2016 St. Pete CBC, Part 1

That time of year again! Time to head to St. Pete to count as many birds as we can in our selected count circle for the Christmas Bird Count. This year I was assigned to Area #5 in the very urban St. Pete area near Tropicana Field. Being so city like, we didn't get some species I would have expected nearly anywhere else (no Carolina Wren?) but we managed to get some nice birds along the way.

We began at Crescent Lake before dawn searching for owls in the neighborhoods. No luck. Right at dawn we returned to the lake park and started counting every thing we could see. Besides the huge number of Muscovy and Domestic duck all over the Northern side, we had a Wood Stork on a tree as the Sun rose just behind the treetops.



Nearby, a few Green Herons lurked in the shadows.



As we tried to ID a warbler in the underbrush we flushed a Black-crowned Night Heron that flew out to rest next to the stork.



There were other species added to the list but this little Gray Squirrel insisted on getting its photo taken. Fine...



Small flock of wintering duck were scattered around but we decided to come back later when the light was better for some photos. They will appear in the next post. For now, we headed to Coffee Pot Bayou to the roosting spot of Brown Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants. There were a lot but I enjoyed having a couple right next to the road for some good shots.



We also spotted a Roseate Spoonbill trying to hide in the mangrove roost and numerous Anhinga.



Next, we headed to the beach as the tide was low and we hoped to get some good shorebirds to add to the list. Killian took up a spot on the end of a jetty to record bird numbers as Jim called them out while peering through his scope.



Many birds, like this Dunlin, were close enough to not need a scope.



There were a lot of Least Sandpipers in the close flock. I can't recall having so many shorebirds stay so close to me. They usually scatter upon approach. I guess this area is so full of visitors that the birds take little notice.



If something else would startle the flock they would quickly return right next to us.



There was a nice gathering of birds loafing farther down the beach so we headed in that direction. Along the way, a Eurasian Collared-Dove strolled the beach as a Loggerhead Shrike sat atop a light pole.



Our main target was counting the 65 American White Pelican jammed at the edge of the sand spit. There were also scores of terns and Black Skimmers behind them.



A Reddish Egret soon flew in and began its dancing through the shallow water in search of a meal.



We also spotted a single Herring Gull resting with a few Laughing Gulls and some Royal Terns.



We were hearing Monk Parakeets near the parking lot and Killian found them on our second trip out here. They were in a tree right over a few folks getting in some training. Not a care in the world.



Most of the Monk Parakeets were by themselves but I liked this cute pair getting their feathers blown about in the breeze.



Then they would snuggle and preen one another.



But, we needed to head to our next stop which was a small park by a boat slip. Not too much around but a Northern Mockingbird, some Mytle Warblers, and few White Ibis.



Finishing up our first areas so quickly, we decided to head to the golf course a little early. We were told to return later, however, as a lot of golfers were still arriving and they thought it would be better for us to return in the afternoon. OK. Time for lunch and then back to look for a Sapsucker and other birds at the lake.

We thought the golf course might not hold that many birds, though, so we weren't totally enthused about it anyway. Boy, would we be in for a surprise. All that in the next post!

Return of the Coyote

I headed to check on the Bald Eagle nest at the cemetery like I always do heading home in the daylight. I rounded the back road and was quite surprised by a Coyote right on the edge on the lawn.



Haven't seen her here in quite some time. She was a little weary as she slowly wound her way through the headstones as I tried for a few photos.



She took a final look back at me and suddenly vanished into the matching gray all around.



Why was I here? Oh, yeah. Eagles. Didn't see them on this trip...

Snapping Turtle Soaks in the Rain

Ever since Hurricane Matthew swept through in early October we have been bone dry. Nearly two months of dry air. Today we had a light rain come for a visit for a while which was needed. It seems it was fairly welcome to some of the wildlife including an unusual sight just outside our office door. A Common Snapping Turtle.



I grabbed my camera from the car and spent some time circling the beast and 'snapping' photos. The rain was barely a mist but the turtle seemed to be trying to soak it all up.



Not sure where this Common Snapping Turtle came from. It was headed toward the canal below a steep drop off but that algae on its shell suggests it has been resting in water nearby. Trouble is, besides that canal there is not much standing water close by. Odd.



It was not a large specimen. Probably had a shell around football size. I has seen then many time large in local marshes.



I love getting close to Common Snapping Turtles. You tend to forget all the spikes they possess all over their heads. I especially love the chin whiskers!



We never saw where this modern dinosaur ended up but he moved on shortly after I headed back inside. Not too long after that, the rain was gone as well. Sigh.

Barber Park

I often drive past Barber Park or drive through the parking lot in case anything is sitting in the front pond but today I decided to stop and take a walk out to the lake and see what I could find out in the fields.

A train of Muscovy ducks were hiking toward the marsh in the center of the parking areas and Eastern Phoebes and several Western Palm Warbler were snatching insects. This Palm hopped right over to me.



There is a retention pond between the parking areas and the lake just off to the side of the soccer fields. They have planted some native plants in here to make it look nice and it attracts some nice birds from time to time. There were Phoebes, a Belted Kingfisher, and a Great Blue Heron keeping an eye on me as I made my way around toward the lake.



I could hear Yellow-rumped Warblers all along the tree lines but they were not making themselves seen for more than a second. I circled back around the opposite side of the canal and posted up for a few minutes. Eventually, a single bird pause just in front of me for a few seconds.



The Western Palm Warblers were much more conspicuous as they flitted out into the open, fed in the grasses, and perched on shrubby branches just about everywhere.



One more close-up. How can I resist?



On the way out I spotted a White-winged Dove trying to hide in the shadows. Did not expect that here. I took a look high overhead and spotted a Bald Eagle soaring over the lake.



I headed back to the car and had a single Muscovy Duck just coming back out of the marsh. Usually they are mostly black. I can't recall a silver one. Much less with a Mohawk!



I did not have as many species as I had hoped for but it was a nice walk. Where are all the birds this season? Seems thin.

Hooded Mergansers are Back

I never miss a chance to drive through the Maitland Center Parkway complex after my Sunday banding sessions. Mainly it is to keep an eye out for the return of the wintering Hooded Mergansers. Well, today was the day! Six birds in all but they made a hasty retreat under the parking structure as I began to take photos. The light wasn't that forgiving, anyway. There will be plenty of opportunities for shots for a few more months.



As I began to pull away I heard the grunting of the Anhinga that likes to sun next to the pond. It stuck its head out for a look and scold. Who can pass up that close-up...?



A nice way to end the day.

Eagle Pair at the Nest

How is November halfway over? Been too busy, I suppose.

Finally had a chance to get through Greenwood Cemetery in the daylight (this being Saturday) and was pleased to see both Bald Eagles at the nest with one sitting inside! Maybe eggs this year? Last year was a bust.



Going to get crazy busy but I hope to be able to make some more stops to check in from time to time. Good luck, you two.

Back at the Nest

A quick swing through Greenwood Cemetery yielded a nice surprise. This is the first time I have seen one of the Bald Eagles venture to the nest this season.



Fingers are crossed for a brood this year.

Winter Ducks Returning

My travels around the lakes is finally paying off as the first of the Wintering waterfowl begin to make it back to Orlando. American Coots are the easiest to spot at a distance as their white bills seem to shine even in the daylight.



Blue-winged Teal flocks are trickling in. They are usually the first wintering ducks to arrive.



I was watching from the street as I first scanned the lake bank and even from a distance could tell there were some different birds mixed in with the Blue-wingeds. My guess was correct that I had spotted Green-winged Teals here, too. The larger bird on the left is a female Green-winged and the bird on the right is a female Blue-winged. Compare the small green feather in the wing with the blue on the bird above.



I usually don't find too many Green-winged Teal here. These are probably the first on Lake Davis for me. They are pretty secretive and I always get them on days with horrible weather and lighting. Especially the males.



Today there were only female Green-winged Teals. But three of them is a good total.



Looking forward to more arrivals. Bring on the ducks!

Florida Lifer

I was just at Mead Botanical Garden and really wasn't in a hurry to get back but then the word got out that a rare bird was seen for more than a day in a row. So, there was a good chance it would still be there this morning. Guess I have to drag my self outta bed. Sigh.

Just after I got there I ran into Ian. He used to band birds with us out at Wekiwa Springs back in the day and we hung out for a bit and searched for birds. When I first saw him he was training his lens on one of the resident Barred Owls resting over the creek.



Once we arrived at the spot where the rare bird was being seen there were several photographers canvasing the area. They were all jockeying for position, sticking their lens into branches and clicking and flashing constantly. Just the kind of scene I don't like. They weren't even sure the bird they taking photos of was even the bird being sought. Just clicking and flashing at anything moving.

I saw the bird with my binoculars. I still decided to take a walk and let the human activity die down and come back later for a photo. Glad I did. Just behind the Education Center was a Blue Grosbeak feeding on seeds. Sweet.



Not much around the perimeter of the property so I wandered back to the bridge. It was down to just two over-active photogs so I posted up on the bridge and waited. I had 6 Magnolia Warblers today. That is the most I have ever seen on one day. They were not in the mood to pose for a very pretty shot.



There were a couple of warblers flying back and forth that had me confused for a awhile. Once I got the photos on the screen I came to the conclusion that they were simply Pine Warblers and nothing as exotic as I was hoping.



I finally decided it was time to get a shot of the rare bird since the other guys drifted off, still clicking and flashing at everything. It took me a couple of minutes but I found the bird again and it soon darted out of the gloom and out toward the creek. There was my first Florida Wilson's Warbler.



The Wilson's Warbler looked around the air for another bug, tilting its head from side to side before bounding back into the bamboo.



A juvenile male Black-throated Blue Warbler was oblivious to us humans and flitted around feeding for 30 minutes, at least. Juvenile males are told by the white on their throats.



The Wilson's Warbler made one more quick advance toward the edge of the bamboo and, although I don't like the small branch traversing the shot, I was happy to get a full ID shot showing the darker hood before it vanished again.



Blackpoll Warblers are easier to see in the Spring but they are all over these past few weeks but still hard to get shots of. Those legs don't lie, though.



I headed home by walking near the creek again but all I could see was several Western Palm Warblers that are flowing into the state. They are grabbing all the low flying bugs in the muck and landing around everyone who happens to be walking by.



It is always fun to bird watch during the peak of migration but we have had some amazing warblers all over Mead this month. they are not showing up in closer locations, like my banding site, but it is nice to have them so close on a regular basis and are giving many birders new Life Birds and others something fun to keep track of. For me, it will be back to banding on Sunday.