Date: 1/16/19 8:23 am From: ROC <austrina1...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] Northern Parula and Red breasted Merganser and feeder birds
In Tallahassee, I have the usual abundance (2 or more) of Orange-crowned Warblers that coincide with the blooming of our loquat tree. Yesterday, I also had a Northern Parula, which I took a picture of and included on an e-bird submission. We also have American Goldfinch at the feeder and it is very common to find them in the mature sweet gum trees in January, along with Fox Squirrels and their ilk. For those working on their day/month/year/area lists and don't want to scan Lake Talquin, there is a Red-breasted Merganser in the Carter Howell Park pond downtown (formerly called Frenchtown Pond). The bird is very small for its species (it may be immature or sick etc.) and seems to hang out at the east inflow area, the bird is very easy to overlook from the west side of the pond. This pond used to be very good for Bonaparte's Gull in January and February but they haven't been there in recent years.
Rodney Cassidy
-----Original Message-----
From: sunny phillips <sunny_phillips...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...>
Cc: nflbirds <nflbirds...>
Sent: Fri, Jan 11, 2019 9:01 am
Subject: Re: [nflbirds] At our feeder in Midtown
Male and female Summer Tanager, Gray Catbird, Pair of Barred Owls, Easter Phoebe and Eastern Bluebirds.
Date: 1/15/19 1:45 pm From: 'C or M Johnstone' <anhinga...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] SMNWR 1-15
Bicycled the open levees around SB 1&2, Mounds 3, Tower Pond, and Lighthouse area late am-early pm today (should have worn gloves, I'm turning into a cold weather wimp)).
Flamingo was not present, but SB #2 had sufficient diversity and numbers of ducks to keep most folks entertained; 5 Black Ducks and one Com. Goldeneye among the usuals. Blue-winged Teal seem to be increasing.
Mounds 3 had ducks, divers all, scattered throughout the north half, south half is virtually empty. Best sighting in this stretch was a bobcat that was sitting on one of the salt flats. It stayed put long enough for me to get off my bike, get out my camera, and take one bad photo as it sprinted into the needle rush.
Tower Pond was devoid of shorebirds, save one flyover Gr Yellowlegs. Reddish Egrets also absent. Two Great Egrets, and one each of the other common herons/egret and that was it. With north winds, tide was way out in the bay, so shorebirds were out there I suppose.
Good duck viewing on Lighthouse Pond, but nothing new or unusual. Offshore, the mouth of the St. Marks River was aswarm with birds - large numbers of cormorants, loons, both pelicans, and many hundreds of Redhead were swimming around and the sky was full of wheeling R-b gulls and Brown Pelicans. As many birds as I can recall seeing in this location but I couldn't find anything unusual.
Thanks to Karen Willes for telling me that the much observed, obvious eagle's nest north of the saltwater boat launch has now been occupied by a much more interesting species - Great Horned Owl. One of them was showing from about eyeballs up this afternoon. The eagles have moved into the recently constructed nest on the east side of Lighthouse Road, just a bit north in the pine woods. Matt
Date: 1/15/19 10:31 am From: N BIVINS <noonie1939...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: Re: [nflbirds] Goldfinches are definitely here
I saw a nice flock of goldfinches in my neighborhood, Glendale, yesterday afternoon! nancy bivins
From: "Bill Everitt <bill.everitt...> [nflbirds]" <nflbirds-noreply...>
To: "nflbirds" <nflbirds...>
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 11:34:38 AM
Subject: [nflbirds] Goldfinches are definitely here
This photo, taken yesterday, shows 18 Goldfinches on and around our feeder on Tung Hill Dr off Buck Lake Rd in Tallahasse. There were easily another dozen or so on other feeders and waiting in line.
Date: 1/15/19 8:36 am From: Bill Everitt <bill.everitt...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] Goldfinches are definitely here
This photo, taken yesterday, shows 18 Goldfinches on and around our feeder on Tung Hill Dr off Buck Lake Rd in Tallahasse. There were easily another dozen or so on other feeders and waiting in line.
I decided to head down to St. Marks to see how the duck population is
doing. Numbers are noticeably down (942 ducks, less than half of what
should be here), but diversity was still high. In seven hours of birding
starting just after 6:00 am, I logged 71 species including 17 species of
waterfowl. The Vermilion Flycatcher is still on Lighthouse Road at the
Double Dikes and the Flamingo is still on Stony Bayou II. This morning your
best bet would have been to take the Stony Bayou II North levee out. The
Flamingo was visible from it, but not visible from the cross levee between
the two Stony Bayou pools.
*Stony Bayou I*
Horned Grebe
Red-breasted Merganser
Bufflehead
Scaup
Redhead
*Stony Bayou II*
American Black Duck (5)
Mallard (104)
Blue-winged Teal (84)
Northern Pintail (15)
Green-winged Teal (82)
Redhead (27)
Scaup (21)
Bufflehead (77)
Hooded Merganser (4)
*Lighthouse Pool*
American Wigeon (18)
Canvasback (12)
Redhead (33)
Ring-necked Duck (2)
Scaup (103)
Bufflehead (1)
Red-breasted Merganser (4)
Ruddy Duck (9)
There were Common Goldeneye in Apalachee Bay and on Headquarters Pond.
There’s a good scattering of ducks on both Headquarters and on Mounds Pool
I and III.
The Federal shutdown is still ongoing. Maybe the missing ducks have been
furloughed as “non-essential personnel”? Remember that there are no
bathrooms or potable water at the refuge. Other than that, the refuge is
open and there’s good birding to be had.
Don Morrow
<donaldcmorrow...> <donaldcmorow...>
Tallahassee, FL
Date: 1/8/19 4:06 pm From: Robert Lengacher <rlengach...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] King Rail, Virginia Rail, and Sora in Tallahassee
This weekend I got multiple King Rail, Virginia Rail, Sora, and Marsh Wren to respond to playback at the Goose Pond Lane Wetlands along Potts Rd in Tallahassee. All of the species continue to be reported as of today.
King Rail has been a long-time nemesis bird for me in Leon County, and it is very rarely reported in the county. If you need to add it to your Leon list, now would be a good time to try for it. The best spot to listen is at the far end of the L-shaped dike.
Date: 1/7/19 11:02 am From: Wolfgang Adolph <weadolph...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: Re: [nflbirds] At our feeder
Hi Peter,
thought to share some of our winter birds:
Western Tanager decided to come back yesterday followed by a Summer Tanager. Finally got our Yellow Throated Warbler back, and just a few minutes ago a Ruby Throated Hummingbird (first one in several months).
Happy birding,
Wolfgang
On 1/7/2019 12:21, PETER HOMANN <ph-homann...><mailto:<ph-homann...> [nflbirds] wrote:
Noteworthy at our the peanut suet recently have been a Hermit Thrush, a Gray Catbird and a Summer Tanager, the latter's pinkish tail suggesting it to be a young male.
Date: 1/7/19 9:21 am From: PETER HOMANN <ph-homann...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] At our feeder
Noteworthy at our the peanut suet recently have been a Hermit Thrush, a Gray Catbird and a Summer Tanager, the latter's pinkish tail suggesting it to be a young male.
Date: 1/7/19 7:06 am From: 'Jeff O'Connell' <jeff.m.oconnell...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] Upcoming Apalachee Audubon Society Bird Walks
Hi, All.
See below for some upcoming Apalachee Audubon Society bird walks. All are
welcome, just let me know by email (<jeff.m.oconnell...>) if you plan
to attend.
*Saturday, January 19**: Lake Elberta and Lake Henrietta*
Meet at the parking area for Lake Elberta (off Lake Bradford Rd.) at
8:00am. Both sites can be productive in winter, with a good mix of
waterbirds and songbirds.
*Saturday, February 2**: Lake Jackson*
Meet at Okeeheepkee Prairie Park at 8:00am. This is one of the best places
in Leon County to find marsh specialities like American Bittern, Marsh
Wren, Sora, and Virginia Rail. Afterwards, we’ll head to Crowder Road
landing, with the possibility of stopping at Lake Jackson Mounds
Archaeological State Park afterwards.
Several species of duck on Lake Jackson between 3 and 4:30 pm today.
My most notable observations were a flock of 30 Canvasback, I did get a picture of those. There was also a single flock of 210 (counted) Redhead.. An orange air boat ran thru the flock of redhead and most of them left the lake (about 70 had returned by 4:30 pm). These were the largest flocks of Canvasback and Redhead that I have observed on Lake Jackson.
Rodney and Lydia CassidyTallahassee, Florida
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...>
To: Nflbirds Birds <nflbirds...>
Cc: Will, Robin <robin_will...>; Moody, David <david_moody...>
Sent: Sat, Jan 5, 2019 8:59 pm
Subject: [nflbirds] SMNWR --- Saturday
The Federal shutdown cancelled my wildlife tours, but thatallowed me to join Alachua Audubon for John Hintermister’s last official St..Marks field trip as a leader. It was a long ten-hour day in which I logged 86species, including 14 duck species and 12 shorebird species. Both the Flamingoand the Vermilion Flycatcher cooperated.The Flamingo is feeding in the middle of Stony Bayou II andwe were able to view it from the cross dike that separates Stony Bayou I andII. Walk out the Double Dikes; go right (watch for the White-faced Ibis onmudflats to your left); just before you get to the South levee, the Flamingo isvisible to the East. Binocular views work, a scope is better. This is about a2.5 mile walk, round-trip.The Vermilion Flycatcher continues at its normal spot onLighthouse Road at the Double Dikes.StonyBayou IIWhite-faced IbisRedheadLesser ScaupTeal (bothGreen and Blue-winged)BuffleheadAmerican Flamingo HeadquartersPondPurpleGallinuleRoseateSpoonbillGreaterScaupBuffleheadCommonGoldeneye (five females)Red-breastedMerganser TowerPond (over a thousand shorebirds, primarily Dunlin, SB Dowitcher &Willet)ReddishEgretPlovers (Black-bellied& Semipalmated)MarbledGodwitDunlinSandpipers(Least & Western)Dowitcher (Short& Long-billed)Yellowlegs(Lesser & Greater)Willet LighthousePond (mostly Lesser Scaup & Redhead)AmericanWigeonCanvasbackRedheadRing-neckedDuckScaup(Lesser & Greater)BuffleheadRuddy Duck Offshorethere were Common Loon, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser andBufflehead. There are Horned Grebe offshore and on the interior ponds. We hadflyby White Pelicans, Wood Stork and Cooper’s Hawk.
It was a good day ofbirding.
Don Morrow
<donaldcmorrow...>
Tallahassee, FL
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The Federal shutdown cancelled my wildlife tours, but that allowed me to
join Alachua Audubon for John Hintermister’s last official St. Marks field
trip as a leader. It was a long ten-hour day in which I logged 86 species,
including 14 duck species and 12 shorebird species. Both the Flamingo and
the Vermilion Flycatcher cooperated.
The Flamingo is feeding in the middle of Stony Bayou II and we were able to
view it from the cross dike that separates Stony Bayou I and II. Walk out
the Double Dikes; go right (watch for the White-faced Ibis on mudflats to
your left); just before you get to the South levee, the Flamingo is visible
to the East. Binocular views work, a scope is better. This is about a 2.5
mile walk, round-trip.
The Vermilion Flycatcher continues at its normal spot on Lighthouse Road at
the Double Dikes.
Offshore there were Common Loon, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser
and Bufflehead. There are Horned Grebe offshore and on the interior ponds.
We had flyby White Pelicans, Wood Stork and Cooper’s Hawk.
It was a good day of birding.
Don Morrow
<donaldcmorrow...> <donaldcmorow...>
Tallahassee, FL
In case anyone had signed up for the January 5th Wildlife Tours this Saturday, please be advised that they have been cancelled due to the ongoing Federal shutdown.
The refuge gates remain open, but all activities including ones staffed by volunteers are cancelled. If you visit the refuge, remember that there are no bathroom facilities or water available while the shutdown persists.
Don Morrow <donaldcmorrow...> <donaldcmorow...> Tallahassee, FL
Date: 1/2/19 1:04 pm From: 'C or M Johnstone' <anhinga...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] SMNWR Flamingo continues 1/2
Hadn't seen a post on eBird or here for a couple of days. Flamingo was present in usual area on east end of Stony Bayou #2 at about 1130 today.
There still seems to be some confusion about the best way to get to the flamingo. The western 2/3 of the south levee (Road 122) is closed to all public access. Walk the double dikes to the north levee (road 127) and then walk east. The bird is often visible from the north levee (round trip ~3.6 miles). For best views loop around east end of SB #2 and walk west toward east end of closure area (round trip ~5.3 miles). A bicycle makes it much easier.
I have drawn a crude but readable map of the route to the flamingo on the white board in the visitor center parking lot. Matt
Date: 12/21/18 1:33 pm From: 'C or M Johnstone' <anhinga...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] St. Marks NWR, govt shutdown, open through weekend
I received an email from the refuge manager, Terry Peacock, which stated that if there's a government shutdown, the REFUGE WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGH THE WEEKEND. The flamingo shuttles for 10 am and 1 pm on Sunday will run as planned (if there's no flamingo, they will be 2 hour birding tours to Stony Bayou #2). Below is a posting the refuge put on Facebook with more details:
If a budget is not passed by midnight Friday night, the Visitor Center and other restrooms will remain open through the weekend. The Division of Budget has developed a contingency plan that indicates that we have enough remaining funds to continue operations as normal over the weekend. The majority of the staff except weekend rangers, law enforcement and the refuge manager will be on unpaid furlough beginning on Wednesday. Refuge management and Law enforcement will be working without pay for the duration of the closure. The refuge lands will remain open for the duration of the shutdown.
The toll booth will be operational during the shutdown since those employees are not paid out of appropriated funds. If you plan to visit the refuge during the shutdown period, be aware that the buildings will be closed and there will be no restrooms or drinking water available. We also recommend that you have some cash because the toll booth operators will not be able to take credit or debit cards.
Date: 12/20/18 11:32 am From: 'C or M Johnstone' <anhinga...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] another flamingo shutttle
The Sunday flamingo shutttle filled up by 8:30 this morning. It has been requested that I run another, so a second tour will run from 1-3 pm. Both will leave from across from the visitor center. 850-925-6121 for reservations
Let's hope the flamingo sticks around and the government is open for business. Matt
Date: 12/19/18 4:09 pm From: 'Jim Stevenson' <galornsoc...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: RE: [nflbirds] the local kingbird
Yes, when seeing the white outer retrices, it is obviously a Western Kingbird. Also, on most Tropical/Couch's Kbs the yellow goes further up the chest.
Westerns (and scissor-tails) do winter regularly in South Florida, and many birds' winter ranges have moved further north due to global warming, so its presence in yall's area is not too surprising. Still, a neat bird! They are also very late migrants, especially in fall, so it might be a one-day wonder. Or so.
I run birding tours over much of Central and South America and several other kingbirds in this group occur down there. It's a good thing they don't all occur together!
OK, I'm swamped this week and gotta go.
J
_____
From: Dave Eslinger [mailto:<dave.eslinger01...>] Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2018 5:27 PM To: Grayal Farr Cc: Michael Hill; Jim Stevenson; <nflbirds...>; Heather Hill Subject: Re: [nflbirds] the local kingbird
Hi folks,
Since we have someone familiar with the alternatives, here are some additional photos.
Jim, I welcome your insight.
StMarksNWR_CBC_2018-12-15-1-2.jpg
StMarksNWR_CBC_2018-12-15-2.jpg
StMarksNWR_CBC_2018-12-15-2-2.jpg
StMarksNWR_CBC_2018-12-15-3.jpg
StMarksNWR_CBC_2018-12-15-3-2.jpg
StMarksNWR_CBC_2018-12-15-4.jpg
This is probably the best of the lot for showing bill size. You can also make out the white outer tail feather, although it is shaded by the wings.
What do you think?
Cheers,
Dave
On Wed, Dec 19, 2018 at 4:40 PM Grayal Farr <grayalfarr...> wrote:
It turned out that western kingbirds are common enough these days that they're on the CBC checklist and not mentioned as a species requiring photos and/or a detailed account.
Regardless, it was our "best bird."
From: Dave Eslinger [mailto:<dave.eslinger01...>] Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2018 4:23 PM To: Michael Hill Cc: Jim Stevenson; <nflbirds...>; Grayal Farr; Heather Hill Subject: Re: [nflbirds] the local kingbird
Hi folks,
Yes, the bird definitely had outer white tail feathers. The trouble is that with the wind blowing as it was and the viewing angle, they only showed up well when it flew. Given how erratically flycatchers fly when catching lies, it was difficult to keep the bird in focus and in view, since I was hand-holding a 600mm lens!
But I do have some additional shots, all blurry, but good enough to see the outer tail feathers. I'll send those to this email list this evening, as well as some with the birds head turned at other angles. Both that I sent were similar in head angle. I have plenty of other shots (Dozens, if not hundreds, Literally! Memory cards are great!), so I'll try for a good side angle on the head.
Cheers,
Dave
On Wed, Dec 19, 2018 at 4:06 PM Michael Hill <mchill7...> wrote:
Jim, we still beg to differ. We clearly saw the white outer tail feathers of the western kingbird, and watched it for almost an hour. Dave snagged a picture of the bird (albeit slight of focus) in flight showing those outer tail feathers.
Michael, Tallahassee
From: <nflbirds...> <nflbirds...> On Behalf Of 'Jim Stevenson' <galornsoc...> [nflbirds] Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2018 9:39 AM To: <nflbirds...> Subject: [nflbirds] the local kingbird
Someone was kind enough to e-mail me some fine photos of the yellow-bellied kingbird that's been in your area. Living in Texas for 23 years, I have seen plenty of Tropical and Couch's in the Valley (and strays), as well as hundreds of Tropicals on neotropical bird tours I run.
I don't believe there is any doubt this is a Couch's, based on the short, stubby bill. They are also very easily separated on the basis of their calls, but maybe this bird is silent (as some tend to be).
I am looking forward to a brief Tallahassee visit in January and hope to see the kingbird and that glorified spoonbill.
Congratulations to a Dave Eslinger, who seems to be the photographer. Well done!
Jim in Galveston
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I am very sorry. I didn't read the email carefully and thought yall were debating whether a kingbird was Couch's or Tropical. I saw the short bill and wrote in, not taking the time to examine the bird more thoroughly.
I apparently didn't open the shot showing the white outer retrices.
Date: 12/19/18 1:40 pm From: 'C or M Johnstone' <anhinga...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] SMNWR Flamingo shuttle 12-23
I have been given permission to run an additional tour/shuttle for this Sunday 12/23 to facilitate access to the American Flamingo. Because of the levee closures, the round trip walk to the best flamingo viewing spot has become even longer, too long for many folks.
The trip will leave at 10:00 am on Sunday 12/23 and last at most 3 hours. People will be taken out on the "people hauler" to the southeast corner of Stony Bayou #2 where I will have to stop in order to turn around for the trip out. The flamingo may be seen from that point or perhaps from the north levee, but the best viewing will entail about a 0.5 mile walk from the turn around point up to the boundary of the closed area.
Please call the refuge at 850-925-6121 to make reservations (I wouldn't recommend leaving a message, best to reach a live one). If you reserve and then have a change of plans, please call to cancel. Walk-ons will be welcome as space permits.
This may all change if there's a gov't shutdown. Matt Johnstone
Date: 12/19/18 1:07 pm From: 'Michael Hill' <mchill7...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: RE: [nflbirds] the local kingbird
Jim, we still beg to differ. We clearly saw the white outer tail feathers of the western kingbird, and watched it for almost an hour. Dave snagged a picture of the bird (albeit slight of focus) in flight showing those outer tail feathers.
Michael, Tallahassee
From: <nflbirds...> <nflbirds...> On Behalf Of 'Jim Stevenson' <galornsoc...> [nflbirds] Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2018 9:39 AM To: <nflbirds...> Subject: [nflbirds] the local kingbird
Someone was kind enough to e-mail me some fine photos of the yellow-bellied kingbird that's been in your area. Living in Texas for 23 years, I have seen plenty of Tropical and Couch's in the Valley (and strays), as well as hundreds of Tropicals on neotropical bird tours I run.
I don't believe there is any doubt this is a Couch's, based on the short, stubby bill. They are also very easily separated on the basis of their calls, but maybe this bird is silent (as some tend to be).
I am looking forward to a brief Tallahassee visit in January and hope to see the kingbird and that glorified spoonbill.
Congratulations to a Dave Eslinger, who seems to be the photographer. Well done!
Date: 12/19/18 6:39 am From: 'Jim Stevenson' <galornsoc...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] the local kingbird
Someone was kind enough to e-mail me some fine photos of the yellow-bellied kingbird that's been in your area. Living in Texas for 23 years, I have seen plenty of Tropical and Couch's in the Valley (and strays), as well as hundreds of Tropicals on neotropical bird tours I run.
I don't believe there is any doubt this is a Couch's, based on the short, stubby bill. They are also very easily separated on the basis of their calls, but maybe this bird is silent (as some tend to be).
I am looking forward to a brief Tallahassee visit in January and hope to see the kingbird and that glorified spoonbill.
Congratulations to a Dave Eslinger, who seems to be the photographer. Well done!
Date: 12/19/18 3:10 am From: 'C or M Johnstone' <anhinga...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] flamingo and levee closure update
Please see the note below from Joe Reinman
I closed the outer (south) levee of Stoney Bayou #2 today to reduce disturbance to our wintering waterfowl using the pool. Since the flamingo is still frequenting the southeastern portion of the pool, I moved the eastern closure sign west to the vicinity of the easternmost experimental pool levee. Visitors will be able to see the flamingo by travelling the woods (north) dike, down the east side of the pool, and west along the south levee to the closure sign. Hopefully the flamingo will cooperate. It was present today.
An interesting day at St. Marks. I had set out to do a combined
duck/shorebird survey and arrived at 6:00 am. The automatic gate
malfunctioned and I wasn’t able to get in until just before 8:00 am when
refuge staff arrived to force the gate. By that time, I had fifteen species
including Barred Owl and 75 Wood Ducks. Despite the late start I continued
with my plans and ended the day at 1:30 pm with 94 species.
*Double Bridges*
Warblers (Pine, Black-and-white, Yellow-rumped)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Goldfinch
*Stony Bayou I*
Horned Grebe
Scaup
Redhead
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
*Stony Bayou II*
Glossy Ibis
American Flamingo (calmly resting and preening)
American Black duck (2)
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Teal (Green-winged & Bllue-winged)
Redhead
Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
*Tower Pond*
Reddish Egret
Caspian tern
Plovers (Black-bellied & Semipalmated)
Yellowlegs (Greater & Lesser)
Willet
Dunlin
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Sandpipers (Western & Least)
Dowitchers (Short-billed & a single Long-billed, feeding in deeper water by
itself)
*Lighthouse Pond*
American Wigeon
Redhead
Scaup
Ring-necked Duck
Canvasback
Bufflehead
Ruddy Duck
I had over 1,600 ducks of 17 species. Half of these were Redhead and
Bufflehead. Another quarter were Scaup and Green-winged Teal. Duck numbers
are down just a bit nationally and at St Marks.
I had 2,194 shorebirds of 12 species. Shorebird numbers are down at St.
Marks by a third over what I would expect in a typical winter. I think that
this is due to high water levels pushing birds out to areas where they
can’t be seen. As usual Dunlins comprise over half the shorebirds that at
the refuge.
The Vermilion is still appearing daily. There are a lot of ducks, mostly
Redheads, on Mounds Pool III, if you want to take a long walk. We are
settling in to the winter bird season around 200 species on the refuge on
any day. Celebrate the Solstice by going birding at your local national
wildlife refuge.
Please note that the South levee of Stony Bayou II was closed to public
access this afternoon. The Eastern end of the closure was moved down the
levee to allow birders to get views of the American Flamingo. Following is
a link to a map showing this route:
Date: 12/18/18 7:21 am From: 'Kim Forehand-van der Linde' <kim...> [nflbirds] <nflbirds-noreply...> Subject: [nflbirds] Vermilion Flycatcher in Panacea / Ash-throated Flycatcher and weird grackels in Shell Point
Vermilion Flycatcher seen Monday Morning at 205-163 Tower Rd, Panacea, FL 32346 (30.019294, -84.398481)
Ash-throated FLycatecher seen Saturday at Live Oak Island Rd, Crawfordville, FL 32327 (30.062021, -84.277133)
Two weird grackles (discussion on species Boot-tailed vs great-tailed on going) seen Saturday at 1518 Shell Point Rd, Crawfordville, FL 32327 (30.060574, -84.294038)
Actually, White-faced Ibis have been far more common in winter at SMNWR the past few winters than Glossy. Very rarely do we find a Plegadis that does not have either red eyes (Wh-faced) or a thin, pale blue margin to the facial skin with dark eyes (Glossy). This year, both Plegadis have been far less common than in the previous few years.
On December 17, 2018, at 6:28 PM, "'Jim Stevenson' <galornsoc...> [nflbirds]" <nflbirds-noreply...> wrote:
White-faced Ibis are spreading slowly, but still impressive to see one in Florida!
Winter birds (and especially immatures) are awfully difficult to tell from Glossy Ibis. IMHO, the best field mark in the reddish eyes in WF, although some young this early may be brown. Also, if the knees show, WF should have kinda reddish knees (with the reddish eyes it makes a nice ensemble). ;)
White-faced are a tad larger, and I have seen that in Texas flocks where they mix.
Nice bird, Matt.
Anybody noticed we have more Lesser YL than many years ago?
Jim in Galveston
From: <nflbirds...> [mailto:<nflbirds...>] On Behalf Of 'C or M Johnstone' <anhinga...> [nflbirds] Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 3:07 PM To: <nflbirds...> Subject: [nflbirds] SMNWR today
Took a bike ride to visit Stony Bayou #2, Mounds #3, and Tower Pond today. Flamingo was present at about noon on SB #2 in favored location, as were Roseate Spoonbills, and a single Black Duck; could not locate Wh-fronted Geese today. Both White-faced and Glossy Ibis present and hanging out together for nice comparisons. With tomorrow's planned closure of the south levee (road 122 between 114 and 128), the best opportunity for flamingo and spoonbill viewing - if they stay in the same location - is from the north levee (127) and the east levee (114). There's a low probability of seeing the Black Duck(s) or Wh-fronts from the areas that won't be closed. Many other ducks present on SB #2.
I thought I was getting pretty good at picking out White-faced Ibis from their greener iridescence, but one of the Glossies on SB #2 is very green and fooled me. Hybrid?
Many ducks on Mounds #3, but overwhelmingly Redheads, Scaup, and Buffleheads, not to say it isn't worth looking through the crowd for other stuff.
Tower Pond was loaded at noon today, 6 Marbled Godwits, 2 Reddish Egret, several Lesser Yellowlegs among the Greater, and hundreds or thousands of combined Dunlin, Willets, Dowitchers, peeps.
Saturday (CBC) and Sunday (refuge tour) found flamingo in same location at various times and the Wh-fronts. Matt
