csanchez7's 2008 list

[csanchez7]

I am a beginning birder, just having started seriously this year to pay attention to all the species around me. However, I have always been interested in birds and nature in general -- I guess bird watching was eventually inevitable as a hobby! My goal for this year is to at least hit 100. No trips outside of South Florida are currently planned.

FEBRUARY:

Kendall Neighborhood Park/Lake (2/11/08)
1) Muscovy Duck
2) Mallard
3) Pied-billed Grebe
4) American Coot
5) Common Moorhen
6) Cattle Egret
7) White Ibis
8) Herring Gull
9) Osprey
10) Eurasian Collared Dove
11) Mourning Dove
12) Red-bellied Woodpecker
13) Northern Mockingbird
14) Loggerhead Shrike
15) Palm Warbler
16) Boat-tailed Grackle
17) European Starling
18) Eastern Phoebe
A.D. Barnes Park (2/17/08)
19) Turkey Vulture
20) Black Vulture
21) Belted Kingfisher
22) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
23) Northern Cardinal
24) Common Grackle
25) Tricolored Heron
Kendall Neighborhood Park/Lake (2/21/08)
26) Blue Jay
Mattheson Hammocks Park (2/23/08)
27) Brown Pelican
28) Double-crested Cormorant
29) Semipalmated Plover
30) Ruddy Turnstone
31) Ring-billed Gull
32) Laughing Gull
33) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
34) Fish Crow
35) Black and White Warbler
West Kendall Shopping Center Parking Lot (2/28/08)
36) Common Myna
37) House Sparrow
38) Monk Parakeet
39) Feral Pigeon

[csanchez7]

MARCH:

Everglades National Park -- Chekika Campground (3/1/08)
40) Great Blue Heron
41) Great Egret
42) Red-shouldered Hawk
43) American Kestrel
44) Yellow-rumped Warbler
Horse Country Neighborhood (3/12/08)
45) White-crowned Pigeon
Kendall Neighborhood Park/Lake (3/14/08)
46) Wood Stork
47) Black-crowned Night-Heron
48) Ring-necked Duck
49) Red-winged Blackbird
Mattheson Hammocks Park (3/29/08)
50) Royal Tern
51) Least Sandpiper
52) Little Blue Heron
53) Green Heron
54) Snowy Egret
55) Pine Warbler
56) Anhinga

[csanchez7]

Went to A.D. Barnes Park this afternoon to see if I could spot out the passing migrant warblers. There was almost zero activity walking into the hardwood hammock portion of the park. However, while I was walking toward the exit I managed to spot two migrant species. It's better than nothing!
A.D. Barnes Park (5/1/08):
57) Ovenbird
58) Blackpoll Warbler

[csanchez7]

After spending the afternoon at Everglades National Park, I managed to find 27 different species, 10 of which are new to my year list. My first new bird was found near the Flamingo Visitor Center, feeding as a tight flock in recently mowed grass (Brown-headed Cowbird). The second and third were also found in the Flamingo parking lot (Great Crested Flycatcher, Merlin). The fourth at Eco Pond (Black-necked Stilt). The fifth, sixth, and seventh at Mzarek Pond (Blue-winged Teal, Greater Yellowlegs, Roseate Spoonbill). The seventh at Paurotis Pond (Gray Kingbird). The eighth (American Crow) was found throughout the park in very large numbers. A Swallow-tailed Kite was seen just before entering ENP, flying low to the ground over a field (tenth).
Everglades National Park -- Ernest Coe Visitor Center to Flamingo (5/2/08)
59) Swallow-tailed Kite
60) Brown-headed Cowbird
61) Great Crested Flycatcher
62) Black-necked Stilt
63) Merlin
64) Blue-winged Teal
65) Greater Yellowlegs
66) Roseate Spoonbill
67) Gray Kingbird
68) American Crow

[csanchez7]

Participated in the Chekika-Shark Valley portion of the North American Migration Bird Count. Unfortunately, by this time, most of the migrants have moved on, and our group didn't get too many migrants. Still, however, I managed to get seven new birds onto my year list!
Everglades National Park -- Chekika Unit, Shark Valley, also Big Cypress National Preserve (5/10/08)
69) Eastern Meadowlark
70) Common Nighthawk
71) White-tailed Kite
72) White-eyed Vireo
73) Red-eyed Vireo
74) Barred Owl
75) Eastern Kingbird

[csanchez7]

Birded Bill Baggs State Park on Key Biscayne late in the morning and early afternoon. Not the best time to be out birding, but still productive. Seven more new species to my year list:
Bill Baggs State Park (5/14/08)
76) Common Ground-dove
77) American Redstart
78) Chimney Swift
79) Connecticut Warbler
80) Bobolink
81) Common Yellowthroat
82) Magnificent Frigatebird

[csanchez7]

Birded with the local Audubon Society into Big Cypress Preserve, again, hoping to see a Pileated Woodpecker among other birds. No Pileated Woodpecker, but did manage to add six more species to my year list. The most exciting birds on this trip included close-up views of Barred Owl, which perched only a couple feet from the edge of the road. Also, we had a King Rail cross the road and join another rail in a bathing and preening session out in plain sight. A Prothonotary Warbler posed on a low branch on a cypress tree out in the open, which was another real treat. At Kirby Storter Boardwalk, Eastern Bluebirds were present in the parking lot. On the boardwalk, a pair of Northern Parula was observed busily feeding their chicks, and a Carolina Wren was seen foraging down a cypress tree. It then proceeded to fly right under the boardwalk.
Big Cypress National Preserve (5/17/08)
83) Killdeer
84) King Rail
85) Prothonotary Warbler
86) Eastern Bluebird
87) Northern Parula
88) Carolina Wren

Carlos

[csanchez7]

Green Cay and Wakodahatchee Wetlands, May 19, 2008 (amazing birding at both of these locations!)
89) Glossy Ibis
90) Spotted Sandpiper
91) Mottled Duck
92) Limpkin
93) Least Tern
94) Purple Martin
95) Purple Gallinule
96) Solitary Sandpiper
97) Sora
98) Black-bellied Whistling-duck
Green Cay and Wakodahatchee Wetlands (5/24/08)
99) White-winged Dove
100) Brown Thrasher

Another excellent morning of birding at both of these locations. Between these two birding hotspots, I have almost more species than I have seen in all the times I've been to Everglades National Park. I heartily recommend going to both of these spots for anyone visiting South Florida, guaranteeing great looks at such locals as Purple Gallinule and Limpkin. Plus, Wakodahatchee has rookery islands brimming with young Anhingas, Great Blue Herons, and Tricolored Herons. Not to be missed!

[csanchez7]

Loxahatchee is a little north of the Green Cay/Wakodahatchee Wetlands. It features a boardwalk running through some old, Spanish moss covered cypress trees. The forest was absolutely overrun with woodpeckers, mostly Red-bellied Woodpeckers. I also saw my first Downy and Pileated Woodpeckers of the year. The Pileated Woodpeckers are spectacular birds. Later, I walked around the impoundments. Most of the wildlife is identical to that found in Green Cay/Wakodahatchee. However, I did find a couple of birds that I did not see there. I saw a lone Sandhill Crane foraging in the first impoundment. In the second impoundment, I saw a Snail Kite soaring around a small cypress tree.

Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge (5/27/08)
101) Downy Woodpecker
102) Pileated Woodpecker
103) Sandhill Crane
104) Snail Kite

A few days later, I went to Cutler Wetlands, which is much closer to where I live. I saw many great birds, although I did not see much variety of shorebirds today. It had rained heavily earlier and water levels were beginning to rise -- too high for shorebirds. However, I did see a lone American White Pelican which had yet to migrate. Also, I saw Cave Swallows flying over the marsh along with Purple Martins. A lone American Avocet was seen feeding in the center of the marsh. Another beautiful bird -- and it was in breeding plumage, too!

Cutler Wetlands (5/30/08)
105) American White Pelican
106) Cave Swallow
107) American Avocet

[csanchez7]

A very hot day at Matheson Hammock Park, a coastal park featuring mostly coastal beach and mangrove habitat. It was a slow day for birding, producing only a couple of gulls, a Magnificent Frigatebird, a Brown Pelican, and a couple dozen Double-crested Cormorants. As far as land birds go, there were many Blue Jays, Boat-tailed Grackles, Mourning Doves, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Northern Mockingbirds. Only one new year bird for the list.
Matheson Hammock Park (6/1/08)
108) Prairie Warbler

Three days later, I decided to visit another coastal/marine habitat, but this time on the other side of the peninsula (west coast). Rather than mangrove and coarse sand beaches, Tigertail Beach on Marco Island features fine, sugary sand with an extensive dune system and extensive mud flats during low tide. This type of habitat is a shorebird magnet and comprised the bulk of my birding at this jewel of a beach. This is the place for viewing shorebirds in south Florida.
Tigertail Beach, Marco Island (6/4/08)
109) Reddish Egret
110) Black Skimmer
111) Willet
112) Semipalmated Sandpiper
113) Wilson's Plover
114) Black-bellied Plover
115) Short-billed Dowitcher

[csanchez7]

Today, I drove all the way up to Lake Kissimmee State Park to see all the birds we normally do not get in South Florida. The results were mixed. I missed out on Bald Eagle, Crested Caracara, Wood Duck, and Wild Turkey. Amusingly, I did manage to see all the smaller passerine target species on my list. The highlight of the trip was a trio of Sandhill Cranes, two parents with a half-grown chick right on the side of the park road. A Northern Bobwhite scuttling across the road in front of my car was very nice, too.
Lake Kissimmee State Park (6/26/08)
116) Eastern Towhee
117) Summer Tanager
118) Tufted Titmouse
119) Florida Scrub-jay
120) Yellow-billed Cuckoo
121) Northern Bobwhite

Afterwards, I stopped at Green Cay and Wakodahatchee Wetlands. They never disappoint. Limpkins, Purple Gallinules, Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Anhingas, and every heron/egret (except Reddish Egret and YC Night-heron). The Wood Storks were perched along the boardwalks. The Purple Gallinules, also on the boardwalk, were watching me just a foot away while I watched Mottled Ducks, White-winged Doves, and Least Terns. Got to see White Ibis, Cattle Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, Great and Snowy Egrets begin to roost on the pond apple islands at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. Black-bellied Whistling-ducks and Glossy Ibis were also present. Another lifer for the list.
Green Cay and Wakodahatchee Wetlands (6/26/08)
122) Least Bittern

The next day, I decided to try my luck with the exotics of my neighborhood. Kendall Baptist Hospital is only about fifteen minutes away by car, but I had never actually tried birding this location. There were a fair number of Muscovy Ducks, White Ibis, Green Herons, European Starling, Fish Crow, Northern Mockingbird...the usual variety of my area. A plus was a White-crowned Pigeon feeding on fruit in a strangler fig tree. I got three year birds today out of this short trip -- three different species of parakeet that seem to be established in the area.
Kendall -- Baptist Hospital Area (6/27/08)
123) Red-masked Parakeet
124) Mitred Parakeet
125) White-winged Parakeet

The day after that, I stopped by at Matheson Hammocks during low tide. A Yellow-crowned Night-heron was walking along the grass near the main parking lot eating a fiddler crab -- what luck! Later on, a pair of Hill Mynas were found in the hardwood hammock area near the main entrance to the park.
Matheson Hammock Park (6/28/08)
126) Yellow-crowned Night-heron
127) Hill Myna

[csanchez7]

I was in Venezuela visiting family from July 7 to July 22, 2008. I managed to do a little bit of birding during the two weeks I was there. However, I got no where near as many species as I would have liked to have seen.

My first day of birding was on July 12 at Parque del Este in Caracas. This city park is located in one of the better neighborhoods of Caracas. The park is used heavily by the people of the city, and the birds are very accustomed to being surrounded by lots of people. I enjoyed this location and think it is a great introduction point to birding in Venezuela to familiarize oneself with a lot of the more common species.
Parque del Este, Caracas (7/12/08)
128) Scaled Dove
129) Ruddy Ground-dove
130) Saffron Finch
131) Bare-eyed Thrush
132) Great Kiskadee
133) Shiny Cowbird
134) Blue-gray Tanager
135) Carib Grackle
136) Gray-breasted Martin
137) Grayish Saltator
138) Copper-rumped Hummingbird
139) Red-crowned Woodpecker
140) Chestnut-fronted Macaw
141) Masked Yellowthroat
142) Tropical Kingbird
143) Orange-chinned Parakeet
144) Rusty-margined Flycatcher
145) Stripe-backed Wren
146) Yellow Oriole
147) Cattle Tyrant

[csanchez7]

My second and third days of birding were spent at Rancho Grande Biological Station at Henri Pittier National Park. I basically spent one afternoon and one early morning, birding mainly around the building's terrace and surrounding area. Do NOT visit this place in July like I did -- it is the most unproductive time of the year for birding since it is the peak of the rainy season. The weather was very cool and wet with on and off rain around the clock. Irregardless of the weather and thriller movie-like aspect of the building, I saw the most beautiful and exciting birds of the trip at this location. I will definitely come back to do a more thorough visit of this location in the future.

Henri Pittier National Park - Rancho Grande (7/14/08)
148) Russet-backed Oropendola
149) Golden Tanager
150) Silver-beaked Tanager
151) Blood-eared Parakeet
152) Pale-breasted Thrush
153) Orange-bellied Euphonia
154) Green Honeycreeper
155) Black-headed Tanager
156) Bay-headed Tanager
157) Masked Tityra
158) Cinnamon Flycatcher
159) Swallow Tanager
160) Palm Tanager
161) Golden-crowned Flycatcher

Henri Pittier National Park - Rancho Grande (7/15/08)
162) Crested Spinetail
163) Gray-headed Tanager
164) Long-tailed Slyph
165) Black-hooded Thrush
166) Slate-throated Redstart
167) Golden-olive Woodpecker
168) Plain-brown Woodcreeper
169) Dusky-capped Flycatcher
170) Violet-fronted Brilliant

[csanchez7]

My fourth day of birding was spent at La Macanilla, a moist foothill forest, which is considerably drier and warmer than Rancho Grande at Henri Pittier. My grandparents, Italian immigrants, built there home in this area which was originally extensive and beautiful forest habitat. Now, it is rapidly being turned over into agricultural land and much of the forest is being clear cut.

La Macanilla, Estado Vargas (7/17/08)
171) Crested Oropendola
172) Smooth-billed Ani
173) House Wren
174) Squirrel Cuckoo
175) Southern Rough-winged Swallow
176) Green Jay
177) White-tipped Dove
178) Black-throated Mango
179) Lesser Goldfinch
180) Yellow-bellied Seedeater
181) Common Tody-flycatcher
182) Streaked Flycatcher
183) Rufous-tailed Jacamar
184) Stripe-throated Hermit
185) Social Flycatcher
186) Green-rumped Parrotlet
187) Bananaquit

On my fifth and last day of birding, I decided to spend a couple hours at the Botanic Gardens of the Universidad Central of Caracas. Most of the birds found were the same as those found at Parque del Este with a few exceptions. There were three completely new birds added to my list.

Jardin Botanico, Caracas (7/19/08)

188) Yellow-bellied Elaenia
189) Black-faced Grassquit
190) Yellow-rumped Cacique

[csanchez7]

I spent a little over an hour today at Cutler Wetlands. Migration is definitely underway here in South Florida, as a good variety of shorebirds were present at this migration stop. American Avocet, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitcher, Black-necked Stilt, and "peeps"/"stints" which were way too far to idenfiy with my binoculars. One new bird for the year list:

Cutler Wetlands (7/30/08)
191) Lesser Yellowlegs

[csanchez7]

What a difference a couple months of rain makes to this portion of the Everglades from bone dry prairie to extensive shallow marshland. Birds are also very different, with lower numbers of Red-winged Blackbirds and no Eastern Meadowlarks found. On the other hand, Loggerhead Shrike and Northern Mockingbird were abundant. There were also several Great Egrets and Green Heron. FOTS Belted Kingfisher and Barn Swallows!

Everglades National Park -- Chekika Unit (8/3/08)
192) Barn Swallow

The following day, I tried a second visit to Cutler Wetlands. Water levels had gone up because of recent heavy rains. There were many of the usual birds present, yet far fewer numbers of migrant shorebirds. The highlight was a flock of a dozen Wood Storks -- new to me in this location. While I was about to leave, shorebirds and gulls suddenly took flight in earnest and the cause was quickly apparent. A low flying, stealthy Cooper's Hawk was hunting the shorebirds. Year bird!

Cutler Wetlands (8/4/08)
193) Cooper's Hawk

Stopped by Kendall-Tamiami Airport early in the morning for a sole purpose -- to see Burrowing Owls. I got to see a pair of them looking around from between a pair of marked cones. Also of interest was the very high number of Barn Swallows passing through on migration.

Kendall-Tamiami Airport (8/13/08)
194) Burrowing Owl

Stopped by A.D. Barnes Park to look for early migrants, and I wasn't disappointed. Many Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, several Red-eyed Vireos, and a Yellow-throated Warbler. Also, four Hill Mynas were seen in the southeast portion of the park.

A.D. Barnes Park (8/16/08)
195) Yellow-throated Warbler

[csanchez7]

Went to Crandon Park Beach early afternoon to see what the storm (Tropical Storm Fay) blew in. It was still quite windy with distant squalls, so the birding was very quick. However, it was very productive as I saw American Avocet, nearly a hundred Royal Tern, Magnificent Frigatebird, Black Skimmer, Black-bellied Plover, and many more! Many new year/life birds.

Crandon Park Beach (8/19/08)
196) Lesser Black-backed Gull
197) Gull-billed Tern
198) Sanderling
199) Long-billed Dowitcher
200) Piping Plover
201) Egyptian Goose
202) Pectoral Sandpiper

I went birding with a local birder today to several areas in southern Miami-Dade county. We first stopped at The Annex, which is very near the main entrance to Everglades National Park. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Northern Parula, Great Crested Flycatcher, Loggerhead Shrike, and Barn Swallow were among the many birds seen, including five Bald Eagles and two female Orchard Orioles.

The Annex (8/20/08)
203) Bald Eagle
204) Orchard Oriole

Afterwards, we went into Everglades National Park and drove all the way to Flamingo. In less than two hours, we counted over 50 species of bird at this spot including American White Pelican, Osprey, Belted Kingfisher, Reddish Egret, Black Skimmer, Roseate Spoonbill, Magnificent Frigatebird, Swallow-tailed Kite (large kettle of over 40 birds heading south), Brown-headed Cowbird, and more. There were also many species of shorebird at this location.

Everglades National Park (8/20/08)
205) White-rumped Sandpiper
206) Dunlin
207) Western Sandpiper
208) Caspian Tern
209) Black-whiskered Vireo

Finally, we went to the Homestead Agricultural Area to pick up the vagrant Horned Lark that has been seen for the past two weeks in that area. Other birds seen here included many Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, and Pectoral Sandpiper.

Homestead Agricultural Area (8/20/08)
210) Horned Lark

[csanchez7]

Went to Marco Island -- Tigertail Beach with a fellow birder to see how shorebird migration is going here in Florida. We tallied 15 species of shorebird, 2 species of tern, Reddish Egret, and Black Skimmers among others in just a little over an hour of birding. Added four more birds to my year list!

Marco Island -- Tigertail Beach (8/24/08)
211) Sandwich Tern
212) Marbled Godwit
213) Red Knot
214) Whimbrel

Land birds are starting to pick up considerably in South Florida. A trip to A.D. Barnes Park in Miami in the afternoon produced a total of 7 different species of migrant warblers and even a Summer Tanager.

A.D. Barnes Park (8/25/08)
215) Worm-eating Warbler
216) Northern Waterthrush

Another attempt to see more migrant passerines in South Florida, this time in Matheson Hammock Park. There were fewer numbers of warblers and fewer variety than at A.D. Barnes. However, I still saw two new year birds!

Matheson Hammock (8/26/08)
217) Yellow-throated Vireo
218) Louisiana Waterthrush

Swainson's Warbler and Hooded Warbler were seen at Matheson Hammock on the 28th. Unfortunately, I could not find the secretive little birds despite spending a couple hours walking back and forth through the nature trail. During the afternoon, bird activity was very low overall. There were some nice birds, however, including seven Hill Mynas, White-crowned Pigeon, Chuck-will's-widow, Short-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, and a few of the more common warblers.

Matheson Hammock (8/28/08)
219) Northern Flicker
220) Chuck-will's-widow
221) Short-tailed Hawk

[csanchez7]

Today, I went along with the Tropical Audubon Society to the Palm Beach Everglades Agricultural Area. I had a great time and got a lot of lifer/year birds! I believe the bird of the day was a pair of Wilson's Phalaropes and an American Golden-plover. There were about 18 different shorebirds seen today out in the sod farms.

Palm Beach Everglades Agricultural Area (8/30/08)
222) Yellow Warbler
223) Black Tern
224) Upland Sandpiper
225) Northern Rough-winged Swallow
226) Stilt Sandpiper
227) American Golden-plover
228) Fulvous Whistling-duck
229) Wilson's Phalarope
230) Bank Swallow
231) Barn Owl

[csanchez7]

A morning stop at Matheson Hammock before class produced a great life warbler along the first puddle on the trail:

Matheson Hammock Park (9/4/08)
232) Kentucky Warbler

A trip Friday afternoon to Crandon Beach Park produced many shorebirds, terns, cormorants, and gulls. Among the Laughing and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, there was a very large Great Black-backed Gull!

Crandon Beach (9/5/08)
233) Great Black-backed Gull

A Tropical Audubon Society trip to Cutler Wetlands produced a couple Solitary Sandpipers, a small flock of Short-billed Dowitchers, many Mottled Ducks, Wood Stork, and various other birds. The best birds, however, were a small flock of Black-bellied Whistling-ducks and a first of season Northern Shoveler.

Cutler Wetlands (9/7/08)
234) Northern Shoveler

Whike Ike was doing its worst at Miami-Dade county, I decided to head down to Crandon Park Beach after class to see if any interesting terns or maybe even a jaegar had been pushed in toward the beach. Royal Terns, Least Terns, Laughing Gulls, and Black Skimmers made up the bulk of the seabirds. Black-bellied, Wilson's, Semipalmated, and Piping Plovers were also all present in high numbers, as well as Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstone. A few Sandwich Terns, Common Terns, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Double-crested Cormorants, plus singles of Magnificent Frigatebird and Brown Pelican rounded out this seawatching excursion.

Crandon Park Beach (9/9/08)
235) Common Tern

[csanchez7]

My first ever pelagic trip was a great success today. I left in the morning from Crandon Marina with four other intrepid birders to the waters around the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse. I got eight life/year birds added to my list!

Miami-Dade Pelagic Trip (9/13/08)
236) Red-necked Phalarope
237) Sooty Tern
238) Brown Booby
239) Cory's Shearwater
240) Bridled Tern
241) Pomarine Jaeger
242) Brown Noddy
243) Mississippi Kite

Stopped by at Bill Baggs State Park for some warbler migration. It was a nine warbler species day. Three more birds added to the year list.

Bill Baggs State Park (9/14/08)
244) Cape May Warbler
245) Black-throated Blue Warbler
246) Canada Warbler

I passed by the Annex Tuesday afternoon, after hearing that migration was really heating up in the extreme southern part of the county. Birds seen include Northern Flicker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Gray Kingbird, Prairie Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, and a beautiful male Baltimore Oriole.

The Annex (9/16/08)
247) Baltimore Oriole

I visited Castellow Hammock in the late morning hours to look for migrant warblers and hummingbirds in particular. I was not disappointed with the hummingbirds, as there were three feeding in the firebushes in front of the nature center. Migrant birds were few and far between, with Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Northern Parula being the most numerous. Ovenbird, American Redstart, Yellow-throated Vireo, and White-eyed Vireo rounded out the lot.

Castellow Hammock (9/17/08)
248) Ruby-throated Hummingbird

I made a plan to go to the C-111E Canal area in the Southern Glades Wildlife Trail just south of Florida City/Homestead Friday morning. I got up very early to make it there on time to have a couple of hours of birding before I had to head back to Miami for classes. As promised, this spot was very birdy with 4 species of flycatcher, 8 species of warbler, 3 species of raptor, Belted Kingfisher, Blue Grosbeak, Common Ground-dove, and many others represented. I had a great time birding this spot.

Southern Glades Wildlife Trail, C-111E Canal (9/19/08)
249) Hooded Warbler
250) Alder Flycatcher
251) Blue Grosbeak
252) Northern Harrier

[csanchez7]

September 20th was the North American Migration Count. I decided to participate in the Matheson Hammock County Park portion of the walk. Throughout the park, we managed to see 59 different species of bird, including six species of raptor, ten species of migrant warbler, six species of shorebird, and a very lost looking Seaside Sparrow.

Matheson Hammock Park (9/20/08)
253) Red-crowned Parrot
254) Chestnut-sided Warbler
255) Sharp-shinned Hawk
256) Seaside Sparrow

September 24th was relatively productive at Matheson, once again, which has turned into my favorite spot for migratory passerines. The fruiting tree near the entrance on the east side attracts a very large number of warblers. Today, it gave me two more year/life birds.

Matheson Hammock Park (9/24/08)
257) Tennessee Warbler
258) Veery

I went on an early start to the Southern Glades Wildlife Management Area just south of Homestead/Florida City. I stopped first at the C-111E Canal, where I witnessed a swarming movement of hundreds of Common Yellowthroat with a few American Redstarts, Prairie Warbler, and Northern Parula mixed in. I also saw my FOTS Palm Warbler and American Kestrel. Other good birds included Tennessee Warbler, a male Hooded Warbler, and a female Magnolia Warbler. Later, I stopped at The Annex where there was very little warbler activity. The best bird there was a very early Gray Catbird.

C-111E Canal, The Annex (9/26/08)
259) Magnolia Warbler
260) Gray Catbird

First time birding in Greynold's Park in North Miami Beach. It was quite productive, producing three species of vireo, a dozen species of warbler, Chuck-will's-widow, and various other migrant land birds.

Greynold's Park (9/27/08)
261) Orange-crowned Warbler
262) Swainson's Thrush

First time at Yamato Scrub Natural Area to look specifically for the two Least Grebes which are currently nesting at a small pond within the park. I got a male Summer Tanager as a bonus!

Yamato Scrub Natural Area (9/28/08)
263) Least Grebe
264) Scarlet Tanager

[csanchez7]

Thursday was a very strange day, but a very productive birding day! I had classes cancelled for the afternoon, so I decided to spend the extra time doing a second round of birding. I went to two parks I usually do not visit -- Bill Sadowski and Kendall Indian Hammock Park. Got four new year/life birds!:

Bill Sadowski Park (10/2/08)
265) Grey-cheeked Thrush

Kendall Indian Hammock Park (10/2/08)
266) Black-throated Green Warbler
267) Eastern Wood-pewee
268) Blackburnian Warbler

Saturday was another double park day, with three more new birds for the year list:

A.D. Barnes Park (10/4/08)
269) Spot-breasted Oriole
270) Broad-winged Hawk

Kendall Indian Hammock Park (10/4/08)
271) Golden-winged Warbler

Sunday, I spent a little over an hour at Bill Sadowski in search of Philadelphia Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Least Flycatcher. I got the vireo, but missed out on the other two. As a consolation prize, however, I saw my very first Blue-winged Warbler!

Bill Sadowski Park (10/5/08)
272) Philadelphia Vireo
273) Blue-winged Warbler

Went to Castellow Hammock today for hummingbirds. There were many Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and a Rufous Hummingbird!

Castellow Hammock (10/6/08)
274) Rufous Hummingbird

Today, I passed by Kendall Indian Hammocks to spot the Nashville Warbler reported there. I got it!

Kendall Indian Hammocks (10/10/08)
275) Nashville Warbler

Then, I went to Bill Baggs State Park to do some work before going to class. I got Cliff Swallow among a mixed flock of migrating swallows.

Bill Baggs State Park (10/10/08)
276) Cliff Swallow

Finally, I went back to Kendall Indian Hammocks to see what other birds I could dig up. Got a couple of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

Kendall Indian Hammock (10/10/08)
277) Rose-breasted Grosbeak

[csanchez7]

Had a great birding weekend! I went on a Tropical Audubon Society walk on Saturday to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and Fort Myers Beach. On Government Road in Broward County, we saw many Crested Caracara, Mottled Duck, Sandhill Crane, Wild Turkey, Roseate Spoonbill, Belted Kingfisher, and most of the various herons/egrets. At Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, there were many migrant warbler species, Great Crested Flycatchers, Downy Woodpeckers, and an Eastern Wood-pewee. The highlight was a Brown-headed Nuthatch. At Fort Myers Beach, I had the opportunity of seeing American Oystercatchers, Forster's Terns, Sandwich Terns, Black Skimmers, Reddish Egret, Osprey, and many more. It was a great day.

Government Road (10/11/08)
278) Crested Caracara
279) Wild Turkey

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (10/11/08)
280) Brown-headed Nuthatch

Fort Myers Beach (10/11/08)
281) Forster's Tern
282) American Oystercatcher

On Sunday, I birded with several other birders at The Annex and Lucky Hammock in the Southern Glades Wildlife Management Area. It was a very birdy area today, with White-crowned Pigeons, Least Flycatcher, Bell's Vireo, Brown Thrasher, Painted Bunting, Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, House Wren, Gray Kingbird, Merlin, and Short-tailed Hawk as favorites. Later, we went on to Kendall Indian Hammock to see if we could pick up any more migrants. I picked up a Peregrine Falcon there, another dark morph Short-tailed Hawk, more Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and a late Worm-eating Warbler.

Lucky Hammock (10/12/08)
House Wren (first for Florida)
283) Painted Bunting
284) Indigo Bunting
285) Bell's Vireo
286) Least Flycatcher

Kendall Indian Hammock (10/12/08)
287) Peregrine Falcon

There was a report of a Caribbean Flamingo at Cutler Wetlands. Although I did not get to see the bird, I did get to see Wilson's Snipe. A new bird for the year!

Cutler Wetlands (10/14/08)
288) Wilson's Snipe

Today, I decided to do quite a bit of birding. Although I did not get Yellow-breasted Chat this weekend, I did get some other great birds.

The Annex (10/19/08)
289) Western Kingbird

A.D. Barnes Park (10/19/08)
290) Bay-breasted Warbler

[csanchez7]

Birding this morning at Bill Baggs State Park produced several raptor and warbler species, plus a migrant Ruby-throated Hummingbird and a Hermit Thrush - a very rare wintering bird for South Florida!

Bill Baggs State Park (10/21/08)
291) Hermit Thrush

Just south of the Fort Lauderdale International Airport, lives a family of Smooth-billed Anis -- a very rare and declining species in Florida. I decided to go pay them a visit.

Old Griffon Road (10/25/08)
Smooth-billed Ani (first for Florida)

On the 26th of October, I went to Lucky Hammock/Annex to look for sparrows and migrant passerines. I picked up one new bird while I was there. I then went inside Everglades National Park, where I picked up an American Wigeon at Mzarek Pond. At the end of the day, I decided to visit Cutler Wetlands for more ducks. There were many. A passing flock of swallows was the finale for this day, which included Barn, Cave, Northern Rough-winged, and Tree Swallows.

Lucky Hammock/Annex (10/26/08)
292) Savannah Sparrow

Everglades National Park (10/26/08)
293) American Wigeon

Cutler Wetlands (10/26/08)
294) Green-winged Teal
295) Tree Swallow
296) Northern Pintail

On the last day of October, I went to Crandon Park Beach to find a reported Snowy Plover -- a very rare bird for the county. Amusingly, it was the last bird I saw on this outing. It was at the tail end of a large flock of Piping and Semipalmated Plovers (with a few Wilson's Plovers for good measure).

Crandon Park Beach (10/31/08)
297) Snowy Plover

[csanchez7]

On the first of November, Peter (a British birder) and I decided to head off to Lucky Hammock in search of sparrows, chat, and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Although we got neither the chat or the flycatcher, we had an amazing day. Our first bird was a Swainson's Hawk, a rare migrant in extreme southern Miami-Dade. We also had a Bell's Vireo, another rare migrant and winter visitor from the western USA. At the hammock itself, we had an early Ruby-crowned Kinglet. We also had a shocking Snow Goose flyover -- a first for the area and a very rare bird for South Florida.

Lucky Hammock (11/01/08)
298) Swainson's Hawk
299) Ruby-crowned Kinglet
300) Grasshopper Sparrow
301) Snow Goose

Later, a birder there invited us to go to Snake Bight in Everglades National Park by canoe to search for the ONLY wild American Flamingos in the continental USA. It was an amazing spectacle just getting there, with hundreds of shorebirds (Willet, Spotted Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Calidris sp., Black-bellied Plover), gulls (Lesser Black-backed and Laughing), raptors (Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier), pelicans (American White and Brown Pelicans, plus Double-crested Cormorant), Belted Kingfisher, and all the waders (Reddish Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, White Ibis, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, Green Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-heron, Black-crowned Night-heron, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron). However, the stars of this amazing concentration of seabirds, wading birds, and shorebirds were two American Flamingos feeding out in the distance. They then flew off to join seven other flamingos which we scoped out (we counted nine individuals, total). What an amazing day!

Everglades National Park - Snake Bight (11/01/08)
302) American Flamingo

On November 2nd, a Tropical Kingbird, an accidental bird to South Florida, made an appearance at Dump Marsh. A new addition to my Florida list, as I went to go see the bird today (November 3).

Dump Marsh (11/03/08)
Tropical Kingbird (first for Florida)

Went by the neighborhood north of Kendall Baptist Hospital in search of Red-whiskered Bulbul, an ABA-countable exotic. This was the fifth time or so I go into this neighborhood to search for them. I did not miss them this time!

Kendall Baptist Hospital Area (11/05/08)
303) Red-whiskered Bulbul

Went birding again today, picking up several much desired birds! I got great looks at two Scissor-tailed Flycatchers on a wire on the intersection between 312 street and 217 ave. I also went into the Everglades for Anhinga Trail. I got killer looks at an American Bittern stalking fish only five feet or so away!

Homestead Agricultural Area (11/06/08)
304) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Everglades National Park - Anhinga Trail (11/06/08)
305) American Bittern

Tried to get Lesser Nighthawk November 8th at Lucky Hammock by waiting until sunset. I got a calling Whip-poor-will instead, which popped out of the hammock, circled it a couple times, then wooshed just a few feet in front of me before continuing out into the fields to the east! The next morning, I went to Lucky Hammock again and had yet another successful outing, picking up three new species to my year list.

Lucky Hammock (11/08/08)
306) Whip-poor-will

Lucky Hammock (11/09/08)
307) Wilson's Warbler
308) Clay-colored Sparrow
309) Chipping Sparrow

[csanchez7]

Today, I went to the Miami Canal Area and Stormwater Treatment Area 5. My primary goal was to concentrate on the waterfowl. I also saw a pair of the exotic, invasive Purple Swamphen. I added three new birds to my year list:

Miami Canal (11/15/08)
310) Red-tailed Hawk

Stormwater Treatment Area 5 (11/15/08)
311) Marsh Wren
312) Ruddy Duck

On November 16th, I head off to Lucky Hammock for sparrows. It was way too windy! I decided to chase the Rusty Blackbird in Everglades National Park, which I saw and get to add to my year list! Another good bird seen near the Rusty Blackbird spot was a lone Snail Kite. Also, saw my first of season Yellow-rumped Warbler there!

Everglades National Park (11/16/08)
313) Rusty Blackbird

On November 17th, I went to A.D. Barnes Park before class. There was a lot of bird activity going on at that park. Some great birds include Broad-winged Hawk soaring high on thermals, two White-crowned Pigeons, Yellow-throated Vireo, two Baltimore Orioles, several Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers, a Summer Tanager, a Magnolia Warbler, a Cape May Warbler, and many more! I also saw my first Blue-headed Vireo.

A.D. Barnes Park (11/17/08)
314) Blue-headed Vireo

My goal for today was to find a Wood Duck at Okeeheelee, the only reliable place for Wood Duck in South Florida. It took a while, but I managed to flush a male and female pair from a shaded portion of a pond in the "NO TRESPASSING" part of the park. :)

Okeeheelee Nature Center (11/18/08)
315) Wood Duck

I went to the Chekika Unit of Everglades National Park to look for Swamp Sparrow and came out with three new sparrows for my year list. Heron and egret numbers were high. Other highlights included four species of raptor (including spectacular views of a Red-tailed Hawk), Wilson's Snipe, and several Eastern Meadowlarks. No ducks.

Everglades National Park -- Chekika Unit (11/20/08)
316) White-crowned Sparrow
317) Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
318) Swamp Sparrow

[csanchez7]

This Thanksgiving weekend turned into a big birding weekend for me! On Friday, I headed off to Lucky Hammock before first light and got three life/year birds. At noon, I was at Cutler Wetlands where I picked up another bird. Nearby at Black Point, I got another one. At twilight at Dump Marsh, I ended the day with yet two more life birds.

Lucky Hammock (11/28/08)
319) Yellow-breasted Chat
320) Lincoln's Sparrow
321) Yellow-headed Blackbird

Cutler Wetlands (11/28/08)
322) Franklin's Gull

Black Point Park (11/28/08)
323) Red-breasted Merganser

Dump Marsh (11/28/08)
324) Great Horned Owl
325) Lesser Nighthawk

The next day, I went with a local birder to Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge to chase the Fork-tailed Flycatcher. I also got five other life birds at that location. Once I got back home, I got a report of a Canada Goose at the Wastewater Treatment Plant near Cutler Wetlands -- a very rare bird for South Florida.

Pelican Island NWR (11/29/08)
326) Fork-tailed Flycatcher
327) American Goldfinch
328) Sedge Wren
329) Hooded Merganser
330) Lesser Scaup
331) Northern Gannet

Miami-Dade Landfall Wastewater Treatment Plant (11/29/08)
332) Canada Goose

[csanchez7]

I haven't been birding all month due to final exams. This weekend, I decided to take a little break and bird the Treasure/Space Coast and participate in the Merritt Island CBC. I picked up 11 more birds on this mini-trip:

Pelican Island NWR (12/14/08)
333) Virginia Rail
334) Common Loon
335) Bufflehead

Merritt Island NWR (12/14/08)
336) Gadwall
337) Ross's Goose
338) American Robin
339) Song Sparrow

Merritt Island NWR (12/15/08)
340) Eastern Screech-owl
341) Canvasback
342) Horned Grebe
343) Clapper Rail

[csanchez7]

I have not been able to bird as much as I'd like in the month of December, but I still got several great birds during this month. Perhaps the last bird of the year will be this one, American Woodcock, found during a Christmas Bird Count in the state.

Everglades National Park (12/22/08)
344) American Woodcock

If my list were to end right here, I would be extremely proud as this was my first year of birding, and I only really started to add to my list around the first of May. I officially started birding in mid-February. Here are some statistics:

337 World Year List (Florida and family trip to Venezuela)
277 ABA-countable species Florida Year List

Highlights of the year:

Pelagic September 13th: Brown Booby, Bridled Tern, Sooty Tern, Brown Noddy, Pomarine Jaeger, Cory's Shearwater, Red-necked Phalarope, migrating Mississippi Kite

34 species of Wood Warbler (Parulidae): Golden-winged Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Blackburnian Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, and Kentucky Warbler among the difficult to find species for Florida

Snake Bight Everglades Canoe Trip November 1st: two hours of rowing against the tide to go see the ABA area's only truly wild flock of American Flamingos. Thousands of shorebirds, waders, and pelicans made this entire trip one to remember.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher November 29th: incredible views of this incredible bird species, I'm glad I went up to go see it at Pelican Island.

Venezuela Family Trip: although not a real birding trip, it was a memorable experience to go birding at Henri Pittier National Park and see birds like Golden Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Swallow Tanager, and Long-tailed Sylph. I need to go back some day to really bird this country.

I spoke too soon! I had an unexpected life and year bird on Christmas day right after eating breakfast at a local restaurant.

Shopping Plaza at 40th St and 87th Ave
345) Bronzed Cowbird