FLORIDA TRIP - MARCH 2007
by Karl Lukens
Tuesday Feb. 27th-
We left the house on Sea Grove Ave. At 6:40 am to make the 7:30 ferry for Lewes,
DE on leg one of the trip. Nothing unusual in the way of birds, but did get
a few White-winged Scoters on the Jersey side. Left Lewes around 9:30
am headed for the Annapolis area, then DC and I-95. We picked up breakfast egg
sandwiches on the way. Hit I-95 around noon, and headed south. Arrived at Florence,
SC at 6:30 pm, checked into the Hampton Inn, instituted cocktail hour, and headed
for Ruby Tuesday for dinner (of course Karl had a steak!).
Wednesday Feb. 28th-
Breakfast at the motel and on the road at 8:00 am with a destination of the
Comfort Inn in Titusville, FL. Nice weather, nice day, arrived at the motel
at 3:30 pm and got organized. From the 2nd floor balcony of the room we looked
across a small lake and saw 6-8 Black Vultures on the ground with a Bald
Eagle eating a fish! We also had a couple of Great Egrets and a Great
Blue and an Anhinga in a small tree. Not a bad view. Traditional
cocktail hour followed by dinner at the near by Durango.
Thursday March 1- A 7:30 breakfast at the motel, and off to Merritt Island and the Black Point Drive, a 7 mile auto tour around ponds and water with lots of waders, ducks, etc. Good photo ops. Close views of Egrets, Herons, Spoonbills, Coots, Moorhens, White and Glossy Ibis, and Wood Storks. We then spent an hour or more driving, stopping and listening for the Florida Scrub Jay, which is supposed to be here, but could not connect. We decided to check out the Manatees at the viewing area a few miles up the road still looking for jays. The Manatees were very cooperative; it was worth the side trip. Looked for jays again, found an Armadillo, and then left the area around 5:00 pm for cocktail hour and dinner again at the Durango.
Friday March 2-
Again a motel breakfast at 8:00 am and back to Merritt Island specifically for
the Scrub Jay. Found good habitat and finally at 9:30 we got a pair of
Florida Scrub Jays
close to the road in the tops of some brush. A High five, a Lifer for Judy,
and we are off to travel to the Florida City/Homestead area. But first we stop
at the Viero Wetlands (in Brevard County), a “Brig” type drive in an area where
a Masked Duck had been a month or so earlier (but now gone). A great place to
bird. We were greeted by a Crested
Caracara as we entered and saw many ducks, waders, a Great
Blue Heron eating a snake, Anhingas,
a couple of Sandhill Cranes,
and another visit by the Caracara. Hard to leave, but we still had a
long drive to South Florida. Arrived at Hampton Inn, Florida City at 5:30 pm.
Checked in, freshened up, and off to dinner across the street at the Mutineer
for some good sea food with complimentary drinks from the motel.
Saturday March 3-
Motel breakfast at 8:oo am off to Wakodahatchee
at 8:45. This is another great water/wading bird spot. Our hope here was to
find a Limpkin, a life bird for Judy. Great views of Common
Moorhens, Purple Gallinules,
Little Blues, Snowy Egrets,
Great Egrets, Great Blues, a few yellow-crowned Night-Herons, Anhingas, etc.
I was mentioning looking for a Limpkin to Judy, when a birder overhears and
speaks up, and says there is one out around the next turn. We immediately go
and find the Limpkin and
after photographing and watching for a short while, it slowly walked into some
vegetation and disappeared! An hour
later we found it again still hidden away, with only a small piece of the bird
showing, and not really detectible if you didn’t know it was there. We got lucky.
Weather sunny and in the 80's! Next stop Loxahatchee. We did the Visitors Center
and a short boardwalk, and
some views of the impoundments from the parking lot and nearby paths. We did
not do the long walk around the impoundments; probably spoiled by the ease of
viewing at Wakodahatchee. We did however stop on the way out where a birder
was looking up into some trees. Pulled over and found he was looking at a Great
Horned Owl nest
with a fluffy, white owlet in it. I looked around and soon found one of the
adults not far away. Meanwhile, a Park police officer stops and proceeds to
give us both tickets for parking on the roadside where I admit, it did say “no
parking” on a sign. Unfortunately the ticket was not for “No Parking” which
we were expecting, but for “Failure to comply with Special Regulations” with
a cost of $125.00!! Not a good move on our behalf, but a bad public relations
move on the part of the officer! Expensive Owl! Oh well, off to the next area,
the Aero Club in Wellington, and finally Brian
Piccolo Park for Burrowing Owls. Nothing at the Aero Club site, maybe the
Lane Guide is somewhat outdated? We then head to Piccolo before ending the day.
After a $2.00 entry fee, we found our way to an open field where there were
several areas marked off with yellow poles and tape with small mounds within.
In one of these there was a Burrowing
Owl sitting. Only half its body visible but a nice view, and another
Lifer for Judy! It was then time to head for the motel, arriving at 5:30 pm
in time for our cocktail hour, and dinner.
Sunday March 4-
Breakfast at the motel at 8:00 am and on the way to the south Miami suburbs
to look for the bulbul and parakeets. First we tried the residential area around
the Royal Palms Tennis Club, and later the grounds at Kendall Hospital, but
could only come up with a bunch of noisy, non-countable, Red-masked Parakeets.
Also struck out at Fuchs Park, and intentionally avoided the massive crowds
at Matheson Hammock, and the Fairchild Tropical Gardens. Tried a couple more
spots for Monk Parakeets and missed, and then back to the motel. It was a long
day with little to show in the way of new birds.
Monday March 5-
This is the day for the trip to the Keys. Up at 7:00 am, breakfast, and on our
way at 8:00 am. Drove through Key Largo and made the 1st stop at the Wild Bird
Center where we found Reddish
Egret, Great Blue and Great
White Heron, Brown Pelican, and other Egrets and Herons. Stopped at
Marathon for a Burrowing Owl Site at the Golf Course-none. We continued down
the keys viewing the beautiful scenery and birds. At Key West we birded the
Tropical Gardens here we found Western
Kingbird and Scissor-tailed
Flycatcher. Went to an area where the local bird club meets and where
White-crowned Pigeon could be found - no luck. Briefly checked out Fort Zachary
Taylor and turned north for home at 5:00 pm. No Key Deer, but on the way back
we did see a Magnificent Frigatebird around Marathon. Dark by the time
we got to the motel, and a very good, late seafood dinner.
Tuesday March 6-
This is Everglades Day and maybe a Short-tailed Hawk. Up at 7:00 am, motel breakfast,
and off to the Glades. On the way through the “agri” fields, we encountered
several Loggerhead Shrikes. Then, at the entrance to the Park, there
was a buteau flying with some vultures. We jumped out of the van to get a better
view, and voila, a Dark Morph
Short-tailed Hawk was soaring. After a few minutes it drifted out of
sight and we were on our way with another Lifer for Judy. Royal Palms had a
number of land birds, Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue-headed and White-eyed
Vireos, Yellow-rumped, Worm-eating, Prairie, and Palm Warblers, plus
the usual water birds. Mahogany
Hammock, Paurotis Pond, West Lake, Mrazek Pond, Eco Pond, and Flamingo
were all birdy and interesting, but no Lifers. A really nice day as we finished
up at 3:15 pm.
Wednesday March 7-
Up at 7:00 am, motel breakfast, and on our way to Naples via Shark Valley. The
target bird today was the Snail Kite. At the area of the Shark Valley Tram and
the Miccosukee Indian Restaurant, along the Tamiami Trail, we stopped to view
to the north for the Snail Kite. After several false alarms and 15-20 minutes,
Karl sighted a Snail Kite
and got it in the scope
for Judy to view although she had it in the binoculars , another Lifer for
her. For the next ˝ hour we watched the kite and found 2 others, an adult male
and female and a juvenile in total-nice! As we continued to Naples we sighted
8-10 Swallow-tailed Kites
soaring above the road; a little icing on the cake. A short stop at Fakahatchee
- Big Cypress Bend, where there were nesting Bald Eagles and cavorting
Otters, and then on to the Comfort Inn in Naples and dinner at The Cracker Barrel.
Contacted Ginny Diehm, who had moved to Punta Gorda from New Jersey last year,
and agreed to meet at “Ding” Darling in the morning.
Thursday March 8-
Up at 6:30 am, breakfast at the motel, and off to meet Ginny at Sanibel around
8:30. Traffic and construction slowed us a bit, but we did meet at 8:45 at the
Darling visitor’s center. The drive around the ponds and impoundments was great.
Shore birds, waders, pelicans, really nice. While watching the White
Pelicans we hear a voice “Karl,Judy”, and there we find Dave Ward. Dave
is from Avalon, NJ and a part time Floridian. He is, of course, the originator
of the now famous Avalon Sea Watch; a small world. We finish the drive around
and try the Bailey Tract impoundments, and then head back to the motel for rest,
cocktails, and to Giovonni’s for a great Italian dinner.
Friday March 9-
Motel breakfast and off to Corkscrew Swamp. Nice Visitor’s Center and boardwalk
trail. Here we found Painted
Bunting at a feeder, many waders, and land birds such as Red-belly,
Sapsucker, Downy,
Pileated Woodpecker, Blue-headed Vireo, N. Parula. Finally, at the end
of the trail, a calling Barred Owl. Next stop Babcock-Webb WMA where
we struck out on Bachman’s Sparrow and Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Back to the
motel and dinner at an Italian Pizza place-very good.
Saturday March 10-
Today we drive to the Kissimmee area and bird as we go. Several places for Red-cockaded
Woodpecker and FL Scrub Jay were investigated, such as the scrub patch at Rte.
74 and 29 (no jays but 10 Sandhill Cranes), and the Venus Flatwood Preserve
(now apparently called the Tiger preserve), as well as the Archbold
Biological Station where we did find another pair of Florida
Scrub Jays. Diggers Road produced 2 Caracaras,
and 2 Scissor-tailed
Flycatchers. Sandhill Cranes and a Wilson’s Snipe were
found north of Arbuckle Creek Rd. However, the burrowing owl site at Arbuckle
showed no evidence of owls. Then it was time for the Best Western Motel and
dinner.
Sunday March 11-
We are now on eastern daylight time. Two days to drive home. The first leg,
from Kissimmee to Dunn, NC is about 500 miles. Interestingly, as we were leaving
the Kissimmee area on a major highway, we spotted a flock of Wild Turkeys
on the road shoulder; a new trip bird. We arrive at the Comfort Inn at 5:30
pm. Cocktail hour, and then dinner at the Sage Brush Steak House.
Monday March 12-
Leave Dunn, NC at 6:30 am and head up I-95. It was a long drive through several
states until we reach the Ferry at Lewes at 2:45 pm (Ferry at 4:15 pm). A stop
at Henlopen State Park produced a Brown-headed Nuthatch and then back
to the ferry. At 5:45 pm we were at Cape May, and drive to pick up Cheese Steaks
for dinner. Along the way we find an American Bittern at the north end
of the Meadow. A nice finish to the day.
THE END.
Total Bird Species - 116
Judy Life Birds - Florida Scrub Jay, Limpkin, Burrowing Owl, Short-tailed Hawk, Snail Kite.
Karl Millenium Birds - Wood Stork, Florida Scrub Jay, Limpkin, Snail Kite.
SPECIES SEEN in Florida ~ Florida Checklist ~ 116 seen
Pied-billed Grebe
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
Magnificent Frigatebird
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Reddish Egret
Tricolored Heron
Little Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Wood Stork
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill
Canada Goose
Green-winged Teal
Mottled Duck
Northern Pintail
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Red-breasted Merganser
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Swallow-tailed Kite
Snail Kite
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Short-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Crested Caracara
American Kestrel
Wild Turkey
Sandhill Crane
Limpkin
Purple Gallinule
Common Moorhen
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Wilson's Snipe
Short-billed Dowitcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Willet
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Stilt Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
American Herring Gull
Laughing Gull
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Forster's Tern
Black Skimmer
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Common Ground-Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Burrowing Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cedar Waxwing
Carolina Wren
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Loggerhead Shrike
Blue Jay
Florida Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
European Starling
House Sparrow
White-eyed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Northern Parula
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Savannah Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Painted Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Boat-tailed Grackle
--- ACCIDENTALS--- Not ABA Countable
Common Myna
Red-masked Parakeet
---- STATISTICS -----
Species in checklist - 499
Species seen w/o acc. - 116
Percent seen - 23.25%
Printed March 23, 2007 ~ KARL data set Page 1
