61 replies to this topic

[guy_incognito]

Well, I am actually still in Florida, but don't think I'll have much, if any, chance to do any more birding. So far it has been quite a good trip. Did really well with the shorebirds. The songbirds and other landbirds have been more problematic, but I can't really complain. I believe I am at 21 lifers for the trip, and 93 species total.

[guy_incognito]

I arrived into Fort Lauderdale in the late afternoon, so there really wasn't much time to do any serious birding. I had heard of a spot near the FLL airport which has been a hotspot for Smooth-billed Ani. This sounded like the perfect plan, only 5 minutes from the airport, and hopefully bag a major lifer.

Well, no such luck with the Ani...

There was a high fly-over Peregrine Falcon


A Cattle Egret


and a Blue Jay

[guy_incognito]

I headed on the road to get over to the west coast, feeling a bit dejected after the failed attempt.

As the sunlight was getting low I just randomly decided to pull over at a road side rest area that was near a swampy area. To my surprise I got two great birds here, a Limpkin and a Purple Gallinule.

Limpkin


The Purple Gallinule didn't want to get out of the reeds so it was only a mediocre picture. This Common Gallinule did come out quickly for a pose.

[guy_incognito]

The whole plan of the west coast was to try for shorebirds, specifically the plovers and Roseate Spoonbill. By searching eBird it looked like all the birds I really wanted to see were at Bunche Beach.

First bird to greet me was a Common Ground-Dove



Once on the beach I quickly came across this Tricolored Heron, one of my many targets.



There were tons of peeps, plovers, and Sanderlings around. I couldn't even attempt to ID them all. At first there were mainly Least Sandpipers...

[guy_incognito]

It didn't take long to come across the Roseate Spoonbills! I just had to cross over a knee deep channel to get there (low tide).

[guy_incognito]

It normally would take a lot to distract me from a Roseate Spoonbill, but some nearby Wilson's Plover certainly did.





Little Blue Heron


Western Sandpiper

[guy_incognito]

Semipalmated Plover


Red Knot


Semipalmated Sandpiper

[guy_incognito]

Was really happy to get this other life bird...American Oystercatcher


The ubiquitous Laughing Gull


Sanderling

[guy_incognito]

I am used to only seeing gnatcatchers in dry areas back home, but these Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers are absolutely everywhere here in Florida.


This guy took a bit more work, but I did end up seeing about 3-4 of these...the awesome Piping Plover.


Didn't have this on the list of birds to see, but was really happy to get Pectoral Sandpiper as a bonus lifer.

[guy_incognito]

Short-billed Dowitcher


Royal Tern


Lesser Yellowlegs

[guy_incognito]

Black Skimmer


Marbled Godwit


Reddish Egret

[guy_incognito]

Forster's Tern


Sandwich Tern


Long-billed Curlew

[guy_incognito]

Red-bellied Woodpecker


Green Heron

[guy_incognito]

At this point the tide had come in, and most of the birds had left. I was feeling really great though. Only thing to put a damper on the day was that my knee deep water crossing turned into a chest high crossing. Had to make sure my camera and all other electronics would be above the water. Picture a soldier crossing through water with their gun overhead...well that was me with my camera.



more installments to follow...

[JimBob]

I love your threads, yet I hate them. You are so good at birding, and almost always see awesome birds. Plus awesome pictures!

[ginspin16]

aww so beautiful! especially the spoonbills....

my only pic of a spoonbill is a tiny pink spec because i literally sat there with my mouth open as it flew over, and totally forgot about my camera till it was nearly too late

[guy_incognito]

Originally the plan was to continue on to Ding Darling after finishing after Bunche Beach. However, I had found pretty much everything I could expect already, and Ding Darling probably wouldn't add a whole lot. I met a birder at the beach, who helped confirm my choice for plan B. Instead, I decided to give a try for Snail Kite. Harns Marsh isn't too far away, and she told me to pay attention prior to reaching Harns Marsh, along Sunshine Blvd.

Luckily, I got good views of this Snail Kite. It stayed for a minute, then I didn't see it again. I think I saw one other while driving on the Tamiami trail the next day, but there was no where to pull off. So this stop ended up being critical to getting a good look.

[guy_incognito]

At Harns Marsh I saw some of the standard fare, including another Limpkin. I think there may have been a Least Bittern, still a potential lifer, but not well enough to count it.

Black Vulture


Mottled Duck


Red-shouldered Hawk...these are really common in FL.

[GreatHorn]

Great thread! Boy I sure hope I can go to Florida again soonish, but especially when those nice shorebirds are there.

[guy_incognito]

Afterwards there was still time left in the day. Figured, well, I have come all this way, I should probably go to Ding Darling. Once I got there, even the guides recommended that it probably wasn't worth it since it was high tide, hot, and really no birds would be around. So yes, I have been to Ding Darling, but never actually went out on the auto route. Went back towards my hotel to relax, and to the local beach leading up to sunset.

Fish Crow


Willet


Osprey - super common around here