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24 Jan Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] FOS Birding Weekend at Lake Okeechebee - Get to Know the Florida Ornithological Society! [] 22 Jan Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] Fork-tailed Flycatcher - PLEASE READ - IMPORTANT! [] 20 Jan Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Ruskin, FL (Hillsborough County off Gulf City Rd) [] 19 Jan FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER - south Hillsborough Co., seen Wednesday PM (01/18/2012) [] 19 Jan RFI: Miami airport bird spots [sally wech ] 18 Jan Identifying Birds [] 17 Jan SHELL MOUND, CEDAR KEY & FT ISLAND HIGHLIGHTS ["Murray Gardler" ] 15 Jan East Pasco - Ash-throated Flycatcher, Clay-colored Sparrow & more (01/15/2012) [] 9 Jan BREWERS BLACKBIRD ["Murray Gardler" ] 5 Jan North Naples Waste Water Treatment Plant 01/05/2012 [Vincent P Lucas ] 5 Jan Birding Trip Advice Jacksonville/Orange Park [Ryan Carpenter ] 3 Jan Possom Branch Preserve- ["Murray Gardler" ] 30 Dec (unknown) [Cheryl Ann Griffin ] 30 Dec (unknown) [Cheryl Ann Griffin ] 28 Dec Great Cormorant; Cape Florida; Miami-Dade County ["Robin Diaz" ] 27 Dec La Sagra's Flycatcher: Cape Florida; Miami-Dade County ["Robin Diaz" ] 27 Dec Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] Northern Flicker Decline? [] 26 Dec Re: Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question [Jeff Bouton ] 26 Dec Re: [FlaBirding] Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question [Jeff Bouton ] 22 Dec Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question [] 20 Dec Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] Weekiwachee Preserve December 20, 2011 [] 17 Dec Collier County Big Year #229 [Vincent P Lucas ] 16 Dec Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] Fort De Soto Park Toll/Fee Update Info [] 16 Dec Re: Cassin's and Gray Kingbirds, Hendry County [Vincent P Lucas ] 17 Dec Cassin's and Gray Kingbirds, Hendry County [Roberto Torres ] 16 Dec Ft Island ["Murray Gardler" ] 10 Dec GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE - Pinellas County (12/10/2011) [] 4 Dec TAS Exotics Field Trip, Saurday, December 3, 2011 [Paul Bithorn ] 1 Dec Accepting Fall Bird Observations in West-Central Florida for FFN & NAB [] 28 Nov Yellow-headed Parrot conservation - how you can help ["northfloridawildlife" ] 20 Nov Caracaras [] 20 Nov Cinnamon Teal, Green Cay Wetlands [Roberto Torres ] 14 Nov RFI Avon Park AFR CBC Date [Tom Palmer ] 13 Nov Canvasbacks at Lake Chautauqua [Robert Haire ] 12 Nov Apalachee Audobon Sosiety ["PHILIP H" ] 9 Nov Parasitic Jaeger, Captiva, Lee Co [Vincent McGrath ] 9 Nov RFI: Miami Ani, Cowbird, Oriole [Gary Meyer ] 7 Nov RFI feral cat colonies in birding areas [Tom Palmer ] 31 Oct Fw: 2012 Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, January 25 - 29, 2012 ["Murray Gardler" ] 27 Oct Ft. DeSoto Park (10/27/2011) - Painted Bunting [] 25 Oct Re: Lee Co Clapper Rail [Wes Biggs ] 25 Oct Dry Tortugas spring 2012 [Wes Biggs ] 24 Oct Re: [Fwd: Zellwood/Mt Dora Christmas Bird Count] [Wes Biggs ] 22 Oct John Chesnut Park - Greater White-fronted Goose flyover (10/22/2011) [] 21 Oct FOS Fall Meeting Summery - Dauphin Island, Alabama October 14-16, 2011 [] 20 Oct Ft. DeSoto Park - Philadelphia Vireo & Clay-colored Sparrow (10/20/2011) [] 19 Oct Lettuce Lake Park (10/19/2011) [] 18 Oct Warbler Valhalla II, Miami-Dade [Roberto Torres ] 17 Oct Suwannee River State Park (10/17/2011) [] 16 Oct Key West fallout ["Murray Gardler" ] 16 Oct Masked Duck ["Murray Gardler" ] 15 Oct KEY WEST FALLOUT ["Murray Gardler" ] 14 Oct The Big Year review [John Puschock ] 13 Oct Western Tanager, Key West ["Murray Gardler" ] 12 Oct November pelagic ["Murray Gardler" ] 03 Oct Yellow-green Vireo Matheson Hammock Park, Coral Cables, Miami-Dade County [Larry Manfredi ] 14 Sep Lettuce Lake Park - Short-tailed Hawk & Chestnut-sided Warblers (09/14/2011) [] 10 Sep Boyd Hill Nature Preserve - 15 species of warblers (09/10/2011) [] 7 Sep Hillsborough River SP & Lettuce Lake Park - Blue-winged Warbler (09/07/2011) [] 1 Sep Pinellas & Hillsborough sightings (09/01/2011) [] 28 Aug TAS Sod Fram Trip - Saturday, August 27, 2011 [Paul Bithorn ] 24 Aug Couple of beauties from my recent trip to Colorado ["Jack Rogers" ] 20 Aug FL. PELAGIC TRIP ["Murray Gardler" ] 18 Aug Ft. DeSoto Park (08/18/2011) [] 11 Aug Thick-billed Vireo and Smooth-billed Ani [Larry Manfredi ] 07 Aug Thick-billed Vireo [Larry Manfredi ] 3 Aug OT: An interview with The Big Year's Greg Miller [John Puschock ] 31 Jul Accepting Summer Bird Observations in West-Central Florida for FFN & NAB [] 22 Jul Nest Question ["Art" ] 9 Jul Cockroach Bay Road (07/09/2011) [] 04 Jul Brannen Field Mitigation Park ["Art" ] 02 Jul Mississippi Kite in Clay Co. Fl. ["Art" ] 23 Jun Someone say House Finch [Vincent McGrath ] 21 Jun T. M. Goodwin WMA ["Murray Gardler" ] 18 Jun Re: SwallowTail Kites [kirsi johnson ] 19 Jun SwallowTail Kite in Clay County Fla. ["Arthur Henderson" ] Subject: Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] FOS Birding Weekend at Lake Okeechebee - Get to Know the Florida Ornithological Society! From: efalconh AT netscape.net Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:47:04 -0500 (EST) -----Original Message----- From: Dave Goodwin To: BRDBRAIN Sent: Tue, Jan 24, 2012 7:28 am Subject: [BRDBRAIN] FOS Birding Weekend at Lake Okeechebee - Get to Know the Florida Ornithological Society! Hi all, I would like to invite as many of you as possible to join me in Clewiston for the Great Backyard Bird Count and to get to learn more about the Florida Ornithological Society. The dates are Saturday,February 18 and Sunday, February 19. There are no fees or registration involved - all you need to do is show up! We will bird around the "Big O" on Saturday, then spend the evening talking about birds, FOS, etc. Sunday morning we will join Margaret England for a trip to STA-5, one of the state's great birding spots as participants in the GBBC. If you can't make it Saturday for the birding, you can join us for dinner & socializing Saturday night, then STA-5 on Sunday. This is not yet an "official" FOS activity, but could become a regular event. I hope as many FOS members as possible can come, but I really hope non-members can come an find out what FOS is all about. With the upcoming Breeding Bird Atlas project (starting now), we need everyone's help. The "rough" schedule is as follows: Saturday 2/18 - 8:00 AM Meet at the McDonalds on US 27 near the west end of town for birding around the Big O (earlier if you want to eat). Will will grab lunch on the road or bring your own. We will be back in Clewiston by late afternoon. 6:30 - Dinner on your own at Sonny's BBQ (or elsewhere if BBQ isn't your style) with social time following (location TBA). Sunday - meet at 7:00 AM in front of the Clewiston Inn for a birding trip down Blumberg Rd to STA-5, meeting at the entrance by 8:00 AM. The tour will end in the afternoon giving you time to travel home. You can find accommodations on your own - there are several motels/hotels in town. If you can come, please email me so I have a general idea of who is coming. Maybe I will see some of you at the Space Coast Birding Festival this week! Thanks! Dave Goodwin Brandon FL dave.goodwin AT aol.com To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list,please visit us on the web at:http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.htmlTo set to no mail: send a message "SET BRDBRAIN NOMAIL" toLISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDUReport any problems to the listserv administrator: listadmin AT admin.usf.edu____________________________________________________________________________ [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.com Subject: Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] Fork-tailed Flycatcher - PLEASE READ - IMPORTANT! From: efalconh AT netscape.net Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:47:19 -0500 (EST) Everybody, FYI Erik Haney Saint Petersburg -----Original Message----- From: Dave Goodwin To: BRDBRAIN Sent: Sun, Jan 22, 2012 11:39 am Subject: [BRDBRAIN] Fork-tailed Flycatcher - PLEASE READ - IMPORTANT! Hi all, Just received a call from the location. The strawberry farm east of the pond is private property! NO TRESPASSING! People have been flying right on in without permission to take pictures. Do not under any circumstances go in the farm! Be patient - if you want photos, it seems as if the bird returns to the cul-de-sac in the afternoon. Please remember the ABA Code of Ethics for birding. DO NOT TRESPASS!!!! The owner is going to start having people arrested! My rant is that this kind of behavior will ruin birding for everyone. Dave Dave Goodwin Brandon FL dave.goodwin AT aol.com To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list,please visit us on the web at:http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.htmlTo set to no mail: send a message "SET BRDBRAIN NOMAIL" toLISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDUReport any problems to the listserv administrator: listadmin AT admin.usf.edu____________________________________________________________________________ [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.com Subject: Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Ruskin, FL (Hillsborough County off Gulf City Rd) From: efalconh AT netscape.net Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:40:33 -0500 (EST) -----Original Message----- From: Dan Irizarry To: BRDBRAIN Sent: Fri, Jan 20, 2012 6:50 pm Subject: [BRDBRAIN] Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Ruskin, FL (Hillsborough County off Gulf City Rd) Here are photos of the Fork-tailed Flycatcher near Cockroach Bay Preserve (seen this afternoon around 5:30pm). Thanks to Charlie Fisher for relocating it! This bird is about a half mile or less away from where Cameron Cox found the Tropical Kingbird last June. The bird was seen a little further east than the original post from 1/18/12. From US-41 turn to the west onto Cockroach Bay Rd (there is a Circle K on US 41 here). Drive 2 miles, then turn right (North) onto Gulf City Rd. Drive 1.6 miles then turn right (South) onto Lost River Trail (will have a No Outlet sign). Drive .3 miles to where the street makes a 90 degree turn to the left. There is a pullout here. The bird was in the shrubs on the East side of the street by a pond.(original post). To go to where it was seen today, turn east where it makes the sharp turn, and go a little farther to where there is a cul-de-sac on the left (north side) of the road. There is a large, dead, twiggy tree near the cul-de-sac. It was actively flycatching there. Dan Irizarry Bradenton, FL To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list,please visit us on the web at:http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.htmlTo set to no mail: send a message "SET BRDBRAIN NOMAIL" toLISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDUReport any problems to the listserv administrator: listadmin AT admin.usf.edu____________________________________________________________________________ [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.com Subject: FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER - south Hillsborough Co., seen Wednesday PM (01/18/2012) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:26:40 -0500 (EST) Hi All, I just recently received a valid report (with diagnostic photos) of a FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER that was seen on Wednesday in the late afternoon at Cockroach Bay in southern Hillsborough County by Don & Phyllis Pelly, visiting birders from Kentucky. Today (Thursday) several birders checked the area and could not relocate the bird. Fork-tailed Flycatchers are notorious for being "one day wonders" but several past sightings of this species in Florida have lasted for days and even weeks. Anyone birding this area during the next couple of days should be on the lookout! Exact directions to where the bird was found: From US-41 turn to the west onto Cockroach Bay Rd (there is a Circle K on US 41 here). Drive 2 miles, then turn right (North) onto Gulf City Rd. Drive 1.6 miles then turn right (South) onto Lost River Trail (will have a No Outlet sign). Drive .3 miles to where the street makes a 90 degree turn to the left. There is a pullout here. The bird was in the shrubs on the East side of the street by a pond. A big thanks to Judi Hopkins for alerting me about this sighting. Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: RFI: Miami airport bird spots From: sally wech <aixxss AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:27:05 -0800 (PST) Hello:  I will be in the Miami airport area for the afternoon of Mar 21 - can anyone suggest nearby birding areas? I'm willing to rent a car if necessary. Thanks Sally Wech silver spring, md [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.com Subject: Identifying Birds From: allanstern AT aol.com Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:51:29 -0500 (EST) I am a long-time aviation photographer (_http://www.flickr.com/photos/allanstern/_ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allanstern/) ) Lately I have gotten interested in bird photography; it was Ospreys at first and now I try to photograph others. I live in a waterfront home, so I get to see a lot of the Florida water birds. I am looking for a website of bird photographs that I could visit in order to identify the birds I am photographing. Or a place I could send or post my pictures in order for someone knowledgable to identify the birds. Any help will be appreciated. Al Stern Satellite Beach FL [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.com Subject: SHELL MOUND, CEDAR KEY & FT ISLAND HIGHLIGHTS From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:10:48 -0500 Shell Mound; Whimbrel 1 Long-billed Curlew 1 (female) Marbled Godwit 12 Dunlin 1000 Sora 1 Song Sparrow 1 Cedar Key; Greater Scaup 6 Black Scoter 1 (female AT fish pier) Am. Oystercatcher 150 Am. Avocet 20 Whimbrel 6 Bonaparte's Gull 1 ad Black Skimmer 150 FL,. Scrub Jay 1 White-winged Dove 2 Blue-headed Vireo 2 FT. Island; Common Goldeneye 2 Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [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.com Subject: East Pasco - Ash-throated Flycatcher, Clay-colored Sparrow & more (01/15/2012) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:30:19 -0500 (EST) Hi All, Around 8:50 AM this morning I found the Ash-throated Flycatcher along the west side of Auton Road, north of Enterprise Road. It was feeding along the line of small oak & magnolia trees. Flying into a magnolia to get a fleshy seed and then would fly into the next oak to eat the seed. Occasionally it would be chased off by one of the two Northern Mockingbirds in the area. The Ash-throated Flycatcher stayed in view for about 20 to 30 minutes. Along the same small stretch of road I saw or heard: 1 Northern Bobwhite 1 Red-headed Woodpecker American Pipits 1 Orange-crowned Warbler Chipping Sparrows 1 Clay-colored Sparrow 10 Vesper Sparrows Savannah Sparrows 2 Grasshopper Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrows 12 House Finches flying over I was also surprised to find a large flock (50-75) of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks nearby. They were in the middle of a pasture on the west side of Old Lakeland Hwy about 1/4 to 1/2 mile north of Enterprise Road, but south of Morningside Drive. Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: BREWERS BLACKBIRD From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2012 10:17:26 -0500 Photographed this AM at the previously noted location in Hernando County. Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [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.com Subject: North Naples Waste Water Treatment Plant 01/05/2012 From: Vincent P Lucas <vplucas AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 22:28:16 -0500 The number of species, ducks mostly, has not changed much since the beginning of December, 2011 at the NNWTP but the quantity of birds has definitely increased. Today, there were 20+ Forster's Terns plying the impoundments while numbers of Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Shoveler, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser and three Red-breasted Merganser dove for whatever these ducks are finding to eat in these impoundments. On the black-lined periphery of these impoundments, 40+ Least Sandpipers, one lone Greater Yellowlegs, at least 2 Spotted Sandpipers and scores of Killdeer scurried about restlessly. The typical waders were present as were some raptors including a lone adult Bald Eagle. A few Belted Kingfisher, several Western Palm Warbler, Mourning Doves and a lone Red-shouldered Hawk sat on the chain-linked fence. A Brown Pelican made a flyby appearance while dozens of Soft-shelled Turtles basked in the sun . . . . Vince Vincent P. Lucas Naples, FL vplucas AT comcast.net http://www.flickr.com/photos/leppyone/ ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: Birding Trip Advice Jacksonville/Orange Park From: Ryan Carpenter <carpenter_ryan80 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 18:38:54 -0800 (PST) Hello Florida birders, I'm a native Floridian who is coming back to the Jacksonville area for a long weekend to visit my folks and wanted to take the opportunity to do some birding while I'm down south. I grew up in Orange Park and in many ways regret my lack of interest in birding until moving out west. In an effort to see some of the birds I lived with throughout my childhood my wife and I plan on doing some birding while we are in Orange Park for the M.L.K. weekend. We will also venture down to St. Augustine for a day while we are in town. There are a few specific birds we are hopeful to observe and would really appreciate any advice or tips on locations that we might view or hear these birds. Our number one target bird that we are hopping to see is a barred owl. We looked in some swampy areas in Mandarin the last time we were in town but had no luck. Any locations or advice on this species would be very much appreciated. The other two birds that we are hoping to see is are pileated woodpeckers and a black skimmer. Again any likely locations or general advice would be greatly appreciated. We are most interested in just getting out and enjoying the warm weather and diverse avian opportunities that North Florida offers, but our trip would be even that much better if we were able to observe or hear any of these species. Thanks for all of your help. To reduce traffic on the list-serve please feel welcome to email me directly. Happy New year to you all. May you all have a great year with many amazing birding experiences! Ryan Carpenter Boulder, CO carpenter_ryan80 AT yahoo.com [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.com Subject: Possom Branch Preserve- From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2012 18:09:26 -0500 Four of us braved the cold and observed at 08:30 the below at the previously described location.At ease, the towhee was observed for about an hour. Oh yes the rat was still there; does anyone know what kind of rat? Green Tailed Towhee-Lincoln, Swamp and Song Sparrows; possibly the Grasshopper. Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [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.com Subject: (unknown) From: Cheryl Ann Griffin <cherylgfn AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:59:06 -0800 (PST) http://Kupiedobrypomysl.home.pl/yortake.html ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: (unknown) From: Cheryl Ann Griffin <cherylgfn AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:59:06 -0800 (PST) http://Kupiedobrypomysl.home.pl/yortake.html ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: Great Cormorant; Cape Florida; Miami-Dade County From: "Robin Diaz" <rd4birds AT bellsouth.net> Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:15:24 -0500 All, Park Biologist Liz Golden found an immature Great Cormorant today (28 December) in Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP. It was first seen perched on rocks on the west side of the peninsula tip between fishing platforms #7 and #8. At 1 PM it had moved to the lighthouse jetty, which is on the east side of the tip. The species field marks of white throat, yellow chin, gray bill and thick legs are easily seen. The demarcation between breast and belly is evident and the white belly is heavily streaked. Photo available at: http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/tasboard/messages/63365.html Directions: Enter Key Biscayne via Rickenbacker Causeway (toll) and drive to BBCFSP (~7 miles). Enter the park (fee), drive south to either Area C or east end of Area D and walk to the lighthouse. If the lighthouse compound gate is closed, walk to the beach by the farthest south boardwalk and then head to the jetty. Robin Diaz Key Biscayne, FL [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.com Subject: La Sagra's Flycatcher: Cape Florida; Miami-Dade County From: "Robin Diaz" <rd4birds AT bellsouth.net> Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:02:21 -0500 All, Yesterday a (the?) La Sagra's Flycatcher showed up in Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP. Unfortunately, it remained in a restricted area with no public access, so I was unable to report it. While visiting the park today with family, I excused myself for 30 minutes and was able to relocate the bird along the Nature Trail. At 10:40 AM it gave 3 whistle-like "wheet" calls from the Green Buttonwoods that are 150 yards south and east of The White Gate. After 10 minutes, it moved closer to the dirt Nature Trail, then flew across the trail and landed briefly in The La Sagra's Tree. It moved west and at 11 AM, it gave a soft chatter, then 1 more "wheet" call. A silhouette photo can be seen: http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/tasboard/messages/63284.html For those unfamiliar with the above location references, here are directions: Enter Key Biscayne via Rickenbacker Causeway (toll) and continue to BBCFSP (~7 miles). Enter the park (fee) and turn right (west) toward No Name Harbor and park. Walk back east to the start of the dirt Nature Trail and walk south 1/4 mile (450 yards). You will be at the intersection of the Nature Trail and a restroom trail, and at The White Gate. Areas east of the gate have no public access. The La Sagra's Tree is ~100 yards south of the gate, on the west side. Many photographs of a (this?) La Sagra’s have been snapped here. It’s certainly of interest that a La Sagra’s Flycatcher has shown up in the same area of the park for the third consecutive winter and is displaying the same general territory behavior! In the immediate area are: a couple of catbirds, gnatcatchers, Palm, Prairie and Orange-crowed Warblers, White-eyed Vireo and Eastern Phoebe. Robin Diaz Key Biscayne, FL [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.com Subject: Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] Northern Flicker Decline? From: efalconh AT netscape.net Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:59:05 -0500 (EST) -----Original Message----- From: Dave Goodwin To: BRDBRAIN Sent: Tue, Dec 27, 2011 12:51 pm Subject: [BRDBRAIN] Northern Flicker Decline? Hi all, I have this year completed 6 Christmas bird counts and have had between 90 - 100 species in my party on each, however, my party on each count have yet to see or hear a Northern Flicker. I noticed that the total for East Pasco CBC was 1 and the Alafia Banks CBC was 3. Both of these circles contain lots of habitat, yet few Flickers. I can recall having seen only three all year despite lots of birding, including a good deal of Breeding Bird Atlas work (293 on my Florida year list). I suspect that this bird is on a serious population decline in Florida. Thoughts anyone? I will be doing the Lake Placid CBC on Thursday and the West Pasco CBC on Friday - maybe we will get a Flicker....... Dave Dave Goodwin Brandon FL dave.goodwin AT aol.com To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list,please visit us on the web at:http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.htmlTo set to no mail: send a message "SET BRDBRAIN NOMAIL" toLISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDUReport any problems to the listserv administrator: listadmin AT admin.usf.edu____________________________________________________________________________ [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.com Subject: Re: Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question From: Jeff Bouton <jbouton2 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 09:00:52 -0800 (PST) Dave and all, Regarding your question 'why haven't they expanded inland?....' These birds don't seem to be utilizing native habitats as much as artificial habitats created by developers planting various palms and other tropical plantings. The vast majority of the state away from the coast seems to consist of Oak Hammocks, Cypress swamp, remnants of native prairie, or more likely a mix of the above with pasture lands. Given this, I don't think you should ever expect to see Black-hoodeds inland as they don't utilize they habitats even where large concentrations exist.  Despite what is happening in Pinellas county, the bird is indeed expanding greatly particularly along the east coast where they seem to occur along the entire coastline in proper habitat from St. Augustine all the way through the central Keys (perhaps more). I now in my experience I've seen them in proper habitats all along the East coast everywhere. I fully expect this species in proper habitats here on any day of birding. I understand the resistance by committees to call something established because if it crashes they are worried their reputations will be tarnished. However, it's unfortunate that much of the committee is making decisions based on inaccurate data or their personal recollections from trips decades ago. Best, Jeff Bouton Port Charlotte, FL jbouton2 AT yahoo.com ________________________________ From: "efalconh AT netscape.net" To: FlaBirding AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 10:05 AM Subject: [FlaBirding] Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question   -----Original Message----- From: Dave Goodwin To: BRDBRAIN Sent: Thu, Dec 22, 2011 10:03 am Subject: Re: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question Hi Chester, As the first person to ever report a Black-hooded Parakeet in the wild (St. Petersburg, 1969), I have waited longer than anyone to gain this bird on my life list. The reason the ABA has not accepted the species as an established exotic is simply that #1 - the range of the population center along the Florida west coast has not expanded much in over 40 years, and #2 in recent years the numbers have seemed to be in a steady decline. When the bird came up for consideration a few years ago it lost by one vote (2 people voted no - one more than the limit). Regarding sightings outside of the population center, there have been other small "colonies" in various locations around the state. I have seen the birds in Key West and Miami as well as Titusville. To my knowledge, the colony in Titusville disappeared by the late 70's - early 80's. I am not sure of the numbers involved in Miami, Key Largo, or Key West. The numbers of Black-hooded Parakeets have declined the past few years on the St. Pete CBC (the heart of the population) until this year which saw a rebound in numbers. The 836 seen in 2007 dropped to less than 200 last year. Why? One possibility is this: BHPA are cavity nesters - the population will always be limited by available nesting sites. A large group living in Isla Del Sol (on the way to Ft. DeSoto Park) disappeared after the residents complained about the "noise" and the dead palms used by the parrots were removed. The rebound in numbers actually poses the question - where are all these birds nesting???? I would suggest that the ABA Checklist Committee does not wish a repeat of the population crash of the Budgerigar - I saw a roost of thousands of Budgies in St. Pete in the 1970's. Now we get excited about finding 30 in Hernando Beach! I would also point out that the numbers of Monk Parakeets is on a decline as well since the power companies are destroying the Monk nests in the power substations. This year, despite looking for years, I saw my first Black-hooded Parakeets in Hillsborough County, just a few miles east of the population center. Why have they not expanded inland even 20 miles? Unknown - maybe once again lack of nesting sites. Hopefully data from the upcoming Florida Breeding Bird Atlas II will give us a better handle on the range of the birds. Sooner or later the ABA will readdress the status of the parrot. Remember, the only thing you can't "count" the parrot on is your published list in ABA. It's your life list and what's on it is your business. You play by the ABA rules only if you want your list totals published. Dave Goodwin Brandon FL dave.goodwin AT aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Chester John Blazak To: BRDBRAIN Sent: Thu, Dec 22, 2011 4:12 am Subject: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question In reviewing the full listing I noted that Black-hooded parakeet was the number one bird in terms of numbers (435!) does anyone know why the ABA doesn't recognize this beautiful bird as established? I have viewed it on Key Largo, Miami as well...(been around since the 70's and apparently is flourishing) To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list, please visit us on the web at: http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.html To set to no mail: send a message "SET BRDBRAIN NOMAIL" to LISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDU Report any problems to the listserv administrator: listadmin AT admin.usf.edu __________________________________________________________ To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list,please visit us on the web at:http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.htmlTo set to no mail: send a message "SET BRDBRAIN NOMAIL" toLISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDUReport any problems to the listserv administrator: listadmin AT admin.usf.edu__________________________________________________________ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [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.com Subject: Re: [FlaBirding] Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question From: Jeff Bouton <jbouton2 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 09:00:52 -0800 (PST) Dave and all, Regarding your question 'why haven't they expanded inland?....' These birds don't seem to be utilizing native habitats as much as artificial habitats created by developers planting various palms and other tropical plantings. The vast majority of the state away from the coast seems to consist of Oak Hammocks, Cypress swamp, remnants of native prairie, or more likely a mix of the above with pasture lands. Given this, I don't think you should ever expect to see Black-hoodeds inland as they don't utilize they habitats even where large concentrations exist.  Despite what is happening in Pinellas county, the bird is indeed expanding greatly particularly along the east coast where they seem to occur along the entire coastline in proper habitat from St. Augustine all the way through the central Keys (perhaps more). I now in my experience I've seen them in proper habitats all along the East coast everywhere. I fully expect this species in proper habitats here on any day of birding. I understand the resistance by committees to call something established because if it crashes they are worried their reputations will be tarnished. However, it's unfortunate that much of the committee is making decisions based on inaccurate data or their personal recollections from trips decades ago. Best, Jeff Bouton Port Charlotte, FL jbouton2 AT yahoo.com ________________________________ From: "efalconh AT netscape.net" To: FlaBirding AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 10:05 AM Subject: [FlaBirding] Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question   -----Original Message----- From: Dave Goodwin To: BRDBRAIN Sent: Thu, Dec 22, 2011 10:03 am Subject: Re: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question Hi Chester, As the first person to ever report a Black-hooded Parakeet in the wild (St. Petersburg, 1969), I have waited longer than anyone to gain this bird on my life list. The reason the ABA has not accepted the species as an established exotic is simply that #1 - the range of the population center along the Florida west coast has not expanded much in over 40 years, and #2 in recent years the numbers have seemed to be in a steady decline. When the bird came up for consideration a few years ago it lost by one vote (2 people voted no - one more than the limit). Regarding sightings outside of the population center, there have been other small "colonies" in various locations around the state. I have seen the birds in Key West and Miami as well as Titusville. To my knowledge, the colony in Titusville disappeared by the late 70's - early 80's. I am not sure of the numbers involved in Miami, Key Largo, or Key West. The numbers of Black-hooded Parakeets have declined the past few years on the St. Pete CBC (the heart of the population) until this year which saw a rebound in numbers. The 836 seen in 2007 dropped to less than 200 last year. Why? One possibility is this: BHPA are cavity nesters - the population will always be limited by available nesting sites. A large group living in Isla Del Sol (on the way to Ft. DeSoto Park) disappeared after the residents complained about the "noise" and the dead palms used by the parrots were removed. The rebound in numbers actually poses the question - where are all these birds nesting???? I would suggest that the ABA Checklist Committee does not wish a repeat of the population crash of the Budgerigar - I saw a roost of thousands of Budgies in St. Pete in the 1970's. Now we get excited about finding 30 in Hernando Beach! I would also point out that the numbers of Monk Parakeets is on a decline as well since the power companies are destroying the Monk nests in the power substations. This year, despite looking for years, I saw my first Black-hooded Parakeets in Hillsborough County, just a few miles east of the population center. Why have they not expanded inland even 20 miles? Unknown - maybe once again lack of nesting sites. Hopefully data from the upcoming Florida Breeding Bird Atlas II will give us a better handle on the range of the birds. Sooner or later the ABA will readdress the status of the parrot. Remember, the only thing you can't "count" the parrot on is your published list in ABA. It's your life list and what's on it is your business. You play by the ABA rules only if you want your list totals published. Dave Goodwin Brandon FL dave.goodwin AT aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Chester John Blazak To: BRDBRAIN Sent: Thu, Dec 22, 2011 4:12 am Subject: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question In reviewing the full listing I noted that Black-hooded parakeet was the number one bird in terms of numbers (435!) does anyone know why the ABA doesn't recognize this beautiful bird as established? I have viewed it on Key Largo, Miami as well...(been around since the 70's and apparently is flourishing) To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list, please visit us on the web at: http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.html To set to no mail: send a message "SET BRDBRAIN NOMAIL" to LISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDU Report any problems to the listserv administrator: listadmin AT admin.usf.edu __________________________________________________________ To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list,please visit us on the web at:http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.htmlTo set to no mail: send a message "SET BRDBRAIN NOMAIL" toLISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDUReport any problems to the listserv administrator: listadmin AT admin.usf.edu__________________________________________________________ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question From: efalconh AT netscape.net Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:05:30 -0500 (EST) -----Original Message----- From: Dave Goodwin To: BRDBRAIN Sent: Thu, Dec 22, 2011 10:03 am Subject: Re: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question Hi Chester, As the first person to ever report a Black-hooded Parakeet in the wild (St. Petersburg, 1969), I have waited longer than anyone to gain this bird on my life list. The reason the ABA has not accepted the species as an established exotic is simply that #1 - the range of the population center along the Florida west coast has not expanded much in over 40 years, and #2 in recent years the numbers have seemed to be in a steady decline. When the bird came up for consideration a few years ago it lost by one vote (2 people voted no - one more than the limit). Regarding sightings outside of the population center, there have been other small "colonies" in various locations around the state. I have seen the birds in Key West and Miami as well as Titusville. To my knowledge, the colony in Titusville disappeared by the late 70's - early 80's. I am not sure of the numbers involved in Miami, Key Largo, or Key West. The numbers of Black-hooded Parakeets have declined the past few years on the St. Pete CBC (the heart of the population) until this year which saw a rebound in numbers. The 836 seen in 2007 dropped to less than 200 last year. Why? One possibility is this: BHPA are cavity nesters - the population will always be limited by available nesting sites. A large group living in Isla Del Sol (on the way to Ft. DeSoto Park) disappeared after the residents complained about the "noise" and the dead palms used by the parrots were removed. The rebound in numbers actually poses the question - where are all these birds nesting???? I would suggest that the ABA Checklist Committee does not wish a repeat of the population crash of the Budgerigar - I saw a roost of thousands of Budgies in St. Pete in the 1970's. Now we get excited about finding 30 in Hernando Beach! I would also point out that the numbers of Monk Parakeets is on a decline as well since the power companies are destroying the Monk nests in the power substations. This year, despite looking for years, I saw my first Black-hooded Parakeets in Hillsborough County, just a few miles east of the population center. Why have they not expanded inland even 20 miles? Unknown - maybe once again lack of nesting sites. Hopefully data from the upcoming Florida Breeding Bird Atlas II will give us a better handle on the range of the birds. Sooner or later the ABA will readdress the status of the parrot. Remember, the only thing you can't "count" the parrot on is your published list in ABA. It's your life list and what's on it is your business. You play by the ABA rules only if you want your list totals published. Dave Goodwin Brandon FL dave.goodwin AT aol.com -----Original Message----- From: Chester John Blazak To: BRDBRAIN Sent: Thu, Dec 22, 2011 4:12 am Subject: [BRDBRAIN] St. Petersburg CBC question In reviewing the full listing I noted that Black-hooded parakeet was the number one bird in terms of numbers (435!) does anyone know why the ABA doesn't recognize this beautiful bird as established? I have viewed it on Key Largo, Miami as well...(been around since the 70's and apparently is flourishing) To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list, please visit us on the web at: http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.html To set to no mail: send a message "SET BRDBRAIN NOMAIL" to LISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDU Report any problems to the listserv administrator: listadmin AT admin.usf.edu ____________________________________________________________________________ To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list,please visit us on the web at:http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.htmlTo set to no mail: send a message "SET BRDBRAIN NOMAIL" toLISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDUReport any problems to the listserv administrator: listadmin AT admin.usf.edu____________________________________________________________________________ [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.com Subject: Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] Weekiwachee Preserve December 20, 2011 From: efalconh AT netscape.net Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:29:02 -0500 (EST) FYI Anybody needing to see LeConte's Sparrow in Florida. Erik Haney Saint Petersburg -----Original Message----- From: David Gagne To: BRDBRAIN Sent: Tue, Dec 20, 2011 7:38 pm Subject: [BRDBRAIN] Weekiwachee Preserve December 20, 2011 Hi All, Ron Smith, Charlie Fisher, Paul Trunk Cyndi Gates and myself birded this area on the Aripeka-Bayport CBC today and totalled 86 species including an incredible 15 Le Conte's Sparrows. 2 of Ron's pics are attached. Other highlights included the following: Least Bittern 4 King Rail 1 Virginia Rail 3 American Woodcock 2 Savannah Sparrow 60 Grasshopper Sparrow 7 Henslow's Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 1 Swamp Sparrow 35 Great Birding!! Dave Gagne New Port Richey, Florida To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list,please visit us on the web at:http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.htmlTo set to no mail: send a message "SET BRDBRAIN NOMAIL" toLISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDUReport any problems to the listserv administrator: listadmin AT admin.usf.edu____________________________________________________________________________ [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.com Subject: Collier County Big Year #229 From: Vincent P Lucas <vplucas AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:18:49 -0500 Seen today on the return trip home from a super day out at STA-5 that included 13 species of ducks including a very leucistic Northern Shoveler, Canvasback, 300+ Fulvous Whistling-Ducks as well as 2 Cassin's Kingbirds, White-tailed Kite, 20+ Capian Terns, Dunlin and many more species. This photo, courtesy of Peter Thayer (Thayer Birding Software) is my Collier County Big Year #229 and documents Monk Parakeets nesting in Collier County. http://tinyurl.com/6oj76se Vince Vincent P. Lucas Naples, FL vplucas AT comcast.net http://www.flickr.com/photos/leppyone/ [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.com Subject: Fwd: [BRDBRAIN] Fort De Soto Park Toll/Fee Update Info From: efalconh AT netscape.net Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:36:51 -0500 (EST) FYI -----Original Message----- From: Ron Smith To: BRDBRAIN Sent: Fri, Dec 16, 2011 3:41 pm Subject: [BRDBRAIN] Fort De Soto Park Toll/Fee Update Info Good afternoon, FYI. As I type, a new toll booth is being built within Fort De Soto Park. This new toll booth is being built south of the entrance to the campground, but just north of the "T" intersection (where the large American flag flies). I believe you will still have to pay the state their 35-cents to utilize the bridge that crosses over Bunces Pass as you first enter the Fort De Soto Park boundary. According to the blinking information sign at the park --- There will be a $5 daily fee. You may purchase an annual pass for $75 ($55 for seniors). These new fees will come into play starting January 1st. As many of you know the county has made severe personnel cuts within the Pinellas County Parks Department, cutting the services we've grown to appreciate. In particular, this has really hurt Fort De Soto, the busiest county park in Pinellas - and probably all of Florida. Please let's not get into a political debate as to whether we think its right or wrong. This e-mail was sent out as an FYI to all. I'll advise more when/if I learn more. thank you, -- Ron Smith St. Pete, FL BrdBrain(s) Listserv Owner www.PinellasBirds.com To subscribe, unsubscribe or view archives of the brdbrain listserv list, please visit us on the web at: http://listserv.admin.usf.edu/archives/brdbrain.html To set to no mail: send a message "SET BRDBRAIN NOMAIL" to LISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ADMIN.USF.EDU Report any problems to the listserv administrator: listadmin AT admin.usf.edu ____________________________________________________________________________ [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.com Subject: Re: Cassin's and Gray Kingbirds, Hendry County From: Vincent P Lucas <vplucas AT comcast.net> Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:27:52 -0500 Roberto: CR846 & CR835 do not intersect! The intersection to which you refer is actually CR835 & CR833. The exact area where these birds were seen is the Deer Fence Canal. The Cassin's Kingbird, if it is the same one, was first found and photographed at this location by Matt Pike on April 15, 2006. It was again found and photographed at the same general location in 2007 by Gary Legates on the 1st STA-5 CBC. It has been seen a few other times since that time. Of course, there is another CAKI very nearby on the western edge of STA-5 that has been returning to that site for several years now, including this year. Gray Kingbirds have been found "late" at this same location at Deer Fence Canal a few times. Charlie Ewell photographed this exact Gray Kingbird two weeks ago when the Caloosa Bird Club had their fieldtrip to STA-5. Other Tyrant flycatchers including several Western Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are also regulars in this same general vicinity. Vince Vincent P. Lucas Naples, FL vplucas AT comcast.net http://www.flickr.com/photos/leppyone/ On Dec 16, 2011, at 7:59 PM, Roberto Torres wrote: > Alex Harper, Tito Luciano, and I located a Cassin's Kingbird on County > Road 835 just after it turns north about 3 miles east of where 835 > meets with State Hwy 846/CR 833. A Gray Kingbird was next to the > Cassin's. Both birds were on the wires along the east side of 835. > About 1/2 mile farther north we found a Western Kingbird. > > If you do a Google Maps search with the following location (County > Road 835 & State Highway 846, Clewiston, Hendry, Florida 33440), it > will put you on the intersection of 835 with 846. Follow the road 3 > miles east until it turns north. The kingbirds were just north of a > driveway into a dirt road on the east side. The driveway has a sign > with red numbers "26882". > > Google Earth coordinates: 26 deg, 21 min, 12.00 sec N > 80 deg, 58 min, 45.44 sec W > > Roberto > Miami-Dade > rtorres AT tnc.org > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [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.com Subject: Cassin's and Gray Kingbirds, Hendry County From: Roberto Torres <rtorres AT tnc.org> Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:59:04 +0000 Alex Harper, Tito Luciano, and I located a Cassin's Kingbird on County Road 835 just after it turns north about 3 miles east of where 835 meets with State Hwy 846/CR 833. A Gray Kingbird was next to the Cassin's. Both birds were on the wires along the east side of 835. About 1/2 mile farther north we found a Western Kingbird. If you do a Google Maps search with the following location (County Road 835 & State Highway 846, Clewiston, Hendry, Florida 33440), it will put you on the intersection of 835 with 846. Follow the road 3 miles east until it turns north. The kingbirds were just north of a driveway into a dirt road on the east side. The driveway has a sign with red numbers "26882". Google Earth coordinates: 26 deg, 21 min, 12.00 sec N 80 deg, 58 min, 45.44 sec W Roberto Miami-Dade rtorres AT tnc.org [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.com Subject: Ft Island From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:46:31 -0500 As part of the xmas count today two highlights were; Common Goldeneye 15 Pine Siskin 2 Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [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.com Subject: GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE - Pinellas County (12/10/2011) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 09:30:19 -0500 (EST) Hi All, I just received word from Ron Smith that a Green-tailed Towhee was discovered this morning during a St. Pete Audubon Field Trip (Judi Hopkins, Marie Hughes, et al.) to Possum Branch Preserve. It is being cooperative and is being seen by all who are there. Photos were taken. At the entrance to the preserve take the main trail straight back and make a left at the canal. Follow that till you reach a Mulberry Tree that's at the edge of a Marshy Pond area. The Towhee was around the base of the Mulberry Tree. That's all the information I have for now. Directions to Possum Branch copied from the St. Pete Aububon Website: Possum Branch Preserve, Safety Harbor. Located east side of N. McMullen Booth Road (CR611, just north of Mease Countryside Hospital (3231 McMullen Booth Rd.) before you reach Curlew Road CR586). _http://www.stpeteaudubon.org/trips-and-events_ (http://www.stpeteaudubon.org/trips-and-events) This is the second record of Green-tailed Towhee for Pinellas County and either the 5th or 6th for the entire state. A Green-tailed Towhee was found at Honeymoon Island SP in February of 2003 that was seen by many and stayed in the area for over a month. Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: TAS Exotics Field Trip, Saurday, December 3, 2011 From: Paul Bithorn <pblifeisgood AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2011 16:51:25 -0500 Thirty-five birders assembled for the Tropical Audubon Society's annual "Exotics" fieldtrip on Saturday, December 3, 2011. We met at 6:30 a.m. in the north parking lot of Matheson Hammock County Park. Birders from Orlando, Clearwater, Fellsmere, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach and several provinces of Canada enjoyed the great weather with light winds and temperatures in the mid-70’s. We arrived at Daria's home at 7:00 a.m. and were greeted by she and her husband, who welcomed us into their home in anticipation of the arrival of Blue and Yellow Macaws. Our “Hostess with the Mostess” and her husband were gracious enough to provide us with a breakfast feast of homemade muffins, fresh fruit, and freshly brewed coffee. It wasn’t long before two macaws arrived, while a flock of White Ibis, Laughing and Ring-billed Gulls adorned the lawn in her backyard. I cannot thank her and her husband enough for hosting such a large group. Daria’s passion for this species is quite evident when she addresses groups of birders. Our next stop was Matheson Hammock, and a flock of eleven Hill Mynas fed in the Cuba Royal Palms offering close looks at the stark contrast between their black bodies, white wing patches and golden-yellow wattles. A small flock of Yellow-chevroned Parakeets were also seen at this beautiful county park built by workers from the Civilian Conservation, adding another exotic species to our list. We headed to a residential neighborhood called Kendallwood west of S.W. 87th Avenue, and spotted a commune of Monk Parakeets on the power-lines adjacent to their stick nest, imbedded around an FPL transformer. A large flock of Mitred Parakeets landed on power-lines, and the large variability of red blotches on the head and body proved that “no two Mitred’s are alike”. While walking along S.W. 83rd St. we spotted a pair of Red-whiskered Bulbuls, allowing scope views, they fed on Wild Balsam Apple seeds intertwined in a Glory Bower Bush. Another introduced species, White-winged Doves, were also in the area. Raptors in the area included; a Short-tailed Hawk, Red-Shouldered Hawk, and American Kestrel. We proceeded to the Emergency overflow parking lot at Baptist Hospital, where Chinese Swan Geese,Egyptian Geese, and Pekin and Muscovy ducks were feeding on breadcrumbs by the large pond. Rock Pigeons, Eurasian Collared Doves, European Starlings and House Sparows were other introduced species seen at the park. Our next stop was lunch at Havana Spice Café on US 1, where we were greeted by the owner, who treated us to tasty, authentic Cuban Cuisine at a very reasonable price. Studying the paintings on the wall of Cuba in better days and having recently watched Andy Garcia’s movie, “The Lost City”, about the Cuban revolution, made me yearn for a free Cuba, the homeland of my mother. Ironically, my table was adjacent to a beautiful painting of a pair of Blue and Yellow Macaws. After consulting the brain trust -an obvious oxymoron- of our group, we agreed that we should head to the Miami Shores Country Club for Chestnut-fronted Macaws, based on recent posts by Alex Harper and British birder, Graham Langley. A flock of thirty-five White-winged Parakeets were seen, but besides a pair of Egyptian Geese with three young, the birding was slow, so we headed over to Nancy Freedman’s neck of the woods in Biscayne Gardens, and stopped at a well-known parrot roost at 14095 S. Biscayne Drive. To early for any psttacids, we headed to her home in hopes of spotting – no pun intended – a Spot-breasted Oriole. No luck, but we saw a large flock of White-eyed Parakeets heading toward the previously mentioned roost and were soon treated to close-up views of this emerald green parakeet. We estimated 90 birds were in the flock. We headed back to Miami Shores Country Club and for the grand finale, we enjoyed a fly-in of 39 Chestnut-fronted Macaws, many flying directly over our heads. If you closed your eyes, you could imagine being in a country far, far away, where these spectacular birds wander in their native lands. The only disappointment was that Daria was not with us to enjoy this spectacle. Two Orange-winged Parrots flew over us as darkness began to set in and we called it a day. Our exotics total finished up at nineteen, including eight psittacids. Total species seen was fifty-two. Many thanks to local birders, Brian Rapoza, John Boyd, Nancy Freedman, and Gary and Jocelyn Robinson, who were great co-leaders in helping such a large group navigate safely around the Miami area and to our birders for carefully following directions to all of our stops and returning home safe and sound. Life is good............................ exotic birding in exotic South Florida. As I was writing this, I saw my first Wilson’s Warbler of the year in my backyard in Virginia Gardens and a new “Yardbird” –pales in comparison to seeing Jimmy Page for the first time in 1968! P.S. Great Dolphin win over the Raiders, on a day that the late Jim “Mad Dog” Mandich was in our all of our thoughts. If you listened closely, you could imagine hearing “All right Miamiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!” each time the Dolphins scored. Paul Bithorn Virginia Gardens, Florida [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.com Subject: Accepting Fall Bird Observations in West-Central Florida for FFN & NAB From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2011 17:58:19 -0500 (EST) Hi All, Please send me any interesting bird sightings in West-Central Florida from this past Fall for possible inclusion in the Florida Field Naturalist (published by the Florida Ornithological Society) & also North American Birds. The focus of these quarterly reports is on interesting or rare/unusual bird observations (including exotic species) and other interesting sightings (high numbers, interesting behavior, breeding status, etc). If you are unsure whether your sighting qualifies, please send it to me anyway. The West-Central area includes: Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Hardee, DeSoto & Sarasota counties. If you have any significant bird observations from this Fall (1 August through 30 November) in these counties please e-mail them to me at: BrianAhern AT aol.com PLEASE follow this format when putting your report together, and please put all your observations in phylogenetic order, not in random or chronological order Species: Number of individuals: Date(s): Location (including county): Observers: Details for species rare or difficult to distinguish from common species, or any unusual behavior or notes (photos are gladly accepted too!): All observers whose sightings are published are acknowledged fully in FFN & NAB. Thank you! Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. [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.com Subject: Yellow-headed Parrot conservation - how you can help From: "northfloridawildlife" <NORTHFLORIDAWILDLIFE AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:18:49 -0000 Dear FlaBirding members: The listserv moderator has generously allowed me to submit the following message. Please feel free to share as appropriate. I will not clog your email inbox with any additional appeals. Your support is appreciated. - Michael Keys Please help support a great cause – saving the highly endangered Belizean Yellow-headed Parrot using artificial insert cavities similar to those we successfully pioneered right here in the Southeastern US for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. I am seeking donations to help defray costs to install cavities in Belize during January, 2012. You can read the full text below or follow these links to more information. Visit my blog which contains secure donation links at: http://www.northfloridawildlife.blogspot.com Contribute to the cause directly through this PayPal link: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=YK2\ JWLA8GWGUA The project is also on the crowd-funding site: http://www.indiegogo.com/Make-Homes-For-The-Belize-Yellow-Headed-Parrot To see a video of an installation of an artificial cavity, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hrN1reZtj8 The Story I'm a wildlife biologist. At my day job, I work for a public land management agency in Florida's Big Bend region on the Gulf coast. One of the endangered species that I work with is the Red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW). I'm also a traveling biologist who helps landowners throughout the range of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker recover populations of this amazing little bird. This venture gets me out into the field conducting on-the-ground conservation projects focused on this rare woodpecker species and southern pine forests in general. A cornerstone of my work with the RCW is installing artificial nest cavities in high up in live pine trees. A thousand miles south of here, another critically endangered bird also lives in cavities in pine trees. It will benefit from the same type of artificial cavities as the RCW. The Parrot The Yellow-headed Parrot (YHP) has bright beautiful plumage and incredible abilities to mimic human speech. Sadly, these traits are also the leading causes of the species' endangered status. The Belizean Yellow-headed Parrot (Amazona oratrix belizensis) has been experiencing severe population declines since at least the mid 1970s when poachers began aggressively pursuing them for the illegal pet trade. The illegal harvest of parrot chicks and habitat loss of open pine savannas has left less than 7,000 YHPs in the wild today according to Bird Life International. Extinction in our lifetime is a real possibility for this species. The fascinating thing is that the YHP lives in cavities in Caribbean pine trees in habitats that are amazingly similar to our longleaf and slash pine forests of Florida where the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker makes its home. The Impact No one has ever tried this before, but we believe cavity installation techniques similar to what has worked for the Red-cockaded woodpecker can be employed to provide safe nesting habitat for the much rarer Yellow-headed Parrot. In fact, poaching is the number one problem for all species of Amazon parrots, and creation of artificial cavities high in the native Caribbean pines requires specialized climbing gear that the average poacher will not have. Our plan is to make nest cavities above the reach of bird grabbers and give these birds a fighting chance to reproduce in the wild. The Partnership Our goal is to contribute to the survival of Yellow-Headed Parrot through direct conservation action, research and community participation with partnerships in Belize. This project – the RCW-YHP Project - will be managed by a partnership of staff who work at TIDE, Belize (Toledo Institute for Development and Environment), Steve Morrison (an employee of a national conservation NGO who is based in Central Florida) and myself, Michael Keys. The Need My funding plan is simple, but, I can't completely self-finance my way back and forth to remote Belize savannas with boxes of equipment and supplies. I have the resources, tools of the trade and committed conservation partners to initiate a pilot project and test the theory that artificial cavity creation will greatly benefit the YHP. Funds are needed to cover the costs associated with travel, creation of nest boxes and shipping of materials to/from Belize to start construction. My goal is to raise enough money to cover the costs of an initial expedition in January 2012 and a follow-up trip within the year to assess results, refine techniques and continue with installations of nest boxes. All funds will go directly to support creation of artificial nest cavities in Payne's Creek National Park, Toledo District, Belize. This project relies on donations to cover the costs of travel and shipping supplies, construction of the nest boxes and equipment such as chain saws and ladders used to install cavities. Your Contribution Gifts of any size are appreciated. While this is a not-for-profit project, donations are not currently tax-deductible. If our financial goal is exceeded, surplus funds will be devoted to increasing monitoring of the success of the the project and expansion to other sites in Belize where the Yellow-headed Parrot is still found. Sponsorship Levels (substitutions allowed for sponsors wishing an appreciation gift commensurate with lesser value donations): Egg-in-Nest - $10-24… a personalized digital postcard taken in the Belizean pine savannas on the first expedition to install cavities in January 2012. Fluffy Nestling - $25-74… a personalized digital postcard as above plus links to helmet-cam video taken during cavity construction. Happy Fledgling - $75-99… an original North Florida Wildlife logo t-shirt on 100% organic cotton (please email size). Big Bird – over $100… a printed and matted one-of-a-kind 8x10 photograph taken in the Belizean pine savannas on the first expedition to install cavities in January 2012 near Punta Gorda, Belize. [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.com Subject: Caracaras From: dixiesansom AT aol.com Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:56:15 -0500 (EST) It was nice to see a pair of Caracaras along the Upper St. John's River marsh in the Cocoa area today. [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.com Subject: Cinnamon Teal, Green Cay Wetlands From: Roberto Torres <rtorres AT tnc.org> Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:49:42 +0000 11/19-20/11--Cinnamon Teal, Broward County, Boynton Beach, Green Cay Wetlands.Directions: from Florida Turnpike take exit 81 (Atlantic Ave). Go east ~1/2 mile to Hagen Ranch Rd and turn north. Green Cay wetlands is ~2.2 mi on east side, at 12800 Hagen Ranch Rd. (DeLORME p. 115)Go past nature center and take boardwalk to right. Continue straight past first turnoff to "T" intersection, then turn left. Cinnamon Teal seen past first hammock to right (east) among Blue-winged Teal and coots. Scope helpful, but ducks move about, so Cinnamon could be anywhere in area. Thought to be eclipse male. [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.com Subject: RFI Avon Park AFR CBC Date From: Tom Palmer <tomp47 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:40:34 -0800 (PST) Dear All, Anyone know if date has been set for Avon Park Air Force Range CBC? Tom Palmer Winter Haven Follow my environmental musings at www.lakebluescrub.blogspot.com [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.com Subject: Canvasbacks at Lake Chautauqua From: Robert Haire <swedecar AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2011 13:56:02 -0500 Saturday there was a male canvasback feeding with the mallards (and feeding like the mallards) by the dock on Chautauqua in Clearwater. Sunday I did not see the male but a female Canvasback (not seen on Saturday) was hanging with two Ring necked ducks. The two canvasbacks should hook up if they would just slow down for a while. R. N. Haire (former avid birder) Clearwater ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: Apalachee Audobon Sosiety From: "PHILIP H" <p.haslinger AT btinternet.com> Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:48:48 -0000 Does anyone have any information as to where I may locate information about the Apalachee Audobon Society which covers The Big Bend and Tallahassee wildlife ? The last info I have is 2008 but when I checked up using the links I had from then I discovered they were no longer valid . I was wanting to sign up for the newsletters . I have been a few years ago to Florida for a holiday and am still interested in the area . Can anyone assist. Thank you, Philip (UK) ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: Parasitic Jaeger, Captiva, Lee Co From: Vincent McGrath <McAvian AT aol.com> Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2011 18:27:09 -0500 If the 1,000s of gulls, terns and pelicans weren't impressive enough this dark form swooped in on a flock resting on the beach, the target was a crop filled laughing gull. One upchuck and a maneuver later the Parasitic Jaeger had a snack. Even more surprising the jaeger landed on the beach and quickly settled down. Funny how it sits away from the flock, which of course wouldn't let it near anyway. Mcavian AT aol.com Vince McGrath Fort Myers, Fl ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: RFI: Miami Ani, Cowbird, Oriole From: Gary Meyer <weissalberich AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2011 10:53:58 -0800 (PST) Hi all:   I have a very long layover next week in Miami and was wondering if anyone has any recently productive sites for the ani, shiny cowbird, or spot-breasted oriole.  These are always evading me so if anyone has some recommendations, chasing them would be a good way for me to spend the day.   Thanks much -   Gary Meyer San Francisco, CA [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.com Subject: RFI feral cat colonies in birding areas From: Tom Palmer <tomp47 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2011 11:24:28 -0800 (PST)   Dear All, I'm looking for information about the extent of feral cat colonies in birding areas in Florida. Respond off list only, please. Tom Palmer Winter Haven Follow my environmental musings at www.lakebluescrub.blogspot.com [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.com Subject: Fw: 2012 Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, January 25 - 29, 2012 From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:29:58 -0400 Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL ----- Original Message ----- From: Joel Reynolds To: Undisclosed-Recipient:; Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 1:39 PM Subject: 2012 Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, January 25 - 29, 2012 The website for the 2012 Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival is up and ready. See: www.spacecoastbirdingandwildlifefestival.org The site is extremely user friendly and ready to sign-up folks wanting to attend this unbelievable January Birding and Wildlife adventure that takes attendees all over Central Florida!!! I have helped out during this event for many years. It brings over 4000 folks to Titusville and I think you would want to be a part of this. A lot of local folks volunteer their time to make it a great experience and folks attend or come to lead events from all over the world. Plus it is one of the largest Birding events in America. I will be helping out a little more this year - see the Photographer Section and page 49 of the downloadable Program. I would be happy to answer any of your questions. Joel Reynolds joelr AT cfl.rr.com [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.com Subject: Ft. DeSoto Park (10/27/2011) - Painted Bunting From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:46:48 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, I birded Ft. DeSoto Park this morning from 9 AM to 12 PM, activity was pretty low but I did find a few interesting birds. I did not see any of the Scissor-tailed Flycatchers so maybe they have moved on or later in the day when they come in to roost would be a better time to look. 13 Redhead - back now at Tierra Verde Ponds 4 Magnificent Frigatebird 2 Merlin 6 American Coot - back now at Tierra Verde Ponds 2 Merlin 3 White-winged Dove - seen from the road to the fort 1 Great Horned Owl - at East Beach Woods for a change! 1 Ovenbird 1 Black & White Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 1 Orange-crowned Warbler - female, near the end of the Privet Trail (Sorry Sue!) 12 Common Yellowthroat 20 Palm Warbler 1 Prairie Warbler 1 Indigo Bunting 1 Painted Bunting - female type, very dull, near the Ranger's House Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: Re: Lee Co Clapper Rail From: Wes Biggs <birdsatfnt AT bellsouth.net> Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:45:21 -0400 Vince, If you keep an ABA list it's countable if it was still alive when you first saw & IDd it. My guess is that it was not, so it is no more countable than if it was dead on the side of the road. Dems da rules! Wes Biggs Orlando Vincent McGrath wrote: > > Just a few dozen yards from the Golden Plover at Bunche Beach > saltflats. So, Is this a countable Clapper Rail? I'm open to comment- > > ---------- > > Mcavian AT aol.com > Vince McGrath > Fort Myers, Fl > > [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.com Subject: Dry Tortugas spring 2012 From: Wes Biggs <birdsatfnt AT bellsouth.net> Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:07:33 -0400 Dear Fellow Birders, After several years on hiatus Florida Nature Tours is back bigger and better than ever. Check out our web site www.floridanaturetours.net. At Florida Nature Tours we strive to bring you the best tour at the best price. We want you to know that you are ALWAYS a fellow birder first and a customer second. To that end we will ALWAYS GIVE YOU MORE. WE WILL: ALWAYS have the best price. Our Dry Tortugas tours are priced $195.00 less than those offered by our lowest priced competitor, and many hundreds of dollars less than the others. ALWAYS give you a day of birding in the lower keys at no extra charge! ALWAYS have guides who are Florida birding experts. Most of our guides are Florida residents and all have years of experience with Florida birds. We will have three guides on each Dry Tortugas tour. The people with the four highest Florida ABA life lists all lead for us. Read their bios on our guides page. ALWAYS support conservation, scientific and birding organizations, and the people who have dedicated their lives to the study and protection of bird populations. Book a Dry Tortugas trip with us and a $100.00 donation will be made in you name to the organization of your choice. Please see the conservation page on our web site to learn more. ALWAYS show our appreciation to past Dry Tortugas customers. A $50.00 rebate will be made to all past FNT Tortugans. ALWAYS answer your questions by email or over the phone. We can't guarantee that you will always like the answer, but we will always get back to you. BUT WE WILL: NEVER Stick you with a fuel surcharge. If the cost of fuel goes up we take 100% of the hit, NOT YOU! NEVER keep one penny of you money if you have to cancel due to a genuine emergency. If you have a real emergency and are unable to go on the tour we will not add to your problems by keeping your money, any of it. So, why do we do all these things that no one else does? Because when we say that you are ALWAYS a fellow birder first and a customer second, we mean it! Compare what we have to offer with that of our competitors and you will see that there is absolutely no comparison. If you have always wanted to visit the Dry Tortugas or want to go back, there is no better time than now to sign up with Florida Nature Tours. Wes Biggs birdsatfnt AT bellsouth.net 407 384-9766 Cell 407 376-6967 Orlando ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: Re: [Fwd: Zellwood/Mt Dora Christmas Bird Count] From: Wes Biggs <birdsatfnt AT bellsouth.net> Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:00:12 -0400 > > Hi All, > > The Zellwood count will be held on Friday December 16, 2011. This is > consistently the top inland count in Florida & one of the very best > inland counts on the continent. Please let me know if you can make > this year. > > Wes Biggs > compiler > > Orlando > ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: John Chesnut Park - Greater White-fronted Goose flyover (10/22/2011) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:51:54 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, Ron Smith led a St. Pete Audubon field trip this morning to John Chesnut Park that was well attended with over 30 people. The target bird for the trip was Bay-breasted Warbler and people were not disappointed getting great looks at one which was also a lifer for many. The bonus of the trip however was a Greater White-fronted Goose seen flying south overheard. This makes the 3rd time this species has been found somewhere in Florida in just the past week. It's also the first known report of one in Pinellas County since 1957! Other highlights include: 1 Greater White-fronted Goose 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 4 Chimney Swift 1 Marsh Wren 1 Ovenbird 8 Black & White Warbler 6 Tennessee Warbler 6 Common Yellowthroat 3 American Redstart 2 Northern Parula 1 Magnolia Warbler 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 20 Palm Warbler 35 Pine Warbler 9 Yellow-throated Warbler 2 Prairie Warbler 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 7 Indigo Bunting Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: FOS Fall Meeting Summery - Dauphin Island, Alabama October 14-16, 2011 From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:46:17 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, Well over 100 people attended the joint Florida Ornithological Society & Alabama Ornithological Society Fall Meeting that was held last weekend at Dauphin Island, Alabama. Jon Dunn gave two great evening presentations, one on recent AOU taxonomic changes and the other on shorebird identification. Other talks in the afternoon focused on the biology and conservation of select species of birds including American Oystercatcher, Snail Kite, American Woodcock, Bald Eagle, Northern Bobwhite & Florida Grasshopper Sparrow. The Florida Keys Hawkwatch Population Monitoring Program was the recipient of the Cruickshank Research Award and will receive $2500 from FOS. The Robertson Fellowship Award went to a project working on the conservation of the Golden Swallow in the Dominican Republic and will be given $545 from FOS. Field Trips to Fort Pickens and Dauphin Island totaled over 130 species with many great birds such as: 6 species of Ducks, Northern Gannet, Reddish Egret, Peregrine Falcon, Snowy & Piping Plovers, American Oystercatcher, Great Black-backed Gull, Groove-billed Ani, multiple Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Philadelphia Vireo, at least 22 species of warblers with quite a few Nashville Warblers, Nelson's Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and many Buntings & Grosbeaks. A huge thanks to AOS for hosting the fall meeting this year. The next Florida Ornithological Society meeting will be held May 18-20, 2012 near Live Oak, Florida and will be the official "kick-off" for the Breeding Bird Atlas. Best, Brian Ahern FOS Secretary Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com [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.com Subject: Ft. DeSoto Park - Philadelphia Vireo & Clay-colored Sparrow (10/20/2011) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:51:57 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, This morning I birded Ft. DeSoto Park from 9 AM to a little after 1 PM. My best birds were a Philadelphia Vireo & a Clay-colored Sparrow, both were found in a large Mulberry Tree next to the parking lot by the Ranger's House. I also checked out the North Beach & Oak Grove, Fort area, and East Beach Woods. The Mulberry Trees/Ranger House had the largest numbers of migrants around. 4 Northern Shoveler - Tierra Verde Ponds 2 Reddish Egret 2 Roseate Spoonbill 2 Bald Eagle - adults at Tierra Verde 1 Northern Harrier - 1st. year bird 2 Cooper's Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 American Kestrel 3 Merlin 1 Piping Plover - at Tierra Verde Bridge 1 White-winged Dove 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 6 Chimney Swift 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Acadian Flycatcher 16 White-eyed Vireo 1 PHILADELPHIA VIREO 1 Bank Swallow - somewhat late in the season for them 14 House Wren 10 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 25 Gray Catbird 1 Brown Thrasher 1 Ovenbird 2 Black & White Warbler 35 Tennessee Warbler 15 Common Yellowthroat 1 Hooded Warbler - adult male 12 American Redstart 2 Northern Parula 4 Magnolia Warbler 4 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler - adult female 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler - adult male 30 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-throated Warbler 2 Prairie Warbler 3 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Chipping Sparrow - adult, a little earlier than expected at North Oak Grove 1 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW 1 Scarlet Tanager 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Blue Grosbeak 25 Indigo Bunting 1 House Finch When I left Erik Haney was still birding the park so he may find something to add to the list later. Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: Lettuce Lake Park (10/19/2011) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:18:34 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, Before work this morning I birded Lettuce Lake Park (Hillsborough County) and found the following along the boardwalk and nature trails: 2 Wood Duck 4 Limpkin 4 Eastern Phoebe 5 White-eyed Vireo 3 Red-eyed Vireo 16 Gray Catbird 1 Ovenbird 3 Black & White Warbler 1 Tennessee Warbler 5 Common Yellowthroat 4 Hooded Warbler - all adult males 8 American Redstart - mostly adult males 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Black-throated Blue Warbler - one male, two females 4 Palm Warbler 1 Yellow-throated Warbler 1 Prairie Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler - female, new Hillsborough County bird #266 1 Indigo Bunting 1 House Finch Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: Warbler Valhalla II, Miami-Dade From: Roberto Torres <rtorres AT tnc.org> Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:19:20 -0400 Seven years to the day I finally experienced Warbler Valhalla II. Valhalla is a grand hall ruled by the Norse God Odin. The term Warbler Valhalla was coined by a guy named Pete who was birding with me on Oct. 16, 2004 at Royal Palm where we were literally stepping over the birds. Since that date, I've longed to experience a similar migration event here in South FL. The last couple of days I'd say qualify. I didn't bird yesterday due to church in the morning and rain in the afternoon, but on Saturday I got to see 21 warbler species, while today at Bill Baggs SP on Key Biscayne I got 20. That's 41 warbler species in two days, wow! OK, I may have to work on the math. Still, the variety and numbers of some birds has been impressive. Today I stopped counting Yellow-billed Cuckoos at ~175! If you read my previous posts, you know I tend to downplay most events. I'm not exaggerating with this number. A veritable nuisance species. The only downside to today was the rain. I found it hard to hold the binocs in one hand, the camera in the other hand, and the umbrella in the other hand. But, it was the rain that got us the birds in the first place. Another regret is that I got two very bad photos of the Golden-winged, so I put a lot of effort hoping to relocate it for a better shot but it was not to be. Maybe I could have added a couple more species, but a Golden-winged doesn't come along every day. A good photo will have to wait. Here's my list for today: Golden-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler (10) Northern Parula (30-40) Yellow Warbler Magnolia Warbler (2) Cape May Warbler (30) Black-throated Blue Warbler (200) Blackburnian Warbler (2) Yellow-throated Warbler Prairie Warbler (3) Palm Warbler (50+) Bay-breasted Warbler (25) Blackpoll Warbler Black-and-white Warbler (20) American Redstart (100+) Worm-eating Warbler Ovenbird (75+) Northern Waterthrush (2) Common Yellowthroat (10, many more in the brushy areas) Hooded Warbler (2) Yellow-billed Cuckoo (175+) Eastern Wood-Pewee (3) Acadian Flycatcher White-eyed Vireo (6) Yellow-throated Vireo (2) Red-eyed Vireo (75+) Philadelphia Vireo Gray-cheeked Thrush (3) Swainson's Thrush (2) Wood Thrush Summer Tanager (2) Scarlet Tanager (5) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2) Blue Grosbeak Indigo Bunting (100+) Painted Bunting (25) A couple of photos can bee seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52157777 AT N05/6256431196/in/set-72157627795360731/ Roberto Miami-Dade rtorres AT tnc.org ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: Suwannee River State Park (10/17/2011) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:30:07 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, Coming back from the Florida Ornithological Society Fall Meeting, Wes Biggs, Dave Goodwin, Erik Haney, Eugene Stoccardo and I stopped off at Suwannee River State Park (Northwest of Live Oak) this morning to hike the trails for migrants. We found a nice variety listed below: 1 Barred Owl 1 Red-headed Woodpecker 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3 Northern Flicker 4 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Acadian Flycatcher 4 Eastern Phoebe 5 White-eyed Vireo 1 House Wren 6 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Eastern Bluebird 1 Swainson's Thrush 1 Wood Thrush 1 Gray Catbird 3 Brown Thrasher 1 Ovenbird 1 Northern Waterthrush 3 Black & White Warbler 3 Tennessee Warbler 6 Hooded Warbler 7 American Redstart 1 Northern Parula 10 Magnolia Warbler 1 Blackburnian Warbler 12 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 6 Palm Warbler 5 Pine Warbler 1 Yellow-throated Warbler 4 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Summer Tanager 1 Scarlet Tanager 3 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Indigo Bunting I'll post a summery of the FOS meeting that took place on Dauphin Island, Alabama within the next few days. It was a great meeting with lots of good birds seen by many! Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: Key West fallout From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2011 11:32:04 -0400 Per Carl Goodrich today including the Masked Duck, 20 species of warblers including Canada and Bay-breasted at Fort Zachary Taylor, 60+ Yellow billed Cuckoos, Dickcissel and many thrush's The biggest fallout Carl has ever seen. Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [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.com Subject: Masked Duck From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2011 11:26:05 -0400 At the Botanical Gardens on Stock Island an Adult male! Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [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.com Subject: KEY WEST FALLOUT From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:20:16 -0400 Nothing rare but hundreds of passerines; including a flock of over 300 Chimney Swifts! Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [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.com Subject: The Big Year review From: John Puschock <g_g_allin AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:26:14 +0000 Howdy, I put a review of The Big Year online at http://www.nabirding.com, but bottom line, go see this movie if you're a birder. Also, no need to fear anymore: birders are NOT portrayed negatively in this movie. John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin AT hotmail.com http://www.zbirdtours.com [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.com Subject: Western Tanager, Key West From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:17:16 -0400 Carl Goodrich just reported the subject bird from Fort Zachary Taylor. There were also a lot of warblers & vireos there. Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [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.com Subject: November pelagic From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:13:21 -0400 Perhaps an alcid will show up! Pelagic Birding Trip with the Marine Science Center Sunday, November 13, 2011 The list owner has given me permission to post this pelagic birding opportunity. TheFriends of the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet is sponsoring a pelagicbirding trip on Sunday, November 13, 2011 to help support the Marine Science Center. The tripwill head out from the New Smyrna side of the Inlet to "The Steeples" -- anarea of sea mounts and upwellings on the western edge of the Gulf Stream. Thistrip holds the probability of encountering numerous pelagic species. Jaegermigration should be active. This trip is during the beginning of wintermigration, when there are good chances at fall migrants such as ManxShearwater, and the possibility of winter rarities. PotentialSpecies include (* = good probability): Common Loon* Cory'sShearwater * GreatShearwater * SootyShearwater Audubon'sShearwater * ManxShearwater * Wilson's StormPetrel * Leach'sStorm-Petrel * Band-rumpedStorm-Petrel BrownBooby (Seen on Nov. 2009 trip) NorthernGannet * Red-billedTropicbird (Seen on Nov. 2007 trip) White-tailedTropicbird Red Phalarope* Red-neckedPhalarope * PomarineJaeger * ParasiticJaeger * Long-tailedJaeger (Seen on Nov. 2007 trip) Sooty Tern Bridled Tern * Brown Noddy Sabine's Gull Black-leggedKittiwake Black Scoter * White-wingedScoter Surf Scoter * The tripwill be aboard "The Pastime Princess" a 100-foot, all-aluminum boat withexcellent observation areas on the upper deck and bow and even a nice sternseating area. The cabin can also accommodate 30-40 in air-conditioned comfort.To learn more about the boat go http://www.pastimeprincess.com . Thetrip will LEAVE THE DOCK at 6:00 a.m. and return at 6:00pm. You must be on the boat 15 minutes prior to departure; theboat will not wait for anyone who is late. PLEASE MEET AT 5:30 a.m. Participantscan bring their own food and beverages, but food service will also be availablefor breakfast and lunch at moderate prices. Besure to bring warm layered clothing, rain gear, seasickness medicine, sunscreenand personal items. ? COST: $130/person. Please sendchecks, made payable to "The Friends of the Marine Science Center"to: Friends ofthe Marine Science Center 100Lighthouse Drive PonceInlet. FL 32127 ? ? To sign upplease contact: MichaelBrothers MarineScience Center 100Lighthouse Drive PonceInlet, FL 32127 386-304-5543 mbrothers AT co.volusia.fl.us ? Thanks, Michael Michael Brothers Marine Science Center Ponce Inlet Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [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.com Subject: Yellow-green Vireo Matheson Hammock Park, Coral Cables, Miami-Dade County From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:35:55 -0400 Roberto Torres pulled another great bird from his hat this morning, when he called to tell me that he found a Yellow-green Vireo! I jumped into the car and drove down to Matheson Hammock County Park south of Miami. In no less than 10-mintues we were all looking at the Yellow-green Vireo! Pull into the north main parking lot (on the left side), just after you pull into the park from Old Cutler road. Park here and then walk down the paved trail. Right after you start walking turn right or west. The picnic table that is closest to the hammock or woods, is where you want to look from. Just north of this picnic table is a large Strangler Fig with lots of Virgina Creeper vine growing in the top. The fruit looks black and is what all of the vireos, thrushes etc. love to feed on. This tree is between the picnic table and the main road coming into the park. Directions to the park are here: http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/locations.html#South You can see a picture of the vireo here: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/html/recent_rarities..htm From what I can remember, this may only be the third photographed record of this species for the state! There have been at least 5-reports of birds that were not photographed. I am sure this bird can easily be overlooked during migration. These birds can be very hard to photograph due to their very active nature. Larry Manfredi Homestead, Fl E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net http://www.southfloridabirding.com ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: Lettuce Lake Park - Short-tailed Hawk & Chestnut-sided Warblers (09/14/2011) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:51:52 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, I found a beautiful adult dark morph Short-tailed Hawk perched close up in a Cypress Tree by the new Canoe Launch at Lettuce Lake Park this morning. Made me wish I had a camera with me! Overall activity was low today other th en one flock I came across along the boardwalk which had 3 Chestnut-sided Warblers with it. 1 Short-tailed Hawk - adult dark morph 7 Limpkin - including a chick less than 3 weeks old 1 Acadian Flycatcher 2 White-eyed Vireo 1 Yellow-throated Vireo 10 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Ovenbird 10 Prothonotary Warbler 8 Northern Parula 3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 5 Yellow-throated Warbler Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: Boyd Hill Nature Preserve - 15 species of warblers (09/10/2011) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2011 13:38:39 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, Ron & Lori Smith and myself covered the nature trails at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in south Pinellas County from mid to late morning. We found a nice assortment of birds including 3 Kentucky Warblers and early Swainson's Thrushes. 1 Eastern Screech-Owl 6 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 White-eyed Vireo 30 Red-eyed Vireo 5 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3 Swainson's Thrush 3 Ovenbird 1 Worm-eating Warbler 2 Northern Waterthrush 4 Black & White Warbler 3 Prothonotary Warbler 3 Kentucky Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 Hooded Warbler 2 Northern Parula 2 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 1 Pine Warbler 3 Yellow-throated Warbler 5 Prairie Warbler 1 Scarlet Tanager Earlier we were at Ft. DeSoto Park but came across very few migrants. A flyover Bobolink at the fort and a Solitary Sandpiper under the oaks and picnic tables at East Beach were the only sightings of note. Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: Hillsborough River SP & Lettuce Lake Park - Blue-winged Warbler (09/07/2011) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 18:04:59 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, I spent the afternoon birding Hillsborough River State Park and Lettuce Lake Park in Northeast Hillsborough County. It started off fairly slow at HRSP but at Lettuce Lake I found a few good flocks including a massive one of mostly Prothonotary Warblers. Conservatively I counted 38! Also found a female Blue-winged Warbler and had a good showing of vocal Acadian Flycatchers. Hillsborough River State Park - Rapids & Baynard Trails 1 Barred Owl 7 Acadian Flycatcher - all vocal 2 White-eyed Vireo 3 Yellow-throated Vireo 12 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Ovenbird 5 Northern Waterthrush 2 Black & White Warbler 1 Prothonotary Warbler 8 Hooded Warbler 1 American Redstart 10 Northern Parula 4 Yellow-throated Warbler Lettuce Lake Park 5 Limpkin 2 Common Nighthawk 25 Chimney Swift 1 Acadian Flycatcher 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 2 Yellow-throated Vireo 6 Red-eyed Vireo 4 Northern Waterthrush 1 BLUE-WINGED WARBLER - female 3 Black & White Warbler 38 Prothonotary Warbler - very conservative count! 1 Common Yellowthroat 2 Hooded Warbler 12 Northern Parula 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Pine Warbler 5 Yellow-throated Warbler 1 Prairie Warbler 1 Summer Tanager 1 Scarlet Tanager Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: Pinellas & Hillsborough sightings (09/01/2011) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2011 18:48:10 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, I covered quite a bit of ground today, getting some targets and missing others. Ft. DeSoto Park - East Beach Woods & Mulberry/Fountain area, 8 AM 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 8 Eastern Kingbird 18 Red-eyed Vireo 6 Purple Martin 1 Barn Swallow 12 Prothonotary Warbler 6 Hooded Warbler 1 Northern Parula 1 Yellow-throated Warbler Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 9:30 AM 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Acadian Flycatcher 25 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Ovenbird 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Northern Waterthrush 3 Prothonotary Warbler 8 Hooded Warbler 2 CERULEAN WARBLER 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Yellow-throated Warbler Cockroach Bay Road area, 11:30ish AM The 3 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were present till almost 11 AM but I wasn't, arriving just a little later. I stayed for about an hour seeing most of the shorebird species already reported by others (I did not see anything looking like a White-rumped). I don't know of anyone who did see the Buff-breasted Sandpipers after 11 AM. They could still be in the area, sounds like early morning and late afternoon are the best times. Lettuce Lake Park, 4 PM 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 4 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Black & White Warbler 8 Prothonotary Warbler 6 Hooded Warbler 4 American Redstart 8 Northern Parula 5 Yellow-throated Warbler 1 Prairie Warbler I also heard from Erik Haney who relocated the Golden-winged Warbler at Boyd Hill later in the afternoon and that Sawgrass Lake Park was a happening spot again this morning. You just can't be everywhere at once, even though I tried today! Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: TAS Sod Fram Trip - Saturday, August 27, 2011 From: Paul Bithorn <pblifeisgood AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2011 22:21:00 -0400 The Tropical Audubon Society field trip on Saturday, August 27, 2011, to the sod farms and agricultural areas in Palm Beach County, offered twenty-nine birders a mixture of lifebirds, yearbirds and beerbirds. The temperatures were in the mid 90' s, but a light breeze made the heat somewhat bearable. Our first stop, the Holey Land W.M.A., produced a nice mix of species. On the drive to the water control structure west of the Chinese Fan Palm nursery, we got great looks at Eastern Kingbirds, Yellow and Prairie Warblers, Belted Kingfisher and a beautiful light morph Short-tailed Hawk. I also briefly saw a male Summer Tanager. We noticed that much of the foliage was brown and discovered from the wildlife officer at the Hunter' s Checkpoint that the State had aerial sprayed the area in an attempt to eradicate the exotic species, Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius). We soon discovered that the water control structure had been removed and that the palms had been killed by the aerial spraying, part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). Two members of the group saw a Yellow-billed Cuckoo on the drive in and luckily we were able to relocate it, but not much else, accept for the Black Vultures standing sentinel on a large rock pile. White-eyed Vireo and Common Yellowthroat were both heard. Receiving a tip from Rock Jetty about a large group of birds near a large tower on US 27, we headed out. We soon discovered that there are three cell towers and had trouble finding the flooded field but picked up several Pectoral Sandpipers on sod farms along the way. Phone calls from Rock and Toe alerted us to a flooded field 1.2 miles east of Duda Farm Road on SR 880, where they both had located Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes, the latter being a rarity this far inland and was probably related to the passing of Hurricane Irene off the coast of Florida. We soon located the Wilson' s and American Avocets here, but no Red-necked. A large group of Roseate Spoonbills were feeding in the next pond to the east. We moved on to Brown s Farm Road, where we crossed the first bridge across the canal and found the area full of shorebirds and waders, the highlight being a Willet, another inland rarity. After a quick lunch at Wendy s in Belle Glade we headed to the sod farms, just east of the Brown's Farm turnoff (6-mile bend) on SR 880, and found seventeen Upland Sandpipers. The fields on Sam Center Road were fallow, so we headed east to Gladeview Road where many Gull-billed and Black Terns, along with many shorebirds,hundreds of Wood Storks and other waders were seen. We returned to the phalarope fields and after a couple hours of slowly scoping the field our tenacious birders located two Red-necked Phalaropes a basic plumaged adult and a juvenile, a lifebird for most of our group. A Cliff Swallow flew over our heads as we scoped the rarities. Many thanks to Rock and Toe's groups for the tip. We called it a day with 71 total species, 18 shorebird species. We went our separate ways, satisfied that our persistence had paid off. On the trip back to the Doc Thomas House, Gary and Jocelyn Robinson and I, along with Steve Siegel, renowned cinematographer and consultant for the film, Big Year drove back to do some urban birding in Miami Springs and South Miami . We added seventeen species in two hours including Muscovy, White-winged Dove, American Coot, American Redstart, Blue Jay, Red-masked, Mitred, Scarlet-fronted, Crimson-fronted, White-eyed, Green and Monk Parakeets in Miami Springs and Orange-winged and White-fronted Parrots, Hill Mynas and Common Peafowl in South Miami. Life is good............ as my dear friend of 28 years, Steve Siegel, and I finished off a great day of birding with dinner at Woody s West End Tavern in Miami Springs, where we hoisted our celebratory libation of Magic Hat #9, a beer cloaked in secrecy. An ale whose mysterious and unusual palate will swirl across your tongue and ask more questions than it answers. A sort of dry, crisp, refreshing, not-quite pale ale, #9 is really impossible to describe because there's never been anything else quite like it. [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.com Subject: Couple of beauties from my recent trip to Colorado From: "Jack Rogers" <jrogers62 AT cfl.rr.com> Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:06:24 -0400 Hi All, Apologies in advance to those who are interested only in birds from Florida. This is certainly not a post about Florida birds, but it is a post about some pretty rare birds from a Florida birder/photographer. If you're interested in looking at a few images of some stunningly beautiful White-tailed Ptarmigan that I captured two miles about sea level on the slopes of Mt. Evans, Colorado three days ago you can go here: http://www.pbase.com/paleojack/image/137498078 http://www.pbase.com/paleojack/image/137498079 http://www.pbase.com/paleojack/image/137498080 Cheers, Jack Rogers Oviedo, Florida [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.com Subject: FL. PELAGIC TRIP From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 14:44:34 -0400 Subject: Pelagic Birding Trip Opportunity. Sunday, September 18, 2011 From: Michael Brothers Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:49:27 -0400 The Marine Science Center is offering a new pelagic birding opportunity to explore the Gulf Stream in September. This is the first time that we have offered a trip at this very dynamic season. I am especially excited about this trip because this season has some exceptional chances for pelagic birding. Here is a narrative I wrote from a September trip in 2009. Today, I went offshore fishing with Bob Wallace, Mitchell Harris and Bob Singleton. We were focusing on fishing and only planned to go out about 25 miles, well short of the Gulf Stream. The fishing was slow, but the birding was the most spectacular pelagic birding I have ever had in Florida. We never expected to see but a handful of pelagics on this trip, because we were not even headed to the Gulf Stream. It started in an ordinary way with a few Cory's Shearwaters scattered as we got over 10 miles out and later 2 Red-necked Phalaropes appeared at 21 miles out. But soon, we found blue water, complete with flying fish at only 22 miles out in 100 feet of water. Then the birds started to appear -- 5, 10, 15 Cory's. Then, groups of Sooty Terns. (We usually have to cross the Gulf Stream to find the Sooty Tern flocks.) As we trolled baits from 22 - 28 miles out we kept finding more and more birds -- 100, 200, 500 Cory's Shearwaters. Soon we were losing count. Greater Shearwaters started to appear, and large flocks of Sooty Terns. Then, a Brown Booby, then 2 Boobies, then a Parasitic Jaeger and another. The birds were everywhere and stretched for mile after mile. Next, we found a Masked Booby and a Brown Booby sitting together on the water. It was unbelievable. The birds continued for the entire several hours we were out there. We very conservatively estimated 1,000 - 1,200 Cory's Shearwaters; 75 Greater Shearwaters; 300+ Sooty Terns; 3 Brown Boobies; 1 Masked Booby; 4 Parasitic Jaegers; 2 Pomarine Jaegers; and a probable Noddy Tern. All the way back we kept finding more birds, including some Bridled Terns. As we approached about 10 miles out we found several more flocks of terns, including a flock of Black Terns and Common Terns and later a group of Bridled Terns with two very white terns mixed in, we motored closer to these and we determined that they were two Roseate Terns - very elongated bodies, very long tails, exceptionally white all over including the upper wing surface. They had black bills, and molting black caps. The flight was distinctly different than Common or Forster's Tern and we remarked how it was similar to a Least Tern flight. What a day! Absolutely the best pelagic day I have ever had in Florida. As with all pelagic trips, there is no guarantee of incredible days like that. However, the potential is there! I need 35 people to be able to run the trip. We will leave at 4:00 a.m. and return at 7:00 p.m. The cost is $130.00 I have attached a summary of the trip. Please email me to reserve a spot on the trip. Best wishes, Michael Michael Brothers Marine Science Center Ponce Inlet, FL mbrothers AT co.volusia.fl.us Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [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.com Subject: Ft. DeSoto Park (08/18/2011) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:49:06 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, It was hot and humid this morning at Ft. DeSoto Park. Decent numbers of shorebirds present at East Beach Turnaround and North Beach (same species reported earlier in the week minus the Gull-billed Tern). The only migrant warblers I encountered were two small flocks in East Beach Woods. 6 Reddish Egret 1 Cooper's Hawk 3 Barn Swallow 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Hooded Warbler 2 Northern Parula 2 Yellow Warbler 2 Yellow-throated Warbler 14 Prairie Warbler Earlier in the morning I stopped by the Gandy Causeway on the way over and there were about a dozen Black Terns loosely associated with the flock of Least Terns. Stay cool out there! Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: Thick-billed Vireo and Smooth-billed Ani From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:42:59 -0400 I birded with John Vanderpoel and my son Philip this morning. We had the Thick-billed Vireo at 7:15 a.m. at the same area that it has been seen in Matheson Hammock County Park. This was number 694 for John's big year!! I marked the area with some bright green flagging tape to make it easier to find the location. We later tried some areas to find Smooth-billed Ani but failed to find one until a little later. We then drove up to Ft. Lauderdale where John quickly located one lone bird!! This is perhaps the same bird that has been in this area for quite some time. This was number 695 for John's big year!!! The location of this bird is near the 800 building located in Dania on Old Griffin Road. The bird was seen north of here in the field across the canal closer to the railroad tracks to the east. I believe this field is in Ft. Lauderdale. You can view John's progress at his blog here: http://www.bigyear2011.com/ Larry Manfredi Homestead FL E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net http://www.southfloridabirding.com ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: Thick-billed Vireo From: Larry Manfredi <birderlm AT bellsouth.net> Date: Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:53:42 -0400 Carlos Sanchez found a Thick-billed Vireo at Matheson Hammock County Park just south of Miami. The bird was found yesterday (Saturday) and seen again this morning. The bird is being seen on the service road on the west side of Old Cutler road at the south end of the park. This is just north of Fairchild Tropical Gardens. The bird is being seen down the service road about three quarters of the way down where the hammock opens up to a more brushy area. There is some red flagging tape as well as a white napkin that mark the location on the north side of the trail. Photos of this bird and one from last year taken by Hop Hopkins, can be seen here: http://www.southfloridabirding.com/html/recent_rarities..htm Larry Manfredi Homestead, FL E-mail: birderlm AT bellsouth.net http://www.southfloridabirding.com ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: OT: An interview with The Big Year's Greg Miller From: John Puschock <g_g_allin AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 08:28:36 +0000 Howdy, I posted an interview with Greg Miller, one of the birders featured in the book "The Big Year" and a consultant on the film adaptation of the book, on my blog. You can find it at http://www.zbirdtours.com/blog. Speaking of birding movies, I recently discovered "Big Birding Day", a short documentary about a big day attempt in Mexico. It will be shown on PBS on Aug 23. More info at http://www.pbs.org/pov/bigbirdingday/ and you can see the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7ZUeOiM9Vk. The trailer is a little confusing. It shows birders looking for Prairie-Chickens, which don't occur in Mexico. I've learned that this is just an introductory part of the movie, prior to their arrival in Mexico. John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin AT hotmail.com [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.com Subject: Accepting Summer Bird Observations in West-Central Florida for FFN & NAB From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2011 22:19:31 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, Please send me any interesting bird sightings in West-Central Florida from this past Summer for possible inclusion in the Florida Field Naturalist (published by the Florida Ornithological Society) & also North American Birds. The focus of these quarterly reports is on interesting or rare/unusual bird observations (including exotic species) and other interesting sightings (high numbers, interesting behavior, breeding status, etc). If you are unsure whether your sighting qualifies, please send it to me anyway. The Wes t-Central area includes: Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Hardee, DeSoto & Sarasota counties. If you have any significant bird observations from this Summer (1 June through 31 July) in these counties please e-mail them to me at: _BrianAhern AT aol.com_ (mailto:BrianAhern AT aol.com) PLEASE follow this format when putting your report together, and please put all your observations in phylogenetic order, not in random or chronological order Species: Number of individuals: Date(s): Location (including county): Observers: Details for species rare or difficult to distinguish from common species, or any unusual behavior or notes (photos are gladly accepted too!): All observers whose sightings are published are acknowledged fully in FFN & NAB. Thank you! Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. _BrianAhern AT aol.com_ (mailto:BrianAhern AT aol.com) [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.com Subject: Nest Question From: "Art" <postal_maniac57 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:03:49 -0000 I have a few saplings that are entertwined with my fence and one of them has a nest in it, My question is this: Do birds still use the nest after the fledgings leave it? and If I moved it to a new close location would the birds still utilize it? I plan on doing this in the fall or winter. Thank You Art Henderson Middleburg, Fl. ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: Cockroach Bay Road (07/09/2011) From: BrianAhern AT aol.com Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2011 10:46:56 -0400 (EDT) Hi All, This morning from 7 to 8:20 I birded along Cockroach Bay & Gulf City Roads in southern Hillsborough County. I was hoping that with all the recent rain there would be some shorebirds feeding on the flooded sod farms and mitigation ponds. Unfortunately that was not the case but I still had a productive morning. Some of my better sightings are listed below. 1 Least Bittern - adult male 30 Roseate Spoonbill 1 King Rail - heard calling from mitigation pond 18 Black-necked Stilt 25 Least Tern 3 Gull-billed Tern - alternate plumaged adult with two juveniles following & begging for food 3 Mangrove Cuckoo 6 Gray Kingbird Best, Brian Ahern Tampa Bay, FL. BrianAhern AT aol.com Photos: _www.pbase.com/brianahern_ (http://www.pbase.com/brianahern) [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.com Subject: Brannen Field Mitigation Park From: "Art" <postal_maniac57 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:52:32 -0000 Happy Independence Day Everyone, On July 3rd I decided to check out Brannen Field Park for some casual bird watching. It turned out to be a very productive hike. From Red-Headed Woodpeckers (3) to hearing my first Northern Bob Whites (2). This park is 411 acres and all wooded with pine trees and some hardwood. It is run by the Fla. Wildlife Comission which has placed about 5 bird houses in various places in the park. Located off Plantation Oaks Hwy and Cecil Connector Rd. it is out of the way of road noise and a very quiet neighborhood which is on a Dead End road. The trail could use mowing, and there is trail guides at the trailhead. Art Henderson Middleburg, Fl. ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: Mississippi Kite in Clay Co. Fl. From: "Art" <postal_maniac57 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:56:18 -0000 This evening I had the oppurtunity to observe a Mississippi Kite soaring over my house for about 3 minutes. I watched it fly / soar around till he was out of sight, then I immediately refered to my Field Guide to verify it was the bird I observed. About 20-30 minutes later I was rewarded with an encore as it circled over my house for another 2-3 minutes before soaring away. I live in South Middleburg near Camp Blanding WMA and observe Swallow-Tailed Kites regularly. Art Henderson Middleburg, Fl. ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: Someone say House Finch From: Vincent McGrath <McAvian AT aol.com> Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:55:09 -0400 Just in case one thinks House Finches skipped over Lee Co. This spring they have fledged 2 young in Cape Coral near the intersection of Coronado Pkwy and Miramar St. The male likes to sing from the fourth floor balcony railing right over my family's condo on Victoria Mcavian AT aol.com Vince McGrath Fort Myers, Fl ------------------------------------ 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.com Subject: T. M. Goodwin WMA From: "Murray Gardler" <mangrovefirst AT tampabay.rr.com> Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:30:07 -0400 "Murray Gardler and I hit a wading bird jackpot today at T. M. Goodwin WMA in southern Brevard County on the Indian River County line. Birds were plentiful, allowing for a rewarding Monday trip. In order of volume, we had 4000 GREAT EGRETS, 1900 COMMON MOORHENS, 1000 WHITE IBISES, 400 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 400 SNOWY EGRETS, 350 ROSEATE SPOONBILLS, 300 ANHINGAS, 300 GLOSSY IBISES, 125 FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS, 75 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS, 50 MOTTLED DUCKS and 20 WOOD DUCKS. Other species of interest noted were WHITE-WINGED DOVE, LEAST BITTERN, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (12), KING RAIL (W3), NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (2), BARN SWALLOW (12) and AMERICAN COOT (2). The wading bird spectacle was concentrated in the stretch of Goodwin's main drive between the third and tenth miles with most of the herons and ibises on the west side of the road and the moorhens split between both sides with the largest number to the east. One family of Fulvous W-Ds -- 2 adults and 10 ducklings -- occupied the roadway. One adult performed a Killdeer-like broken-wing act to draw our attention away from the young." I plagiarized this from my friends private emails to save time as the WMA is only open Mondays & Thursdays. Enjoy if you get out there. Murray Gardler Brooksville, FL [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.com Subject: Re: SwallowTail Kites From: kirsi johnson <kirsijohnson AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2011 18:34:56 -0700 (PDT) We spotted several soaring over Jonathan Dickinson State Park (southern Martin County) and western Hobe Sound. Beautiful! --- On Sat, 6/18/11, Arthur Henderson wrote: From: Arthur Henderson Subject: [FlaBirding] SwallowTail Kite in Clay County Fla. To: FlaBirding AT yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, June 18, 2011, 8:23 PM   I briefly seen a Swallow tail Kite fly over the house this evening, it circled once and flew off in a northernly direction. I believe this is the same kite that I have seen flying over the intersection of SR-21 and County Road 215 just south of Middleburg, Fla. Art Henderson Middleburg, Fl. [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.com Subject: SwallowTail Kite in Clay County Fla. From: "Arthur Henderson" <postal_maniac57 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:23:45 -0000 I briefly seen a Swallow tail Kite fly over the house this evening, it circled once and flew off in a northernly direction. I believe this is the same kite that I have seen flying over the intersection of SR-21 and County Road 215 just south of Middleburg, Fla. Art Henderson Middleburg, Fl. ------------------------------------ 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.com