March 28, 2014

So it's been a while since I've posted to the blog and a lot has happened. For one, I went to a meeting at the Tropical Aubudon Society about the Breeding Bird Atlas and I learned that I have a lot more valuable data than I thought! I also learned that I've been the only registered Atlaser in Dade County this year (up until this meeting when we got about 6 more).

But I'll be posting pictures today from the Hialeah Casino and Racetrack. This was my first instance of trespassing for the blog. I parked in a place I shouldn't have parked (without realizing it) and got a nice sticker on my car. Luckily no other consequences. It's a pretty place in an otherwise very urban area.

Foxes!

The geese weren't as happy to see them as I was.

The famous flamingos. ZooMiami sometimes takes eggs from here for their collection and even donates them to other zoos around the country. Apparently, the Florida Lottery flamingo was modeled after these guys.

Tree Swallow

Unknown hawk. I'd love to say it's a Red-tail, but I have no idea.

There were two of them which would count as a Probable breeding record for the Atlas if I could identify the species.

Plus this morning before work, I went to Publix and got another confirmed breeder and a new species for the blog. Another non-native: the Common Myna. This is the fourth confirmed record for the state for this species and the first datum for this block.

Publix: where breeding is a pleasure.

March 27, 2014

Another really good day. Hopefully, I can convince the universe to keep them coming. I went to Coral Reef Park and saw a lot of activity, even in the short time I was there. It's a really beautiful park.

The 8th confirmed Egyptian Goose breeding record for the state of Florida.

Mallard Ducks

I'm pretty sure this is a Cooper's Hawk.

Second confirmed breeding record for this park: Fish Crows. Impossible to tell from American Crows except by their different voices.

This will be the first confirmed breeding record for Fish Crows in Dade County bringing our list of confirmed breeders up to 42!

You can guess what happened here. I was trying to take a picture of Red-masked Parakeets and my camera died.

In spite of my inability to charge my camera and my procrastination in assembling my camera-on-a-stick, it was a great day. I added a new species to Dade County and added 3 new breeding records (the two pictured, plus Red-bellied Woodpeckers excavating a telephone pole, not pictured) to this block which previously had no data. Last I checked, my personal bird-watching records documented on this blog plus some research records from my job that I've submitted, make up 25% of all the confirmed records in Dade County. On the one hand, I love knowing I'm having such an impact, but on the other hand, it's incredibly unfortunate that more Miamians aren't aware of this project or the amazing ornithological happenings literally in our own backyards. So spread the word and go birding!

March 25, 2014

TODAY WAS AWESOME! I certainly needed a day like today. I thought there was a Thoreau quote about returning to nature when modern life gets to be too much, but I guess I'm mistaken because Google isn't revealing any such quote.

Back to the point, I got a late start because of the rain but I spent the entire day in and around Everglades National Park. I started while it was still drizzly at the northeast section of the park, Chekika, which is kinda closed, most unfortunately. Still, I saw some cool stuff on the outskirts and contemplated trespassing to get to the boardwalk inside, but some creeper pulled up to me multiple times to let me know that "Jesus loves me" so I decided to move on.

I hearby dub the Green Heron the most photogenic Heron.

American Alligator

Double-crested Cormorant and Belted Kingfisher

Red-shouldered Hawk with some kind of snake that hopefully my herpetology friends can ID

Same hawk being chased off its meal by another Red-shouldered Hawk. I'm guessing they're mates because they sat next to each other for a while. You can see everyone got a little wet in the rain. Also, I have to figure out my camera's low-light settings.

I moved on to the southern section of Everglades National Park and hit most of the stops all the way down to Flamingo.

Taken at Pa-hay-okee Observation tower. He won't be able to walk there in a couple months' time. The rainy season's fast approaching.

Red-bellied Woodpecker.

The most exciting moments of the day happened at Mahogany Hammock. This is also where I first bumped in to Dan, another bird photographer who was working his way south at about the same pace as me.

New super awesome species for the blog!!! A Barred Owl!!!

She hunted! My genius herpetologist buddy says it's a Southeastern Five-lined Skink

What's she looking at? Also, note the brown eyes. Most species of owls have yellow eyes.

IT'S A BABY!

This moment makes me think that nature loves me almost as much as I love nature. I was so lucky to witness this.

From here, I went to Paurotis Pond and saw more breeding evidence!

It was a constant parade of Wood Storks with nesting material

 

And further south, I saw a couple new species for the blog and a little more breeding evidence. Cheers to a great day (not at all hindered by the fact that these two confirmed breeding records have already been entered in the Atlas by some other Atlaser)!

Ruddy Duck

American Avocet on the left and Black-necked Stilt on the right

The Flamingo osprey you've seen before. Still don't appear to be breeding...

A new osprey nest I noticed somewhere on the main park road. And of course, the stupid GPS on my camera didn't log the location for this photo or any of the others I took of this nest. Oh well. Still a perfect day.

March 21, 2014

Today's trip was supposed to be to Bill Baggs State Park, but they don't open until 8. So I went to Virginia Key Beach to kill some time and that ended up being the main event because my camera promptly died once I got to Bill Baggs. No breeding evidence, but some new species.

How I spent my morning: watching the sun rise on the beach. Doesn't totally erase the poop-fest that was yesterday, but it helps a little.

Neat! Dolphins?

New species: Black-necked Stilts

Black-necked stilts from the back

Insert angtsy comment about the juxtaposition of civilization and nature

Other new species: Common Ground Dove

March 20, 2014

I think I'm starting to burn out with the constant birdwatching. I tried a new spot today, Robert King High Park but quickly gave up. I'll need to take a break soon or pick a guaranteed spot where my efforts are rewarded with breeding activity. No pictures worth posting today.

March 19, 2014

So my first annoyance with citizen science has occurred. A woman posted a picture of a macaw nest and pinned it to the University of Miami campus. So I walked around the entire campus for 2 HOURS trying to find this thing. Then I went back to the photo and did a little digging and found out that it wasn't ON the UM campus but "fairly close" to it. That could be anywhere! Oh well, no other breeding evidence seen.

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Common Grackle

Interesting behavior: the grackles were dive-bombing the Heron that was totally just minding its own business. I didn't see a nest that they were protecting. I wonder why they were doing that...

Red-shouldered Hawk sitting on the School of Business Administration

Scaly-headed Parrots

Loggerhead Shrike

March 18, 2014

Today's trip was to the Homestead Airport. I was super nervous walking around an airfield with a camera, but I guess they're used to birders. I chose this spot for Burrowing Owls, but I saw a number of interesting things and it was such a serene, beautiful place. I should have spent more time there.

Eastern Meadowlark

Are Rock Doves ever all white? 

What I came for! Burrowing Owl. I wonder if they use the discarded pipes as burrows...

American Kestrel

Palm Warbler

Beautiful scenery

Boat-tailed Grackle

Loggerhead Shrike. Their hunting was fun to watch.

Red-winged Blackbird

I can't let too many days go by without contributing to the Atlas. I need to find a prime spot for tomorrow morning...