SOUTH FLORIDA & THE KEYS

Transcription

1 SOUTH FLORIDA & THE KEYS APRIL 24 30, 2014 Gray Kingbird, photo by Michael O Brien LEADERS: MICHAEL O BRIEN & LOUISE ZEMAITIS COMPILED BY: MICHAEL O BRIEN VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TX

2 TOUR REPORT SOUTH FLORIDA & THE KEYS April 24 30, 2014 By Michael O Brien Our spring South Florida & The Keys tour was a fun way to see some local specialties, see a little migration, and also conduct a very important key lime pie taste test! Our exploration of Florida s diverse habitats focused on three main elements: the Keys, the Everglades, and the lush suburban environs around greater Miami. Starting and ending in Key West gave us ample opportunity to explore the Keys. This year, the appearance of a stray Bahama Mockingbird steered some of our time toward Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in Key West. Although we never saw the mocker, this proved to be an excellent way to see Magnificent Frigatebird, Roseate Tern, White-crowned Pigeon, Black-whiskered Vireo, and a few migrants such as Graycheeked Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and nine species of warblers. Farther up the Keys, we all enjoyed our visit to Sombrero Key Golf Course where a Burrowing Owl seemed right at home perched atop a cactus, though a Bobolink looked oddly out of place as it foraged on the green. Stops at West Summerland and Ohio keys, and Ann s Beach proved excellent for close studies of shorebirds, including Wilson s Plover and Whiterumped Sandpiper. No doubt the highlight in the Keys for most of our group was a visit to Key Largo Hammocks Botanical State Park (aka, Dagny Johnson). Though it was entertaining to get good views of the resident subspecies of White-eyed Vireo, the real prize here was a close encounter with two Mangrove Cuckoos right by the entrance! Perhaps not as exciting as Mangrove Cuckoo, though certainly rarer, it was very interesting to find three Ospreys of the Caribbean subspecies in the Keys, including one at a nest! For a change of pace, the next phase of our tour took place in more rural settings, dominated by seas of sawgrass and islands of pine and cypress. First, we ventured west along Tamiami Trail to Shark River Slough, famous for its concentration of Snail Kites. With a little scanning we found four Snail Kites, and eventually had close views of one as it foraged near the road. Farther west, a walk along the Big Cypress Bend boardwalk was memorable not as much for what we saw, but for what we heard. In a wild and tranquil setting, among giant cypress and strangler figs, we heard a spectacular vocal chorus from Barred Owl, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Pileated Woodpecker, along with Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Northern Parula a classic southern swamp soundtrack! At Everglades National Park, we enjoyed several different ecosystems as we traveled the 38-mile road down to Flamingo. An early morning stop in the Pinelands produced nice views of Brown-headed Nuthatch and Pine Warbler, as well as a Great Crested Flycatcher going to and from its cavity with mouthfuls of nesting material. At Paurotis Pond, islands of mangroves were swarming with nesting herons, spoonbills, ibis, and storks, as Swallow-tailed Kites soared overhead. Down at Flamingo, we had nice views of several Shiny Cowbirds feeding on the lawn, and also scanned the vast shallows of Florida Bay and saw Great White Heron, Black Skimmer, and a variety of shorebirds. An afternoon walk at Anhinga Trail was very productive, with a pair of

3 soaring Short-tailed Hawks, a Purple Gallinule, and incredibly close views of a variety of waterbirds, including nesting Anhingas. No birding trip to South Florida would be complete without a sampling of the exotic species that have taken up residence in lush suburbs around Miami. We began this day by cruising neighborhoods near Kendall, where we were quickly greeted by some fly-by flocks of Mitred Parakeets. Our main target here, Red-whiskered Bulbul, proved difficult to find, and when we did finally locate a pair, only half the group got to see them. After the trail ran cold, we moved on to check several different city parks. At Fuchs Park, we found a giant strangler fig with a flock of roosting parakeets, and had excellent views of both Mitred and Red-masked; there was also a flock of Egyptian Geese, a species with a growing feral population, and perhaps the next in line to become established. Another fun stop was the Dolphin Mall outside Miami. The marshy ponds around this property turn out to be just perfect for Purple Swamphen, a Eurasian species that has become established in recent years. We saw at least seven individuals, and watched their characteristic feeding behavior tugging entire plants out of the marsh and eating the tender roots. This rather destructive behavior is one of the reasons why some biologists are not too happy about this species taking up residence in Florida. Our last stop on this day was one more try for the bulbuls near Kendall. At this point it was quite warm, and we didn t think our chances were very good. But there they were, a pair of Redwhiskered Bulbuls splashing and drinking in a birdbath, for all to see! Oh, and the winner of the key lime pie taste test? Square Grouper on Cudjoe Key! Mangrove Cuckoo, photo by Michael O Brien

4 ITINERARY: April 24 Arrivals; tour orientation at Doubletree Hotel; dinner at hotel. Night in Key West. April 25 Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park; Key West Botanical Gardens; Sugarloaf Key; lunch at Square Grouper; West Summerland Key; Ohio Key; Ann s Beach; dinner at Portofino. Night in Florida City. April 26 South Glades Wildlife & Environmental Area; Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks Botanical State Park; Homestead area. Afternoon along Tamiami Trai, including Shark River Slough; lunch at Joanie s; Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (Big Cypress Bend boardwalk); Big Cypress Welcome Center. Dinner at Mutineer. Night in Florida City. April 27 Everglades National Park, including Pinelands, Mahogany Hammock, West Lake, Flamingo, Paurotis Pond, Long Pine Key (with picnic lunch), and Anhinga Trail; dinner at Mutineer; evening excursion to Long Pine Key for night birds. Night in Florida City. April 28 Kendall area; Matheson Hammock County Park; lunch at Panera Bread; Fuchs Park; A. D. Barnes Park; Dolphin Mall; Cutler Ridge; dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse. Night in Florida City. April 29 Dagny Johnson; Sombrero Key Golf Course; Ohio Key; Fort Zachary Taylor; dinner at Doubletree Hotel; dusk at Little Hamaca City Park (Key West Airport). Night in Key West. April 30 Departures. BIRDLIST Note: Species appearing in bold print are birds of special note that are either rare, local specialties, or are otherwise generally hard to find. The taxonomic order and nomenclature follows American Ornithologist Union Check-list of North American Birds, 7th edition (including 47th suppl.). Species in parentheses () are not considered countable (i.e., not yet known to be firmly established) by the ABA. WATERFOWL (Egyptian Goose) ( I ) Six at Fuchs Park; this exotic species is becoming established in South Florida. (Muscovy Duck) ( I ) An established exotic in Florida; we saw a few around Kendall, Matheson Hammock, and Homestead Mottled Duck several along Tamiami Trail

5 NEW WORLD QUAIL Northern Bobwhite heard in the Pinelands at Everglades NP GREBES Pied-billed Grebe three at Dolphin Mall; one eating a large crayfish STORKS Wood Stork large gathering at South Glades, and nests with large young at Paurotis Pond FRIGATEBIRDS Magnificent Frigatebird small numbers throughout the keys CORMORANTS Double-crested Cormorant numerous and seen on four days DARTERS Anhinga seen on four days, including nests with large young at Anhinga Trail PELICANS American White Pelican a dozen at South Glades Brown Pelican numerous around salt water; seen on three days BITTERNS & HERONS Great Blue Heron we saw typical dark morph birds on three days Anhinga, photo by Michael O Brien

6 (Great White Heron) The white form of Great Blue Heron, we saw them at several locations in the Keys, and also at Flamingo. Great Egret seen daily Snowy Egret seen almost daily Little Blue Heron seen at South Glades and Tamiami Trail Tricolored Heron seen at South Glades, Tamiami Trail, and the Everglades Reddish Egret several in the lower keys Cattle Egret seen daily Green Heron seen daily Black-crowned Night-Heron a few at Tamiami Trail and Anhinga Trail IBISES & SPOONBILLS White Ibis seen daily Glossy Ibis a few at South Glades Roseate Spoonbill one at South Glades, and many nesting birds at Paurotis Pond NEW WORLD VULTURES Black Vulture abundant on the mainland, absent from the keys Turkey Vulture seen daily, including on the keys Roseate Spoonbill, photo by Michael O Brien HAWKS, EAGLES, & KITES Osprey seen daily. Of special note were three birds of the very white-headed Caribbean subspecies (P. h. ridgwayi) seen in the keys. The best view was of a bird at Teatable Key, and this bird actually flew off of a nest! This subspecies has only been recorded in Florida a handful of times, and this likely represents the

7 first nesting record for United States. Of note, the only other Osprey present at this location (possibly the mate?) was a typical American bird. Caribbean Osprey, photo by Michael O Brien Swallow-tailed Kite seen at several locations along the Tamiami Trail, and in the Everglades Snail Kite One at South Glades and four at Shark River Slough Bald Eagle seen on four days, including multiple views of a pair near Key Largo Sharp-shinned Hawk one near Homestead Red-shouldered Hawk numerous in the Everglades and elsewhere around the mainland; the resident race (extimus) is distinctively pale Short-tailed Hawk pair (light and dark morphs) soaring over Anhinga Trail Red-tailed Hawk one north of Homestead RAILS & COOTS King Rail heard in the Everglades Purple Swamphen ( I ) We had great views of this recently established exotic at the Dolphin Mall near Miami Purple Gallinule singles at Shark River and Anhinga Trail Common Gallinule a few seen almost daily, in both wild and suburban habitats American Coot a few in the Everglades and at Dolphin Mall LIMPKIN Limpkin heard at Anhinga Trail STILTS & AVOCETS Black-necked Stilt fly-bys near Homestead and in Key Largo

8 PLOVERS & LAPWINGS Black-bellied Plover a few on the Keys and at Flamingo Wilson s Plover three at Ohio Key Semipalmated Plover a few at Ann s Beach and Ohio Key Killdeer pair at Shark River SANDPIPERS Spotted Sandpiper one at Fort Zachary Taylor Willet a few in the Keys and at Flamingo; all of these were of the western subspecies that winters here and breeds in the Great Plains Lesser Yellowlegs two along Tamiami Trail Ruddy Turnstone a few in the Keys Sanderling a few in the Keys Least Sandpiper a few in the Keys White-rumped Sandpiper three at West Summerland Key White-rumped Sandpiper, photo by Michael O Brien Semipalmated Sandpiper a few in the Keys Western Sandpiper a few at Flamingo Short-billed Dowitcher a few in the Keys and Flamingo; all of these appeared to be of the hendersoni subspecies, which breeds in Central Canada and migrates mostly through the Central Flyway. GULLS, TERNS, & SKIMMERS Laughing Gull seen daily Lesser Black-backed Gull a flock of 18 flew over us in Kendall Least Tern seen at several locations in the Keys, including a large breeding colony at Fort Zachary Taylor Roseate Tern several performing display flights overhead at Fort Zachary Taylor

9 Royal Tern numerous in the Keys Black Skimmer small flock at Flamingo PIGEONS & DOVES Rock Pigeon ( I ) seen daily White-crowned Pigeon seen daily; especially numerous on Sugarloaf Key Eurasian Collared-Dove ( I ) - ubiquitous in South Florida White-winged Dove a few around Homestead and Kendall Mourning Dove seen daily Common Ground-Dove two at Fort Zachary Taylor CUCKOOS Yellow-billed Cuckoo seen at several locations Mangrove Cuckoo great views of a pair at Dagny Johnson! White-crowned Pigeon, photo by Michael O Brien OWLS Eastern Screech-Owl one seen and anther heard in the Everglades Burrowing Owl one at Sombrero Key Golf Course; the subspecies A. c. floridana is found only in Florida Barred Owl adult and begging juvenile heard in a wonderful chorus at Big Cypress NIGHTJARS & ALLIES Common Nighthawk seen or heard every day; great views of one perched and flying at Shark River Slough

10 Antillean Nighthawk one at the Key West Airport Chuck-will s-widow heard in the Everglades SWIFTS Chimney Swift seen at several locations HUMMINGBIRDS Ruby-throated Hummingbird a few fly-bys seen Common Nighthawk, photo by Michael O Brien KINGFISHERS Belted Kingfisher single migrants at Fort Zachary Taylor and Tamiami Trail WOODPECKERS Red-bellied Woodpecker seen daily Downy Woodpecker two in the Everglades Northern Flicker heard in the Everglades and Big Cypress Bend Pileated Woodpecker heard in the Everglades and Big Cypress Bend PARROTS Monk Parakeet ( I ) seen at Longhorn Steakhouse in Homestead, and at McDonald s in Marathon (Mitred Parakeet) ( I ) seen at Kendall and Fuchs Park (Red-masked Parakeet) ( I ) ten resting in a fig tree at Fuchs Park

11 TYRANT FLYCATCHERS Great Crested Flycatcher seen or heard at several locations; we especially enjoyed watching one go to and from its nest hole in the Everglades Eastern Kingbird one at Shark River Gray Kingbird seen every day, often along roadsides SHRIKES Loggerhead Shrike seen daily on the mainland Great Crested Flycatcher, photo by Michael O Brien VIREOS White-eyed Vireo seen at a few locations, but especially numerous at Dagny Johnson where most are of the resident Keys subspecies, slightly drabber than migrants Red-eyed Vireo heard at Fort Zachary Taylor Black-whiskered Vireo nice views at Fort Zachary Taylor; heard elsewhere in Keys CROWS & JAYS Blue Jay seen at several locations American Crow always a few around whenever we were in undeveloped areas like the Everglades or Tamiami Trail; none around suburban areas or in the Keys. Fish Crow a few in suburban areas, around Homestead, Kendall and Miami SWALLOWS Purple Martin seen daily Tree Swallow one at Fort Zachary Taylor Northern Rough-winged Swallow several at Fort Zachary Taylor Cave Swallow great looks at the highway overpass colony in Cutler Ridge, and also a few seen while driving around other highway overpasses between Homestead and Miami; these were of the nominate subspecies, fulva, which breeds primarily in the Caribbean, but also occurs in small numbers in South Florida. Barn Swallow seen at several locations

12 CHICKADEES AND TITS Tufted Titmouse several at Big Cypress Bend NUTHATCHES Brown-headed Nuthatch Four at Pinelands in the Everglades WRENS Carolina Wren seen in the Everglades and Big Cypress Bend BULBULS Red-whiskered Bulbul ( I ) With much effort, we finally got excellent views of a pair of this introduced Southeast Asian species at a bird bath in Kendall THRUSHES & ALLIES Eastern Bluebird one seen along Tamiami Trail Gray-cheeked Thrush one at Fort Zachary Taylor Wood Thrush one at Key West Botanical Gardens MOCKINGBIRDS & THRASHERS Gray Catbird seen almost daily Brown Thrasher heard at the Everglades and Shark River Northern Mockingbird seen daily MYNAS & STARLINGS Common Myna ( I ) native to the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia and found in Florida since the 1980s; a few seen daily between Florida City and the Keys. European Starling ( I ) seen daily Common Myna, photo by Michael O Brien

13 WAXWINGS Cedar Waxwing heard at Fuchs Park WOOD WARBLERS Northern Waterthrush one at Fort Zachary Taylor Black-and-white Warbler one in the Everglades Tennessee Warbler one at Fort Zachary Taylor Common Yellowthroat a few in the Keys and at Tamiami Trail American Redstart seen at Fort Zachary Taylor and Dadny Johnson Northern Parula seen at Fort Zachary Taylor and Big Cypress Bend Blackpoll Warbler seen at a few locations Black-throated Blue Warbler one at Fort Zachary Taylor Palm Warbler seen at several locations; all were of the Western subspecies, which winters in South Florida and the Caribbean Pine Warbler a few at Pinelands in the Everglades Prairie Warbler a few in the Keys where most were likely the resident Florida subspecies Black-throated Green Warbler one at Big Cypress SPARROWS & ALLIES Eastern Towhee excellent views at Long Pine Key in the Everglades Eastern Towhee, photo by Michael O Brien Seaside Sparrow we had distant views of the endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow near Mahogany Hammock in the Everglades; this subspecies, the only

14 one that breeds in freshwater wetlands, is virtually confined to Everglades National Park. CARDINALS & ALLIES Northern Cardinal seen daily Rose-breasted Grosbeak one at Fort Zachary Taylor Indigo Bunting a few in the Keys BLACKBIRDS & ALLIES Bobolink several fly-by flocks along Tamiami Trail and in the Everglades; best view was of a single male foraging on the green at Sombrero Key Golf Course! Red-winged Blackbird seen daily Eastern Meadowlark a few in and near the Everglades Common Grackle seen daily Boat-tailed Grackle seen daily on the mainland; absent from the Keys except for one vagrant female at Fort Zachary Taylor Shiny Cowbird one male and two females at Flamingo Bronzed Cowbird single males in Homestead and Kendall Brown-headed Cowbird a few at several locations OLD WORLD SPARROWS House Sparrow ( I ) small numbers seen most days Shiny Cowbird, photo by Michael O Brien

15 Polydamas Swallowtail Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Giant Swallowtail Great Southern White Barred Yellow Cloudless Sulphur Orange-barred Sulphur Lyside Sulphur Ceraunus Blue Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak Gulf Fritillary Julia Heliconian Zebra Heliconian White Peacock Viceroy Ruddy Daggerwing Monarch Queen Hammock Skipper Monk Skipper BUTTERFLIES REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS American Alligator Florida Red-bellied Turtle Florida Softshell Brown Anole ( I ) Green Anole Knight Anole ( I ) Green Iguana ( I ) Knight Anole, photo by Michael O Brien

16 Brown Bassalisk ( I ) Black Racer Southern Cricket-Frog (H) Pig Frog (H) Southern Leopard-Frog West Indian Manatee Eastern Gray Squirrel MAMMALS