Florida bird and animal identification books (1 Viewer)

C

csanchez7

Well-known member

• Sep 23, 2010

• #21

2 - Is there still a "Brown-headed nuthatch colony just north of the research centre" ? where is "the research centre"?

3 - Is there still a "Snail Kite roost at the Miccosoukee rest area"

Click to expand...

Which part of Florida will you be targeting for Brown-headed Nuthatch? I do not know of a 'research center'. I have seen them in various areas, including Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area and the pineland area of Everglades National Park (reintroduced population).

I don't know of a Snail Kite 'roost' at the rest stop along Tamiami Trail, as you said, but they can be regularly observed from the abandoned airboat concession stand. I also tend to see them in winter late in the afternoon/evening on Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park amongst all the other returning waders that come to roost (including American Bittern, storks, herons, egrets, etc).

I can't comment about Ding Darling, but I can recommend Tigertail Beach -- lots of shorebirds if you are willing to walk.

Carlos

 

Tony Knight

Well-known member

• Sep 23, 2010

• #22

thanks carlos

Wasn't targetting the nuthatches, just quoted what I'd read on a 2005 posting as I noted in my reply 4 messages up this thread. I don't know anything more. Would have been great to see them if there was a known "colony" at a specific location i could have looked out for.

Same with the snail kite roost - i guess this has ceased over the 5 years since the original post

Tony

 

Tony Knight

Well-known member

• Sep 23, 2010

• #23

Zackiedawg said:

I think you'd be OK at Piccolo. Official nesting time for the burrowing owls usually doesn't start until mid-February, but Piccolo is a pretty reliable spot to see them and they're usually there even before they start making little owls. I've seen shots posted of the owls at Piccolo in January.

Click to expand...

thanks Justin - fingers crossed!

 

C

csanchez7

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2010

• #24

Tony,

The area on Tamiami Trail -- the 'abandoned airboat concession stand' -- has been a known spot for Snail Kite for a very long time. I guess this is what they mean by 'Miccosoukee' spot (roost). Roost is not a good term for it, though. I do recommend the Anhinga Trail spot as there are so many birds coming in, and the Snail Kites come in so much closer than at the airboat concession stand spot.

Brian's book has plenty of good directions on places to see Brown-headed Nuthatches (pineland specialist). Just keep a sharp ear out for their squeaky toy/rubber ducky call when looking for them.

Carlos

 

Tony Knight

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2010

• #25

yes, thanks Carlos - I've found the reference to the abandoned airboat place in Brian's book now, which is 1 mile from the Miccosukee restaurant.

Tony

 

Last edited: Sep 24, 2010

cledry

Active member

• Nov 2, 2010

• #26

For a small guide with clear images and just enough images I like "Birds Of Florida" by Stan Tekiela.

Larger and with illustrations rather than photographs, "Florida's Birds" by Herbert W. Kale II and David S. Maehr comes in handy.

 

trayster2

Member

• Nov 4, 2010

• #27

Tony- an alternative to guide books is an app for your iPad/iPod. Audubon has one for birds of FL that includes bird voices. I found this to be a much lighter method of birding as you don't need Internet access to use it.

 

merryslug

Well-known member

• Nov 8, 2010

• #28

I've always wanted the Smithsonian one:

http://www.amazon.com/Smithsonian-Handbooks-Birds-Florida/dp/0789483874/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

..it has every bird ever reported in Florida (up to its printing of course).

But, being poor, I've made do just peachy with Sibley's eastern birds.

 

Tony Knight

Well-known member

• Jan 13, 2011

• #29

Thanks for all the advice - flying on saturday so fingers crossed for lots to see and photo at;

sunday - wakod..../green cay
tuesday - Merrit island - any manatees this time of year ??
wednesday - quick early morning trip to joe overstreet rd??
thursday - corkscrew swamp
friday/saturday - Ding Darling & Marco(?) bay
sunday - big cypress/tamiami
monday - miami inc Brian Piccolo
Tuesday - everglades
wed - key largo
thur/fri - key west.

Can't wait !! Any last tips ??

 

Last edited: Jan 13, 2011

Zackiedawg

Well-known member

• Jan 13, 2011

• #30

Sounds like a good itinerary you've got - covering all of the bases. Another minor cool front dropped through last night, and those always help encourage more birds from up north to head down here - we've been seeing more and more at Green Cay/Wakodahatchee the past weeks.

If you're going to be at Green Cay and Wakodahatchee this Sunday, keep an eye out for a big guy with a goatee and a Sony DSLR with a big lens - I'll almost certainly be at both parks that day - I usually don't get there until noonish and stay to at or near sunset - often I start at Green Cay, then migrate to Wakodahatchee for the close.

Monday's a U.S. holiday, so I'll likely be at the two parks both Saturday and Sunday (sometimes I only go Saturday, so I have Sunday to do errands and tasks around home before work again on Monday).

As for manatees - it'll be hit or miss. There definitely here this time of year, but whether you see them can be just luck, or based on how cold it is. If you go to some of the warm water spots during the colder days, you can almost always find the manatees there - such as nuclear and power plant runoff water which is warm.

On Wednesday, if you only have the morning and Overstreet ends up being quiet, you might also try a swing over to Lake Toho, to see if they've got anything. When you're in Marco Island, a boat tour is usually best - they'll run out into the islands where you have a very good shot of interaction with dolphin, some manatee, and some bird spotting too.

 

Tony Knight

Well-known member

• Jan 14, 2011

• #31

Thanks Justin - we'll keep our eyes peeled. Prepared to be interrupted by a tall guy with a canon zoom (but pentax strap!) and wife who wants him to "hurry up" so we don't arrive at Orlando too late !!

Re the manatees - can you recommend any good places where there is nuclear/power plant water run off that would fit in with our itinerary (ie between orlando/tampa/miami and key west??).

thanks
Tony

 

Zackiedawg

Well-known member

• Jan 14, 2011

• #32

Florida Power & Light has a power plant in Riviera Beach (just north of Palm Beach) which has them all the time - just a few days ago when it got cold, I saw a few dozen of them crammed into the warm outflow. The one downside is that they've closed the nearby viewing area on property due to security concerns, so the only reasonable way to get a view of them is by boat. Don't know if you've got time to rent a boat or find a little tour.

Otherwise, the Ft. Pierce Manatee Center on Indian River Drive would be one of the best place to find them in your direction of travel headed north, and if in the Tampa area, Tampa Electric has a plant at Apollo Beach which has a viewing spot near their runoff. if willing to detour a bit, the Blue Spring State Park, half-way between Daytona and Orlando would be about a 60 minute detour from Orlando to the north is a pretty reliable wintering ground with good viewing areas, and the Homasassa Springs/Crystal River area about 70 miles north of Tampa is probably the most famous/popular spot in the world for manatee viewing, including one of the few spots in the world where you can swim with them.

In the keys, I find the best chances for Manatees being in the northern keys, around Largo to Islamorada. But it's hit or miss down there.

I'll keep an eye out for you at the parks Sunday. Happy travels.

 

Tony Knight

Well-known member

• Jan 14, 2011

• #33

thanks Justin.

 

Tony Knight

Well-known member

• Jan 17, 2011

• #34

Hi Justin

Well we made it to wakod (11.00 to 12.30)...and green cay (1.15 to 3.15) today - must have missed you at Green cay. What fantastic sites ! We were amazed at the number and variety at both sites - thanks again for highlighting how good these sites were otherwise we'd never have stopped off! Even got close up views of American bittern, screetch owl and painted buntings so a great day all round. Over in orlando now so will try to get down to joe overstreet(?) in the next 3 days then its off to corkscrew swamp.

cheers
Tony

 

Zackiedawg

Well-known member

• Jan 17, 2011

• #35

Glad to hear the spotting was good! I was at both parks, but we likely criss-crossed paths - I was at Green Cay from around noon to 2, then Wako from 2-4. You spotted more than I did - didn't catch the owl this time (did you spot the one at Green Cay, in the back tree stand?)...I've seen him before, but not today. The bitterns have been making a good show down here, and the buntings have been reliable too. I was happy to see the Wilson's Snipe back at Wako today.

Happy spotting up at Orlando - I'll look forward to more updates on your thread.

 

Tony Knight

Well-known member

• Jan 17, 2011

• #36

I'm sure i saw less than you, its just that everything that moved was new to me...and so close ! The sheer numbers, variety and closeness was pretty mind-blowing - you just don't get a site like that back in the uk. Also saw the roseate spoonbill at Wako. The owl i saw was pointed out by someone else and was in the nest box a little further along from the seed feeder with the painted buntings. Just sitting there asleep with head sticking out of the nest box. The rains today have lost us a day here at Orlando so looks like I'll miss have to out on Joe Overstreet and hope to see the Caracara at Viera wetlands on wednesday after blackwater(?) drive and scrub jays on Merritt and a visit to the space centre.

Tony

 

C

csanchez7

Well-known member

• Jan 18, 2011

• #37

Tony,

Crested Caracara is very reliable at Viera Wetlands. You should be able to get them there with no problem. You probably mean Black Point Drive on Merritt Island -- I hear it is a bit dry now with low waterfowl numbers but probably good numbers of waders and some shorebirds.

Carlos

 

Tony Knight

Well-known member

• Jan 18, 2011

• #38

thanks Carlos - any particular spot at Viera? I gather its quite a large site with a few different routes you can drive?

Also i read that its possible to see bobcat and river otter at Blackpoint drive - are these frequently seen ?

thanks
Tony

 

Zackiedawg

Well-known member

• Jan 19, 2011

• #39

Viera is large, but not too hard to figure out for driving as it's essentially a large square with a few inside routes...and it's pretty open so you can see your way around pretty well. The hotspots will vary, so just drive around slowly until you see something.

I'm not too familiar with Blackpoint drive myself, but in general, otters are fairly easy to spot throughout South Florida in almost any canals, and bobcats are generally rare spottings and more a matter of luck.

 

Tony Knight

Well-known member

• Jan 22, 2011

• #40

The roads were roped off at Viera and only had 30 minutes as had to drive over to Tampa for dinner that evening - however 2 caracara flew in and perched in the fir tree to the left as you enter, minutes before i left. Great views of florida scrub jay, roseate spoonbill and reddish egret at Merritt island....never thought i'd see a day when i was getting bored of seeing osprey !!

Since then;

Saw 100s of manatees at the Apollo beach site - thanks Justin.

Corkscrew swamp was really interesting but saw little - no painted bunting, no pileated peckers (despite someone saying they'd seen 3 in the same tree!), no yellow night herons, no brown backed nuthatches but a really interesting site. Did see a red shouldered hawk perched in a tree 10 feet away which just sat there for 30 secs while I took photos.

Marco island today between the rain - great views of 2 burrowing owls just off kendall drive. Lovely pelican shots and waders.

Ding Darling tomorrow....
Big Cypress/Tamiami drive sunday
Then Miami on monday - maybe Fairchild tropical gdns for humming bird....

cheers
Tony

 

Last edited: Jan 22, 2011