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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kibet" data-source="post: 3538872" data-attributes="member: 126488">Day 5 Wednesday 8th MarchCauseway Boulevard – Honeymoon Island – Cypress Run Country ClubAs Honeymoon Island had a late opening of 0800, it was decided to start on the Causeway leading up to this and having a walk first before it opened. Arriving just after sunrise, we parked half way up and started to walk along the north shore. A Semipalmated Plover was the first bird of the day ( although plenty Osprey on the drive there as always, and probably the only time in my life I will lack mentioning Ospreys seen whilst driving due to their abundance), with Dunlin, Black-Bellied Plover Sanderlings, Willet and Short-Billed Dowitchers. On the landside of the beach, Boat-Tailed Grackle males called from wires, whereas the females seemed to be walking around more. The Brown Pelicans were diving on the ocean side (accompanied by a Laughing Gull using the Pelicans for searching for food), along with Forster’s Tern. A lone Northern Mockingbird was also on the wire.After walking a half mile or so, we crossed to the other side and walked back. In addition to the Boat-Tailed Grackle, and the Forster’s Tern, this side had Royal Tern and a smaller flock of Black Skimmers. A Grebe was seen far out, although it was difficult to determine whether Horned or Eared. A final photograph of the sun hitting a Brown Pelican ended the short Causeway walk. Entering Honeymoon Island (8 dollars for a car), we parked up by the Osprey Trail, and the namesake had nests everywhere. There must have been at least 10 pairs nesting, possibly more. Something black caught my eye, and initial expectation was a catbird, but the movement out of the side of my eye seemed different (from my total of 4 days experience of Catbirds). With patience, I was proved right as an Eastern Towhee popped out, giving me my first Sparrow in this trip. The second sparrow would come a little later, and far more traditional. After a quick photograph, and noticing how much it resembled the Spotted, I moved to to catch up with my Father and his Wife, who were waving in front of them at another Eastern Towhee, this time in sunlight on the ground. A silhouette of a Northern Cardinal was followed by a Common Ground Dove on the ground. This was when the second sparrow showed up, flying into a twiggy bush, allowing me for an ID shot of the Chipping Sparrow.Nobody seemed to understand why I was so happy to get a Sparrow, and I had been looking for them whenever I could. Picnic tables were more likely to have Cardinals, the “leaf rustlers” were more likely to be Catbirds rather than Towhees. Unfortunately, I never got any more sparrow species during the trip. There was a little side alcove with some berry bushes, and so we took a little detour from the main path. Northern Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, Red-Bellied Woodpecker and Mourning Dove were all seen in this little area. An Osprey (upper branch) and Black Vulture (lower) perched on the same tree, and a TV flew overhead. After taking a photograph of a pair of Osprey sat nicely together on a nest, I was drawn to a bush closeby. A Brown Thrasher was seen moving to the back on the ground. The trail came to an end at the tip of the island, with an excellent view of a Bald Eagle on the nest. About 40 people had passed us on the way up to see it, and luckily, especially the larger groups, also passed us on their way down, so there was only a couple of people up there. We waited for the other Bald Eagle to return but no joy on that side. An Osprey called and shrieked as it flew with a fish, climbing and swooping until it went to the nest. Four minutes it had spent doing this, (going by time stamps on the photos), which seemed rather a waste of energy. I would have been ecstatic about the picture, if it was not for the Osprey removing the head of the fish and the stunning picture I got in SF. Other birds at the top were Downy Woodpecker, Gray Catbirds and a flyover of a Red-Shouldered Hawk. A local birdwatcher showed up, and I had a chat with him, and he put me on where to go for a Great Horned Owl nest. He also gave the pointer that the best place to view it was not from the side with the sign but on the opposite trail. Although further away, it would be a lot easier to see. In addition, he asked if I had seen the Parakeets, and when I said only a flyby, he told me about a Power Grid station with nesting Monk Parakeets, and over the road for Nanday (Black-Hooded) Parakeets in the same area.When I headed to the GHO nest, there was a Ranger explaining to a large group, so I moved to the other trail recommended, and by the time I got into position, they were all looking up, so I could use them to find it. I managed to get a photograph of the Owlet looking out the tiny nest (previously belonging to a Falcon) and the Parent Great Horned Owl sleeping on a slightly lower branch. A Rather nice end to Honeymoon Island.At the late afternoon, we went to have dinner at a Relative’s house on a Country Club estate. A friend had sent them a picture of a bird they took about two years ago on the golf course and had never been able to find out what it was. I assumed that it would be common, and I said I should be able to work it out. Seeing the photo, I said what it was straight away as it was indeed common, although not for Florida. It was a Steller’s Jay and so it was no wonder he had not been able to find out by looking up Florida birds. Head-scratcher on what it was doing there.Before sunset, we took out the golf cart and had a look for birds around the golf course. Sandhill Crane were staying there, but no sight of them during the ride. Red-Shouldered Hawk, Snowy Egret, Little and Great Blue Herons, American Crows and Yellow-Rumps were around, although not too many. The best though was another Chipping Sparrow, this time on the ground and not having twigs obscuring the face. We were off the golf course before dark.Photographed New Species – 41/60</blockquote>

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