Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Florida/Bahamas > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Monday, March 8 at 10:48 AM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Stub-tailed Spadebill,©Sophie Webb

08 Mar Miami_ Dade County ["Nikki" ] 08 Mar Miami_ Dade County ["Nikki" ] 5 Mar Broad-winged Hawk on Sanibel [Vincent McGrath ] 24 Feb Introduction to Florida ["Nikki" ] 19 Feb Some Lucky Reddish Egret Photos from Ft De Soto [Fred ] 17 Feb Re: bill pranty book [David Goodwin ] 16 Feb bill pranty book ["Joan Chasan" ] 13 Feb Re: Dunnellon Whooping Crane Flyover 1/19/2010 [Fred ] 12 Feb Partial albino American Robin [Tom Palmer ] 11 Feb Baltimore Oriole Merritt Isalnd [] 8 Feb RFI: Abaco Island, Bahamas [David Mako ] 04 Feb Indian Birder - New post - The babbler chick who lost its way ["birding_passion" ] 01 Feb Help with South Florida Birding ["fmocso" ] 30 Jan Masked Duck and Harlequin Duck [Ralph Pike ] 28 Jan Reducing aircraft-wildlife strikes at airports [Matt Kennedy ] 28 Jan FOS- [Cheryl Ann Griffin ] 23 Jan Wintering Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Polk [Tom Palmer ] 20 Jan Dunnellon Whooping Crane Flyover 1/19/2010 [Fred ] 17 Jan Common Eider Miami/Dade County [Larry Manfredi ] 7 Jan SPACE COAST BIRDING & WILDLIFE FESTIVAL ["Murray Gardler" ] 7 Jan PINE SISKIN - Orange Co. 7 Jan 2010 [Tom Rodriguez ] 5 Jan Bird Air Traffic Control () at the Circle B (in Lakeland) [Fred ] 3 Jan Female Rufous Hummingbird - Carrabelle, FL [Cheryl Ann Griffin ] 31 Dec FORT ZACHARY TAYLOR, KEY WEST ["Murray Gardler" ] 30 Dec Short-eared Owl and Lesser Nighthawks, Lucky Hammock, Miami-Dade ["Roberto Torres" ] 25 Dec VIERA WETLANDS MASKED DUCK [] 25 Dec Heading Home . . . [Fred ] 15 Dec Short-eared Owl @ Dump Marsh, 12/15 ["Roberto Torres" ] 15 Dec Peru trip giveaway [John Puschock ] 10 Dec Ft Island & Inglis Dam; Citrus County ["Murray Gardler" ] 9 Dec Captiva 12/9 [Vincent McGrath ] 9 Dec Captiva 12/9 [Vincent McGrath ] 7 Dec Winter Wren split [John Puschock ] 6 Dec TAS Exotics Field Trip - Saturday, December 5, 2009 [Paul Bithorn ] 2 Dec RFI: Shiny Cowbird [Gary Meyer ] 30 Nov 173 St. Canoe Launch Comes Through Again!: Bufflehead and a Loon, Miami-Dade ["Roberto Torres" ] 28 Nov Bronzed cowbirds still at Clewiston [Tom Palmer ] 28 Nov Short-eared Owls and late afternoon birds [Larry Manfredi ] 26 Nov Thanksgiving Day birds-Lake Co. [smljay ] 25 Nov Sea Ducks, Biscayne Bay, Miami-Dade ["Roberto Torres" ] 18 Nov Dickcissel at Lucky Hammock ["Roberto Torres" ] 7 Nov Interesting video of an...Ivory-billed Woodpecker? [John Puschock ] 5 Nov Sabine's Gull off Virginia Key, Miami-Dade, 11/5 ["Roberto Torres" ] 04 Nov WDW - Walt Disney World ["birding_jamie" ] 03 Nov Birding near WDW Dec. 3rd, ideas needed please ["birding_jamie" ] 03 Nov for Hummer lovers [John Epler ] 2 Nov Mass Sandhill Canes Incoming ? [Fred ] 02 Nov FL Scrub Jay ["jerryroseland" ] 2 Nov Yellow-rumps, RC Kinglets and other yard birds [] 31 Oct Jaeger Trifecta off Miami - 10/30 ["Roberto Torres" ] 29 Oct RFI: Central FL specialties and Everglades Flamingos [Gary Meyer ] 26 Oct birding New Providence and Paradise Islands, October 21-25 [Stephen Johnson ] 25 Oct November 15th pelagic ["Murray Gardler" ] 20 Oct Audubon of the Everglades Florida Keys tour, October 18, 2009 [Larry Manfredi ] 16 Oct Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Matheson Hammock, day eight ["roberto.torres52" ] 15 Oct Just Joined ["roberto.torres52" ] 13 Oct Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Miami/Dade County [Larry Manfredi ] 10 Oct National refuge Week Celebration ["Thomas J. Dunkerton" ] 10 Oct Big Sit tomorrow [David Simpson ] 07 Oct Audubon Society of the Everglades Grand Bahama tour October 3-4, 2009 [Larry Manfredi ] 05 Oct Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival Dry Tortugas Tour [Larry Manfredi ] 30 Sep Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival [Larry Manfredi ] 24 Sep Bird Conservation Alliance Meeting Nov. 12 at U.S. Capitol Visitors Center [Steve Holmer ] 23 Sep Re: How do I post my irst message? [Larry Manfredi ] 22 Sep Western Spindalis [Larry Manfredi ] 17 Sep Western Spindalis Long Pine Key Everglades National Park [Larry Manfredi ] 17 Sep Florida Keys Pelagic trip has one space left [Larry Manfredi ] 14 Sep Save the boreal forests for warblers! Tell President Obama ["Renne Leatto" ] 12 Sep probable BROWN BOOBY at St. Andrews SP [] 12 Sep Pelagic trip Friday September 25th. [Larry Manfredi ] 10 Sep MINWR trip 9/9/09 [] 10 Sep Goals, not Cockatiels [David Simpson ] 09 Sep Six Western Spindalis in Everglades National Park Long Pine Key [Larry Manfredi ] 1 Sep White Brown Pelican-Lakeland [Tom Palmer ] 14 Aug change of E-MAIL ADDRESS [] 29 Jul Participants needed for bird feeding study ["national_bird_feeding_society" ] Subject: Miami_ Dade County From: "Nikki" <Eagles_Wing AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:45:45 -0000 Hello all! I live in San Diego and just got back from a two week trip to Miami-Dade county to see my grandson and family. I have several images to share of the birds i encountered and would like to post them here in a folder entitled "Floridian birds of Nicole". I would enjoy any input for identification in any images. (loved Florida) Sincerely Nicole Ramirez nicole AT photographybynicole.net www.photography-by-nicole.net Subject: Miami_ Dade County From: "Nikki" <Eagles_Wing AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:46:52 -0000 Hello all! I live in San Diego and just got back from a two week trip to Miami-Dade county to see my grandson and family. I have several images to share of the birds i encountered and would like to post them here in a folder entitled "Floridian birds of Nicole". I would enjoy any input for identification in any images. (loved Florida) Sincerely Nicole Ramirez nicole AT photographybynicole.net www.photography-by-nicole.net Subject: Broad-winged Hawk on Sanibel From: Vincent McGrath <McAvian AT aol.com> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 22:46:54 -0500 Hi All, Spotted this bird on the way to work this morning. This is the third winter in consecutive years I have seen an adult Broad-winged Hawk in the EXACT location. It sits on the lines opposite Belding Dr along SanCap Rd on Sanibel Island early (8am). Is this the same bird? I believe so. Picture quality is best I can do with my iPhone aligned with 10x binoculars Note the solid brown back dark mantle and the broad albeit faint white tail band. So beautiful in the early morning sunshine. ---------- Mcavian AT aol.com Vince McGrath Fort Myers, Fl [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Introduction to Florida From: "Nikki" <Eagles_Wing AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:22:44 -0000 My name is Nicole and i live in San Diego. We visit florida once a year and i like to know what i have to look forward to. A goal this trip is to join you and find out birding around Homestead in Miami-Dade county down here close to biscayne bay and the everglades. I have been to some parks and here with my son are dozens of lakes, but we all know so often we have to go to secluded or quieter places for species. I think before the year is over i might buy the eastern peterson guide. I didnt bring my sibleys of our entire country. I do have a website and have published a book........ in conclusion, any tidbits of some cool places would be wonderful to get from you. I also will (with permission) post a few images of species i have gotten while here in homestead............. sincerely Nicole Ramirez 92019 California www.photography-by-nicole.net Subject: Some Lucky Reddish Egret Photos from Ft De Soto From: Fred <fred AT cetussoft.com> Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:54:03 -0500 Hello. I've been to Fort De Soto a few times now (Januaries only), and I've never failed to witness a nice reddish egret show in the lagoon behind the beach near the northern end of North Beach. The show in the lagoon has not always been constant - the egrets do come and go - but I've had excellent views of either red or white morphs - or sometimes both - dancing for their food in the shallows each time I've been there. On Jan 23rd, I was lucky enough to have both red and white morphs often in close proximity, which did make for a literally surprising photographic opportunity -- while I was peering through my camera's viewfinder at a white morph, unbeknownst to me a red morph descended towards it, which I only became aware of when the red morph touched down along the left border of the camera's field of view. I put a gallery of some of the photos online to share with anyone who might be interested at http://fredw.smugmug.com/Animals/FtDeSotoReddishEgrets100123/11290825_z9XBC The first few photos show the white morph apparently starting to react to the incoming reddish morph, the significance of which was unknown to me until I finally saw the red morph join its fellow reddish egret. The two birds then proceeded to dance and prance while feeding, sometimes together and sometimes separately. Interestingly, I never detected any apparent aggression between the two egrets, even while hunting very close together, often probably chasing down the same quarry. I think the ~luckiest~ photo probably was http://fredw.smugmug.com/Animals/FtDeSotoReddishEgrets100123/11290825_z9XBC/1/792262125_ztw7e/Large but my ~favorite~ images are http://fredw.smugmug.com/Animals/FtDeSotoReddishEgrets100123/11290825_z9XBC/1/792278532_3jkxc/Large and http://fredw.smugmug.com/Animals/FtDeSotoReddishEgrets100123/11290825_z9XBC/1/792262168_nqdRv/Large It is amazing how close to the sunbathers the birds feed, as shown by http://fredw.smugmug.com/Animals/FtDeSotoReddishEgrets100123/11290825_z9XBC/1/792278567_3STnN/Large Keep Lookin' Up !!! Fred (Frederick Wasti) Mostly in Marshfield Massachusetts (but in Lakeland FL for January) fred AT t cetussoft d0t com Subject: Re: bill pranty book From: David Goodwin <Dgood389 AT aol.com> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:55:03 -0500 This is the latest edition of the book. There is usually about a ten year period between editions. 95% of the information is still good. I carry the guide with me even when I'm birding with Bill (That would be a double Pranty). Dave David Goodwin Brandon FL Dgood389 AT aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Joan Chasan To: flabirding AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, Feb 16, 2010 2:56 pm Subject: [FlaBirding] bill pranty book It was my impression from reading somewhere that Bill prantys "a birders guide to Florida" was going to be revised and reissued shortly. anyway we ordered the book from buteo books and it turns out it is the 2005 edition, just reprinted. anyone know anything about this? Is there a revised edition coming out or not? thanks Joan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: bill pranty book From: "Joan Chasan" <jec56 AT rcn.com> Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:56:11 -0500 It was my impression from reading somewhere that Bill prantys "a birders guide to Florida" was going to be revised and reissued shortly. anyway we ordered the book from buteo books and it turns out it is the 2005 edition, just reprinted. anyone know anything about this? Is there a revised edition coming out or not? thanks Joan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Dunnellon Whooping Crane Flyover 1/19/2010 From: Fred <fred AT cetussoft.com> Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:50:40 -0500 > Here are a few pix from the Operation Migration Dunnellon whooping > crane flyover event from yesterday (Jan 19 2010) - > http://www.bigbirds.net/shared/100119/ I finally had time to finish processing the rest of my photos from the Dunnellon Flyover Event from Jan 19 2010 and to put a bunch of them online in a gallery to share with anyone interested - http://fredw.smugmug.com/Animals/OpMig-Flyover-Dunnellon-100119/11224284_spsT8 Keep Lookin' Up !!! Fred (Frederick Wasti) Mostly in Marshfield Massachusetts (but in Lakeland FL for January) fred AT t cetussoft d0t com Subject: Partial albino American Robin From: Tom Palmer <tomp47 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:54:28 -0800 (PST) Hi, While I was out gathering data for the first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count, I saw an American Robin that was partially albino. Head and nearby areas were white and parts of rest of plumage had white specks. It  was unusual. Tom Palmer Winter Haven Follow my environmental musings at www.lakebluescrub.blogspot.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Baltimore Oriole Merritt Isalnd From: Bradmartin321 AT aol.com Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:52:49 -0500 I recently moved into a house In Merritt Island, Fl. This morning I had a pair of Baltimore Oriole and a hummingbird in my yard. I have started a photo album for my backyard birds. First entry is a female Baltimore Oriole. http://bradmartin321.tripod.com/brads_merritt_island_backyard/ Brad Martin [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RFI: Abaco Island, Bahamas From: David Mako <rockpigeon AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 19:30:31 -0800 (PST) Dear Birders,   I've been watching this site for months with the hope of picking up some new birding tips/recent sightings for Abaco Island, Bahamas that go beyond the trip lists that I've found elsewhere on the net or in Tony White's excellent book.  But now I'm getting desperate as my trip next week to visit family in Marsh Harbour nears, so I'll post this general request for information.   Is the best place to find Key West Quail-dove still on Elbow Cay as White describes, or are there other reasonable options on Great Abaco?  Are there any accessible sites for finding West Indian Whistling Duck?  I think I know where to find most of the other common Abaco specialties, but if you know of anything unusual that has shown up recently, or know of a special birding site that  you would suggest, I would appreciate it very much if you'd be willing to share your knowledge.   Thanks for any suggestions you might be able to offer.  Feel free to reply offline if you prefer.   Good birding, Dave Mako rockpigeon at yahoo.com South Deerfield, MA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Indian Birder - New post - The babbler chick who lost its way From: "birding_passion" <birding_passion AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:34:58 -0000 Hello birders, Please check out my latest post on my birding blog . Your comments are appreciated.Here is the link :- http://indianbirder.blogspot.com Regards, Harshit Subject: Help with South Florida Birding From: "fmocso" <fm AT trappist.net> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:42:28 -0000 I will be visiting South Florida and am looking for someone whom I can call or email for some current information. I have been a Georgia Birder (Conyers, near Atlanta) for over 35 years. I have most of the Florida books and the hot lines and websites but would like a contact for current info on the more resident specialties like Spot-Breasted Oriel. This is my first visit as a Birder to the area so I have 10 or 12 (likely and less likely) life bird possibilities. I will arrive in Miami this Wednesday the 3rd and bird there Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday. On Friday I will be heading down to Key West returning to Miami on the 13th to fly home. Thanks for hosting such a valuable list serve. Francis Michael Stiteler aka:FM Monastery of the Holy Spirit Conyers, GA Subject: Masked Duck and Harlequin Duck From: Ralph Pike <sharpshinnedhawk2002 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:36:14 -0800 (PST) This morning about 8:15 the Masked Duck was out in the open along the north side of cell 4 at Viera Wetlands.    At 10:30 this morning the Harlequin Duck was along the south side of the inlet tight against the rocks near the visitors center.   Ralph Pike Stuart, FL sharpshinnedhawk2002 AT yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Reducing aircraft-wildlife strikes at airports From: Matt Kennedy <kennedym2009 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:15:10 -0800 (PST) Dear fellow birding enthusiasts,     As a lifelong birder and professional aviator for over 16 years, I am conducting a nation-wide study on the level of community support for the mitigation measures used at airports to reduce the wildlife strike hazard to commercial aircraft.  Getting input from different regions of the country is necessary to gauge whether there are regional differences due to varying bird populations or possible high profile incidents involving wildlife strikes on aircraft.      Responses are submitted electronically to a database that does not identify users, so your answers will be completely confidential.  Findings will be released only as analyzed data or summaries in which no individual’s answers can be identified.  Please take a few moments to share your opinions and experiences.  I appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to contribute toward this important research about community views on wildlife mitigation measures at airports.   The survey can be accessed at:   https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XTVS225   If you would like a summary of my findings, please send me your e-mail address at kennedym2009 AT yahoo.com.  Once the study is complete, I will e-mail the summary to you. Best Regards, Matt Kennedy Graduate student in Aeronautical Science Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: FOS- From: Cheryl Ann Griffin <cherylgfn AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:25:23 -0800 (PST) Hello everybirdie, Report from the panhandle-coast - 6mi W of Carrabelle, FL -  mainland -along the St George Sound  Have a female Ruby RT-HB that's been feeding all day. FOS Not sure female Rufous HB is still here ...haven't seen today ... she's been here a month now and has a long trip ahead. Also ... --waves and waves of Robins ..has been for a week now  very large rafts of Scaups .. mostly Lesser - several Greater and few Redheads Flock of Cedar Waxwings - 15 Keep looking up ...have a great day Cheryl Ann Griffin Carrabelle-ladyhawk [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Wintering Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Polk From: Tom Palmer <tomp47 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 09:36:31 -0800 (PST) Hi I received a report of a bird that according to the description over the phone appeared to be a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak coming to a feeder at a private residence in Polk Countyl. I'm still trying to get some verification. Tom Palmer Winter Haven Follow my environmental musings at www.lakebluescrub.blogspot.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Dunnellon Whooping Crane Flyover 1/19/2010 From: Fred <fred AT cetussoft.com> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:34:06 -0500 Here are a few pix from the Operation Migration Dunnellon whooping crane flyover event from yesterday (Jan 19 2010) - http://www.bigbirds.net/shared/100119/ Operation Migration - http://www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html Keep Lookin' Up !!! Fred (Frederick Wasti) Mostly in Marshfield Massachusetts (but in Lakeland FL for January) fred AT t cetussoft d0t com Subject: Common Eider Miami/Dade County From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:20:02 -0500 Wil Domke found a Common Eider while looking for the Red-Footed Booby which is also still present. The bird was seen on the north side of the n.e. 79 st. causeway. It was left of the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station address: 1279 NE 79th. street Causeway, Miami. It swam around the boat docks and out towards the bridge on N.E. 79 st. causeway. As you face the rehab building, the bird was to the left. A photo of the bird can be seen here: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/images/tasphotos/DSC_3643common_eider.jpg This was a great addition to my Miami/Dade county list! Larry Manfredi Homestead, FL E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net Subject: SPACE COAST BIRDING & WILDLIFE FESTIVAL From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 11:44:12 -0500 Take the opportunity to hone your birding and/or photography skills at the upcoming festival. There will be many of the foremost authorities, in their fields, presenting seminars, guiding field trips and as Key Note speakers. See below for some details and go to the web site ( http://www.nbbd.com/fly/ ) for further information The 13th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival is scheduled January 26 - February 1, 2010 and headquartered at Brevard Community College, Titusville, FL. Festival activities feature unique birding, wildlife, nature, technology and photography field trips, paddling adventures, Pelagic birding boat trip, classroom and evening keynote presentations as well as an Art Competition and Nature-based Exhibits. The North American Gull conference will be a part of the Festival with special presentations and field trips. Nationally recognized naturalists, scientists, biologists, photographers and ornithologists lead the Festival events and are available to participants for one-on-one discussions and instructions. More than 330 species of birds have been seen here including many coveted species such as Florida Scrub-Jay, Crested Caracara, Snail Kite, Limpkin, Roseate Spoonbill, Reddish Egret, Peregrine Falcon, Black Rail, Painted Bunting, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Bachman's Sparrow, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Glaucous Gull, Iceland (Kumlien's) Gull, Thayer's Gull, and more. Outstanding Birding & Wildlife Watching Sites include: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Canaveral National Seashore, The Enchanted Forest Sanctuary, Port Canaveral and 30 local Florida Birding Trail locations, 38 within a one hour drive, and more. Festival field trips, Seminars, Workshops and Keynote Presentations are led by a combination of local, national and international talent. The 2010 Festival will feature: David Allen Sibley, Kenn & Kim Kaufman, Pete Dunne, Kevin Karlson, Paul Lehman, Bill Thompson III, Michael O'Brien, Louise Zemaitis, Victor Emanuel, Barry Lyon, Clay Taylor, Jeff Bouton, Reinier Munguia, Joanne Williams and over 90+ other biologists, ornithologists, scientists, photographers, historians, naturalists, and more. New for 2010: Swarovski Optik is sponsoring a North American Gull Conference as part of the Festival and will be co-hosted by the Festival and the Volusia County Marine Science Center. The Gull Conference will feature presentations and field trips led by Alvaro Jaramillo, Martin Reid, Bruce MacTavish, and more Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: PINE SISKIN - Orange Co. 7 Jan 2010 From: Tom Rodriguez <rodrigueztom AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 08:50:35 -0500 Greetings all, The feeders at the Oakland Nature Preserve continue to attract American Goldfinch. This morning a PINE SISKIN made a brief appearance while a flock of 30 Goldfinch fed at the tube feeders near the boardwalk entrance. Chipping Sparrows and painted buntings are also regular to this area and can be seen on the "stump" feeder stocked with millet. The ONP is located in the Town of Oakland just north of Hwy 50 between Clermont and Winter Garden. Please use the following link for printable directions: http://oaklandnaturepreserve.org/brain/uploads/Directions.pdf Cheers, Tom Rodriguez Orlando, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bird Air Traffic Control () at the Circle B (in Lakeland) From: Fred <fred AT cetussoft.com> Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2010 01:42:03 -0500 Hello all. A couple of days ago I had the good fortune to spend some quality time at the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland. While shooting some images of one of the bald eagles flying from its nest in the vicinity of a sky full of hundreds of white pelicans, I had the opportunity to witness a "Close Encounter of the Bird Kind" between the eagle and one of the pelican squadrons. I put a number of photos (with descriptive captions) online at http://www.bigbirds.net/shared/100102/20100102.htm for anyone who might be interested. (For anyone who wants to avoid viewing multiple images, perhaps one photo might be of interest - http://www.bigbirds.net/shared/100102/20100102_132143_2_cr.jpg - .) Keep Looking Up !!! Fred (Frederick Wasti) Mostly in Marshfield Massachusetts (but in Lakeland FL for January) email fred AT t cetussoft d0t com Subject: Female Rufous Hummingbird - Carrabelle, FL From: Cheryl Ann Griffin <cherylgfn AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 3 Jan 2010 12:34:23 -0800 (PST)   Cheryl Ann Griffin I have positively identified a Female Rufous Hummingbird .. have pictures attached- may use as want- can zoom-etc...very new at this.. which is why it has taken so long. ..some -last couple are blurry- taken this AM.. but can see ID markings (last photo) where I got her flashing her tail Steve Backes sight helped me immensely  with ID http://floridahummingbirds.net  thank you .. if you are able to "improve" my pics ...send back to me ... haven't gotten into "photo fixing" anything yet :) She arrived around 12-30-2009 and ID with pictures 01-02-2010 ... and is here this AM drinking up. located 113 Herndon Rd - Carrabelle, FL Franklin County 6mi. west of downtown Carrabelle ...on Hwy 98 W ... north side of road/with St George Sound on south side... Can Google ..although shows 113 at end of road.. is actually on the corner of Hwy 98 West and Herndon Rd Interested viewers may call me to verify she's around Ladyhawk of Carrabelle :) Cheryl Ann Griffin home 850-697-5147 cell 850-899-9988 (best to try home-cell is weak at home) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: FORT ZACHARY TAYLOR, KEY WEST From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:43:22 -0500 Carl Goodrich called me today about many birds in the fig next to the rest room. Among them are the following; Western Spindallis Wilson's Warbler Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Short-eared Owl and Lesser Nighthawks, Lucky Hammock, Miami-Dade From: "Roberto Torres" <rtorres AT tnc.org> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:47:33 -0500 This afternoon I met up with Bob Wallace and Dexter Richardson to look for the Lesser Nighthawks and Short-eared Owls seen there recently. Before sunset there were 2 White-tailed Kites hunting over the field to the west, while a Least Flycatcher called from the brush east of Lucky Hammock. At about 5:45 the nighthawks appeared from the tree line to the southwest, and began slowly moving to the east between Lucky Hammock and the Annex. There were about 15 of them. We drove halfway down to the Annex and had a couple of the nighthawks come fairly close to us. While there we heard a Virginia Rail call from the field to the west from a location pretty close to the road. Shortly afterward, Dexter was first to spot the Short-eared Owl hunting to the east along the edge of the field. It later flew to the field on the west side of the road. Bob and Dexter were so disappointed with these birds, I think I heard them say they would never come down here again! Lucky Hammock is located on Aerojet Road (SW 232 Ave) about 1/4 mile south of the main road to Everglades National Park (SR-9336). The Annex is the area past the gate to the south about 1/2 mile past Lucky Hammock. Roberto Miami-Dade Subject: VIERA WETLANDS MASKED DUCK From: aka2061 AT aol.com Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 19:42:00 EST Merry Christmas everyone, The Masked Duck was present this morning in the same area as previously reported (cell #4) at about 9:15 am. It was hanging out with 2 coots about 30 yards out from the road. KENN... KENN ALLIE COCOA, FL AKA2061 AT aol.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Heading Home . . . From: Fred <fred AT cetussoft.com> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2009 12:47:56 -0500 A Holiday greeting for one and all, inspired by the twenty Operation Migration whooping cranes and their devoted human shepherds, on their way from Necedah NWR in WI to St Marks and Chassahowitzka NWR's in FL: http://www.bigbirds.net/wcranes/headinghome.asp (At the moment, the birds, and three stalwart shepherds, are briefly standing by in Franklin County, northern AL, while most of the human crew take a short holiday hiatus - the cranes will likely arrive at their FL winter homes sometime during January.) Operation Migration URL - http://operationmigration.org/index.html OM "In the Field" Journal - http://operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html Keep Lookin' Up !!! Fred (Frederick Wasti) Marshfield, Massachusetts fred AT t cetussoft d0t com Subject: Short-eared Owl @ Dump Marsh, 12/15 From: "Roberto Torres" <rtorres AT tnc.org> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:19:02 -0500 I went to Dump Marsh at sunset today scouting for Lesser Nighthawks for the upcoming Kendall CBC, and for Bob Wallace who's coming down looking for birds for his Florida Photographed List. I saw no nighthawks, but saw a Short-eared Owl hunting over the old landfill to the west of Dump Marsh. Walking halfway down the pond south of the wastewater plant, there is an opening in the brush across the canal. At one point, the owl flew towards the opening heading right towards me before turning around and flying back to the landfill. Roberto Miami-Dade Subject: Peru trip giveaway From: John Puschock <g_g_allin AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:08:13 +0000 Howdy, Gunnar Engblom of Kolibri Expeditions is looking to give away some free tours in Peru. Check it out at http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog/index.php/do-you-want-to-go-on-a-birding-trip-in-peru-for-free/ John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ft Island & Inglis Dam; Citrus County From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:34:42 -0500 Highlights with Pat Bazany; Ft Island; Greater Scaup 3 males Sandwich Tern 4 Song Sparrow 2 Inglis Dam; Royal Tern 4 Bufflehead 10 males, 4 females Ruby-crowned Kinglet 30+ Blue-headed Vireo 1 Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Captiva 12/9 From: Vincent McGrath <McAvian AT aol.com> Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 20:22:53 -0500 Incredible schools of fish inshore by Redfish Pass, this in turn is attracting enormous flocks of birds. Sandwich Terns dominate as they feed on what looks like millions of anchovies as well as associate predator fish. This in tern is attracting larger birds like pelicans. The schools are so thick the pelicans don't even bother to dive, they just dunk their heads drain and swallow. At least two adult common terns, royals, skimmers, 100s of laughing gulls, some ring-billed and 1st yr herring. The shoreline is alive with willet, s-b dowitcher, sanderling, blk- b plover. The jetty is mobbed with snowy and great egrets as well as turnstones and a great blue heron or two. Even a red- breasted merganser and an imm gannet got involved. There many other species around. Didn't see any frigatebirds feeding but there were never less than 40 soaring overhead and riding thermals with t vultures, osprey, and more. Keep an eye on the sanibel causeway, particularly near the restrooms, a number of gulls including a great black backed are hanging around Mcavian AT aol.com Vince McGrath Fort Myers, Fl Subject: Captiva 12/9 From: Vincent McGrath <McAvian AT aol.com> Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 20:22:53 -0500 Incredible schools of fish inshore by Redfish Pass, this in turn is attracting enormous flocks of birds. Sandwich Terns dominate as they feed on what looks like millions of anchovies as well as associate predator fish. This in tern is attracting larger birds like pelicans. The schools are so thick the pelicans don't even bother to dive, they just dunk their heads drain and swallow. At least two adult common terns, royals, skimmers, 100s of laughing gulls, some ring-billed and 1st yr herring. The shoreline is alive with willet, s-b dowitcher, sanderling, blk- b plover. The jetty is mobbed with snowy and great egrets as well as turnstones and a great blue heron or two. Even a red- breasted merganser and an imm gannet got involved. There many other species around. Didn't see any frigatebirds feeding but there were never less than 40 soaring overhead and riding thermals with t vultures, osprey, and more. Keep an eye on the sanibel causeway, particularly near the restrooms, a number of gulls including a great black backed are hanging around Mcavian AT aol.com Vince McGrath Fort Myers, Fl Subject: Winter Wren split From: John Puschock <g_g_allin AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 07:35:22 +0000 The ABA's Peeps blog has a rumor of a Winter Wren split: http://birding.typepad.com/peeps/ John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin AT hotmail.com http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com _________________________________________________________________ Chat with Messenger straight from your Hotmail inbox. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/hotmail_bl1/hotmail_bl1.aspx?ocid=PID23879::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-ww:WM_IMHM_4:092009 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: TAS Exotics Field Trip - Saturday, December 5, 2009 From: Paul Bithorn <pblifeisgood AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 13:56:58 -0500 Thirty-six birders assembled for the Tropical Audubon Society's annual "Exotics" fieldtrip on Saturday, December 5, 2008. We met at 1:00 p.m. in the emergency overflow parking lot of Baptist Hospital on Kendall Drive and were immediately greeted by a flock of Mitred Parakeets. Muscovy ducks, Rock Pigeons and House Sparrows were feeding on breadcrumbs nearby an adjacent pond. The weather was windy and overcast with the constant threat of rain from an impending cold front. The temperature reached the low 80’s and was quite balmy. We pressed on. We proceeded to walk the neighborhood directly across the street from Baptist Hospital, See Brian Rapoza's; Birding Florida-pg. 104 and Pranty’s ABA Birdfinding Guide; A Birder’s Guide to Florida-pg. 228 for directions. We had the distinct pleasure of having Brian Rapoza and Bill Pranty join us on our urban adventure, along with ornithologist, Jon Greenlaw, who has written many books and scientific papers on birds, among them his contribution to THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA LIFE HISTORIES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY; BNA112 Sharp-tailed Sparrow; Jon S. Greenlaw and James D. Rising. 1994. 28 pp. and Rafael Antonio Galvez, who co-authored and did the color illustrations for Raptors and Owls of Georgia (Caucasus region). Our birders hailed from all over the great state of Florida, several states and foreign countries, including the Philippines. A scouting trip preceding the walk with my good friends from Lakeland produced a light phase Short-tailed Hawk at Kenwood Elementary (Attorney Janet Reno’s Alma Mater). The bird dipped low enough for full-frame photos and then proceeded to do the unthinkable - land nearby. I think a battery and memory card were spent photographing this species. We also located a pair of Red-whiskered Bulbuls in the Baptist area right before the walk started and our group quickly located three Bulbuls. One of our birders stayed behind and said the “flock” grew to five birds. We walked around a few blocks and spotted a small flock of Yellow-chevroned Parakeets and Monk Parakeets along with Loggerhead Shrikes, Northern Mockingbirds, Eurasian Collared Doves, European Starlings. Along the walk, the “hostess with the mostest,” Daria Feinstein, joined us and we immediately headed back to our cars to head to her home near Matheson Hammock, where we were treated to two stunning Blue and Yellow Macaws at close range. While performing traffic duty out front, a light phase Short-tailed Hawk few low right in front of me and disappeared into the red mangroves. I think it’s important to know that we had a caravan of about ten cars, which could have proven to be a logistical nightmare while traversing the “mean streets” of Miami-Dade County. Our group did a bang-up job of staying together and following directions. For that I am very grateful. Our caravan then headed north up LeJeune Rd. to Miami Springs and the Fair Havens Nursing Home (Rapoza pg. 99; Pranty pp. 221 and 223), where two Yellow-chevroned Parakeets and a Cooper’s Hawk were perched in the Australian Pines, while White-winged Doves perched on power-lines nearby. The “Magical Mystery Tour,” was about to begin full swing, when within a short walking distance a Red-crowned and Yellow-crowned Parrot were spotted perched nearby. This led us to five Orange-winged Parrots perched in an Australian Pine in the median on Morningside Drive. A nice flock of Aratinga parakeets screeched overhead and our target species, a pair of Scarlet (Red)-fronted Parakeets (Aratinga wagleri) and Crimson-fronted Parakeets (Aratinga finschi) perched right next to each other for close study, allowing us to note the differences in size, the extent of red on the crown (forehead) along with the color on the bend of the wing – none on wagleri and red and yellow on finschi. A mixed flock of Aratingas, including a Red-masked Parakeet again screeched overhead undoubtedly caused by the presence of nearby Cooper’s and a Sharp-shinned Hawks. Our next stop was the neighborhood around the intersection of Apache and Wren near Prince Field and the Miami Springs pool on Westward Drive, but our alley run by several feeders came up empty. A Broad-winged Hawk was seen perched on the way there. We headed to 51 Truxton Dr., between Hunting Lodge Dr. and Hammond Dr. where we arrived around 4:30 p.m., a half-hour or so too early for the flock of Aratingas to arrive. I made an executive decision to finish the trip early to allow birders to find their way home or back to Baptist Hospital during daylight hours. While no Spot-breasted Orioles, Hill Mynas, White-eyed or Green Parakeets were found I found the birding with old and new friend to be quite fructifying. Interestingly enough, a pair of Spot-breasted Orioles fed on the fruit of a Pygmy Date Palm in my backyard as I was writing this report. Our exotics total finished up at 16, including 10 psittacids. Life is good........ urban birding in South Florida with good people. Yes.....a few Yuenglings were hoisted over smoked Wahoo spread and blackened dolphin at Woody’s in Miami Springs as our celebratory libation, but the coup de grace was a tasty Arrogant Bastard Ale – thanks, Anne – a 7.2 Alc. Vol. pint of natural ingredients. This is an aggressive beer. You probably wouldn’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. I suggest you stick with your tasteless fizzy yellow beers. Warning: This ale can make you arrogant! Paul Bithorn pbithorn AT plumbers5i9.com Virginia Gardens, Florida Home of the Miami Hurricanes Five Time National Champions - Not Three like the Florida Gators Sorry. It must be the Ale talking! _________________________________________________________________ Get gifts for them and cashback for you. Try Bing now. http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=xbox+games&scope=cashback&form=MSHYCB&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MSHYCB_Shopping_Giftsforthem_cashback_1x1 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ FlaBirding - Florida and Bahama Birding website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlaBirding/ Unsubscribe, mail to: FlaBirding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com Nomail, mail to: FlaBirding-nomail AT yahoogroups.com Resume from Nomail, mail to: FlaBirding-normal AT yahoogroups.comYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlaBirding/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlaBirding/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: FlaBirding-digest AT yahoogroups.com FlaBirding-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: FlaBirding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: RFI: Shiny Cowbird From: Gary Meyer <weissalberich AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 18:56:25 -0800 (PST) Hi Florida birders: I'm arriving in Miami tomorrow for a couple of days. Are there any good sites for Shiny Cowbird at the moment? How about Smooth-billed Ani? Thanks much - Gary Meyer San Francisco, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 173 St. Canoe Launch Comes Through Again!: Bufflehead and a Loon, Miami-Dade From: "Roberto Torres" <rtorres AT tnc.org> Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:56:11 -0500 After a disappointing morning at Lucky Hammock yesterday, where I failed to find a White-crowned Sparrow or any other year birds, I was beginning to think I wouldn't add any more year birds this month, or the rest of the year for that matter. This morning I drove Rickenbacker Cswy in search of loons or sea ducks and again came up empty. Bummer. This afternoon, after picking my daughter up at school, I decided to stop at the canoe launch at Old Cutler Road and 173 St. This spot can be OK as you get a very distant look out into the bay when it's calm. This afternoon it was smooth as glass and with excellent light. I could see detail on Boca Chita Key, over 10 miles away! Off to the Southeast, in the direction of Boca Chita but much closer, I spotted a Common Loon working its way on the surface, occasionally dipping its head under the surface as it swam. As I followed it in the scope, I see it approach a flock of tiny ducks. Buffleheads! Wow, I wasn't expecting that one. There were 8 in total, and as the loon approached they kind of swam away from this thing that completely dwarfed them. I called Trey at home, and he drove over in 1.75 minutes. We soon had both our scopes on the birds. I forgot to mention on my recent post about the Scoters and Horned Grebe, you definitely need a scope for this location, as most of the best birds I've seen here are pretty far away. I am using a Celestron 102mm, F5 telescope with correct image diagonal (most telescopes invert the image), which when coupled with wide-angle Celestron eyepieces gives a decent image at high power without losing light and keeping a wide field of view. Today I was using 50X+ and could see a good amount of detail on the birds even though they were about 1 mile away. The lack of any wind also kept the image very steady. My only disappointment, though, is than in all my scanning over the water, I again failed to see a single White-crowned Sparrow. Darn! Subject: Bronzed cowbirds still at Clewiston From: Tom Palmer <tomp47 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:43:52 -0800 (PST) Hi All, Stopped by Clewiston boat ramp today. Bronzed cowbirds are still present. Also saw 4 Brown Pelicans. Tom Palmer Winter Haven Follow my environmental musings at www.lakebluescrub.blogspot.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Short-eared Owls and late afternoon birds From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:22:45 -0500 My son Philip and I decided to do some late afternoon, early evening birding. Philip has not seen a Short-eared Owl so I told him we would try and find one. The farm fields just before the entrance to Everglades National park have not been plowed this season. Apparently they will not farm these areas this year as part of the Everglades restoration project. The fields are really nicely overgrown with mostly native weeds and not too much exotic stuff growing in it yet. Just before going to check these fields, we looked for Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Western Kingbirds not too far from where we live. We had 7-Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and 5-Western Kingbirds. These birds were seen on s.w. 217 ave. north of s.w. 312 st. on the power lines on the west side of the road, about a quarter mile north of s.w. 312 street. This is due west of Homestead. We then went to check the fields along state road 9336, the road that goes into Everglades National Park. The overgrown fields on the north side of the road had no less than 14-Northern Harriers and 3-White-tailed Kites. We also had 8-nighthawks which may have been Lesser Nighthawks. I feel confident that this area may have some rare raptors this winter, perhaps a Rough-legged Hawk! We looked here after sunset but did not see any Short-eared Owls. We then went to Lucky Hammock just west of here and and found 2-Short-eared Owls in the overgrown fields just south of Lucky Hammock. Along with the Short-eared Owls, we had at least 3-Whip-poor-wills flying around Luck Hammock. We drove the grassy road going west, on the south side of Lucky Hammock and had beautiful views of a perched Short-eared Owl. The owl was sitting in the middle of the road allowing us to get within about 30-feet of it. We then backed up and never flushed the owl looking at it the whole time. For some reason I decided not to bring the camera, what was I thinking!! We then drove south through the annex area looking for more owls or other night birds. We saw perhaps another one or two Whip-poor-wills which was nice but no other owls. Our feeders at our house are still getting a few Shiny Cowbirds, anyone who would like to see them can contact me. Morning and late afternoon seem to be the best time. Larry Manfredi Homestead, FL. E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net http://www.southfloridabirding.com Subject: Thanksgiving Day birds-Lake Co. From: smljay <SMLJAY AT aol.com> Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:33:53 -0500 Hi All and Happy Thanksgiving, Took advantage of a trip over to Clermont for Thanksgiving Dinner to check out some "flycatchers."  First stop was Scrub Jay Lane in Minneola for the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher--yes!  Bird wasn't on Scrub Jay Lane but across Rt 561A from the T-intersection, on the powerline along a dirt road/driveway.  As a bonus, there was a Western Kingbird in a small tree on the west corner of Scrub Jay Ln and Rt 561A.  by the way, if you head from here over to see the Say's Phoebe, you can turn left onto Rt 561A and it will take you to Rt 561; turn right and follow previously posted directions to Astatula. Speaking of the Say's Phoebe, it was present but on the left side of the road, along the fenceline that's through the middle of the field.  Chased an Eastern Phoebe.  Am. Kestrel hanging out in the area along with several E. Phoebes. Happy hunting! -- Sarah Linney Cocoa, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sea Ducks, Biscayne Bay, Miami-Dade From: "Roberto Torres" <rtorres AT tnc.org> Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:51:24 -0500 I stopped on the way home this afternoon at the canoe launch just south of Deering Estate in Palmetto Bay. The water was completely flat, which made scoping a lot easier. I found a single Horned Grebe directly due east, and two Black Scoters to the southeast. There were about 50 Red-breasted Mergansers in two flocks. Roberto Miami-Dade Subject: Dickcissel at Lucky Hammock From: "Roberto Torres" <rtorres AT tnc.org> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:41:28 -0500 A juvenile female Dickcissel this morning SW of Lucky Hammock. Also hundreds of sparrows, mostly Savannah and Grasshopper, and a single Clay-colored. The White-tailed Kite was in the area, and there were 2 Least Flycatchers across from Lucky Hammock. Not much else that was noteworthy, and we went as far as Pa-hay-okee. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet and N. Waterthrush at the culvert before the research center were nice finds. Roberto Miami-Dade Subject: Interesting video of an...Ivory-billed Woodpecker? From: John Puschock <g_g_allin AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 23:46:01 +0000 Hi all, "Fishcrow" is still looking for Ivory-billed Woodpeckers on the Pearl River. He just posted this video: http://www.fishcrow.com/flight5nov09.mp4 Can Red-headed Woodpecker be eliminated? Everything else? John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin AT hotmail.com http://www.zbirdtours.com & http://www.birdtreks.com _________________________________________________________________ Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MFESRP&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFESRP_Local_MapsMenu_Resturants_1x1 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sabine's Gull off Virginia Key, Miami-Dade, 11/5 From: "Roberto Torres" <rtorres AT tnc.org> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 20:14:46 -0500 After seeing the wind pick up to 20-25 kts and gusting this afternoon, I decided to do a sea watch after work. I went to Virginia Key and walked along the shore to the easternmost area facing the range markers offshore. The first bird was a large duck flying south just before I was set up, then shortly afterward a Pomarine Jaeger also flew south. Later a flock of about 15 distant ducks went unidentified. Northern Gannets were constantly flying south along the reef, and a few Laughing Gulls flew just off the beach heading north slowly against the strong NE winds. I noticed a single gull, considerably smaller than a laughing, flying north by itself in the direction of Fisher Island that caught my attention in the binocs. Unlike the laughings, this one was flying very gracefully, almost enjoying the strong winds. I quickly put the scope on it and got excellent looks. The wings had the distinct black bar from the bend to the wingtips on the leading edge, and with the gray back showing the distinctive pattern of a Sabine's. The bird is a nonbreeding adult. If anyone knows a gull hangout in the southern Miami Beach area near Government Cut, this would be the place to check. With strong winds the next 5 days, coupled with the time of year, this is the time to check the coast. I plan on being out there again Monday before work. I went there this afternoon hoping to see a Scoter, and found a Sabine's Gull instead. I hate when that happens! Subject: WDW - Walt Disney World From: "birding_jamie" <birding_jamie AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:48:33 -0000 Sorry for any confusion this has caused. I meant to say that WDW stands for Walt Disney World Jamie Mullin Denver, CO --- In FlaBirding AT yahoogroups.com, "birding_jamie" wrote: > > Hi, Jamie here > > I am a current resident of Denver, CO and plan on doing a 3-day birding adventure the first week of December after a trip to the WDW resort. I don't mind having to drive to get to some of the "hot spots" but I will only have 3 days so i was just wondering what a good "bang for the drive" would be out there in Florida. I have a Falcon Guide book to Birding Florida to get me started but would definitely like some first hand knowledge. > > I started birding 3 years ago on the coast in California so i am not new to some of the coastal birds. I do not however have many of the eastern lifers. I am also very interested in photo opportunities as I do not add a bird to my life list unless I have a photo of it! > > Any help is greatly appreciated. Among some of my species I would like to add tot he list: Caracara, Stork, Spoonbills, cranes, raptors, owls, warblers, finches. Thanks in advance for your reply. > > Jamie Mullin > My Birding website and Photography: http://www.aves101.com > Subject: Birding near WDW Dec. 3rd, ideas needed please From: "birding_jamie" <birding_jamie AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:14:41 -0000 Hi, Jamie here I am a current resident of Denver, CO and plan on doing a 3-day birding adventure the first week of December after a trip to the WDW resort. I don't mind having to drive to get to some of the "hot spots" but I will only have 3 days so i was just wondering what a good "bang for the drive" would be out there in Florida. I have a Falcon Guide book to Birding Florida to get me started but would definitely like some first hand knowledge. I started birding 3 years ago on the coast in California so i am not new to some of the coastal birds. I do not however have many of the eastern lifers. I am also very interested in photo opportunities as I do not add a bird to my life list unless I have a photo of it! Any help is greatly appreciated. Among some of my species I would like to add tot he list: Caracara, Stork, Spoonbills, cranes, raptors, owls, warblers, finches. Thanks in advance for your reply. Jamie Mullin My Birding website and Photography: http://www.aves101.com Subject: for Hummer lovers From: John Epler <johnepler3 AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:36:38 -0500 NOT the gas hog Hummer! http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8338000/8338728.stm -- John H. Epler, Ph.D. Aquatic Entomologist Tiger Hammock Road, just south of Wakulla Springs in north Florida Interested in chironomid midges, water beetles or water bugs? Please check out my site at: http://home.comcast.net/~johnepler3/index.html Subject: Mass Sandhill Canes Incoming ? From: Fred <fred AT cetussoft.com> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 23:44:19 -0500 Hello. There is a group of five sandhill cranes that has recently left Wareham Massachusetts (just across Buzzards Bay from Cape Cod) and may possibly be on their way to Florida. It appears that a single group of up to a half dozen sandhill cranes has been spending part of each year for the last several years on the cranberry bogs and ponds of Wareham MA, and they have been actively watched by some MA birders (especially since sandhill cranes are very uncommon birds "up here" in Massachusetts). On October 29th, the last day the cranes were seen in Wareham, a group of five cranes were spotted flying from Mass into RI, heading toward the Portsmouth RI area. Then there was a report the same day from a hawk watch in Greenwich CT that noted a tight formation of five cranes heading toward the NYC area. On October 30th there were reports of a group of five cranes seen both lifting off the ground at Merrill Creek NJ and then in the air at a hawk watch at Scott's Mountain NJ. So, it would seem that they're on their way southward. Of course, the big question is, are they the same five cranes? While certainly not completely definitive, a comparison of a photo taken of the birds in flight at the Scott's Mountain hawk watch ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrd_photos/4063137832/sizes/l/ ) and my photos from Wareham MA of "our" cranes flying at sunset on Oct 26th ( http://fredw.smugmug.com/Animals/WarehamCraneberryCranes-102609/10104828_2y3Tr/1/693923477_HJvqD/Large http://fredw.smugmug.com/Animals/WarehamCraneberryCranes-102609/10104828_2y3Tr/1/693925004_AH4v3/Large ), shows one of the five cranes in each case having what might seem to be the same left wing "notch". So, for those of you in Florida, where the cranes ~might~ possibly be heading for the winter season (and where I will also luckily be later on during January - ) -- if you do happen to see a group of five sandhill cranes going over, and can spot (or maybe even get a photo of) one of them having such a "notch" in its left wing, please let me know - there would be a number of MA birders that would be delighted to hear of such news. Yes, I know that it sounds like a "wild crane chase", but who knows... Thanks for listening. Fred (Frederick Wasti) Mostly in Marshfield in Massachusetts ("craneberry country") Subject: FL Scrub Jay From: "jerryroseland" <JerryGolub AT msn.com> Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:06:16 -0000 A friend will be visiting FL from Nov 13-20 and would like to see FL Scrub Jay. I haven't seen any at Melbourne Beach in years where they used to be regular. She will be in Orlando the 1st 3 days and can do some birding in the afternoons, be west of Ft Lauderdale) for 2 days, then drive N on rt 27 to Lakeland for 2 days. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, jerry golub Subject: Yellow-rumps, RC Kinglets and other yard birds From: SMLJAY AT aol.com Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 13:44:33 EST Over the weekend I had a small flock of 4-6 yellow rumps flying around between my yard and my neighbor's yard. Thurs - Sat last week I noted some activity in my neighbor's Hackberry tree and combined I had gnatcatchers, Prairie warbler, B&W warblers (2), N. Parula (2), Palm warblers (2+), yellow-rumps, E. Phoebe, and in my own yard in the vines on the back fence a Worm-eating Warbler! that was exciting to say the least! the birds were eating the insects flying about in the tree, not the berries. Saturday I also had my FOS Ruby-crowned Kinglets (2) and one was still out back this morning too. Sarah Linney Cocoa, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Jaeger Trifecta off Miami - 10/30 From: "Roberto Torres" <rtorres AT tnc.org> Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:32:25 -0400 Trey, Paul B., and I headed out early this morning hoping to catch the migration of Jaegers as they head to waters down south. We began trying to catch bait before dawn hoping to add a few fish for dinner in the process. Shortly after clearing Government Cut and passing the first range markers, we saw the first group of Northern Gannets as they two headed south. A few drifts over the reef line produced only 1 mackerel and two Pomarine Jaegers, so we headed offshore in hopes of finding more birds. A run out to 1,100 ft. and back produced nothing, so we went back to the 100 ft. area where we had started. We soon started seeing more Jaegers, and had one flock of 13 Pomarines pass right next to the boat. This flock had individuals of various ages and one dark morph as well. Nice. While drifting in 80 feet we spotted a flock of gulls inside of us acting startled, then we saw two Jaegers mixed in with them. The jaegers made a couple of swoops then they hit the deck and headed south real fast. We intercepted them and ran alongside them for about 2 miles, and had great looks at the two: a Parasitic and a Long-tailed. Sweet! That was an awesome experience. We were treated to a bonus in being able to see the differences between the two side-by-side. We saw various groups of Gannets throughout the day, and also a few Brown Booby, mostly juveniles, but one real nice adult. Our final sighting was a group of 9 more Pomarines to finish off an awesome outing. Fishing was slow, with only 2 Mackerel and 2 Mahi to show for it. Our tally: Long-tailed Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger Pomarine Jaeger (34) Jaeger sp (2, with one a possible Parasitic) Brown Booby (7) Northern Gannet (40-50) Roberto Subject: RFI: Central FL specialties and Everglades Flamingos From: Gary Meyer <weissalberich AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:52:12 -0700 (PDT) Hi Florida birders: I will be spending an extended weekend in Miami in early December and would like some tips on locations for the following central Florida birds: Red-cockaded Woodpecker Bachman's Sparrow Brown-headed Nuthatch Florida Scrub Jay I could also use a location around Miami for: Seaside Sparrow Spot-breasted Oriole White-winged Parakeet I have Pranty from maybe 10 years ago already, so I don't know how much has changed since then in terms of hot spots.  I don't mind distance driving - maybe as far as Orlando. Also, I would like to make yet another attempt to see the flamingos at Snake Bight.  Is December a decent time of the year to try?  Ideally, I would like to boat around to Snake Bight.  Does anyone have any idea of someone I could charter to paddle me around there?  I am not inherently seaworthy but can follow directions. Thanks for any suggestions- Gary Meyer San Francisco, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: birding New Providence and Paradise Islands, October 21-25 From: Stephen Johnson <stevejohnson2 AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:40:30 -0400 I had a great 4-day stay at Nassau / Paradise Island last week. Thanks to Carolyn Wardle for excellent guide services which turned up far more birds than I could have found by myself. She knew about a unique location for one species; provided expert help distinguishing one species from another; saved us a lot of time trying to distinguish species by pointing out that one of them is not usually found on the island; knew the local roads and drove us around; adapted our tour plan to avoid a lengthy rain shower at one location; located local birds by their calls, which none of us tourists knew; and broadened our experience by describing some of the natural history of the birds and recent environmental changes at these islands. Best birds were, well, all the Caribbean birds I'd never seen in the U.S. (including lots of South Florida birding over the years). Bananaquit, Bahama Woodstar, Gray Kingbird, Loggerhead Kingbird, Black- Faced Grassquit, Thick-Billed Vireo (heard very well many times, not seen), Neotropic Cormorant, etc. etc. We saw a good number of N. American warblers, but I had to chuckle at our extended views of one of them - a Northern Waterthrush, which was a life bird for me. It cracks me up, after birding Florida and Virginia for many years, to find my first Northern Waterthrush in the Bahamas. I have no special recommendations for birding there, other than bring your binoculars (which you probably already figured out) and definitely employ a local guide. I will also excerpt the last few lines of the Rough Guide's entry for the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, which are relevant if you plan to bird near there: "... there is little here to suggest that you are in the Bahamas. If you just want to relax by the pool with a cool drink and are in the mood for glitz, decadence and lots of company, you'll love it. If not, you might go mad." Birders beware. The "Twin Ponds" just east of Atlantis is probably the only exception (to the above) left on Paradise Island. I also found some promising-looking habitat just west of Atlantis, but apparently the birds did not agree with my appraisal. - Steve Johnson Fairfax, Virginia, USA Subject: November 15th pelagic From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:56:07 -0400 I may have missed this posting on Flabirding so I am posting for Michael ! Pelagic Birding Trip with the Marine Science Center November 15, 2009 The Friends of the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet is sponsoring a pelagic birding trip on Sunday, November 15, 2009. The trip will head out from the New Smyrna side of the Inlet to "The Steeples" -- an area of sea mounts and upwellings on the western edge of the Gulf Stream. This trip holds the probability of encountering numerous pelagic species. Jaeger migration should be active. This trip is during the beginning of winter migration, when there are good chances at fall migrants such as Manx Shearwater, and the possibility of winter rarities such as Fulmar. Potential Species include (* = good probability): Common Loon* Cory's Shearwater * Greater Shearwater * Sooty Shearwater Audubon's Shearwater * Manx Shearwater * Wilson's Storm Petrel * Leach's Storm-Petrel * Band-rumped Storm-Petrel Northern Fulmar Northern Gannet * Red-billed Tropicbird (Seen on Nov. 2007 trip) White-tailed Tropicbird Red Phalarope * Red-necked Phalarope * Pomarine Jaeger * Parasitic Jaeger * Long-tailed Jaeger (Seen on Nov. 2007 trip) Arctic Tern Sooty Tern Bridled Tern * Brown Noddy Sabine's Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Black Scoter * White-winged Scoter Surf Scoter * We will have excellent leaders for the trip including Bob Wallace, Andy Bankert, David Simpson, Roberto Torres, Dave Goodwin, Mitchell Harris, Wes Biggs, Murray Gardler, Michael Brothers, and John Hintermister. The trip will be aboard "The Pastime Princess" a 100-foot, all-aluminum boat with excellent observation areas on the upper deck and bow and even a nice stern seating area. The cabin can also accommodate 30-40 in air-conditioned comfort. To learn more about the boat go http://www.pastimeprincess.com . The trip will depart at 6:00 a.m. from the Manatee Cruise/Sea Harvest Restaurant Marina on Riverside Drive near Canal Street in downtown New Smyrna Beach (phone 386-427- 5393) and return at 6:00 pm. You must be on the boat 15 minutes prior to departure; the boat will not wait for anyone who is late. Participants can bring their own food and beverages, but food service will also be available for breakfast and lunch at moderate prices. Be sure to bring warm layered clothing, rain gear, seasickness medicine, sunscreen and personal items. COST: $120/person. Please send checks, made payable to "The Friends of the Marine Science Center" to: Friends of the Marine Science Center 100 Lighthouse Drive Ponce Inlet. FL 32127 To sign up please contact: Michael Brothers Marine Science Center 100 Lighthouse Drive Ponce Inlet, FL 32127 386-304-5543 Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Audubon of the Everglades Florida Keys tour, October 18, 2009 From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:39:32 -0400 I had the pleasure of leading 14-members of the Audubon Society of the Everglades on a tour of the keys. I thought that with all of the hot steamy weather that we had in the last few days, that it would not be that great of a trip. We were all pleasantly surprised that a strong cold front made it down, we had excellent weather with tons of birds. I decided that we should go to Key West because of the front, I knew that there would be a lot of birds there. We were only going to do the middle keys and then bird northward along the way. I am glad that the group decided to go with my plan of heading to Key West. Fort Zachary Taylor was the place to be and we were there! We arrived at about 9:00 a.m., we had birds everywhere, it was a fallout! We had only a half a day to bird but were not disappointed in the large numbers of all kinds of birds. We had 13-species of warbler and numerous other migrants with lots of raptors. A trip report can be see here: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/html/Audubon_Society_of_the_Everglades.htm It was a wonderful half day of birding that I wish was a full day, oh well, it was good while it lasted. Carl Goodrich was able to stay out until dark and can up with 19-species of warbler! Larry Manfredi Homestead, FL. E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net http://www.southfloridabirding.com Subject: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Matheson Hammock, day eight From: "roberto.torres52" <rtorres AT tnc.org> Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:06:40 -0000 The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was seen again throughout the day in the same area. I saw it this afternoon around 5:30 in the oaks right over the wooden stake with the water valve on it. This is directly south of the bathroom just before the covered picnic shelter. Roberto Miami-Dade Subject: Just Joined From: "roberto.torres52" <rtorres AT tnc.org> Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:47:58 -0000 I think I got it right. There, you happy now Mr. M.? Subject: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Miami/Dade County From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:14:12 -0400 On Monday October 12th. I was able to see the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher found by Roberto Torres. Roberto found the bird on Thursday October 9th. I was pleasantly surprised to be able to find the bird about 10-minutes after arriving. I was able to call other birders over to see the bird, it gave us very close and beautiful looks. After many photos and great looks, the bird even called for us which was really nice. For a series of photos and directions please go here: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/html/recent_rarities..htm We were able to watch it catch and eat a large moth, it sure had trouble swallowing the moth. Larry Manfredi Homestead, FL E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net http://www.southfloridabirding.com Subject: National refuge Week Celebration From: "Thomas J. Dunkerton" <woundedmallard AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:09:57 -0400 * NEWS RELEASE* * **U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service* * Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge* *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Nancy Corona* *DATE: 10/10/09 OFFICE PHONE: 321-861-5601* *Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week * *At Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge* *Celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week on Saturday, October 17 at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge from 10 am 3 pm. This annual event celebrates the Refuge System's pivotal role in offering visitors outdoor recreational opportunities as well as showcasing the conservation and recovery of wildlife species on Refuges across the country. All activities and programs are FREE.* *General Nature Tour—9 am* * Creating a Back Yard Wildlife Garden—11 am* *Safari Todd’s Live Wildlife Meet & Greet—10 am to 3 pm* * Snakes Alive Exhibit—10 am to 2 pm* * Brevard Zoo Live Animal Exhibit - 11 am to 1 pm* * Live Hawk & Eagle Exhibit— 10:30 to 2:30 pm* * Native Plant Society Plant Sale -10 am to 2 pm* * * *Kids Craft Program - Make a bird feeder - 10:30 am to 2 pm* * Kids Animal Olympics Game— 11 am to 2 pm* *Manatee Watch at Observation Deck- 1 pm to 3 pm* *Free Refuge Week Poster, Activity booklets, Wildlife Stickers,* *& Face painting.* * Live Music from 12 pm to 3 pm.* * * *Please call 321-861-5601 for information. The Refuge Visitor Center is located on SR 402, 5 miles east of U.S. 1 in Titusville. * [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ FlaBirding - Florida and Bahama Birding website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlaBirding/ Unsubscribe, mail to: FlaBirding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com Nomail, mail to: FlaBirding-nomail AT yahoogroups.com Resume from Nomail, mail to: FlaBirding-normal AT yahoogroups.comYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlaBirding/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlaBirding/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:FlaBirding-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:FlaBirding-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: FlaBirding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Big Sit tomorrow From: David Simpson <simpsondavid AT mac.com> Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 09:21:03 -0400 Hi all, The Big Sit happens tomorrow. I'll be sitting on the dirt pile on the north side of Sebastian Inlet starting about 0600. I only plan to do a couple hours. For more information check the website. http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/funbirds/bigsit/bigsit.aspx David Simpson Fellsmere, FL Subject: Audubon Society of the Everglades Grand Bahama tour October 3-4, 2009 From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:26:10 -0400 I was able to lead the above trip last weekend, we had some great birds including some rarities. For a full report please go here: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/html/Birds_of_Grand_Bahama_October_3-4_2009.htm We had a Townsend's Warbler and a Tropical/Couch's Kingbird. The kingbird could be a first record for the Bahamas, the Townsend's Warbler may be a second record? Larry Manfredi Homestead, FL E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net http://www.southfloridabirding.com Subject: Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival Dry Tortugas Tour From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:44:17 -0400 On September 27th. I lead a trip out to the Dry Tortugas for the Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival. We had a great trip with some good birds seen. To read a trip report with photos please go here: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/html/Florida%20Keys%20Birding%20and%20Wildlife%20Festival%209-27-2009.htm Larry Manfredi Homestead, FL E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net Subject: Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:33:01 -0400 On Friday September 25th. I lead a pelagic trip to the Marathon Hump for the Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival. The seas were not too bad, we had some pretty good birds seen. For a trip report with pictures, please go here: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/html/Florida%20Keys%20Birding%20and%20Wildlife%20Festival%20Pelagic%20trip%209-25,%202009.htm Larry Manfredi Homestead, Fl E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net Subject: Bird Conservation Alliance Meeting Nov. 12 at U.S. Capitol Visitors Center From: Steve Holmer <sholmer AT abcbirds.org> Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:45:09 -0700 To: All Bird Lovers and Bird Conservation Activists From: Steve Holmer, Director, Bird Conservation Alliance Date: September 24, 2009 Bird Conservation Alliance Meeting November 12th, 2009 9:30 am to 5:00 pm At the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center The Bird Conservation Alliance Meeting will be November 12 and located at the new Capitol Visitors Center, in the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. The Bird Conservation Alliance is a network of 195 organizations working together to conserve wild birds. The theme of this meeting is "Reversing the Decline of Neotropical Migratory Bird Species and Protecting Their Habitats." To register visit: http://www.abcbirds.org/membership/BCA_1109_reg.html The meeting will feature several keynotes; Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson have been invited to speak as have congressional champions Sen. Ben Cardin, and Representatives Ron Kind and Frank Kratovil. Panels include "Strategies to Address the Decline of Neotropical Migrant Species", "Reducing Threats to Migratory Birds", "Legislative and Administration Opportunities to Conserve Migratory Birds", and "Joint Ventures and other Partnerships Benefiting Migratory Birds." Each panel will be followed by questions and discussion. For more information, please contact Steve Holmer, sholmer AT abcbirds.org, 202/234-7181 and to register visit: http://www.abcbirds.org/membership/BCA_1109_reg.html Steve Holmer Director of the Bird Conservation Alliance & Senior Policy Advisor American Bird Conservancy 202/234-7181 ext. 216 sholmer AT abcbirds.org www.birdconservationalliance.org www.abcbirds.org The Bird Conservation Alliance (BCA) is a network of organizations working together to conserve wild birds. BCA is facilitated by American Bird Conservancy which conserves native wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. [cid:image001.jpg AT 01CA3D1D.3B77BFD0] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: How do I post my irst message? From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:32:59 -0400 Hi Dotty, All you have to do is send you message to the e-mail below. It will go out to all 450 subscribers. Flabirding AT yahoogroups.com Let me know if you have any other questions. Larry flbird40 AT att.net wrote: > Hi Larry, > I would like to post an introductary message but can't see where to do it. Thanks, > Dotty Hull > > > > Subject: Western Spindalis From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:59:49 -0400 I saw the adult male Western Spindalis this morning at 9:30. It was on the south side of the hammock by gate 3 north of the residences building. If you walked east through gate 3 the bird was on the left inside the hammock perched and calling from the top of a very skinny pine. It was giving its long "seeeeeep" call which can be hard to hear. Larry Manfredi Homestead, FL. E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net http://www.southfloridabirding.com Subject: Western Spindalis Long Pine Key Everglades National Park From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:47:22 -0400 Jim from Georgia and I saw the adult Western Spindalis at about 7:30 this morning as well as an immature male. The birds were seen together on the west side of the road next to the Long Pine Key nature trail just north of the residence building. Four birders from Tennessee arrived later, I hope they had luck finding the birds. At the Annex south of Lucky Hammock, we had good views of a calling Alder Flycatcher as well seeing two others. In Key Largo we saw and heard an Alder Flycatcher in Gulfstream Estates. The birds was seen at the end of Gulfstream Road just beyond a cable across a dirt road. Gulfstream Estates is located along 905 road in North Key Largo. We also had a light morph Short-tailed Hawk, White-crowned Pigeon as well as a few common warbler species. Larry Manfredi Homestead, FL E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net Subject: Florida Keys Pelagic trip has one space left From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:48:24 -0400 For those interested, there is one space left for the Florida Keys Pelagic trip on Friday September 25th.. Call Bruce to sign up: 305-852-4486 This should be a fun trip with some cool birds. There are also spaces left on the all day Dry Tortugas Tour on Sunday September 27th, please call Bruce to sign up for that as well. Larry Manfredi Homestead, FL. E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net Subject: Save the boreal forests for warblers! Tell President Obama From: "Renne Leatto" <rennel AT cfl.rr.com> Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:36:21 -0400 http://www.nrdc.org/action/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: probable BROWN BOOBY at St. Andrews SP From: swamphen AT heirborn.net Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:17:50 -0400 Observed what I believe to be a juvenile BROWN BOOBY just off the end of the jetty at St. Andrews Bay State Park in Panama City this afternoon. The sulid in question was brown all over, noticably smaller than the gannets I've seen in the past, and repeatedly diving at very low angles into the water - not once "high-diving" like a gannet. I feel very comfortable calling this one... Gray Kingbirds were on the wires just outside the park, as well. Earlier at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park I had two banded SNOWY PLOVERS - one had what looked like an unusually tall white band on the left lower leg; the second bird having a sequnce of: Yellow on left leg, Silver above knee/Green below on its right leg. Also a Loggerhead Shrike was on the power lines in front of the Eglin AFB tracking station along CR-30E. -Sean P. McCool Wakulla County, Florida, USA Subject: Pelagic trip Friday September 25th. From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:02:02 -0400 For those interested there will be a pelagic trip offered from Marathon in the Florida Keys, with the 11th Annual Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival. We had a good trip last year with multiple sightings of Black-capped Petrel which is always a tough bird to see in Florida. For a trip report from last year go here: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/html/floridakeysfestivalpelagictrip.htm This will be a small group tour with a limit of I think 12-participants. On September 27th there will be an all day trip to the Dry Tortugas, this is a great time of year for migrants and who knows what. Fall birding can be really good with unexpected rarities if we are lucky. A trip report can be seen here from last year: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/html/Floridakeysbirdingfestivaldrytortugas.htm For more information and to book one of these fabulaous trips go the the Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival website here: http://www.keysbirdingfest.org/ Larry Manfredi Homestead, FL E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net http://www.southfloridabirding.com Subject: MINWR trip 9/9/09 From: SMLJAY AT aol.com Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:49:41 EDT Hi All, Phyllis Mansfield and myself had a successful birding excursion yesterday to the MINWR and a brief look out at the beach at Eddy Creek crossover. turned up about 78 species (80 if you want to throw in the pigeon and house sparrow we got on the way back to my car). Out of the 78, 17 species were shorebirds, 8 were warblers, and 6 were tern species. Just before the fee booth to Canaveral Nat'l Seashore, we pulled off at the gated road to right and pulled up a Screech Owl as well as some common birds (Towhee, etc.). Past the booth we had probably 3 separate families of scrub-jays and spooked up a few common ground doves and 2 flickers feeding on the side of the road. We had some great shorebirds in a couple of the pulloffs going out to the beach (north side of road) but generally before BioLab turnoff: Stilt Sandpipers, 2 short-billed dowitchers, all 3 small peeps, both yellowlegs, and Killdeer. Beach was expectantly pretty quiet with Black-bellied plovers (some in breeding plumage), willets, sanderlings, and ruddy turnstones as well as the usual pelicans and laughing gulls. Barn Swallows were flying around in small but consistent numbers thoughout the day. Next we drove BioLab Rd. Ran into Danny Bales..well, he nearly ran into us...and we stopped to look at the White-rumped Sandpipers (mud flats west side of road, short distance north). Also there was a lone Black-necked Stilt, other peeps, a semi-palmated plover, and yellowlegs. A Roseate Spoonbill flew over for a splash of color in the sky. Lots of both species of Ibis on the move as well as great and snowy egrets. A bit further up, we stopped again and found 3 or so Yellow warblers. (Here we left Danny taking pictures.) Maybe a couple miles up, there's the post remnants of an old dock and here were 4 black terns and a Forsters, couple of cormorants of course. continuing to drive, there were egrets all along the shoreline for at least 1/2 mile! At one of the spots the grass is short, there was a gathering of more black terns--I counted 24 on the ground and probably another 1/2 dozen in the air as we left there. Other than a flock of Blue-winged teal flying over and another in a pond on the west side of the road with 4-6 Mottled ducks, we didn't see anything new. Next Phyllis and I walked the Oak Hammock Trail, which was pleasantly 98% free of mosquitoes!! we managed to pull 7 species of warblers out of there: N. Parula, black and White, Worm-eating, Ovenbird, Am. redstart (male), Common Yellowthroat, and Yellow-throated Warbler. also White-eyed and Red-eyed vireos and a few Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, along with Downy and Red-bellied woodpeckers. After a brief respite and lunch at the Visitor's Center, we did a quick drive-thru of Black Point. It is pretty quiet out there but we scored some great birds anyway. the first big impoundment has a few herons and egrets and yellowlegs though not much else. We passed a flock of Blue-winged Teal in the impoundment opposite the deep pond. On the straightaway was the best. At stop #6 was a small flock of Black-bellied Plovers, one peep which I was following to try to ID when I discoverd a Gull-billed Tern "hiding" behind the plovers. Off to their left by itself was a large wader...a WHIMBREL...almost missed you! Oh, and off to the right was our one Reddish Egret for the day. At stop#7, was the tern jackpot: Black Skimmers, couple more black terns, mxd flock of Forster's, Royal and Caspian Terns. and then there were 4-5 medium sized shorebirds behind the terns that Phyllis got on and called Pectoral Sandpipers! Awesome. All the way at the last impoundment with water we finally got a Pied-billed Grebe. A great day all-in-all. good birding to all, Sarah Linney Cocoa, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Goals, not Cockatiels From: David Simpson <simpsondavid AT mac.com> Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:09:57 -0400 > Hi all, > > For those interested in following my latest quest, as outlined in a > previous post. I will be posting the progress to my blog. The > entries will automatically go to my Facebook page. I have a couple > of files showing the current state of things. These files should > be posted to the blog and/or Facebook page soon. I have also > posted them to the listserves that can handle attachments. > I have a few trips in store in the next couple weeks. I will be in > Putnam County Saturday participating in a bird survey on Caravelle > Ranch WMA. I will be in Glades County for the NAMC on Sep 19th, > then spend the weekend birding in SW Florida covering many of those > counties Sunday and Monday on the way home. The last week of > September, I plan to be at Big Cypress Preserve for a few days of > volunteering. Afterwards, en route to the FOS meeting in > Gainesville, I plan to visit Scott Bordereaux and do some birding > in Hillsborough and Pasco in the morning before heading to > G'ville. I may hit Union before and Duval after the meeting. I'll > keep things up to date on the blog. > LINKS > > My blog. Search for the County List tags. There aren't any at > this time, but I will have some soon. > http://birdingwdavid.livejournal.com/ > > My website. Has a link to my blog. > http://homepage.mac.com/simpsondavid/ > > My Facebook Page. You need to sign up and become my friend to > fully access the page. > http://www.facebook.com/BirdingwDavidSimpson > > David Simpson > Fellsmere, FL > simpsondavid AT mac.com Subject: Six Western Spindalis in Everglades National Park Long Pine Key From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:51:43 -0400 A pair of Western Spindalis have now succesfully fledged three young in Everglades National Park. The last young fledged on September 1, 2009. This is the first U.S. record of Western Spindalis nesting as far as we know. This is a really exciting find, the park did not want the nest location made public until the birds fledged. For a few photos and some information click here: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/html/Western%20Spindalis%20nesting.htm Larry Manfredi Homestead, FL E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net Subject: White Brown Pelican-Lakeland From: Tom Palmer <tomp47 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 09:22:23 -0700 (PDT) Dear All, This morning I observed a mostly white Brown Pelican with a group of 8 normal plumage Brown Pelicans on a pier by the Larsen Power Plant in Lakeland. The plant is located lat the southeast corner of Lake Parker. This is off Memorial Boulevard (U.S. 92) on East Lake Parker Drive.    Tom Palmer Winter Haven Follow my environmental musings at www.lakebluescrub.blogspot.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: change of E-MAIL ADDRESS From: Marionpelicanpte AT wmconnect.com Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:58:57 EDT Just in case I have not alreay done this, my new e-mail name is swampfox5645 AT yahoo.com I'll look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Marion [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Participants needed for bird feeding study From: "national_bird_feeding_society" <amshonkwiler AT millikin.edu> Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:10:53 -0000 Hello, The National Bird-Feeding Society is currently assisting in a scientific study of bird seed preferences. Participants will receive free bird feeders, bird seed, poles, and squirrel baffles. In return, participants will be responsible for recording the number of birds visiting each feeder for approximately six weeks. During the six weeks, you will complete twenty-four surveys with each survey taking approximately one hour to complete. You will also be responsible for filling and rotating feeders based on a pre-assigned schedule. Participants must be able to identify all species of birds visiting their feeders, and data collection must be completed by October 31. Interested in participating? Limited slots are available. Visit the National Bird-Feeding Society's website at www.nbfs.org or call us at 1-866-945-3247 before August 12. Thank you! Sincerely, Stacey Shonkwiler