Sequoias, Big Sur, and San Francisco

Geraldine and Eva at the Parker Grove in Sequoias National Park

I'm back from my trip to California and I have lots of interesting birds and stories to share. I hope you enjoy the tales of camping, trees, and road trips as much as I did living them. Check back soon!

Skywatch Friday: Green Cay Nature Center

Recently taken at the Green Cay Nature Center, my proud place of employment. I will be leaving Green Cay and Florida for a week long vacation in California. Hopefully I'll be back with lots of photos and fun adventures to share with you. Meanwhile, enjoy the blue skies and catch up on all the other Skywatch Friday posts!

From the science symposium

Bees! One day will have my own hives and honey production. This one was set up at the Palm Beach County science symposium.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center

Recently my partner in all-things-crazy came for a visit to Palm Beach County. We spent most of the short weekend at the beach and checking out some drinking establishments but we did manage a stop at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. It's a free, open to the public, sea turtle rehab center in Jupiter Beach, FL. It's a fun way to spend a hour and then walk across the street to one of my favorite beaches in the county. Check out some of the turtles and other goodies found at the facility.

A Slippery Dick Wrasse - Halichoeres bivittatus, among many other fish can be found in the small aquarium section of the Marinelife Center.

Nameplates tell you each turtle's condition and course of rehab. Andre here sustained two different boat propeller injuries.

Sea turtle hatchlings that do not make it out of the nest or are found stranded on the dunes are brought to the facility for a little head-starting program. A cooler oustide the facility is always open for people to drop off hatchlings that they find while walking the beach.

I really liked that they had a TED (Turtle Excluder Device) set up for visitors to see how this simple tool is used to help rescue turtles that become swept up in shrimp nets.

As always Hewy's visit brought many fun times and we even learned a little bit in the process. I am looking forward to the next trip together.

Dead Corn Snake

Last week we walked out to the parking lot to find a dead Corn Snake. The worst part of this story is that the park has been closed for 2 weeks so the only cars in the lot are either staff or the guys fixing the boardwalk. It was no where near the staff cars so that means our little friend died from the workers. I don't know if it's true but I'm willing to bet they intentionally ran him over. The snake was no where near the middle of the driving lane and it was barely hit. I think this was the same individual that I saved a few months ago, stopping a school bus and a maintenance truck from hitting it. I guess this snake's life could only be saved so many times.

Skywatch Friday: Jupiter Beach at Night

At this beach in July I saw my first Green Sea Turtle. She performed two false crawls before heading back into the water. The scarp was just too steep for her to climb. I'm sure with the tide coming in she was able to nest farther north on the beach. To check out other great Skywatch Friday posts make sure you visit their website!

Owl Pellet under the Chickee Hut

We have seen Eastern Screech-owls at Green Cay but this pellet found on the mile trail was the length of a screech-owl's body so it must be from one of its larger cousins. My boss seems to think it could be from a Barn Owl from the neighboring farm. But the only other confirmed account of an owl here was a Great Horned Owl seen a few years ago. Regardless of the identity, this was a cool find at the chickee hut.

PBC Sod Fields

Andy, Kimmie, and I set off this past weekend for a day of shorebirds and sod fields. Palm Beach County usually has a great shorebird migration starting in August so we spent the day searching for a few migrants. We didn't hit any steller shorebird numbers but we did have quite an adventure.


We started the day off at the STA 1-E and STA 1-W parks. We found our only Prairie Warbler at STA 1-E, along with Eastern Meadowlarks and a Tree Swallow. At STA 1-W we found a couple of exotic Purple Swamphens. Also there were great numbers of Pied-billed Grebes and other waders.

We continued to Sam Senter Road where we found a nice flooded field of Pectoral Sandpipers, Short-billed & Long-billed Dowitchers, Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer, and Black-necked Stilts. We also found the first of many Common Nighthawk. This by far was the number one perched bird of the day.

We decided to take a break from the shorebirds and check out the Belle Glade Marina. A few years ago I had my lifer Smooth-billed Ani by the boat ramp but we were disappointed to find that the shoreline had been sprayed and all the vegetation was removed. The campground was also inaccessible due to some new fences and some signs for us to keep out. We managed to pick up a couple of new species including Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and Swallow-tailed Kite. As we drove back into town dozens of Swallow-tailed Kites started streaming through on their southward migration.

It was tough going finding more flooded fields. Maybe due to the economy (which seems likely) most of the the traditional sod fields are now being planted with sugarcane. However we did come up with a few more fields before the day was over. A field on US 27 near the radio tower produced a good bird for Andy's Big Year, a Black Tern. We also saw many more Black-necked Stilts and waders.

We backtracked to Brown Farms Road where we found a canal that was littered with hundreds and hundreds of birds. The most common in the mix was the Wood Stork. It's hard to imagine that this is an endangered species when you see them line up on a canal as far as the binoculars can see. In the flooded field to the east of the canal we had a few shorebirds including our first of the day Black-bellied Plover. Crusing the canal were not only Gull-billed Tern and Royal Terns but also a big Caspian Tern.

We decided to head back home but made one more spot at a flooded field near 20-mile Bend on 880. This field had the usual Pectoral Sandpipers and dowitchers but also contained our only Ruddy Turnstone of the day, in nice breeding colors to boot. Dark clouds loomed in our direction so we ended the day pretty happy with our total of 72 birds, including non-ABA birds. Not bad for a stretch of birding that lasted from 9am to 3pm. I'll be back at the sod fields again before migration is over, that's for sure!

Species seen: Eurasian Collared-Dove, European Starling, Osprey, Blue Jay, Tree Swallow, Roseate Spoonbill, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Laughing Gull, Purple Swamphen, Little Blue Heron, Long-billed Dowitcher, Short-billed Dowitcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Mourning Dove, Boat-tailed Grackle, Northern Mockingbird, Green Heron, Great Egret, Royal Tern, Eastern Meadowlark, Gull-billed Tern, Pied-billed Grebe, Snowy Egret, Common Nighthawk, Black-crowned Night Heron, Pectoral Sandpiper, White-winged Dove, Fish Crow, Muscovy-Feral, Anhinga, Turkey Vulture, Barn Swallow, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis, Black-necked Stilt, Ruddy Turnstone, Gray Kingbird, Chimney Swift, House Sparrow, Purple Martin, Cliff Swallow, Glossy Ibis, Tri-colored Heron, Cattle Egret Prairie Warbler, Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Common Moorhen, Rock Pigeon, Mottled Duck, Wood Stork, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Swallow-tailed Kite, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Black Vulture, Black Tern, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Northern Cardinal, Black-bellied Plover, Caspian Tern, Common Ground-dove, Double-crested Cormorant, Limpkin, and Common Myna.

Louisiana Waterthrush Day

Not the best photos but the only ones I've ever had the chance to take. A few weekends ago I went to the Matheson Hammock Nature Tail in Miami-Dade County where some Louisiana Waterthrush were being seen. I had terrific luck and saw three individuals. One spent quite some time hopping around a puddle. It was hot, super humid, and dog owners often came down the path but it was the best time I've had seeing this species. Migration is here folks, I hope you're ready!

Rescued Turtle

I can't tell you how many turtles find their way to Green Cay. Some walk right into the park, others plow under the fence, and quite a few come by car. That's right, people are always bringing us turtles. Usually this time of year it's females that are done or are on their way to nesting. But the last turtle that came through Green Cay's doors was actually found 2 years ago.

Somehow this little Penisula Cooter was found on a construction site in Palm Beach County. After living with a lovely family the father decided it was time to let it back out in the wild. So they packed the little guy up and signed him over to our care. We decided the best course of action would be to reunite this native turtle with the wetlands.

Usually once I put them on the soft sandy soil the turtles jet towards the water but this guy stayed tucked into his shell. So instead of some nearby predator waiting for me to leave I decided to place him a little bit closer to the water's edge.

It only took the turtle a quick minute to get its bearings and then it slid into the murky water. I am sure it will find a happy home at the Green Cay Wetlands.

Score!

Found at a yard sale for 50 cents.

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5 Terns and a Brown Booby

Our mission was for Bachman's Sparrows and Florida Scrub-Jays but instead we found 5 species of tern and a surprise juvenile Brown Booby. Andy and I started the day in Port St. Lucie County in some typical scrub habitat that jays find beneficial. We hiked around the Savannas Preserve State Park but instead of jays and sparrows we mostly heard Eastern Towhees. At the little patch of trees pictured below we found a nice mix flock of Northern Parula, Prairie Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and a few Carolina Wrens. The Downy Woodpecker above was hanging out with the group as well.

With no luck at the first stop we continued on to another part of Savannas State Park Preserve, the Hawk's Bluff Nature Trail. This state preserve contains the largest tract of freshwater coastal savannas this far south in Florida. It's a beautiful park with open prairie where we heard Sandhill Cranes in the distance and Ospreys overhead.

Once back in the scrub our search continued but this time we found mostly Northen Cardinals. A Great-crested Flycatcher gave us great looks before leaving the park for another try at our target species.

According to Bill Pranty's FL Birding Guide we found a tract of prime scrub habitat near the Government Buildings. We hiked the small property without any luck. The scrub looked promising but either the scrub-jays are gone or they were laying low in the mid-day heat.

Somewhat defeated we decided to head towards the ocean. By this point the day was becoming more and more hot so it was nice to stop near the intercoastal and soak our feet in the water as we did some birding.

This stop proved to be more than adequate for tern species. We saw Sandwich, Royal, Least, and my lifer Gull-billed Tern. We were hoping for a Black Tern but left the stop with only 4 tern species.

At the Fort Pierce Jetty we were able to pick up a fifth tern species but it wasn't the Black Tern we were looking for but instead a Common Tern. This was an unexpected turn of events but definitely a great bird to see. Andy added it to his year list and we felt pretty happy with our find. Of course we were even happier after walking down the jetty and finding a juvenile Brown Booby sitting only feet away.

The jetty gave us great looks at all 5 of our tern species and we stood within a few feet of the booby, soaking in some great looks at a mostly pelagic bird. Many fishermen and visitors walked by with the booby giving no notice or disturbance. It merely sat on the rocks and busied itself preening.

We ended the day with 48 species. Sometimes it's nice to go birding with a target in mind but it's even better to have a few surprises along the way. This weekend I'm back on the road birding, hopefully finding Andy a Black Tern at the Palm Beach County Ag. Fields. Wish us luck!

I and the Bird: Back to School Edition

August signals the end of summer here in the Northern Hemisphere. For many students, teachers, and families this means the return of the school year. For this edition of I and the Bird please join me for what I imagine a typical first day of school must be like in South Florida where I live but with the help from some very talented bird bloggers along the way.

I wake up in my patch, I mean house and get ready for an early morning. If only I was waking up to a flock of Redshanks like the fellow at Counting Coots. Instead I wake up to the cooing of Eurasian-collared Doves outside my window.

As I walk through my urban landscape to the bus stop I dream of native birds like Duncan describes at his blog Ben Cruachan - Natural History. The idea of Magpie-larks and Pied Currawings sounds fabulous but mostly I see Rock Pigeons and Monk Parakeets here in South Florida on my walk down the street.

Once on the school bus I try some out some window birding. I spot a Limpkin on the canal and a Northern Mockingbird on the wire but I long to see things like Hoffmann's Woodpecker and Clay-colored Robins or even a Blue-crowned Motmot. I guess I would need to be riding the bus with Pat at Costa Rica Living and Birding in order for this dream to come true. Pat calls it poor background birding with these birds from the bus window but I would call it a very exciting commute.

Some would probably say a Limpkin on the commute is exciting too.

Finally at school I pick up my schedule and head to my first class. The teacher asks us to do a presentation on our summer vacation. I mostly worked this summer at the Green Cay Nature Center but at least I saw some cool birds. Dawn shared some stories from Green Cay as well over at Dawn's Bloggy Blog. Of course Mike gave us a great overview of his recent family trip to Sandbridge, VA over at 10,000 Birds. You must read about his great bird finds at the Great Dismal Swamp. I would trade a few heron sightings in for a Prothonotary Warbler or Ovenbird any day!

At my next class we talk about statistics and math. I start thinking about statisical outliers such as vagrant birds and it reminds me of Nate's post at The Drinking Bird. He gives an interesting bullet point outline on his thoughts about vagrant tropical Turdids.

After a full morning of classes I shuffle down to the cafeteria to see what's in the old lunchbox. It seems my packed lunch is very similiar to that of a Mousebird. If you're not familiar with the species then go check out Lynda's post at Mainly Mongoose. I never knew this bird existed but now I know we both eat foilage tthanks to Lynda.

I settle down to eat my packed salad when I observe a few students flirting. It reminds me of a recent blog post by YC over at the Bird Ecology Study Group. YC gives a great description of Spotted Doves sharing in some mating rituals. Courtship feeding happens with all types of animals, including humans.

In my next class I don't remember much because I'm end up staring out the window at a Red-bellied Woodpecker that has taken residence on the school grounds but my ears perk up at the mention of possible field trips this semester. I hope we have a chance to go somewhere cool like O.W.L. where Wanderin' Weeta recently visited. The idea of seeing rehabbed birds like Rough-legged Hawks and Short-eared Owls beats sitting in a classroom any day! Another great rehab facility I would like to visit would be the Shasta Wildlife Center. Larry has a great write up about the work there at The Birder's Report. I must suggest this to my teacher.

One of the neighborhood Red-bellied Woodpeckers on a Cabbage Palm.

In Journalism class my teacher gives us a few cameras and sends us outside to practice for the upcoming year. Most of the students start taking candid photos but I head out the back door and start taking photos of wildlife. Some of my classmates eye me warily, I guess taking photos of birds and flowers can be odd. Stephanie had a similiar experience over at Information Central Photographs.

For the last class of the day our teacher assigns us books to read over the course of the semester. I'm really excited about checking out Molt in North America Birds by Steve N.G. Howell. John has a great review of this book at his A DC Birding Blog.

On the way home from school I take a stop at the beach and check out the local shorebirds. Lake Worth, Florida has a nice beachfront and I'm lucky to spot a Magnificent Frigatebird and some Ruddy Turnstones. Of course my mind strays to other coastal destinations like Iceland. Matthew has a great post on Fulmars at Backyard and Beyond. I don't think any Fulmars are going to show up so I head home.

Finally I'm back from a busy first day of school. At least I don't have to worry about my nest, I mean home, being flooded like the nests of the Great-crested Grebes in Lucerne, Switzerland. dream falcon has all the details of the poor nest site chosen by a pair of grebes on an old steamboat. My home is much more stable unless of course a hurricane blows through. I can't wait until hurricane season is over!

Speaking of a stable home life, I'm also lucky that my parents don't have the soap opera lifestyle of an Eastern Phoebe. Learn all about that at Anybody seen my focus?

For homework tonight my only assignment is to think up a new blog entry for the next I and the Bird on August 19th. It will be hosted at Great Auk - or Greatest Auk. I hope you've enjoyed the Back to School Edition. With such great bird blog entries the day passed by quickly. Now I'm off to dream of birds like the Brown Booby that Andy and I recently found at the Fort Pierce Jetty.

My lifer Brown Booby pictured above, found at the St. Augustine Pier, is a juvenile just like the one at the Fort Pierce Jetty. More details of this bird coming up this week at The Flying Mullet.