I Came, I Saw, Ibis

A White-faced Ibis, that is.   It was at the end of a long day of chasing and not finding much of anything. Sure there was the Mocking Bird and Loggerhead Shrike on a deserted dirt road where I was hoping to find the Ash-throated Flycatcher.  There was the fun of being stopped on the side of the dirt road by a Police Officer, asking if I needed help, and had to say, thanks for asking, but I'm just looking for a bird.  He didn't quite get it.  And there was the near pants peeing excitement as I almost got taken out by a transport truck on the side of the road on US52 while searching for that same flycatcher in another reported location.  There was the thrill of seeing the Sandhill Cranes with their new baby chick, and the disappointment that the sparrow I saw was in fact a Savannah and not the elusive Clay-colored I've been searching for these past two weeks.  Oh, and an Eastern Bluebird on a wire on US 98 was nice too, as were the Roseate Spoonbills.

Yet at the end of the day I had my 12th new bird for March, in 13 days and bird 222 for 2012.

It was about 5pm on Tuesday, when I arrived at the Circle Bar Reserve near Lakeland, in Polk County, and begun my search for the White-faced Ibis.   It had been reported on FLARBA and it was my last hope for a new bird that day.   I found the trail quickly thanks to GPS coordinates provided in the post and a hiker who was just leaving gave me some good directions. As I walked he trail I kept my eyes peeled for other birders who might also be looking for the White-faced Ibis.

Back home in the Niagara-Toronto-Whitby corridor, every time there was a good bird to see the same group of birders and photographers showed up. We were quite the merry band of chasers. I made a lot of good friends along the way. Here in the Tampa Bay area I have not run into many birders at all. Until today, thankfully.

My first stop on the loop path was a gentleman with his camera pointed down into the swamp.  I thought, "Oh his is going to be easy, he must have the bird in his lens."  Nope.  He was photographing a snake, in a little pond with a Blue-winged Teal, couple.   No White-faced Ibis.  On the opposite side of the path, in Heron Pond, there were more Teal, some Glossy and White Ibis, but no obvious "White-faced Ibis.

On I went.  Further into the reserve.  I ran into an actual birder this time.  He had been coming from the opposite direction and I asked him if he'd seen the White-faced Ibis.  Nope.  He didn't even know about it.  And didn't much care to help me look for it either.  So on I went.  And there before me in the grass on the path was a sparrow.  It had the markings of a Clay-colored Sparrow, but upon close inspection also had a yellow streak above it's eye.  A Savannah Sparrow.  I've seen a lot of them.  Know it by heart now.

I continued along the path, rounded a corner, and yes, in the distance, three people, with cameras and binoculars focused on one spot.  It had to be the Ibis I was looking for.  I approached and asked if they had the White-faced Ibis.  Nope.  It was two Sandhill Cranes with their new chick.  That was a true highlight of the day.  It was an amazing sight and just fun to watch and take some photos.  I asked about the Ibis, and was told it had been in a pond just up the way.  Another  birder offered to walk up with me.  Was the White-faced there?  Nope.  But there was a female Wild Turkey and the Spoonbills, so I took a walk and saw them.  I was about to snap a photo of a Roseate Spoonbill when the other birder started calling myself and the other photographers, who were still at the Sandhill Crane spot, to come see.  She had spotted the White-faced Ibis.

It was in a pond with lots of Coots and once I saw it there was a noticeable difference from the Glossy Ibis I had seen elsewhere around the park.  The sun was perfectly seated behind me for a change.  It always seems the sun is often behind the bird I am photographing.  This time the bird was perfectly lit.  All four of us watched and photographed the bird and enjoyed seeing a good Lifer.  But was it?  These birds don't often get any further east than the Gulf Coast of Texas.   I would need to look long and hard, look at the photographs to make sure.

After we finished with the Ibis, my new birding friend took me for a walk to find an American Bittern, but it seemed to have retired into the tall grass for the evening.  No worries, as Circle Bar Reserve is a place I shall return to again this month, as it's only an hour from where I am staying in Dunedin

Wednesday evening I went back to Possum Branch to check on the nesting Killdeer, and thankfully someone from the local Audubon chapter had roped off the nesting area.  I also went to another local park and saw a Carolina Wren on the Boardwalk.

Yesterday I went back to the Circle Bar Reserve to see the White-faced Ibis again.  And this time there were multiple birders there who had also seen and identified it as such.  And upon closer examination I could see the pink in the eyes.  It might be a hybrid between a Glossy and White-faced, but the consensus amongst the Birders who had seen it the last few days, was that it was indeed a White -faced Ibis.  I shall accept it as such until shown otherwise.

Black and Blue, Grey and Purple, Red and Yellow

I guess the above could be the description of a bruised leg, or the colours of the birds I saw today.  Glad it was the birds and not the bruise.  In Dunedin Hammock Park yesterday that's all I saw.  Black and White Warblers, Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, red Northern Cardinals and Yellow-rumped Warblers.  And at the Dunedin Harbor, later on, Purple Martins.  I also saw a Bald Eagle in the Hammock Park.  Is bald a colour?

The Real Florida

After I chased down the Red-headed Woodpecker in the on Thursday morning I had to work, but in the evening, I went birding in Possum Branch.  I was going to go to Honeymoon Island, but I only had an hour of sunlight left.  However, the day did end on a good note.  I finally found one of the two sparrows that have been hanging out with the Green-tailed Towhee, the Swamp Sparrow.  The last one on my to-bird list is the Clay-colored.  I also saw the Killdeer that seems to have taken up residence, nesting in the grass, and out in the swamp, a Long-billed Dowitcher.  Not a bad evening of birding.  Even the Red-winged Blackbirds were kind of quiet.

These types of places are what the Florida Board of Tourism refer to as The Real Florida. Now, I do love the theme parks and love a day at Epcott, but too many Florida tourists only see that part of Florida, and miss out on the nature preserves and wildlife areas.

One of them being Orlando Wetlands Park.  It is a massive Wildlife Sanctuary just east of Orlando in Christmas, Florida.  And I pretty much had the entire park to myself as I went out on the trail in search of the Vermillion Flycatcher.  And the only sounds I heard for the next 4 hours, were those of birds, and, I think frogs.  It was very cool.

 Of course, I did not follow directions or the map very well and I took the wrong path and the very long route to the location of the bird.  In the ensuing two hours I was lost, found, lost again.  So, here I am, lost in an empty park, not another human in sight, and no clue as to where on the map I am.  And just as in Young Frankenstein, when Igor says to the good doctor, as they are digging up a corpse, "Could be worse, could be raining," it started to rain.  Big, heavy drops.  I was getting wetter and wetter.  I couldn't remember whether the Mythbusters had said you stay dryer running or walking.  I walked, stopped, looked at some birds, tried to keep my camera dry, and got a pretty good soaking.

I found a shelter eventually, and waited until the rain slackened a bit.  I discovered I was about 2 miles out of my way from one of the few maps in the park.  I continued on, hoping I was going the right way, but doubtful, and it rained again.  Another mile later, under another shelter was a guy waiting out the rain, having gone out on bicycle.  So there were other humans left on the planet.  He was lost too.  But together we studied the map and eventually I figured out where we were, and it was not too far from where I was headed.  We headed off in opposite directions and about a half hour later, as the sun came out and I started to dry off, I found the location of the Flycatcher.  I also found a Purple Gallinule as I was searching for the elusive Flycatcher

There were actually two of the Vermillion Flycatchers and after a lot of scanning through my binoculars,  I was able to spot them across the swamp doing their little flycatcher thing.  I got out my scope and actually got some good looks at them, but they were too far for my SLR lens and wouldn't sit still long enough for me to get a photo through my scope.  I stayed about half an hour and saw an Eastern Phoebe, along with Turkey and Black Vultures and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, to name just a few.

So after 2 hours of walking and about 20 other species of birds, I got the bird I had come for. I  I think I will return next week for more species and hopefully a good picture of the Vermillion.  As I made my way to the parking lot, I picked up a Caspian Tern and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.  I even ran into a group of birders coming into the park.  I was heading out as the thunder started rumbling.  I suspect the birders I left behind got even more soaked than I did.

The Whistling Duck was my favourite of the day, as I remember seeing a crazy looking hybrid duck in Niagara Falls that kind of looked like one.   I was also quite proud of myself for identifying most of the birds on my own, including a Blue-winged Teal I saw right near the end of my 4 hour walk.

The day netted 29 species in total, including 4 Year and Lifers, giving me a grand total of 220 Big Year Birds, and 10 for the Month of March.

Oh, and aside from birds there were the alligators.  And another first for me, actually seeing an alligator walking on land.  Very cool, and a little scary, as it was right behind me, taking a walk with a Limpkin.  I'd love to see the hybrid beast that comes from that mixed marriage.

Drive, Look - Repeat...

How to find a Red-headed Woodpecker:

1: Check FLARBA updates.

2: See report of Red-headed Woodpecker on grounds of the former Riviera Middle School.

3: Drive from Dunedin to St. Petersburg,(30-40 minutes).

4: Spend an hour or so looking for the Red-headed Woodpecker, either as the sun comes up or sets

5: Drive back to Dunedin, discouraged at only hearing the incessant cries of Blue Jays.

5: Repeat.

And so I followed the above protocol on Monday afternoon, Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday morning and evening to no avail.  But, finally, this morning,(to avail?), thinking this would be my last and final attempt for the Red-headed Woodpecker this time around, it was just sitting on a fence when I walked around the corner.  It posed politely for a photo, before hopping onto a tree trunk for some pecking, before disappearing into a another tree.  Good enough me.  I finally saw the bird, proving once again that Big Years are about Patience, determination and not giving up no matter how crazy you feel wandering around a suburban neighborhood wondering if the "neighbors" are reporting you as a Peeping Tom.

Now I can move on, though it was a nice neighborhood to bird in.  Mostly quiet, many dog walkers out and about, including a woman who had just yesterday seen the woodpecker hereself,(gave me hope to go on).  Lots of Hawk, including a Red-Shouldered Hawk this morning, Doves, and Ibis and Killdeer, and more Blue Jays than the team I work for.  The Blue Jays call is one I can add to my list, along with Osprey and Red-winged Blackbird, that I don't care for so much.  Give me good ol' song birds anytime.

It is both fun and interesting that some "rare" birds are just so easy to find, the Green-tailed Towhee, for instance, that is at Possum Branch every time I visit, yet it took multiple attempts to find this guy, even though it has been seen at least once a day by others since it was first reported.

#214 for 2012:

Chasing Sparrows is Anything But a Lark

Well, less than 48 hours after looking for new sparrows in Fort De  Soto and Possum Branch, I had my own version of Groundhog Day, with a twist.  Though I was repeating everything I did from Friday afternoon, including an early morning, unsuccessful run for the White-winged Dove, this time I actually did find one of the Sparrows.  FLARBA had reported a Lark Sparrow near the Old Fort and it was just a matter of finding the correct bush.  I walked the general vicinity of where the sparrow was supposed to be seen, and before even seeing it, I heard it loud and clear.  I had it's call in my iPhone, so I knew what to listen for.  Even still, after hearing it and once again listening to it's recorded call, it took several orbits of the bush to actually spot it.  And when I did, it was clear as day and I had no trouble at all getting a great photo.  Bird number 3 for March, in 4 days - while working a full time job - and number 213 for the year.

So I felt good.

Of course, good only lasts so long, and once against was Ground Hog Day all over again, as I went to Possum Branch before heading home.  Once again I tried for the Clay-colored and Swamp Sparrows and neither showed themselves.  I shall try a morning run at them, instead of at sunset next time.  This time I saw both the Cotton Tail and Marsh rabbits.  The Savannah,  Lincoln's and Song Sparrows all came out to say a cheery hello, as well as the now ubiquitous Green-tailed Towhee.  And there were Greater Scaups and Herons and Egrets at the party too.  Not to mention folks fishing in the little river close by.

I also stopped by Moccasin Nature Park and took a walk around the trail, where, amazingly there was a  group of Common Peafowl.  A Peahen and 3 Peacocks.  As I later found out, they are part of a group of about 50 locally breeding Peafowl that live on and around a nearby farm.  I would love to count them as number 214 for the year, as they are living and breeding out of captivity, and are alive and unrestrained.  I shall need some help and advice on including them on my Big Year List.

No birds to chase tomorrow.  Perhaps a trip to Honeymoon Island, after work.

All Work and a Little Birding, at Least

I finished work late in the afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays having won their first Spring Training game of 2012, right here in Dunedin.  Not much time to go anywhere, but Possum Branch is close and well, why not?

I think I am truly getting tired of listening to the Red-winged Blackbirds.  They drown out almost everything, well everything except the Blue Jays.  I also saw the Green-tailed Towhee and got my first photo of the year of a Song Sparrow, a bird I had seen earlier in the year, but only through binoculars.  There were also doves, but no white wings.  I drove to a couple of streets in St Petersburg, as the sun went down, where they are said to congregate, but only saw a flock of doves flying above a building and in the twilight was unable to discern the white wings.  Another try will be made at sunrise in Clearwater.

I have time tomorrow, so will go for a Lark Sparrow back at Fort De Soto, followed by a try for a Yellow-headed Blackbird at Mayakka River State Park in Sarasota.  Both were confirmed sightings.  I will stick to only confirmed reports, as twice I have gone when only one sighting was reported but not confirmed by others, and failed to find a bird, as may have been the case yesterday when I went looking for a Curlew Sandpiper.  I may have seen it, but no one has confirmed the original sighting so I am erring on the side of caution, in this case.  I did spend a lot of time on the bird with my scope, but the sun was setting behind the bird and I really couldn't swear on a stack of Sibley's Field Guides that I really did see it.

So I remain stuck on 212 Big Year Birds, but with lots of Birding ahead of me, in including South Florida and Arizona a month from today.

Birding While Working in Tampa Bay

Today, March 2, 2012 I made my first trip to Fort De Soto in St. Petersburg.  I was only there a couple of hours, but saw a nice list of birds.

I arrived in Dunedin, on Wednesday and as soon as I was in my car, late in the afternoon after a long flight delay, I headed straight to Possum Branch Preserve and enjoyed looks at a Killdeer in the grass, a Savannah and Lincoln's Sparrow.  In addition to Red-winged Blackbirds and Cardinals I saw a white tailed rabbit and the now infamous Hispid Cotton Rat.  I guess I can add one more "rodent-y" thing to my list of "rodent-y" things for my year, bringing that total up to 3.  Before it got dark I drove to Moccasin Lake Nature Park hoping to find White-winged Doves.  Of course, no dice that evening or the next morning.  I expect to spend the next month not finding White-winged Doves, and have to drive even further than North Bay next winter to try and find them.

One interesting sight in that neighbourhood was people feeding the birds.  Not too strange, right?  But in Toronto, say, people feed bread to the Geese and Ducks.  Here in Florida - for better or worse - people bring bags of bread to feed Wood Storks and White Ibis, in addition to the Mallards.

Yesterday I took a drive out to St Petersburg to another nature park, Clam Bayou, in search of Chuck-will's Widow.  Of course bird chasing does not always get you the bird that you want, but sometimes you do get a bird or two that you need, to paraphrase The Rolling Stones.  I was able to spot a Short-billed Dowitcher in the shallows next to a sinking sail boat, (it seemed abandoned, so I did not have to dive in and rescue anyone - rats!)

Which brings us back to today.  I will be returning quite frequently to Fort De Soto, as it's an amazing birding location, especially during Migration, if you can't get to the Texas Gulf Coast.  In just a couple of hours I saw what follows.  There were a few other shorebirds I didn't list, but I didn't get a close enough look to confirm their identities.

Great Horned Owl - Mom and babies
Brown Pelican
White Pelican
White Ibis
Great Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black Bellied Plover
Brown-headed Cowbird
Willet
Long-billed Curlew
Laughing Gull
Royal Tern
Black Skimmer
Mourning Dove
Common Ground Dove
Grey Catbird
Northern Mocking Bird
Osprey
Palm Warbler
Common Grackle
Ruddy Turnstone