Migration and Monhegan

One of my fondest memories of this past summer was the night we spent with campers on Monhegan Island.  Monhegan sits far our in the Gulf of Maine and it a perfect land beacon for migranting birds as they travel south. We hiked up to a open hillside for sunrise and watched the migrant show at it's best. Flyover warblers, shorebirds, and raptors graced the skies above and a few even landed for closer inspection.

We watched raptors diving over the Monhegan forests and heard Bobolinks calling high in the sky.  We were even given great views of a couple of Whimbrels that made repeated flyovers that morning.

Whimbrel over Monhegan taken by Tom Johnson

Of course the main attraction was after sunrise when we hiked the Monhegan trails in search of migrants busily feeding on trees and bush.  We were able to identify 19 species of wood-warblers that day in addition to seeing three species of vireos in one binocular field of view!  In addition, we had a rare Black-crowned Night Heron at the Ice Pond and so many Merlins you couldn't count them all.  

Prairie Warbler on Monhegan taken by Tom Johnson

If you're thinking about joining the Hog Island Audubon Camp on Monhegan next year, you're in luck!  We have two weeks of migration camp with two different sets of prices.  The first session will be a lower price as we will just do a day trip to Monhegan.  The second session of Living on the Wind: Migration and Monhegan will be higher in price but will include an overnight on the island and a chance to see this sunrise birding firsthand!  Of course spaces are limited and we are selling out fast.  I hope you'll consider joining us next summer. 

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!

Keys Birding

 

For Labor Day weekend Andy, Rosana, Emily, and I went to Key West for some fun times.  Along the way we stopped and did some shorebirding near Marathon.  We had a nice collection of birds including Short-billed & Long-billed Dowitchers, Willet, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Sanderling, Semi-palmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, and numerous terns on the flats.  While driving over the Bahia Honda Channel I spotted an Audubon's Shearwater.  We tried for better looks but it headed out past the bridge not to be re-seen.

Once in Key West we danced the night away and then on Sunday we birded Fort Zachary State Park.  The area around the bathrooms were very busy we had 10 warbler species within 20 minutes, including a HY Hooded Warbler that gave us killer looks from a few feet away.  After the Prothonotary, Worm-eating, Prairie, Redstart, Ovenbird, Blackpoll, Parula, Black-and-white, and Northern Waterthrush fun we hit the beach for some swimming.  The water was delightfully cool.

Now a busy week is starting and my Bird-a-day year is coming to a close.  I used a Spot-breasted Oriole today but the only easy bird I have left is a White Ibis.  For those that don't know about Bird-a-Day, you should definitely check it out.  I can't believe I made it to September!  

Howard Park Shorebirds

A short drive from the Sponge Docks of Tarpon Springs you will find a delightful little County beach area called Howard Park.  The picnic areas are nice and shaded and the causeway is just full of birds.  I was really happy to see some late strays such as Red-breasted Merganser and my first Florida sighting of a Common Loon.  On the beach held a variety of shorebirds like dowitchers and plovers.  Some like the Black-bellied Plover below were displaying some nice breeding patterns.  And if you're a sunset admirer, then look no further for a place to watch the sky show.  This place gave a spectacular sunset view.  I loved it so much that I had to see it the following evening as well. 

In addition to the fine birds seen in this post, one of my favorite birds of all time uses Howard Park as a congregating area.  Come back tomorrow to see the stunning shots I got of Black  Skimmers at Howard Park.

Lake Worth Beach

The morning view at LW beach is nice especially when I see Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones. There's a long summer ahead with no shorebirds in sight. I'm enjoying it while I can. The Bird a Day endeavor is going to get hairy in just a few short weeks. My new goal is to make it to July 1st.

Bunche Beach Shorebirds

If you're in South Florida and want to see shorebirds then you should definitely check out Bunche Beach in Fort Myers. This Lee County park has just a small parking area down a dead end road but the beach there is great when the tide is going out for shorebirds.



Recently, Andy, Rosana, EmilyLark and I took a trip over to the west coast of Florida for a weekend. We had a great time at Bunche Beach. We saw 3 species of tern, a dozen species of shorebird, and a big highlight for me was seeing my first every White Morph Reddish Egret. All in all, I wish we had hit the tides better but it was still a fun trip topped off with a little swimming and some celebratory drinks that night..

Shorebirds of Crandon Beach

The Bird A Day efforts are taking me to new birding destinations and recently I paid my $5 dollar entry fee and birded Crandon Park while in Miami.  It was a great shorebird spot with Black-bellied Plovers and Dunlin being the highlights.  But even the Royal Terns and Pelicans gave me some nice looks for ordinary birds.  I only stayed about a hour or so but it worth the trip.  If you're looking for an empty beach during the weekday then Crandon should be on your short list while visiting Miami.

Jekyll Reunion

Jekyll Island may very well be one of my favorite places on Earth. I do have a bias however since I lived there from August 2003 until June 2006. Those were some fun years at the beach. During that time I was able to work with some of the smartest, kindest, and craziest people. Every now and then we get together and have little reunions. A Jekyll Reunion hasn't happened in awhile and I was delighted when Katie mentioned that she was renting a house and that we were invited. So in a small Honda Fit, 4 of us crammed in headed north.

We arrived a day early so the first morning was mostly just us exploring the beach.  Emily saw her first Black Skimmer and we had a nice shorebird morning with terns, gulls, and willets.  The sand dunes were littered with Palm Warblers and the shrub was full of mockingbirds and migrants.

After picking up our dear friend Lanie J at the airport we had veggie burgers on the beach delivered by a charming fellow.

By nightfall the whole group had arrived.  We had fun swimming in the St. Andrews sound, drinking beverages on the rooftop deck, and generally catching up on life. 

The next morning was our last and though the trip was short we tried to make the most of it.  Andy and I got up early and birded the northern end of the island.  We started at the Jekyll campground feeders where we had chickadees, Ruby-throated hummingbirds, Carolina Wrens, and some frisky squirrels.

Next we hit up the old ampitheater slough.  The normal Pied-billed Grebes, herons, and migrants were found along the trail and on the water.  The forests of Jekyll are so beautiful and each time I have a chance to walk around in them I remember how much I miss the maritime forest.  South Florida has something similiar but it's not the same to me.

We ended our day at St. Andrews, swimming with the people seining.  It's a murky water and not the prettiest of sights but the swimming was fun nonetheless. Dark marsh mud ebbs out with the tide and you can barely see a foot down.  A drastic change from the clear blue waters of Florida.  The only part wrong with this trip was that it was just way too short.  I really would like to spend a week on Jekyll with no cares in the world.  Maybe next time.

John MacArthur State Park

Went for a swim at the beach this weekend. Dozens of Sandwich Terms soared by and a few Brown Pelicans. The highlight was watching newly arrived Sanderlings chasing each other near the surf.  Emily and I are getting good use of my new Florida State Parks pass!

Swaro CLs: Beach Birding

Decided to take a picnic at the beach in Lake Worth yesterday and found some dark skies.  But the low light didn't stop my birding.  Within minutes I had 1 Black Tern and 7 Gull-billed Tern in sight.  After the terns I spied a few Rock Pigeons hanging around the pier and 1 lone Brown Pelican.

I brought my tester Swaro CLs for the birding and found over 20 Ruddy Turnstones in breeding plumage down the beach.  Mixed in the flock were 2 Sanderling.  It's been a few months since I've seen this beach birds near the shore.

I've been continuing to modify and make the test product pair of Swarovski CLs like my own.  A few things that had to change were a switch from the neck strap provided to a more traditional birding rig.  I don't actually wear it the proper way, if there is a proper way.  I usually sling it across my body like a heavy bag and off I go.  I like the stretchy material of the "birding bra." 

The other adjustment that I HAD to make was doing something about those top eye-cups.  I don't mind the two flap down caps but that top cap was driving me nuts.  I felt like it was always impeding my view or irritating me by rubbing against my skin.  So I have rigged a very inexpensive solution.  I may be the only birder using a $900 pair of binoculars that have the top eye-cups attached with a rubber-band but guess what?  It gives me a lot more flexibility and I love that the cups dangle out of my way.  I thought about doing some tie straps type of thing but I like how the cups dangle low with the rubber-band.  I guess I'll give this a try for a few more all day birding trips but so far (the past couple of weeks) I've been happy with the solution!

Hundreds of Spoonbills and Waders

This post somehow became lost in all my recent travels.  It's the second half of my birding day in late July.  To read about the first part of the day scroll down to the Swaro CL Test Drive post or click the link.

After Kim and I were done with our morning of fun we headed for the Everglades Agricultural Area near Belle Glade.  From Lake Okeechobee to the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge and South towards Miami their are agricultural fields that mostly plant sugar cane and rice.  In August they flood many of these fields after harvesting the plants and this creates the perfect conditions for migrating shorebirds.

For our first main stop of the day we headed down Gator Blvd outside of Belle Glade and found a nice field full of waders.  I know we were on the hunt for shorebirds but this was worth stopping for, check out the photos below to get a glimpse of the action!

The fields were full of Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Black-necked Stilts, and many small peeps.

My count was 124 for Roseate Spoonbills (a personal best) and over 250 Wood Storks.  Yes, quite literally the fields were pink and white.  I have never seen such a huge flock of waders.  Usually I reserve my shorebirding in Western Palm Beach for mid to late August but this late July experience proved worthy of the drive.

The fields were littered birds and a few shorebirds were mixed in as well such as Short-billed Dowitcher, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Semipalmated Sandpiper. 

We checked out the fields further along Gator Blvd and found some Black Terns and Least Terns flying.  In the field was a few White Pelicans and Glossy Ibis as well.  It was a nice day of birding and one I won't forget anytime soon!

We stopped near this dilapidated building on CR880 to look for swallows.  We found a Red-tailed Hawk instead.

Lifer Wilson's Phalarope

On August 3rd I headed out to the sod fields of Palm Beach County in search of a target bird.  I had seen reports of Wilson's Phalarope earlier in the day on the bird boards and I figured this was my best chance to find it before a potential storm hit over the weekend.  I left directly after work for CR 880 near Belle Glade, FL.

At the first flooded fields I found huge flocks of yellowlegs.  Mixed into the group were Least Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, and a huge group of Black Terns.  The photo above was taken by local birder, Trey Mitchell, on the same day but hours earlier.

I searched the flooded field over and over, stopping my car at intervals along the way and trying to stay out of traffic.  I finally gave up and decided to search some other areas.  I rounded the corner and there was a second flooded field.  Wouldn't you know it, the phalaropes were there all along!  I had been searching the wrong field. The three Wilson's Phalarope were busy feeding and gave me great looks as they spun around in search of food. 

This was a great Lifer and a County bird to boot!  The view was made better with my new Swaro CL binoculars.  The heat shimmer caused optimal viewing of the phalaropes to be limited but the great optics gave me my best view.  It was a great way to end the day, success in hand.  If you're interested in shorebird migration, the Everglades Agricultural Area in Palm Beach County, Florida is definitely where it's at right now.  Every time I go out there I find something new and exciting.