FLORIDA, SPRING 2010 - Manchester Birding · FLORIDA, SPRING 2010 SUBTLE BIRDING IN TOURIST SPOTS...
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FLORIDA, SPRING 2010 SUBTLE BIRDING IN TOURIST SPOTS by Peter Welch Introduction: I was lucky enough to enjoy a family break to Florida this Easter and whilst me doing any proper birding would have been tricky with two young children to entertain it was possible to combine to tourist haunts with some wildlife. Finding reports on Florida birding before I left the UK was problematic, so I thought I’d write this report to try and help anyone else who finds themselves in Florida but tied to a non birding agenda. Over the course of twelve days I managed to identify sixty-two species and photograph fifty-six of them. Fifty of the birds seen were lifers for me and I was unable to conclusively identify at least a further fifteen sightings. Please excuse the less than scientific style of this report but I decided to cover the geographical locations rather than a timeline or genus led approach. All of the birding was done with a notebook, camera and the loan of the excellent Peterson Eastern Birds guidebook but without binoculars or telescope. Identifications were made from the guides and a few were checked with others, more expert in wildlife from the USA. In almost all areas Grackles, House Sparrows, Black Vultures and Northern Mocking Birds were seen but otherwise for each location I’ve listed the species seen, any specific areas of interest and any other wildlife sightings of note. I’m sure that there are other spots I missed and species I didn’t pick up but the main sightings are as follows. Champions Gate area When looking for a villa to stay in my first criteria were finding a good one, with enough room for our extended party but I will admit that when I found VillaMagic near Champions Gate the idea of there being a swamp area immediately behind the Villa did add to its appeal!
Transcript of FLORIDA, SPRING 2010 - Manchester Birding · FLORIDA, SPRING 2010 SUBTLE BIRDING IN TOURIST SPOTS...
FLORIDA,SPRING2010
SUBTLEBIRDINGINTOURISTSPOTS
byPeterWelch
Introduction:
IwasluckyenoughtoenjoyafamilybreaktoFloridathisEasterandwhilstmedoinganyproperbirdingwouldhavebeentrickywithtwoyoungchildrentoentertainitwaspossibletocombinetotouristhauntswithsomewildlife.FindingreportsonFloridabirdingbeforeIlefttheUKwasproblematic,soIthoughtI’dwritethisreporttotryandhelpanyoneelsewhofindsthemselvesinFloridabuttiedtoanonbirdingagenda.
OverthecourseoftwelvedaysImanagedtoidentifysixty-twospeciesandphotographfifty-sixofthem.FiftyofthebirdsseenwerelifersformeandIwasunabletoconclusivelyidentifyatleastafurtherfifteensightings.
PleaseexcusethelessthanscientificstyleofthisreportbutIdecidedtocoverthegeographicallocationsratherthanatimelineorgenusledapproach.Allofthebirdingwasdonewithanotebook,cameraandtheloanoftheexcellentPetersonEasternBirdsguidebookbutwithoutbinocularsortelescope.Identificationsweremadefromtheguidesandafewwerecheckedwithothers,moreexpertinwildlifefromtheUSA.
InalmostallareasGrackles,HouseSparrows,BlackVulturesandNorthernMockingBirdswereseenbutotherwiseforeachlocationI’velistedthespeciesseen,anyspecificareasofinterestandanyotherwildlifesightingsofnote.I’msurethatthereareotherspotsImissedandspeciesIdidn’tpickupbutthemainsightingsareasfollows.
ChampionsGatearea
Whenlookingforavillatostayinmyfirstcriteriawerefindingagoodone,withenoughroomforourextendedpartybutIwilladmitthatwhenIfoundVillaMagicnearChampionsGatetheideaoftherebeingaswampareaimmediatelybehindtheVilladidaddtoitsappeal!
Above:SandhillCrane(top)andBoat-tailedGrackle(bottom)
ThelistofbirdsseenfromthevillaitselfincludedWhiteIbis,Boat-tailedGrackle,roostingLittleBlueHeron(whichIdidn’tseeanywhereelse),NorthernCardinal,NorthernMockingbird,Anhinga,CattleEgret,BlackandTurkeyVulture(overheadflyovermostafternoonsdownto20m)andbestofallvisitingSandhillCranes,asinglebirdandlaterinthestay,apair.QuitebizarreandfascinatingtowatchSandhillCranesfeeding3mawayfromtheswimmingpool…
Above:LittleBlueHeron(top),NorthernMockingbird(middle)andTurkeyVulture(bottom).
Earlymorningwalkswithinamileofthevilla,andinanareaofswamp,orangegrovesandscrubborderingtheChampionsGategolfcourseoffLoughman’sRoadgaveSandhillCranesroostinginthelagoons,WoodStork,Anhinga,GreenHeron,Osprey,TuftedTitmouse,BrownThrasher,Yellow-rumpedWarbler,PalmWarblerandLoggerheadShrikeonthewires.
Above:BrownThrasher(top)andLoggerheadShrike(Bottom).
AnareaoforiginalswampamileorsotothewestcrossingtheI27anddownDeenStillRoadwasonlydiscoveredonthelastmorningbutaverybriefvisitsawaflockofeightornineBlackVulturesontheroaditselfandmoreroostingnearby,severalunidentifiedhawks,NorthernParulaWarblerandaSwampRabbitintheroadsideverge.MoretimespentinthisareawouldhavepaiddividendsI’msure.
Above:TuftedTitmouse(top)andSwampRabbit(bottom).
MagicKingdomarea
IncludingsightingsontheapproachtotheDisneyarea
OntheactualapproachroadstotheDisneyareafromtheI4exits:WildTurkey,SandhillCrane,AmericanMoorhen,WoodStork,GreatWhiteEgretandCattleEgretwerepresentaswellasTurkeyandBlackVultures.IntheeveningstherewerefrequentsightingsofArmadilloandonesightingeachofaRaccoonandanOtterintheclearingsalongsidetheroad.
Above:WhiteIbis(top)and(bottom)CommonGrackle.
andGreatWhiteEgret(bottom).
InMagicKingdomitself,againbothvulturespecieswereseen,alongwithBoatTailedandCommonGrackle,HouseSparrowsandEgrets.LocationsofnoteincludedaroundtheLibertySquareRiverwhereWhiteIbisandGreatWhiteEgretswerekeenonscavengingroastturkeylegsbeingsoldaslightsnacks(notsurewhattheyfeedTurkeysonintheUSbuttheywerehugedrumsticks!).InadditionjuvenileLaughingGullandRing-billedgullswerearoundtheriverwithRed-belliedandDownyWoodpeckerseeninthetreesalongthemainstreetinFrontierland.Therewerealsocallsfromabuteospecies(notseen)fromtheislandarea,whichalsoheldmoreWhiteIbis.
MourningDovescouldbeseeninthequieterareassuchasaroundAriel’sGrottowhereIalsohadfleetingviewsofGreyCatbirds.
AparticularlygoodspotwastheMonorailstationwhereDouble-crestedCormorantscanbeseenonthepontoonsonthemainlake,orSevenSeasLagoonasitsknown,anEgyptianGoosewasalsopresentonthelakeitself.ThewoodedareatotherightoftherampuptotheexpressmonorailwhichreturnstotheparkinglotalsogavesightingsofBrownThrasherandRed-belliedWoodpecker,withthestarbirdbeingobservedflyinghighoverthestation:aSwallow-tailedKite.
Above:Swallow-tailedKite.
Finallythecarparkingareassawgullsandcrowsfeedingondiscardedfoodandsomeunidentifiedhawkspeciesinthebeltofpinetreesalongtheedgesoftheparkinglots.
AnimalKingdom
AswellasacollectionofcaptivebirdsinwalkthroughaviariestheAnimalKingdomparkgaveNorthernCardinalsinthebambooplantationsaroundtheKaliRiverRapidsqueuingarea,excellentviewsofBlackVulturesintreesaroundtheMeerkatenclosureandGreyCatbirdsforaginginthegorillaenclosure.Thesafaridrivewhichintheoryshouldhaveresultedinmorenativespecieswasnonstopwhichmadefortrickyspottingandperhapsduetothetimeofdaydidn’trevealanythingunexpectedwithagoodsizedflockofWhiteIbisinwiththecaptiveFlamingos.MottledDuckwereseenwithMallardontheDiscoveryRiver,whichringsthecentreofthepark.
Above:NorthernCardinal(top)andMottledDuck(bottom).
MourningDoveswereagainobservedfeedinginthequieterexhibitareasandasonlyalimitedamountoftimewasspentinthisparkthereareprobablyothergoodlocationsnotencountered.
Above:MourningDove
SeaworldandDiscoveryCove
TherewaslimitedhabitatinboththeseparksbutagainGrackleswerecommonaswereAmericanCrows.ThesealionexhibitattractedGreatWhiteEgretsandSnowyEgretsandagainNorthernCardinalscouldbefoundinthethickervegetation.Foranyonethathasn’tencounteredCardinalsthelocationcalltheyusesoundsveryclosetothatofaWrenintheUK,soignoreWrentypecallsatyourperil.DespitethemaleCardinalsbeingbrightredtheycanbedifficulttospotincover.
ThemostinterestingthingformewastheManatees–especiallyasIdidn’tgettoseeanyinthewild:asfaraszooexhibitsgo,theManateeenclosurewaslargeandseemedtooffersomeinterestandvarietyfortheseamazingcreatures.
Above:AManatee
Osprey,RingBilledGullandMottledDuckwhereallpresentinthevicinityoftheSkyTower.
Gatorland
Above:BlackVultures.
GatorlandwasapleasantsurpriseasitappearstobeawellrunattractionbasedaroundAlligatorsandsomeCrocodilespeciesbutalsohadawildswampboardwalkandawalkthroughtheAlligatorbreedingswampwhichholdsalargeandmixedbreedingcolony(orrookery)ofEgrets,Herons,Double-crestedCormorant,Anhinga,WoodStorkandRoseateSpoonbill.TheGatorlandwebsiteincludesasectiononphotographicinterestandhasacomprehensiveguidetothespeciesthatmaybeseenbutonthisvisittheyincludedLimpkin,GreyCatbirdandcloseupviewsofBlackVulturesinthemainattraction.
Above:GreyCatbird(top)andSnowyEgret(bottom).
AlsoofinterestseenfromtheboardwalkwereCarolinaWren(whichappearsatleastdoublethesizeofaUKWren)FloridaWaterSnakeandFiveLinedSkink
Above:FloridaWaterSnake.
Above:andCarolinaWren(bottom).
InthemainswampareawereAnhinga,Double-crestedCormorant,WoodStork,RoseateSpoonbill,SnowyandGreatWhiteEgret,GreatBlueandTricoloredHeronplusaround40largeAlligators.AftersomecarefulexaminationofthewoodedareaBlackCrownedNightHeronwerealsoseen.
Above:RoseateSpoonbill(top),TricoloredHeron(middle)andWoodStork(bottom).
LakeTohoarea
IncludingSouthportRoad
AtriptoBoggyCreekAirboatswasverygoodforbirdlifeandwildalligatorsbutonreflectiona45minuteprivatetourwouldhaveallowedmorechancestoseemanymorespeciesastheairboatcaptaincouldhavebeenaskedtoseekoutbirdspeciesinparticular.The30minutetripundertakenandtheareaimmediatelyaroundtheboatlaunchgaveBaldEagle,Osprey,SandhillCrane(nestingoutinthemarsh),RoyalTern,GreatBlueHeron,TreeSwallow,Red-wingedBlackbirds,SavannahSparrowanda12footlongAlligator!
Above:BaldEagle(top),Red-wingedBlackbird(bottom).
Above:Alligator.
SadlyIcouldn’tspendmuchtimeontheapproachroadtoBogeyCreekbutsawacoupleofunidentifiedhawksplusWoodStork,WildTurkey,RedShoulderedHawk,RedTailedHawkandunidentifiedWoodpeckerspecies.Thecoupleofmilesfromthemainroadtotheairboatsiswellworthcarefulexamination.
Clearwaterarea
IncludingDunedin
AtriptothewestcoastwasundertakenviatheSunshineSkywayBridgeabitofadetourbutworthitforthespectacularnine-kilometerdriveoverwhathasbeenratedtheworld’sthirdbestbridge!AlsofromthebridgeitselfwereBrownPelicansfishing,Osprey,aquicksightingofthreedolphinandaveryfrustratinglybriefviewofaFrigateBird,Ihadn’tpreviouslyappreciatedjusthowbigaFrigateBirdwouldappearinflight.AgainIwasunabletoexplorethevariousbeachsidecarparksandpullinspotsalongsidetheapproachroadstothenorthofthebridge,whichwouldhaveyieldedmorespeciesoratleastbetterviews.
Above:LaughingGull
Above:LaughingGull(top),BrownPelican(middle)andRing-billedGull(bottom).
TheClearwaterbeachareaitselfgaveLaughingGull,closeupviewsofBrownPelican’sfromthepier,AmericanHerringGull,Ring-billedGulls,RuddyTurnstone,Double-crestedCormorant,FishCrowandvariousparakeetspecies.
Above:BlueJay(top)andOsprey(middle).
Above:Yellow-crownedNight-Heron.
LeavingClearwaterbytheI19norththestretchofcoastalroadjustbeforeDunedintownhadatleasttenactiveOspreynests,someonartificialplatformsandsomeintrees.ImissedtheshotofthetripwhenanOspreycarryingafishaslongastheOspreyitselfflewinlowfromtheseajustasmymemorycardreachedcapacity.ThereisaverypleasantmemorialparkattheBestWesternyachtharbourjustpriortoDunedin’smainstreet(handyshoppingfornonbirdingpartners)andwhilstthechildrenplayedonthepark,BlueJayandYellow-crownedNightHeronwereseen(thelattersettingupanewcolonyinthetreesovertheplayarea).OutonthewaterfrontwasabirdhousebeingusedbyacolonyofanunidentifiedBlackbirdtypespecies,withoutbinocularsIcouldn’tgetagoodview.
IbelievefurthernorthontheI19isHoneymoonIslandandabirdingroutefromwhichBaldEaglescanbeseenplusmanymorewadersandcoastalspecies.
Conclusions
ThereareplentyofopportunitiestomixafamilyvacationinFloridawithsomecasualbirding,especiallyifyouchoosesomeoftheattractionstovisitonnon-parkdayswithcare:forexampleGatorlandisareallywellthoughtoutattractionforthenonbirders,sotherewerenocomplaintsaboutfifteenminutesintherookery!
OtherlocationsIdidn’tgettovisitbutwhichcouldhavebeenveryusefulweretheareasaroundthespacecoast,particularlyMerrittIslandandBlackPointDrive,plustheCypressLakeandLakelandareas.
I’drecommendtakingbinocularsfornonparkdays,keepingyoureyestotheskiesatalltimes,evenwheninthecar.IsawSwallow-tailedKiteoverthe417,SandhillCraneswithapairofnewchicksataShellgarageandOspreysandVulturesallalongtheI4.ThePetersonguideIborrowedwasexcellent–theSmithsonianGuideto“BirdsofFlorida”wassobadIreturnedittothevendor–photosofcaptivebirds,somethatlookedlikemuseumspecimensandappallingcolourreproduction.
Above:SandhillCrane
MylastnonbirdingtipwouldbeflyintoTampanotOrlando–notsurethebirdsareanybetteralongtheroadfromtheairportbuttoflyManchestertoTampaonthesameday,withthesamefirstlegtoPhiladelphia,was40%ofthecostofflyingtoOrlando.
PeterWelch,June2010
www.manchesterbirding.com
