Miami-Dade Big Day

Andy and I completed a Miami-Dade County Big Day on Monday, February 4, 2013.  It's taken me a minute to upload the photos and compile the list but we ended the day with a 108 total species.  I hope to give you a little insight to our day in this post.

We started the day off at daybreak at the Annex, a local birding spot outside of Everglades National Park.  The first bird of the day was a calling Killdeer.  Actually, we heard a rooster crowing but that doesn't count.  A Barred Owl called later, in the distance, and we were off to a good start.  Highlights included a close-by flyover of a group of White Pelicans, 3 Sandhill Cranes, a calling Sora, and a Least Flycatcher.

We moved on to Lucky Hammock where we found a calling Brown-crested Flycatcher and a Great-crested Flycatcher together.  We watched the two flycatchers and made ID comparisons.  At the corner of Aerojet Road we dipped on the Ash-throated Flycatcher but we did find an Eastern Meadowlark perched.  An international birder joined us and we IDed the meadowlark for him an a nearby kestrel.

We headed into Everglades National Park and got lucky at the Long Pine Campground area.  The Eastern Bluebirds, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Merlin, and Pine Warblers all made appearances.  Off we went to Anhinga trail where we struck out on Purple Gallinule but did see 32 sun-bathing Alligators.

Next up we headed to the C-111 Canal to check for flycatchers.  We got both Western and Tropical Kingbirds between Aerojet and the canal.  It was easy to spot the differences with the two kingbirds on the same wire.  At the C-111 we found the Vermillion Flycatcher easily on the wire.  After snapping a photo we headed towards Cutler Bay.

We checked out Cutler Wetlands where we found 3 American Avocets.  Then we walked out to Dump Marsh where we again had White Pelicans but we also had 3 Red-breasted Mergansers which were a nice addition to our small duck list. 

After Cutler, we headed to Matheson Park where we found a nice flock of warblers but dipped on a few species in the back dog park area.  At least we picked up the Red-headed Woodpecker and headed to across town to Joe Barros house where we didn't find the Warbling Vireo but did find a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.  At A.D. Barnes we found a Hermit Thrush and a Black-throated Blue Warbler.  The only thing left was to head to Crandon and pick up our shorebirds.

At Crandon we found a few terns and gulls but the shorebirds were non-existent.  We must have checked that whole park, walking for over an hour on the beach.  All that work and we only came up with some Sanderlings.  It was a major set-back to our day.  Luckily, we picked up Ruddy Turnstones on the Hobie Beach on the way out and headed back to South Miami to end our day.  We found a few more common species along the way and watched the exotic parrots and parakeets roosting at sunset.  

It was a great day spent birding with one of my best friends.  We missed a few birds but we beat our previous record of 104, which is all that we really wanted.  Even with the missing shorebirds, I couldn't have asked for a better birding day.  The weather was perfect, the birds were cooperative, and the company couldn't have been better.  I can't wait for the next Big Day that Andy Lantz and I complete!

Top Ten Lifers of 2009: Number 8

Sunset at Eco Pond, Everglades National Park

On February 7, 2009 my Big Day birding partners, Kim and Andy, joined me for a 103 species tally from Miami to the Everglades. You can read about our adventures in two parts here and here. Highlights included White-tailed Kite, Tropical Kingbird, and Mangrove Cuckoo but the top birds of the day were my only two lifers a Bell's Vireo at the Annex and some Lesser Nighthawks at Eco Pond.


We started the day at Dump Marsh before sunrise. Our first bird of the day was a pre-dawn Barn Owl and Northern Cardinal. We dashed over to Cutler Wetlands to pick up a few birds and then back to Dump Marsh before heading to the Everglades. Before entering the park we stopped at Lucky Hammock and the Annex (both areas are widely known in the birding circles down here). We found our Bell's Vireo despite a stray dog trying to attack Andy at the Annex and then we entered the park where we would later camp. Our plan was to slowly make our way to Flamingo by nightfall.


By the time we were at Eco Pond at sunset we had already achieved our 100 bird mark. The icing on th cake was hearing and watching as Lesser Nighthawk swooped over the water. We tried to look for a Whipporwill to round out the day but this would be our last bird of a great day of birding and also a lifer for all of us. So my number 8 bird is tie between the Bell's Vireo and the Lesser Nighthawk of our Feb09 Big Day.

Migrants return

Blue-Gray Gnatcher taken by Bill Kominskey at Green Cay, used with permission.

The migrants are returning to South Florida. I saw my FOS Blue-gray Gnatcatchers today at Green Cay. We also had a pair of American Redstarts and 2 Prairie Warblers. Soon I'm heading down to the Everglades in search of an Alder Flycatcher and maybe some other new birds if I'm lucky.

Go read Andy's new bird blog to stay posted on his travels. Tomorrow is the beginning of his big bird year.

South Florida Big Day Part II

Yesterday I went through the first half of our South Florida Big Day but I saved the really good stuff for today. You'll have to continue reading to find out what we scored!

Black-crowned Night Heron at Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park.

After finding the kites we headed towards the Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo Trails. The walk to the Mound had been longer than we anticipated and we were all feeling a little tired. Also we were feeling the need to pick up some more birds. We had a few target birds in mind and immediately we found our first one right out of the parking lot, a Short-tailed Hawk mixed in with a kettle of vultures. It was a dark morph and it really got us pumped up. After that we searched the wooded trail for flycatchers but came up empty. We decided that time was of the essence so after we found a Black-crowned Night Heron and an Anhinga for the day list we shot off towards the campground area for a late lunch.

Click the photos to see all the little black specks in the air, those are Tree Swallows.

The pines around the campground are crucial for a Everglades birding day and you must pick up the specialty species there like Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Pine Warbler, Northern Flicker, and Eastern Towhee. After eating a quick bite to eat we walked out towards the pond to find thousands of Tree Swallows flying overhead. The winds were picking up and our specialty birds were nowhere to be seen or heard. We were just turning back towards the car when not one, not two, but ALL of the birds we needed somehow popped into view. It was an amazing feeling to find all the birds we needed for the day and we left the area feeling satiated.

Eastern Bluebirds have been re-introduced into Everglades National Park.

After seeing those Pine species we decided to stop by Mahogany Hammock to check on the warbler show. It was around 2:00PM and we didn't have high hopes but we nailed a feeding flock that included Black-throated Green, Black-and-White, Northern Parula, and Prairie Warbler. As we were looking at the Black-throated Green two Barred Owls began calling back and forth through the hammock. After a little backtracking we found one of the owls perched directly by the trail. On our way out of the hammock we heard Sandhill Cranes flying by and we deemed the stop more than successful.

Unfortunately Mrazek Pond wasn't as happening. A month ago I had seen a nice group of Northern Pintails there but today we just had a few teal and some woodstorks. We continued down the road to Flamingo where the visitor center gave us great looks at some terns and sparrows. But the big find of the day was yet to come at Eco Pond. We went there to see the Roseate Spoonbills and Black-necked Stilts but we certainly weren't expecting to find a Mangrove Cuckoo!

Mangrove Cuckoo at Eco Pond, 10 feet away and at eye level out in the open.

Usually when you're on a Big Day mission you can't take time to enjoy the birds to the full extent but we made an exception with this one. We soaked in the looks of our Mangrove Cuckoo until some people collecting firewood eventually spooked the bird. It was a great find and one of the many highlights of the day. After that we went back to Flamingo where Kim found her lifer Bonaparte's Gull and in her new scope to top it off!

The Big Day was coming to a close but we still continued searching for just one more bird.

At sunset we hauled ourselves back to Eco Pond in hopes of catching a few more birds. Along the way we did find a couple of good day birds, Common Ground-dove and Spotted Sandpiper but the final bird of the day would be Lesser Nighthawks calling overhead. This was a perfect ending to a great day of birding.

Eco Pond at sunset.

After dark we were still persistent to find another bird but after scouring the campground and part of the Coastal Prairie Trail with headlamps we still couldn't find a Whippoorwill or any owls so we called it a day and headed to our tent for the night. Before daylight we were back at Eco Pond in time to catch an owl flying by and a whole mess of Lesser Nighthawks cruising low over the water. Really it was a perfect weekend birding with friends. And we even stopped back by and saw our Bell's Vireo sans crazy humping dog which made it that much better.

Kim, Andy, and me at daylight near our campsite.

In order of appearance.
Dump Marsh: Killdeer, Barn Owl, Northern Cardinal

Cutler Wetlands: American Avocet, Boat-tailed Grackle, Long-billed Dowitcher, Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Greater Yellowlegs, Black Vulture, European Starling, Green-winged Teal, Ring-billed Gull, Northern Shoveler, Mourning Dove, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Red-shouldered Hawk, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull, Great Blue Heron, American Coot, Brown-Headed Cowbird, Muscovy, Little Blue Heron, Red-Winged Blackbird, Tri-Colored Heron, Lesser Yellowlegs, Northern Mockingbird, Glossy Ibis, Northern Harrier, Blue Jay, Cattle Egret, Turkey Vulture, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Fish Crow

Dump Marsh: Loggerhead Shrike, American Kestral, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Tropical Kingbird, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Painted Bunting, Common Moorhen, Osprey, Belted Kingfisher, White Ibis, Wood Stork, Great Egret, Palm Warbler, American White Pelican

In Transit from Cutler to the Annex: Rock Pigeon, Double Crested Cormorant, Feral Gray-Lag Goose, Common Myna, House Sparrow

The Annex: White-Eyed Vireo, Gray Catbird, Great-Crested Flycatcher, Blue-Headed Vireo, Bell's Vireo, House Wren, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Common Yellow-Throat, Magnolia Warbler, Indigo Bunting

Lucky Hammock: Grasshopper Sparrow

Everglades National Park: Pied-Billed Grebe, American Crow, Eastern Meadowlark, White-tailed Kite, Tree Swallow, Hooded Merganser, Snail Kite, Snowy Egret, Short-Tailed Hawk, Anhinga, Black-Crowned Night Heron, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Flicker, Brown-Headed Nuthatch, Pine Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Northern Parula, Black-Throated Green Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Barred Owl, Sandhill Crane, Green Heron, Brown Pelican, Caspian Tern, Willet, Royal Tern, Savannah Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Black Skimmer, Black-Necked Stilt, Mangrove Cuckoo, Roseate Spoonbill, Bonaparte's Gull, Common Ground Dove, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Nighthawk

Big Day Total: 103 species

South Florida Big Day

Friday night Kim and I drove to Andy's house to prepare for our South Florida Big Day. We fueled up on a great tomato basil pizza and then went to bed early in preparation for our 5:00AM wake up call. Our plan was to be at Dump Marsh in southern Miami-Dade County by 6:00AM.

Breakfast of champions on top of our Everglades planned route.

With a little help from the French press we were out of the door early and just in time to get to Dump Marsh before sunrise. We started the day with Killdeer calling. Shortly later a Barn Owl graced us with its presence. The day was beginning on a high note because none of us see owls very often. After the owl we made our way to Cutler Wetlands (just around the corner) where we picked up some ducks, gulls, and waders. We scanned the Brown-headed Cowbirds for Yellow-headed Cowbirds but came up empty. So we high-tailed it back to Dump Marsh for a few more birds such as the Tropical Kingbird that's been hanging out all winter. We even got lucky and found a beautiful male Painted Bunting before departing to the Annex.

Checking out the Tropical Kingbird and Eastern Phoebe at Dump Marsh.

For those that don't know the Annex and Lucky Hammock are officially called the Frog Pond Wildlife Management Area and Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area. Both birding hotspots are located just outside the entrance of Everglades National Park and are on the same road. They both host an impressive bird list and warrant a visit if you're in the area. We went there to try and catch some passerines for our Big Day. Luck would hand us some great birds including three vireos: Blue-headed, White-eyed, and Bell's Vireo. The latter being a lifer bird for both Andy and me. Of course during our views of our lifer Bell's a stray dog disturbed our birding but we somehow regained composure and headed toward Lucky Hammock which was unusually quiet. Of course we did pick up Grasshopper Sparrow for a day bird so it wasn't a complete bust.

The dog getting a little frisky with Andy. Even though I thought it was rude to cut into our lifer views I found this whole situation mildly entertaining.

Our next stop was Research Road in Everglades National Park. Our goal was the White-tailed Kite and a few minutes after reaching the abandoned missile base our kite soared over the glades and perched in a nearby tree. It was still a pretty good distance off but I tried my hand at some rough digiscoping. I apologize for the mediocre photos but they are identifiable and not bad considering I don't have a digiscoping rig.

After soaking in our White-tailed Kite looks we headed to the Mound by Gate 15. This is a great spot to get aerial views of the wetlands surrounding this area. We came up with a small flock of Hooded Mergansers and an unexpected Snail Kite.

Andy scanning for something other than a Hooded Merganser to add to our day list.

The hike up to the top of the Mound is always fun because it's really the only elevation change you will get at Everglades National Park unless you climb the stairs at Flamingo.

Two kite species, three vireos, and a few good grabs like Common Myna at the Homstead gas station meant we were rolling along right on schedule. By noon we were up to 73 species but it's always the end of the day that's crucial for picking up every little bird. We had a lot of miles ahead of us before reaching Flamingo and a few unexpected finds as well. But you'll have to come back tomorrow to find out what was waiting for us at the end of our South Florida Big Day!

The Glades

My plan was to update you on the Everglades Big Day that my friends and I undertook this weekend but the cord to my camera is missing so you will just have to check in tomorrow to find out if we beat last years totals (the Tally Big Day). In the meantime here's a glimpse of the Everglades above. That photo was taken a month ago when I was out scoping our Big Day run. It's the view from the Anhinga Trail, which we actually didn't bird entirely on our day instead we just picked up a few things by the bathrooms. Stay tuned!

Exploring Fort De Soto

This weekend I traveled across the state of Florida and back into time. Our mission was to conquer Fort De Soto. We had an excellent day, fun adventures, and plenty of birds. This historic fort is found near Tampa and is known for its spectacular migration in spring. Fallouts can bring huge numbers of warblers and other Gulf migrants. The park boasts a bird list of over 300. The weather is a huge factor in the birding and though we didn't have the perfect conditions, it was a great way to spend a day in Florida.

These 12-inch M1890-M1 mortars are the last four remaining in North America (the only others in the world are in the Philippines). Fort De Soto was never a site of any major battles and it never fired a round at an enemy. The fort is named for Hernando De Soto who came ashore near Tampa Bay in 1528. The fort was built in the late 1890s and was completed in April, 108 years ago.

For this birding adventure I was privileged to be joined by Kim, the scientist of Southwest Florida. We packed the car with snacks, optics, bird guides, and of course a sense of adventure. This was our first time exploring the park and we didn't quite know what to expect. What we did know was that we needed to find the Mulberry Trees. This grove would hold the magic of the day. This one stand of trees would bring all the color of the day.

We arrived at Fort De Soto sometime after sunrise. Our bird list was already up to 15 from the road travel; the first bird of the day from Kim's parking lot, a Burrowing Owl on the mailbox. With a start like that we knew the day would hold many surprises. The Mulberry Tree above was the first major stop. We quickly picked up a succession of life birds for our list: Orchard Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Worm-Eating Warbler, and Black-Hooded Parakeet. Other highlights from this area included Prothonotary Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, and both Gray and Eastern Kingbirds. From there we headed to the North Beach and found a few shorebirds like Short-Billed Dowitcher and Black-Bellied Plover. After a quick stop at the East Beach Woods we ended our time at Fort De Soto with 53 species. Three or four days earlier there was a small fallout but by the time we arrived most of these birds had moved on. It was a great day with killer looks at all of our birds. For once it wasn't just a tick mark but a long analysis of some of our most colorful birds in North America.

After surveying our list we realized that some of the most common birds were absent like Anhingas and Blue Jays. With this in mind we made a succession of stops to round out our day list. We didn't start the day with intentions of having a Big Day but we were determined to end the day with 60 species. Of course once we hit 60 that number changed to 70 and then to 75. We visited parks like Akerman Park, the Celery Fields, and Lakes Park. And we grabbed 24 more species to add to our list. Birds like Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, Black-Necked Stilt, and many Black-Crowned Night Herons rounded out the list.

With the list at 77 species we decided to call it a day. Before we headed home we made one more loop through a beautiful Oak Tree forest for warblers. When I crossed the state I figured that my nemesis bird, the Hooded Warbler, would be mine. Once again this migrant has eluded me but it won't be long coming. I'll keep looking and searching. Eventually I'll find it and then I'll have to target another bird that seems to slip my grasp. But for now I'm hitting the bird train back to my side of the state. I hear that the birds are coming over from Cuba every day. I hope to see you out there too!

Train at Lakes Park, Lee County, Florida

Tally Big Day

Our mission was to see 100 birds in one day. What we didn't expect was gloomy skies and heavy rainfall. But I'm jumping ahead, it all started with some scouting first. The day before our Big Day we headed out to Tall Timbers to check the trails. We weren't disappointed we saw Brown-headed Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Wild Turkey, American Goldfinch, Common Ground Doves and more Red-headed Woodpeckers than you could shake a stick at. We had a great feeder station and the Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavities were laid out for us. This would be our end of the day site if St. Marks wasn't successful. There was talk that we may never make it this far north if the coast was productive. Twenty-four hours later we would be back here in the rain.

Birding Tall Timbers

The Big Day arrived earlier than expected; we woke up at 4am. After some rumblings about we were off to find owls. We had a Barred Owl by 5am but the Eastern Screech Owl let us down after a few unsuccessful stops. We made it to Bottoms Road by daylight where the birds started rolling in. There was a Horned Grebe and a few White Pelicans off the coast and we had killer looks at Clapper Rails and Bald Eagles galore in the marsh. We headed to Bald Point State Park where we picked up a Northern Parula and some swallows. Ochlocknee State Park was our RCW site but we came up with just 5 birds. Luckily two of them weren't seen the rest of the day so they were great snags, Yellow-throated Warbler and Hermit Thrush.

After a disappointing show at Ohlocknee we headed to St. Mark's. We got a late season Bufflehead and lots of shorebirds. Highlights included: Marbled Godwit, American Oystercatcher, Sora, Wilson's Plover, American Avocet, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. We had 80 birds on the day but the wind was fierce and chances for warblers was slim so we decided to make a dash back to Tallahassee for our last 20 of the day.

IDing out the shorebirds

Our short ride back to Tally turned into a slow steady battle through heavy rainfall. We were becoming a little skeptical about the last 20 but we stayed the course. In town we picked up 11 more birds including Killdeer and Wood Duck and a surprising Ruddy Duck. Things were definitely looking up.

By late afternoon we were pulling back up at Tall Timbers. We were tired and soon to be wet but still very optimistic. We had to look into the gourds to find the Purple Martins and then it was off to the trails. We picked up a House Finch and Northern Bobwhite and then finally, the 100th bird of the day gave us a look, the White-breasted Nuthatch. After a celebratory round of high fives we grabbed 3 more birds and waited for the RCW to show itself. After a 30 minute wait by the suspected nest cavity we called it a day. We didn't get the RCW but a little Pine Warbler gave us a show before we left and we ended on 104 total. Not bad considering the strong winds, the overcast sky and the heavy rains. In good birder fashion we went home and planned our next Big Day challenge over some drinks.

The Tally Big Day Crew: Matt, Kim, Maggie, myself, and Andy