern gannets off Destin while heading out on a party boat for a six hour tour. I had nothing for pelagics. There were two adult gannets in the first 12 birds seen, then a flock of 15 on the water which held a few more adults. There were lots of fish feeding outside the inlet. The gannets seemed to have gotten their fill and were mostly sitting on the water when we headed out. A few were flying around on the way back. David Simpson Crestview, FL (temporarily) On Jun 27, 2009, at 4:23 PM, John Murphy wrote: > > > Birds of interest observed this morning at Bald Pt St Park...all > seen from beach near old Pt Lounge property: > > N gannet; 1 > Surf scoter; 4 > Common tern; 3 > > John Murphy > Alligator Pt, FL > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Re: Bald Point State Park sightings, Saturday afternoon 6/27 PM From: "Jim Stevenson" <galornsoc AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:57:24 -0500 Those knots are pretty surprising. I presume they are fall migrants (?), but can't be sure. They may be a result of a bad year in the High Arctic this for breeding. js ----- Original Message ----- From: markkiser9 To: nflbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 4:46 PM Subject: [nflbirds] Bald Point State Park sightings, Saturday afternoon 6/27 PM Saturday afternoon at Bald Point State Park we found a group of 24 Red Knots, one of which was banded (we reported the band to USGS). Also present were 16 American Oystercatcher, a Wilson's Plover, Least, Sandwich Forster's, and Royal Terns, a few Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones, and a Magnificent Frigatebird. Missed John's scoters and Common Terns. Yesterday 6/28 around noon we had 8 Mississippi Kites over our street in southeast Tallahassee. Happy Trails, Mark and Selena Kiser batboxblues AT netscape.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.94/2207 - Release Date: 06/28/09 17:54:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Bald Point State Park sightings, Saturday afternoon 6/27 PM From: "markkiser9" <mark.kiser AT myfwc.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:46:37 -0000 Saturday afternoon at Bald Point State Park we found a group of 24 Red Knots, one of which was banded (we reported the band to USGS). Also present were 16 American Oystercatcher, a Wilson's Plover, Least, Sandwich Forster's, and Royal Terns, a few Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones, and a Magnificent Frigatebird. Missed John's scoters and Common Terns. Yesterday 6/28 around noon we had 8 Mississippi Kites over our street in southeast Tallahassee. Happy Trails, Mark and Selena Kiser batboxblues AT netscape.netSubject: Re: Bald Pt sightings - Saturday From: "Jim Stevenson" <galornsoc AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:51:00 -0500 John and others, I have an hypothesis about birds like scoters and gannets that stick around well into the summer. Since I rarely see them make it to the fall, when others of their kind might be returning, I believe they starve in late summer. The reason for this is that thermalclines set in in the second half of the summer, which separate photosynthetic algae near the surface from the nutrients they need to bloom that are deeper. In essence, the algae will be either deprived of light or food, and the food chain shuts down. This is probably why the fishing is underwhelming in late summer. Just my $.02. Jim In Alaska Birds of interest observed this morning at Bald Pt St Park...all seen from beach near old Pt Lounge property: N gannet; 1 Surf scoter; 4 Common tern; 3 John Murphy Alligator Pt, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.93/2204 - Release Date: 06/26/09 18:00:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Bald Pt sightings - Saturday From: "John Murphy" <southmoonunder AT mchsi.com> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:23:14 +0000 Birds of interest observed this morning at Bald Pt St Park...all seen from beach near old Pt Lounge property: N gannet; 1 Surf scoter; 4 Common tern; 3 John Murphy Alligator Pt, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Friday at St. Marks NWR From: Edwwjr AT aol.com Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:30:16 EDT I birded at St. Marks NWR Friday afternoon in the heat. There was a high tide and the water levels were all very high. Even the flats behind the lighthouse were under water. At the double dikes, I walked out on the right hand dike and back on the left hand dike. I found 2 piping plovers traveling with a flock of 6 killdeer. The birds were on the muck and vegetation between the dikes about 3/4 of the way to the crossover/turnaround. There were also 2 purple gallinules. I did not find either soras or least bitterns. Least, royal, and Forster's terns, black skimmers, oystercatchers, and willets were on the lighthouse flats. Ed Woodruff Tallahassee **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Piney Z Southwood and the Southeast Farm From: Edwwjr AT aol.com Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:53:47 EDT I birded Piney Z, Southwood Plantation, and the Southeast Farm on Wednesday. Piney Z has such high water levels I did not find any purple gallinules. Best bird was a Mississippi Kite. Several green herons were present and great-crested flycatchers were numerous. At Southwood Plantation loggerhead shrikes, eastern kingbirds, and mockingbirds were found along the fence line separating the developed area from the farm fields. Best birds were a flock of more than 60 wood storks actively feeding in the holding pond south of Florida High's athletic fields. At the Southeast Farm, the kites were abundant. I counted more than 50 (55), but because they were actively hunting may have double counted a few. Mississippi kites (30) seemed to outnumber the swallowtailed kites (20) by about 3 to 2 but the swallowtailed were closer to the office complex. The holding ponds are too full for shorebirds. The only ones present were 5 killdeer. I counted at least 225 cattle egrets around the ponds. Ed Woodruff Tallahassee **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: New Approaches to Teaching Ornithology - a Gail Menk posting From: "Marvin Collins" <mcollins AT nettally.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:03:36 -0400 Re: New approaches to teaching ornithology On May 12 Elizabeth Platt hosted a meeting of some Leon County grade school teachers and yours truly, purpose of which was to promote ways and means of nature studies in local schools. Those attending discussed various ongoing projects and activities and also discussed time/cost effective suggestions on how to supplement appropriate teaching methods and approaches. As a volunteer avian consultant, I proposed that I promote one-on-one bird outings with teachers at sites in Leon County in order not only to acquaint teachers with identification of bird species but also to stress awareness of the natural world in general, i.e. plant life, habitat, seasonal change as well as other related matters. To jump-start such outings, on June 5 I accompanied Julie McBride on a bird walk near her residence on Mill Branch Road where we listed 16 bird species and discussed various plant life (How nicely were blackberry and elderberry bushes doing this time round!). Included on our bird list was a foraging juvenile Wood Stork which joined us surprisingly on a stretch of mowed lawn; during daytime this species typically confines itself to mud flats where it feasts on fish and other aquatic animal life. An unseen calling Limpkin suggested further extension of its summer range in the county and several other bird species were in good voice - Yellow-billed Cuckoo, White-eyed Vireo, Fish Crow and others. Julie's neighborhood is indeed an ideal "resource laboratory" for natural learning experiences. Later we visited nearby Gilchrist Elementary School where Julie envisions additional plants and trees including flowering butterfly gardens and the like. A retention pond with flowering pickerel week provides there a good source of water. A Red-shouldered Hawk and friendly vocal House Finches and two or three Great Crested Flycatchers were on hand to greet us. I look forward to future birding and nature walks at Mill Branch Road and Gilchrist and greatly appreciate Julie's cordiality on June 5. Gail E. Menk, Tallahassee [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Homage to Senator Mallory Horne (Gail Menk) From: "Julie Duggan" <jvduggan AT embarqmail.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:11:50 -0400 Posted for Mr. Gail Menk: On April 28, 1979 I drove up Leon County's Meridian Road and stopped short on seeing approximately 15 male Ring-necked Ducks in a pond near the road. The residence nearby proved to be that of the recently deceased Senator Mallory Horne, who graciously explained that said ducks had been hatched near the site and hence were "bonded" to the environs and would not migrate north after springtime. Large numbers of Ring-necks are certainly to be encountered as of fall season in North Florida but towards summer are out-of-season rarities. On May 17, 2000 I listed a pair at Robert White Williams Birding Trail in Tallahassee. On July 1, 1976 Henry M. Stevenson recorded a male at Leon's Lake Lafayette. GAIL E. MENK Julie Duggan Tallahassee [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: MIssissippi Kites at Lake Killarney From: Edwwjr AT aol.com Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:25:02 EDT I had 4 Mississippi kites feeding over the west end of Lake Killarney in Tallahassee between 11:15 and 11:45 Saturday morning. Ed Woodruff Tallahassee **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222585064x1201462784/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= JunestepsfooterNO62) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: A Birder's Passing From: "glendajoyce6009" <glendajoyce6009 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:10:40 -0000 Tallahssee has lost a true friend of nature and birds. Sylvia Cohen passed away earlier this week. If anyone is interested, her obituary is in today's Tallahassee Democrat. The link below should take you to it. She was a special lady and will be greatly missed. Glenda Simmons Tallahassee http://www.legacy.com/tallahassee/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=128611623Subject: Some Notable Bird Records for Leon County April/May 2009 - A Gail Menk Posting From: "Marvin Collins" <mcollins AT nettally.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:47:24 -0400 Note: This posting was sent to Florida Birds and North Florida Birds Listservs on 6/14. North Florida Birds evidently did not accept the posting so I am re-sending it at this time. Marvin Collins Re: Some Notable Bird Records for Leon County, April/May 2009 - A Gail Menk Posting My FOS Spotted Sandpiper was at Lake Elberta Park (LEP) on April 20, and on April 21 I saw my only Bobolink, a male, at Lake Jackson's Crowder Landing (CrLg). Two Least Terns greeted me at LEP on April 26, and my best bird of the season was a Northern Waterthrush at Lake Jackson's Faulk drive Landing (FDL) on April 28. On the latter date I also listed an unusually late northbound Wilson's Snipe at CrLg. On May 1 LEP hosted a nice mini-congregation of shorebirds: a Semipalmated Plover, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, a Spotted Sandpiper, 5 Least and 1 Semipalmated Sandpipers while a male Northern Shoveler still remained there (a "cripple" unable to fly north?). The cited plover was likely a new species for LEP, an addition to the bird list compiled there by Larry Thompson during his stay in Tallahassee. On May 3 I listed a Least Bittern at Lake Jackson's Rhoden Cover and later that morning a probable Broad-winged Hawk flying over the residence of Fran Rutkovsky. Had to wait until May 4 to hear my first calls of Northern Bobwhites (FDL) - delayed perhaps because of a late chilly, waterlogged springtime? Reports of large numbers of Black Vultures have been far and few between in Leon County during recent years. Thus a flock of 75 or more individuals foraging along Capital Circle in the northwest part of the county on April 28 was noteworthy. On May 21 I heard, then saw, a singing American Robin near a pond south of Tallahassee's Cornerstone Learning Community (CLC) suggesting a slight extension of the breeding range of the species locally. Speaking of CLC, the bird species list there now numbers 53 as of May 28 with more to come. On May 23 I listed a female Greater Scaup at good-old-Lake Ella (Tallahassee). Ordinarily I refrain from identifying said species midst large groups of scaup ducks, but on this occasion said bird showed a pale but evident ear patch and also exhibited the tell-tale longish primary wing stripes as it flew over the lake several times before flying off. Report of this species complements a report of a male by Rob Lengacher at Lake Henrietta on January 19. On May 13 Elizabeth Platt and I visited the above lake where we experienced anticipated sighting and soundings of a Limpkin. Orchard Orioles were also seen there and included both a brick-red male and a yellowish male with a black throat. Two male Wood Ducks flew over and a Barred Owl called several times. Most notably, 4 spotted and 2 Solitary Sandpipers cavorted on a "spit" near the bridge. One of the spotteds appeared to strut and carry on in courtship mode. The 2 solitaries increased my total of records to 21 such birds seen this spring in Tallahassee. A dozen or so Cedar Waxwings were perched high up on a snag and date-wise were mostly in line with my average late dates of the species locally which calculates as app. May 11. On May 17 and 21 I recorded a probable same Glossy Ibis at CrLg which supplemented 10 such birds seen there earlier on March 113. Also, on May 21 I saw an adult Bald Eagle at FDL, another at CrLg (same bird?) I don't see the species much after June 1. Summer records appear to be uncommon. Best Regards - Gail Menk (Tallahassee) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Bald Point Scoters 6-15-09 From: Melissa Forehand <birdingtreefrog AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:15:11 -0400 e. bluebird
b.h. cowbird
e towhee
laughing gull
crow
b. pelican
c. g. dove
14 scoter most of them male and female surf scoter
1 female black scoter
foster's tern
willet
snowy egret
royal tern
ruddy turnstone
b. g. gnatcatcher
sanderling
tricolor heron
dowitcher
cattle egret
e. c. dove
b. b. plover
4 wilson's plovers with 3 babies
b. h. nuthatch
n. mockingbird
Subject: GoldfinchFrom: speedyg AT swamphen.net Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:24:26 -0400 Yesterday I was astounded to hear an American Goldfinch calling from the pines next to our property, both the "Oh really?" call and then flight calls. I guess this bird didn't get the word that he's supposed to have headed north? We also have families of titmice and chickadees at the feeders these days. -Sean P. McCool Wakulla County, Florida, USASubject: Reminder: Swift movie Saturday From: Pam Flynn <tallypfly57 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:02:19 -0400 Don't forget about the Swift movie and the benefit for St Francis at the Amtrak Station on Saturday. Movies at 5:00 and 7:00. There will be a live Mississippi Kite there too. Got to www.tallahasseefilms.com for details. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Surf scoters/Bald Pt From: "John Murphy" <southmoonunder AT mchsi.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:27:55 +0000 This morning I found a group of 12 Surf scoters floating approximately 20' off the beach just east/north of the old Pt Lounge property on Bald Pt Rd. John Murphy Alligator Pt, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Wakulla River birds etc From: Linda Most <lrmost AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:31:08 -0700 (PDT)
Hi all,
I had a wonderful opportunity to canoe on the upper part of the Wakulla River
yesterday afternoon/early evening. We put in at the Mysterious Waters
neighborhood (private) and went up to the upper bridge and back down again from
about 5:00 - 6:30. There was a family group of four manatees grazing about half
way up. we even saw the baby nursing! We also saw a group of Prothonatory
Warblers flitting back and forth between the bank and one of the islands - they
glow! Four osprey were making lots of noise and chasing each other around near
the park. We also heard lots of songbirds, saw turtles, alligators, anhingas,
cormorants, a family of Wood Ducks with three half-grown young, blooming spider
lilies, and the cypress are a gorgeous fresh shade of green.
Paradise in our own back yards.
Linda Most
Tallahassee
----------------------
Bird where you are.
Subject: Kirklands Warbler, MichiganFrom: "nptf4us" <nptf4us AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:47:44 -0000 FYI there are free Kirkland Warbler tours everyday 7 & 11 am out of the Ramada Inn Grayling Michigan. These tours are given by the US Fish & Wildlife Service and The Audubon Society. You can contact the Ramada Inn of Grayling, 2650 S-I75 Business Loop Grayling... (989)348-5122. Besides seeing the Kirkland Warbler you might see the Dark Eye Junco, Chipping Sparrow, Clay Color Sparrow, Common Loon, Spruce Grouse, Upland Sandpiper, Brewers Black Bird, Flicker... Again these tours are free to the public and lead by tour guides daily until July 4th 2009. There is a short video given before the tour heads out into protected Kirkland Warbler nesting habitat. The KW is currently with eggs and the males are marking their territory with the bountiful song. Come see our beautiful Kirklands Warbler.Subject: Birdsong Open House, 6/13 From: Fran Rutkovsky <franrutkovsky AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 12:42:55 -0400
Birdsong Nature Center
2106 Meridian Rd,
Grady Co. GA
OPEN HOUSE
and ATTRACTING NATIVE POLLINATORS (see below for details)
Saturday, June 13, 9 a.m to 5 p.m.
FREE to the public
Bring your family and friends to discover Birdsong. Our Butterfly Garden
will be blooming, butterflies and dragonflies will be abundant and
our
Purple Martins and Bluebirds will be busy feeding their young. Enjoy a
free program on native pollinators ) or visit the Butterfly Garden,
take a hike on our trails and observe nature at the Listening Place.
You
may also relax and watch the birds at our Bird Window, a nationally-
recognized
landscaped feeding station that has been attracting birds since the
1940’s.
Bring your lunch and picnic under the trees or on the porch.
ATTRACTING NATIVE POLLINATORS
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Pollinators play a role in producing over 150 food crops in the United
States.
There are more than 100,000 varieties of native bees, butterflies,
moths,
beetles and flies that serve as pollinators and many are decreasing in
number due to environmental stresses.
Join us and learn about pollination: what it involves and why it is
important.
We will look at some of our native pollinators, learn how to create a
pollinator-friendly habitat and build a "bee house" for your garden.
Please bring a clean plastic water or drink bottle. We will provide
the rest!
birdsong AT birdsongnaturecenter.org
or via phone at 1-800-953-2473
--from Tallahassee, go north on Meridian Road,
about 18 miles north of the I-10 overpass
--4 miles past the "Grady County" (GA) sign, watch for
the small white Birdsong sign on right
NOTE: I'll be greeting visitors at the Bird Window inside the
farmhouse
part of the morning. Please stop in to see who's coming in to bathe.
-----
Fran Rutkovsky
franrutkovsky AT comcast.net
Tallahassee, FL
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Subject: Unusual foraging of Eastern KingbirdFrom: "phhomann" <phhomann AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:21:40 -0000 Stevenson and Anderson in their The Birdlife of Florida write that the Eastern Kingbird "watches for insects from an exposed perch." That is how I remember it, but yesterday evening I watched one kingbird, and then two, on a large pasture (300 m from my home) doing all their watching from the ground in the middle of the mowed pasture, flying up occasionally, presumably to catch what they had just spotted. On the ground they mingled with a few Common Grackles and, at some distance, two crows. Peter Homann, TallahasseeSubject: Dixie County - Roseate spoonbill From: "Sharon" <dixieredhat AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:14:12 -0000 Was seen yesterday (wed) but didnt have time to stop and check it out. Just thought it might be a white ibis. Today I noticed the pink color and had to run home to get the bins and camera and go back. Yes it was a roseate spoonbill. go north on 349, 7/10 of a mile from the light at Old Town. the pasture on the left has water in the west corner. The spoonbill was under the trees near the water line. sharon fronk old town 352 542 1338Subject: Northbound Migrants (Gail Menk) From: Fran Rutkovsky <franrutkovsky AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 12:27:26 -0400 posted for Mr. Gail Menk SOME LAST DATES OF NORTHBOUND MIGRANTS For me, springtime arrivals of bird species from the south are always heartening, whereas northbound departures of wintering species are far less noticed, if noticed at all. Listed below is a chronology of such last dates by Yours Truly. Would be most appreciative if the reader wishes to compare notes. MAR 6 -- Hooded merganser " 10 --American pipit " 14 --White-throated sparrow " 16 --Song sparrow " 19 --Bufflehead " 23 --Red-breasted merganser " 27 --Northern harrier " 30 --Ruddy duck APR 11--House wren " 11--Hermit thrush " 11--Blue-headed vireo (song) " 15--Swamp sparrow " 15--American goldfinch " 19--Ruby-crowned kinglet " 19--Yellow-rumped warbler " 19--Black-&-white warbler " 21--Savannah sparrow " 22--Western Palm warbler " 28--Wilson's snipe MAY 1--Ring-billed gull " 13--Cedar waxwing " 13--Northern shoveler " 20--Solitary sandpiper " 22--Bald eagle (adult) " 23--Greater scaup ____Gail E. Menk ----- Fran Rutkovsky franrutkovsky AT comcast.net Tallahassee, FLSubject: Identify hawk/kite? From: mulberry <mulberry432 AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 08:07:35 -0500
Heard and seen in East Hill area of Pensacola over the past
couple of weeks. Usually hear them before spotting them. Two birds,
smaller than osprey, about size of hawk. Circles like them; have only
seen perched in very tall longleaf pines and another similar tree (very high).
Birds are shades of gray - small, light colored head and breast, darker
gray wings & back; no mottling/bars/stripes noted. At least one of
the birds has a noticeable patch of white on the back when roosting. Watched
one approach the other, walking along branch with wings held out from body
slightly ~ profile reminded me of a parrot (have photo). Photos in flight
are not representative of true colors (shadows). Have some photos ~
roosting, preening, flying, but not a great quality. I don't consider myself a
birder,
but like to be able to identify local birds. I've lived in this house 19
years and don't recall seeing or hearing these birds before now. I have also
spotted one at north edge of airport in residential area, possibly the same
bird spotted by someone else in Spanish Trail/Summit/Scenic Hwy area. Help,
please? I'll be traveling for a few days, but will check email within a week.
Thanks!
~ Rena
_________________________________________________________________
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Subject: TFS Movie-June 13From: Pam Flynn <tallypfly57 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 13:59:10 -0400 Get your tickets early or reserve them through the link below.
A second show has been added to the evening.
TFS in partnership
with St. Francis Wildlife
presents at
the ALL SAINTS CINEMA
ON THE WING
Two shows
Saturday, June 13 at 5PM and 7 PM
$7 general admission • $5 TFS members • $5 students with ID
“On The Wing” tells the story of a remarkable flock of birds
that became the heart of a wonderful American city where
people work to coexist with nature instead of smoking it
out. The stars of “On The Wing” are tiny birds called Vaux
swifts that, since the early 1980’s, have taken up residence
in the chimney of a Portland, Oregon Elementary School
during the month of September. Each night during the
swifts’ residency, thousands of them fill the sky above
Chapman Elementary School. Just before sunset, the
birds form a dramatic vortex and dive into the chimney in
an amazing aerial display. In years past, the flock has
been estimated to be the largest collection of roosting
swifts in North America at nearly 40,000 birds.
Since the early 1990’s, the event has become a cult
phenomenon in Portland, drawing hundreds and sometimes
thousands of people nightly to watch the amazing
display. They sit at attention in awe of the birds but burst
out in cheers and jeers as birds of prey roar through the
flock of swifts. The event has become a must see during
the fall in Portland.
The film documents the birds’ 2007 residency. Interviews
with members of the crowd, Chapman Elementary School
neighbors and faculty, Audubon Society of Portland staff
and a cast of characters explain how the phenomenon
came to be and how it has evolved into what it is today.
Amazing footage of the birds, including a view from inside
the chimney, gives audiences an extraordinary, never-before-
seen view of the swifts.
(2008. Color. Unrated. 61 minutes)
Sponsored in part by the city of Tallahassee
and the Council on Culture and Arts
St. Francis Wildlife education director
Sandy Beck will present a short program
about chimney swifts and kites – other
amazing neotropical birds that call north
Florida home during their breeding season.
Meet “Havana,” a live Mississippi kite, and
learn what you can do to attract and help
nature’s bug zappers. A portion of tonight’s
ticket sales will benefit the St. Francis
Wildlife rehabilitation center.
All Saints Cinema, 9181/2 Railroad Avenue
386-4404 for more info • www.tallahasseefilms.com
email: filmnews AT tallahasseefilms.com
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Subject: Swallow-tailed Kite & Bluebird Nesting BehaviorFrom: "glendajoyce6009" <glendajoyce6009 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 05:39:12 -0000 I have been seeing a Swallow-tailed Kite soaring overhead in my Buck Lake neighborhood the past couple of days. Yesterday, it flew over my yard, as low as I have ever seen one. I've never been closer to one. Today, I got a couple of distant pictures, which I just posted. It had lunch to go. When I zoomed in as close as I could, on my monitor, I was able to see a fledgling with a chunk of nest attached, in it's talons. I could not see clear enough to ID its catch, but it looked large to me, and I'm hoping it was a crow. In the second picture, you can at least see the kite's head going down and it's feet pulling up to eat. I've had some different nesting behavior with my resident Bluebirds. Mr. Casonova has two females! The females are both on their second broods. In my front yard, Mom is incuabating 4 eggs, while in one of the back yard nesting boxes, there are 4 nestlings almost two weeks old, being tended to by a different female and the same male. It has been entertaining to watch the male feed the nestlings, then blast off to the front to escort and guard that female while she laid her eggs, or to feed her. He is one busy bird! He has at least staggered the four nests, so far, to not have nestlings in both boxes at the same time. As many mealworms, as I put out for them, it probably would not be a problem! I did add another box, so the females have several to choose from. I monitor these birds very closely, feeding them, daily and am quite certain that the females are siblings, and that they are also the off spring of the male from last season. His mate of four years, has not been seen since Jan. At that time, I was feeding the family of four, everyday. I have a Bluebird soap opra going on in my yard! Glenda Simmons Eastside TallahasseeSubject: Correction on YCNH location From: Angela Johnson <birdnerd26 AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 22:53:22 -0400 I apologize, the picture was take at St Marks River Park, not Wakulla River City Park. Angela Johnson Woodville [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, interesting behavior From: Angela Johnson <birdnerd26 AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 29 May 2009 22:50:49 -0400 My girlfriend (Pam Kaiser) took this photo of a YCNH sliding down a rail at Wakulla River City Park on May 25th. Apparently, the bird was just sitting on the rail, then decided to slide down it! I have never witnessed such a thing, very neat! Angela Johnson Woodville [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Re: Owl Question From: Melissa Forehand <birdingtreefrog AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 08:32:43 -0400 Thanks to everyone. Several of you suggested fledgling barred owls begging and someone even recommended a website with the recording and that was the sound. Happy birding Melissa On Wed, May 27, 2009 at 8:12 AM, Melissa ForehandSubject: Owl sounds From: "John E" <jwinforde AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 11:58:00 -0000 The owls you are hearing, I believe, are immature barred owls which call with a raspy screech owl sound. I heard some last weekend then spotted and watched them for a short time. I had 3 in my neighborhood 2 years ago. John Erickson SW TallySubject: Owl Question From: Melissa Forehand <birdingtreefrog AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 08:12:11 -0400 The other day I had this strange sound from 2 owls calling back and forth to each other. It was just inside hearing range. The sound went up and then ended. I saw one owl it was medium to large but I couldn't see any ID marks. Were these great horned owls? I listened to a recording (Florida Birds) and it kinda of sounded like that just less of a screech. Thanks for any help Melissa Forehand Tallahassee [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Monday at St. Marks NWR From: Edwwjr AT aol.com Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 18:11:22 EDT Michael Evans and I birded at St. Marks for most of Monday morning. We had about 60 species with several of interest. At the double bridges we had several prothonotary warblers, a yellow-billed cuckoo (heard and seen), and an Acadian flycatcher. At Tower Pond we had 4 whimbrels on the flats and a roseate spoonbill in the pond along with a feeding brown pelican. Based on size differences in nearby birds, we had 2 each of greater and lesser yellowlegs. At the main boat ramp we had great looks at a singing orchard oriole. On the flats behind the lighthouse we had another 4 whimbrel and 6 black-necked stilts. Ed Woodruff Tallahassee **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222377034x1201454326/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= MaystepsfooterNO62) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Audubon banquet--Thurs. From: Fran Rutkovsky <franrutkovsky AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 15:41:18 -0400 REMINDER: The Apalachee Audubon banquet and speaker is this Thurs. night, May 28. Event Title: Banquet and program, "Red knots -- On the brink of extinction" Where: Lafayette Presbyterian Church 4220 Mahan dr.( U.S. hwy 90 ) Thursday, May 28, 2009 Time: 6:30 PM EST (social begins at 6 p.m.) AAS Annual Banquet and Patricia C. Behnke, who will speak on "Red knots - On the brink of extinction". Tickets for the banquet cost $10.00 and may be purchased in advance at Wild Birds Unlimited & Native Nurseries, or at the meeting if you RSVP Tim Smith at 850-933-5979 by May 27th so we have an accurate attendance count. The menu this year is Italian. Bring Desserts and an empty container for leftovers. Patricia C. Behnke, Senior Editor, Community Relations Office Media Relations Coordinator, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, will speak on "Red knots - On the brink of extinction". She will discuss some background information on the red knot and provide current information on the three-year study completed this year in Florida. Patricia is a writer/editor with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. She has worked with the scientists on the red knot study and written about it for the Florida Wildlife magazine. Prior to working for the FWC, she was a journalist in the Gainesville- area. Direct any questions to Melissa Forehand at birdingtreefrog AT gmail.com < birdingtreefrog AT gmail.com> or (850) 510-4877 Directions: 1.3 miles east of Capital Circle N.E., past flashing light at Dempsey Mayo Rd. ----- Fran Rutkovsky franrutkovsky AT comcast.net Tallahassee, FLSubject: Greater Sand-Plover in JAX From: bessinger janice <janmelb AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 14:51:16 -0700 (PDT) The bird was seen around noon today as the tide was receding. Today it seemed to be distancing itself from the other plovers. Besides the previously mentioned birds today we saw 2 roseate spoonbills flying over the inlet - Gorgeous! Janice Bessinger in Macclenny --- On Mon, 5/25/09, nflbirds AT yahoogroups.comSubject: off topic: scope From: bessinger janice <janmelb AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 25 May 2009 14:48:13 -0700 (PDT) Hope this is allowed. I have a Kowa scope which came with a cheap tripod. Can
y"all recommend a suitable, heavier tripod? Thanks, Janice Bessinger in
Macclenny
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Rough-winged Swallow at Tallahassee SearsFrom: "phhomann" <phhomann AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 17:58:22 -0000 This morning (Sunday May 24) a Rough-winged Swallow was picking up cedar(?)shavings from mulch to build its nest in a cavity in the bottom of a parked trailer at the delivery gates of Sears. Poor thing. Peter Homann, TallahasseeSubject: Rough-Winged Swallow with signature From: "phhomann" <phhomann AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 16:47:11 -0000 This morning (Sunday May 24) a Rough-winged Swallow was picking up cedar shavings from mulch to build its nest in a cavity in the bottom of a parked trailer at the delivery gates of Sears. Poor thing. Peter Homann, TallahasseeSubject: Rough-winged Swallow at Sears From: "phhomann" <phhomann AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 16:41:55 -0000 This morning (Sunday May 24) a Rough-winged Swallow was picking up cedar(?) shavings from mulch to build its nest in a cavity in the bottom of a parked trailer at the delivery gates of Sears. Poor thing.Subject: St. Marks NWR Saturday From: "Marvin Collins" <mcollins AT nettally.com> Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 19:04:22 -0400 I spent a couple of hours this morning showing my daughter and son-in-law around the refuge. Didn't have a chance to do serious birding, but we did see two immature Redish Egrets, one a white morph, at the Tower Pool. A Grey Kingbird was hanging out around the lighthouse and appeared to be gathering nesting material. Marvin Collins Tallahassee [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Huguenot Memorial Park, 5/22 From: Robert Bowman <bbpictures AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 16:17:22 -0700 (PDT) Fellow birder Luke DeGroote and I went to Huguenot Memorial Park this morning
and saw the Greater Sand-Plover. Equally as exciting were the Wilson's AND
Leach's Storm-Petrels we spotted next to the rock jetty, near the mouth of the
St. Johns River around midday when the winds were really blowing from the
east. Interestingly, a birder on Brdbrains reported having seen hundreds of
Leach's Storm-Petrels off the coast at Ormond Beach this afternoon. We also
saw the Purple Sandpiper on the rock jetty and a White-rumped Sandpiper in the
vicinity.
Good birding,
Robert Bowman
Tallahassee
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Mississippi Kite - TallahasseeFrom: Linda Most <lrmost AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 18:03:58 -0700 (PDT)
I saw a Mississippi Kite cruising around above the tree line and riding the
gusts on the east side of Innovation Park around 1:30 this afternoon.
This evening about half an hour before sunset I watched a Carolina Wren family
scooting up to shelter in the trees. The 'kids' were calling as they scooted as
fast as they could after the parent, new wings working, little stubby tails
sticking straight up -- too cute. I hope they have a sheltered spot to roost.
Linda Most
Tallahassee
----------------------
Bird where you are.
Subject: Ring-necked pheasant---Franklin CountyFrom: austrina1 AT aol.com Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 20:22:38 -0400 We had?several interesting sighting this weekend, one of which prompts this question?for the group.? How often do you see ring-necked pheasant in Franklin County?, obviously wild.? Lydia spotted it and said "ring-necked pheasant", I was going to check to see if she was feverish, but I looked anyway.? I couldn't believe?it, there was a?pheasant.? We accidentally flushed it but Lydia?got a couple of pictures when we relocated it.? It would run through the palmettos and hide much like I've observed them in their established range out west.? I know?they are?exotic, but I still thought?it was neat.? Shiloh and I walked into a herd of wild hogs and we saw a small black bear as well. ? Other species of interest: ? The largest pine snake, by far, that I've ever seen, it was immense. gray king birds.............................3...............I can't find any in Tallahassee, so far this year.?? 2 of these were near the lighthouse? red knots.....................................2..................west of the lighthouse white-rumped sandpiper................2.................tower pond, and 3 miles west of Carrabelle"s Public Beach black-necked stilts.......................6 ? ? I've tried Andy W.'s?"Appalachian Breeding Bird Tour" a number of times in the past and I highly recommend it.? It?doesn't have all the breeding warblers and other passerines found?in parts of?Canada but its a lot closer and cheaper and still very educational at this?time of year. ? ? Rodney and Lydia Cassidy?and crew. Tallahassee, Florida? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Moorhen at Lake Killarney Tallahassee From: Edwwjr AT aol.com Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 06:47:38 EDT There is a common moorhen sitting on a nest in the vegetation near the west-end park of Lake Killarney. The bird began incubating on Monday. I have not seen moorhens nesting on the lake before. Other interesting species present were eastern kingbird, great-crested flycatcher, chimney swift, purple martin, barn swallow, snowy egret, green heron, wood stork, and 3 families of wood duck ducklings. Ed Woodruff Tallahassee **************Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop: Now in 6 vibrant colors! Shop Dell’s full line of laptops. (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222399266x1201456865/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B215073777%3B3703434 3%3Bf) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Carpool for Greater Sand Plover? From: Luke DeGroote <degroote.1 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 11:58:33 -0400 I was out of town for the weekend and am feeling the urge to twitch. Is there anyone interested in carpooling from Tallahassee to see the Greater Sand Plover? I can drive but can only comfortably take 1 and I have to be back by 5 or 6pm Thur-Sat. Luke DeGroote NW TallahasseeSubject: Posting for Mr. Gail Menk: LAKE PATE, BIRDING SITE From: "Julie Duggan" <jvduggan AT embarqmail.com> Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 09:46:06 -0400 LAKE PATE, ANOTHER RECOMMENDED BIRDING SITE IN LEON COUNTY The finishing touches are in the making for another recreational park in Tallahassee similar to Lake Henrietta on Springhill Road. Lake Pate can be viewed across the highway from the parking lot at Harvey's grocery mart on West US 90 (Quincy Highway) and can best be approached from the west. Entrance is next to a car rental establishment about a quarter mile from Capital Circle. Last fall/winter a number of migrant ducks and other water birds were "scopable" in the large impounded lake encompassed by a 2-plus-mile paved road for pedestrians and cyclists. Along the shore are abundant spartina and sagitarious-like plant growth that could attract such birds as Marsh Wrens, blackbirds, etc. ENJOY. Gail E. Menk --- Julie Duggan, Tallahassee [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Huguenot Park conditions From: bessinger janice <janmelb AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 06:07:54 -0700 (PDT) Please forward to everyone who may have an interest. Janice Bessinger in Macclenny --- On Tue, 5/19/09, Patrick LearySubject: Fw: [FLBIRDS] Huguenot Park conditions From: Linda Most <lrmost AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 05:54:00 -0700 (PDT) In case some are not reading Floridabirds-L. helpfully, Linda --- On Tue, 5/19/09, Patrick LearySubject: North Georgia Mountains From: Andy Wraithmell <bosoxxfan58 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 17:02:37 -0700 (PDT) Good Evening
I know this is not for our area but thought folks might be interested in what
birds can be found in the mountains north of Atlanta a mere 375 miles away.
Julie, Maisie and I spent a wonderful 4 days hiking and birding in the area
around Helen, Georgia. We got great looks at many breeding warblers including
several singing male Canada Warblers on Brasstown Bald, which is Georgia's
tallest peak. Other breeders we had on that particular mountain included many
Black-throated Blues, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Veery, Black-and-white, Dark-eyed
Juncos (we observed a pair feeding their young), Rose-breasted Grosbeaks,
American Redstart, Blue-winged Warbler and our first Ruffed Grouse, flushed
from aside the Wagon Train Rd trail.
At Ana Ruby Falls we had killer looks at Louisiana Waterthrush and at Smithgall
Woods we had Scarlet Tanagers, Kentucky Warblers, Worm-eating Warblers and
Yellow Warbler.
Our cabin which was west of the small town of Cleveland was great for birds.
From the baclony we could see a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on her nest and a
pair of Eastern Phoebes were building a beautifully constructed nest on a
wooden ledge. Eastern Wood-pewees and Acadian Flycatchers called constantly,
there were many bluebirds, American Robins, Wood Thrushes, Hairy Woodpeckers,
Cedar Waxwings and Chuck-wills-widows at night.
If anybody is looking for a short break I highly recommend this area, the
scenery is beautiful and it is a great opportunity to see and listen to singing
warblers that one can spend hours searching for here in Leon County. Each trip
I take these days leads me further and further away from county birding. The
Canada Warblers were worth the trip alone. If anybody is interested in making
this trip and would like some info, we are more than happy to share.
Andy, Julie and Maisie Wraithmell
at home in Tallahassee not seeing the Greater Sandplover
ps Julie says thanks for the Florida Field Naturalists Linda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: VERY RARE BIRD GREATER SANDPLOVERFrom: bessinger janice <janmelb AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 16:53:30 -0700 (PDT)
Folks, this is a rare treat. An Asian bird seen only one other time in the
Western Hemisphere and it is in our backyard at Hugeunot Park in Jacksonville,
FL. I was not able to go until today. I saw the bird (after waiting and looking
for 2 hours) at 1:15 p.m. as the tide was coming in. Be aware of the tides if
you are going. The park can close during high tide and everyone has to leave.
It then reopens as the tide recedes. When I saw the bird, the northeaster was
coming in with winds AT 35 mph, drizzly rain, and huge salt sprays. The weather
is supposed to worsen for the next 2 days. The park hours are 8 am to 8 pm.
Good birding. Janice Bessinger
Subject: Apalachee Audubon Banquet-Red Knot PresentationFrom: Pam Flynn <tallypfly57 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 06:27:34 -0700 (PDT) Event Title: Banquet and Red knots -- On the brink of extinction Where: Lafayette Presbyterian Church 4220 Mahan dr.( U.S. hwy 90 ) Thursday, May 28, 2009 Time: 6:30 PM EST AAS Annual Banquet and Patricia C. Behnke, who will speak on "Red knots - On the brink of extinction". Tickets for the banquet cost $10.00 and may be purchased in advance at Wild Birds Unlimited & Native Nurseries, or at the banquet if you RSVP Tim Smith at 850-933-5979 before May 28th so we have an accurate attendance count. The menu this year is Italian. Bring Desserts and an empty container for leftovers. Patricia C. Behnke, Senior Editor, Community Relations Office Media Relations Coordinator, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, will speak on "Red knots - On the brink of extinction". She will discuss some background information on the red knot and provide current information on the three-year study completed this year in Florida. Patricia is a writer/editor with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. She has worked with the scientists on the red knot study and written about it for the Florida Wildlife magazine. Prior to working for the FWC, she was a journalist in the Gainesville-area. Direct any questions to Melissa Forehand at birdingtreefrog AT gmail.com . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: a charismatic plover in Jacksonville From: Linda Most <lrmost AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 12:02:56 -0700 (PDT)
No, I'm not talking about a DIFFERENT rare bird, I'm talking about the Greater
Sandplover at Hueguenot Park in Jacksonville that is making all the birding
news. As one of the Tropical Audubon gang wrote on their bird board, "don't
talk yourself out of going to see this bird!" It is a really cool bird!
I got up at 4:30 this morning, jumped in the car at 5:00, stopped at MickyD's
for eggMcMuffin-no meat and headed east to Jacksonville. Three and a half hours
later I was standing on the mudflats with lots of other happy people from
Georgia and Florida and who-knows-where-else looking at the bird, sharing
'scope views, taking pictures, and swapping stories with the good folks I
hadn't seen since the last time I chased a rarity somewhere in Florida. After
90 minutes watching the Greater Sandplover and checking out all the other cool
shorebirds and terns -- many in breeding plumage, I got back in the car and
headed west again, the dissertation was calling but I was smiling and singing
with the cd player as I drove back. Seeing that bird and a beautiful beach and
a bunch of like minded birders was worth giving up four hours of sleep and a
lazy Sunday morning!
Seriously, if you go, go early so you can get into the park without problems
(park opens at 8:00) and before the birds get skittish and move away. Low tide
has been in the morning on the days since the bird was first reported. I
haven't seen anything reported yet about how the bird behaves at high tide, but
at low tide this morning it was out on the same lagoon mud-flats where it has
been. It was with Wilson's Plovers and Ruddy Turnstones feeding and running
around. There is also a Purple Sandpiper hanging around on/near the jetty.
People who have been there every day were also making anecdotal comments about
there being fewer shorebirds around since the bad weather cleared. All the
directions and details are posted on Floridabirds-l, Birdbrains and the Florida
rare bird alert list.
This bird is worth the drive,
Linda Most
Tallahassee
----------------------
Bird where you are (except when chasing the occasional mega-rarity within the
state).
Subject: Re: How do I join this group?From: Fran Rutkovsky <franrutkovsky AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 13:17:18 -0400 I think you already joined, since you posted a message to the list. North FL Birds Description A birding e-mail group covering North Florida, South Georgia, and South Alabama. Please use the below address to subscribe: nflbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com Just send a blank message to that address, and you should receive a welcome message shortly. ----- Fran Rutkovsky franrutkovsky AT comcast.net Tallahassee, FLSubject: How do I join this group? From: dee wilder <dwilder_32301 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 17 May 2009 09:58:18 -0700 (PDT)
Please tell me how I can sign up for this group. Thanks!
Dee
Subject: Greater Sand PloverFrom: Edwwjr AT aol.com Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 22:32:52 EDT Michael Evans and I successfully chased the Greater Sand Plover at Huguenot Park in Jacksonville this morning. We appreciated the helpfulness of the other birders who were present when we arrived and already had the bird in their scopes. Thanks particularly to Pappy. The purple sandpiper and Wilson's plover were still present in the general vicinity of the sand plover. Several whimbrel were also present. Ed Woodruff Tallahassee, Fl. **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222377005x1201454319/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=May Excfooter51609NO62) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Greater Sand Plover From: Robert Bowman <bbpictures AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 20:36:07 -0700 (PDT)
On my drive today back from Orlando to Tallahassee, I made a thoroughly
worthwhile detour to Huguenot Memorial Park near Jacksonville to see the
Greater Sand Plover that was located yesterday during a routine shorebird
count. I imagine most followers of nflbirds also follow BrdBrains or the other
Florida lists, which have been abuzz with reports about this once-in-a-lifetime
bird for Florida---and probably for North America. This is only the second
confirmed report of the Greater Sand Plover for the Western Hemisphere (the
other being a bird in California in 2001).
I arrived around 5:30 this afternoon, and a couple of scopes were set up with
people monitoring it. Approximately fifteen minutes later, it disappeared from
view and it took thirty minutes to relocate it. However, once it was spotted,
it was unmistakable in its breeding plumage. It provided wonderful looks, and
there were scopes aplenty set up to view it. There were birders present
representing all parts of Florida as well as the Carolinas and one gentleman
who had flown in today only to see it. We were all thrilled at the looks we
got.
There were many more beachgoers than birders this afternoon. If you go, you'll
need to veer left where the road forks, which is past the little concession
stand. The mud flats to the left were where the plover was seen. I foolishly
went to the right and ended up getting stuck in the sand. Only by the grace of
my four-wheel drive was I able to extricate my Jeep.
Some of us were speculating about how a bird like this that is typically found
in Asia could end up in Jacksonsville. Someone suggested it might have hopped a
ride on a freight ship, but it's not clear what it would have eaten along the
way. Anyway, an incredible find that is well worth the drive over to the
Atlantic coast. Good luck to those of you who decide to go!
Robert Bowman
Tallahassee
Subject: TTRS Bird Window Summer Feeding ScheduleFrom: CK Borg <ckborg AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 20:11:49 +0000
Hi Folks,
The Bird Window feeders will be maintained through today as our seed supplies
have run dry. There is little point in maintaining the feeders beyond this
weekend (during the summer) because visitation by both birds and humans is low.
Additionally, the bird species that regularly visit our feeders at this time of
year tend to be brown-headed cowbirds, common grackles, and house finches. I
will resume feeding in mid September once the winter migrants begin to appear.
Of course visitors interested in paying the window a visit during the summer
should do so as the Stevenson Trail and Gannet Pond offers some good birding
especially in the morning hours. The pond typically has breeding purple
gallinule and in some years has attracted black-bellied whistling ducks during
the summer months.
Thanks,
CK Borg
Tallahassee
_________________________________________________________________
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Subject: Cornerstone birds (Gail Menk)From: Fran Rutkovsky <franrutkovsky AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 21:59:13 -0400 Posted for Mr. Gail Menk Since March, students, faculty and Yours Truly have been compiling a bird species list at Tallahassee's Cornerstone Learning Community on Hartsfield Road. Instructor Matt Morris is acquainting his students with traditional birdlore and species identification, both by ear and sight, while Ms. Pat's Kindergarten class is learning birds via a bird feeder near the classroom. In all, the CLC bird list approaches 40 species with more to come. Recently pre-Kindergartener Eli was credited with the first listing of a Mississippi Kite flying over the campus and quickly alerted other students who also got to share the bird. (GOOD EYE, ELI!) And Mr. Matt since has added the Swallow-tailed Kite to said birdlist. Other notable species within CLC environs have included fly-over Forster's Terns (2), Osprey, good numbers of Solitary Sandpipers, and Gray Catbird. CLC also houses an increasing collection of bird nests which serve to illustrate the nest-building materials and "weaving" techniques of various birds. Recently his students examined a donated Robin nest. And CLC is evidently a good environment for birds to raise families, as several species have been observed carrying nesting material. And on April 30 a pair of Carolina Chickadees were feeding a recently hatched fledgling. .......Gail E. Menk ----- Fran Rutkovsky franrutkovsky AT comcast.net Tallahassee, FLSubject: Wednesday - South side of Tallahassee From: Edwwjr AT aol.com Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 20:13:21 EDT Carolyn Smith and I visited several sites on the south side of Tallahassee Wednesday morning. In general, things were slow with very few total birds although we had about 30 species. I am only mentioning birds that might be of general interest: Lake Elberta an eastern kingbird Black Swamp I and II: common yellowthroat pair, blue grosbeak pair, several white eyed vireo, pine warbler, northern parula, fly-over wood stork, and at least one prothonotary warbler calling but none were seen. Lake Henrietta: 4 spotted sandpipers on the trash and sandbar near the first bridge on the left, great crested flycatcher, eastern kingbird, red-shouldered hawk, and limpkin. A controlled burn was being conducted at the Munson Preserve and so the park was closed for the day. Koucky Park area: northern parula, downy woodpecker, and a great many cardinals, titmouse, and Carolina wrens. Ed Woodruff Tallahassee **************Dell Mini Netbooks: Great deals starting at $299 after instant savings! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221972443x1201442012/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B214819441%3B36680237%3Bi) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: For Swainson's Warbler fans From: "phhomann" <phhomann AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 00:09:33 -0000 In the late eighties through the mid-nineties I suspected and once confirmed nesting of Swainson's Warblers south of Concord in Gadsden County. Perhaps this is still the case but I probably would not hear the song now even with my hearing aid. To get there turn north onto Old Bainbridge Road from US 27 after having passed Lake Jackson, then go about 4 miles to a bridge over the Ochlockonee River and ½ - ¾ mile past it turn right onto the road to Concord (CR 157?). Stop after another ¾ mile or so when you arrive at a bridge over a small stream: I hope the vegetation has remained undisturbed. Prick up your ears. You may also hear Lousiana Waterthrush, Acadian Flycatcher and many others (I typically recorded at least 15 species per visit). Usually I parked my car and ventured into the woods along the stream to get away from the traffic noise. Peter Homann., TallahasseeSubject: Strange markings on Egret From: judy cooke <dellabirdie AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 12:15:16 -0700 (PDT) Was out at Bald Point today and saw a strangely marked Egret. I did not have
my camera with me, but there was another person with - who, although not a avid
birdwatcher, knew this egret was different from the ones commonly seen around
here.
It
was flying with a Snowy Egret - and was identical to the Snowy with the the
exception on a black stripe on it's wings. The black stripe looked to be where
the primaries meet the secondaries running from the front of the wing to the
back - about 4-5 inches wide. The bird flew over us repeatedly and neither one
of us have ever seen an egret like this.
I have gone though my bird books several times and have not been able to come
up with anything. Was it possibly a juvenile? Any help would be really
appreciated.
Judy
Panacea
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Subject: bike to work (bird) weekFrom: Luke DeGroote <degroote.1 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 00:18:42 -0400 I received several great emails after my big day by bicycle post so I thought there might be some readers interested to know that this week is bike to work week (Friday is bike to work day). With a myriad of reasons to go by bike I think it would be great if birders considered it a bike to bird day/week. While most of us can't bike across the country like Malkolm Boothroyd (http://www.cariboucommons.com/) biking around the neighborhood, to a park, or from the Saint Marks visitor center to the lighthouse offer a completely different way to experience birds. And, every little bit helps. Luke DeGroote NW TallahasseeSubject: Video of Acadian Flycatcher calling taken this am- Good sound From: eliza hawkins <ehawkins AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 09:40:44 -0700 (PDT)
Here is a video took this morning of the Acadian Flycatcher with good sound
recording of the call. Should come up first in the slide show and should play
automatically though may take a minute to load - best to minimize the window:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9467770 AT N06/sets/72157617873990499/show/
At the same time I was alternately listening to my ipod playing the
Acadian flycatcher song through my car stero and listening to the real
flycatcher, I was reading an email on my blackberry from Rodney Cassidy.
Something Rodney said in his email reminded me I had my little Canon IS 3 with
me which has a video recorder. Thanks Rodney, for the reminder.
Sorry for the multiple postings...I have used all my high tech gadgets today.
.
Subject: Re: Acadian Flycatchers/Yellow breasted chat/Juv Broadwinged hawkFrom: ehawkins AT yahoo.com Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 14:02:08 +0000 Am back this am to find lost sunglasses (no luck) butdid find the flycatcher on virtually the same perches as yesterday still repeating it calls constantly. Replayed all the flycatcher calls and am pretty sure it is an Acadian. Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel -----Original Message----- From: eliza hawkinsSubject: Acadian Flycatchers??/Yellow breasted chat/Juv Broadwinged hawk From: eliza hawkins <ehawkins AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 15:51:23 -0700 (PDT) A pair of flycatchers were calling loudly and repeadedly in St Marks at the
first bend in the road right after the ranger station about 100 feet before the
35 mph sign on the right. I watched them on and off for about 2 hours (they
were there calling every time I went by) and after running through my Stokes
bird calls for all the possible flycatchers decided these were Acadians. One
was doing the first two calls on the Stokes recording ( very loud two or
three note call and the low "wheeeew" when flying to a perch). The other
bird called from nearby intermitantly (the first call on the tape). The
loudest most visable bird was hanging out on the east side of the road about 30
or 40 feet up in trees in front of a open clearing full of water (went back and
forth within the same littel area so wonder if there was a nest). Would often
sit in one place calling for awhile before flying a short distance.
There were Parula, Pine warblers and white-eyed vireos all around as well.
Also saw a purple galinule at East Mounds Pool, a yellow breasted chat that was
unfortunately a road kill (and which was gone a few minutes later when I went
by the same spot - I don't suppose it flew away!!??), and what I think is a
juvenile broadwinged hawk (very small hawk; its wings were solid and when it
flew had one dark tail band). Also saw an adult broadwinged hawk last week in
Wakulla county.
See photos below:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9467770 AT N06/sets/72157617873990499/show/
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Another addendumFrom: "phhomann" <phhomann AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 16:54:00 -0000 I am embarrassed and apologize - now with signature. Peter Homann, TallahasseeSubject: Addendum to Yard Blues From: "phhomann" <phhomann AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 16:24:33 -0000 Fan Rutkovsky reminded me that I should have added my name to the posting - I apologize. Even more importantly, I should have mentioned that I refer to about 3.5 acres west of N. Meridian Road/south of I-10.Subject: Yard blues From: "phhomann" <phhomann AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 15:45:00 -0000 White-throated Sparrows usually are regulars in my yard during the winter months, but for the second winter in a row I did not observe a single one. Now, as spring has arrived, I remember the species, a dozen or so, that vanished as breeding birds from the immediate vicinity of my home since I moved here more than 40 years ago. That story is for another time. Right now I think of Orchard Oriole and Eastern Towhee and wonder about Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Parula Warbler. These species had to cope with persistent parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbird that, not surprisingly, has become now a rarity also after doing its thing when peaking in the mid eighties. It looks as if White-eyed Vireo will be next on my list - but I hope not. I will keep the hearing aid in place.Subject: Limpkin Piney Z From: "Candy and Michael Hill" <mchill7 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 17:04:23 -0400 Last Thursday, a lone limpkin was observed feeding on the, newly established, exotic island apple snails in Piney Z Lake. The bird was between Finger #1 and the concrete boat ramp to the west end of the lake. Last year, I saw several conspicuous exotic snail egg masses in Piney Z (Lafayette Heritage Trail Park) and this year there are more. Although most of the egg masses are along the west end, I did see several egg masses (which contains 700+ eggs!) along the eastern end of the lake. The limpkin could be anywhere. I also saw a Forester tern, and hope the least terns show up again this year to use the nesting site. Michael Hill, TallahasseeSubject: Shiny cowbird/Alligator Pt From: "John Murphy" <southmoonunder AT mchsi.com> Date: Thu, 07 May 2009 18:53:02 +0000 A FOTS Shiny cowbird (ad male) showed up at my feeders yesterday (05/06) afternoon. John Murphy Alligator Pt, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: cedar waxwings Wednesday evening Tallahassee From: Edwwjr AT aol.com Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 20:25:59 EDT I had a flock of 59 (counted twice) cedar waxwings fly into a bare hickory tree in the backyard just before 7:30 this evening. Ed Woodruff Tallahassee **************Big savings on Dell’s most popular laptops. Now starting at $449! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221827510x1201399090/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B214663377%3B36502382%3Bh) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Cedar Waxwings Lee Vause Park Tallahassee From: Edwwjr AT aol.com Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 18:18:19 EDT I forgot to mention that Carolyn Smith and I visited Lee Vause Park off Old Bainbridge Road in Tallahassee Wednesday morning and had a small flock (10-15) of cedar waxwings in the trees along the short entrance road to the park before the road divides. Ed Woodruff Tallahassee **************Big savings on Dell’s most popular laptops. Now starting at $449! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221827510x1201399090/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B214663377%3B36502382%3Bh) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Wednesday Stoneler Rd Tallahassee From: Edwwjr AT aol.com Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 18:01:26 EDT Wednesday morning, Carolyn Smith and I visited the state park at the end of Stoneler Road in northwest Tallahassee. We had about 25 species as we birded walking along the road. Mississippi Kite summer tanager blue grosbeak indigo bunting bob white calling great crested flycatcher many brown thrasher eastern bluebird red-bellied and red-headed woodpecker Carolina wren orchard oriole wood stork great egret black and turkey vultures chickadee Am. crow barn swallow towhee cardinal mockingbird blue jay hawk species Ed Woodruff Tallahassee **************Big savings on Dell’s most popular laptops. Now starting at $449! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221827510x1201399090/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B214663377%3B36502382%3Bh) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Posting for Mr. Gail Menk: SOME NOTABLE RECORDS IN THE BIG BEND From: "Julie Duggan" <jvduggan AT embarqmail.com> Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 14:06:31 -0400 SOME NOTABLE RECORDS IN THE BIG BEND, DECEMBER 2008/LATE APRIL 2009 On December 6 John Murphy listed a Red-breasted Nuthatch at Alligator Point, Franklin County, JM and Alan Knothe a Winter Wren in said county on December 7. During late December Pamela Pierce reported a Burrowing Owl at Franklin's St. George Island in late December which was later seen there by John Murphy and Alan Knothe on January 24. Probably best bird of the winter season was a Fork-tailed Flycatcher described as such by J. Murphy and A. Knothe at Alligator Point on December 25; details have been sent to the FOS Records Committee. A male Wilson's Warbler was reported in Leon County by Dana Bryan on February 13 while another male previously reported by Melissa Forehand at her Tallahassee residence was still there as of February 16. A Yellow Warbler at Franklin's Apalachicola on December 28 was way-out-of-season, carefully studied by John Murphy et al. with details also sent to FOS. And on the same date 2 Sprague's Pipits were reported by JM also at Apalachicola. On January 4 a Song Sparrow was heard singing by Yours Truly in Jackson County. In Tallahassee that female Bullock's Oriole remained at the home of Fran Rutovsky into March and a male was photographed at the residence of Amy Rogers on February 25. On February 10 app. 120 hard-to-find Rusty Blackbirds congregated near the residence of Tara Tanaka in northwest Leon County while usually rare Pine Siskins were unusually common in the Big Bend this time around; John Murphy listed 45 individuals at his Alligator Point residence on January 29 (wow!) and the species has been reported into April (Fran Rutovsky). On January 19 Melissa Forehand found a White-crowned Sparrow in adult plumage at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (SMNWR); such winter garb is rare in the Big Bend. Also on January 19 Rob Lengacher listed 2 pairs of Canvasbacks at Tallahassee's Lake Henrietta while on January 10 I saw a female at Lake Jackson's Crowder Landing. On January 19 I witnessed a juvenile Bald Eagle "toting" an American Coot off Crowder Landing (has the reader read Harry Hooper's "The Hunt"?-relates a similar coot-capture by said raptor). Also on January 19 Rob Lengacher reported a rare inland Greater Scaup at Lake Henrietta where a Limpkin was still to be seen on April 10 and where I next saw 2 such individuals and heard another far-off on April 29. A Dark-eyed Junco reported by Dana Bryan at his Leon County residence on January 24 was the only known report of the species in the Big Bend. A female Purple Finch reported by Bill Pheland at his Leon residence on February 4 was another such rarity. The latter species was formerly found in fair numbers in Leon County; i.e., at the now abandoned FSU Dairy. Purple Martins were not reported until well into February-at Southwood by Jody Walthall on February 6, at the Springhill Road Sewage Facility also on February 6 (GEM), on February 8 in Wakulla County by Marvin Collins, and, of special interest, at gourds erected at Cornerstone Learning Community in Tallahassee on February 19 where instructor Matt Morris later reported that nesting Great Crested Flycatchers had taken over the site. TANAGERS: In Tallahassee Susan Ware hosted a male Western Tanager at her residence on February 14, Fran Rutovsky a female at her home on March 22; FR also monitored a female Summer Tanager during much of the winter; both of the females remained into April. On February 15 Bob Landry report a Common Teal (presumably a male at SMNWR where that subspecies has been reported in recent years. Also on February 15 Sean McCool reported a Lark Sparrow at Franklin's Alligator Point, later seen there by John Murphy on February 22 along with a Yellow-breasted Chat. On February 23 I listed a Grasshopper Sparrow at Leon's Rhoden Cove. Beginning in late February 1-8 Greater Yellowlegs sojourned at Leon's Crowder Landing and were later joined by a Solitary Sandpiper and a surprisingly late Wilson's (Common) Snipe on April 28; I have but two previous records of the latter species during May for Leon County. Twenty-five Cattle Egrets reported by Harry Hooper and Lyn Renolds in Jackson County on February 28 were enigmatic-early migrants or wintering birds. Chris Borg's posting of sounding Whip-poor-wills at Leon's Tall Timbers Research Station sometime after March 2 was of interest and recalls one of few personal county records on Leon's Aenon Church Road at pre-dawn on March 13, 2004. As of March 8 Leon's Rhoden Cove environs has been good for Wild Turkey sightings and in past years seems to attract Prairie Warblers and hummingbirds. Northern Rough-winged Swallows were reported by John Murphy in Franklin County on March 8, and at Leon's Lake Epler by Yours Truly on March 9. Earliest known springtime arrival for the Big Bend is March 3 at Leon's Crowder Landing. In Tallahassee a Solitary Sandpiper was at the Robert White Williams Birding Trail on March 9 and 8 individuals were in the environs of Cornerstone Learning Community on April 16. And by end of April I had listed 18 sightings of the species in Tallahassee, no doubt due to the many temporary "wetlands" which had lingered there after 10-or-so inches of April rains locally. What a difference water makes! Ten migrating Glossy Ibis graced the meadow off Crowder Landing on March 13 and three Laughing Gulls in beautiful adult plumage were at Lake Epler Park on March 16. The latter species was at one time rare county-wise, but in part due to the landfill in east Leon County and later golf course at Southwood, is to be seen regularly as it flies to and from the Gulf Coast in at times large numbers. Southwood continues to be a good site for the wintering Sedge Wren; one was seen there on March 19 by Marvin Collins and GEM along the lake shore. Speaking of wrens, the House Wren was to be heard singing in Leon County on March 20-April 11 (what a joyful noise!), and on March 20 I saw my last American Bittern at Crowder Landing. Sigh! The locally rare Field Sparrow (2 individuals) was at Leon's Faulk Drive Landing on March 20 and on March 23 I listed both a male Red-breasted Merganser and a Swallow-tailed Kite flying over Black Swamp Nature Preserve. Matt Morris also reported a STK near Miccosukee on April 2. I could have recorded spring arrivals of Barn Swallows much earlier than March 24 in Leon County had I remembered to check out the railroad underpass near Lake Epler Park (Lake Bradford Road). On March 26 Marvin Collins distinguished a singing Yellow-throated Vireo on Leon's Proctor Road and on April 11 that species along with White-eyed, Blue-headed and Red-eyed vireos where also singing at Tallahassee's St. Luis Mission Park, a joyful chorus! On March 27 an Eastern Kingbird was seen by this nimrod on Maryland Circle (off Hartsfield Road). On March 28 Fran Rutovsky spotted a male Hooded Warbler in her backyard (Rutovsky's Ravine) where after April she listed 2 Indigo Buntings, 2 Worm-eating and 2 Prothonotary Warblers. The Indigos were as usual just passing through and this spring marked the first time she counted more than one springtime Prothonotary there. With regards to all, Gail E. Menk Posted by Julie Duggan Tallahassee [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |