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DESTINATION - SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Typical BIRD SIGHTINGS
Provided by SRQ Bird Alert
Perhaps of interest - It's not too late to join a count team for the 4th Annual
Hendry/Glades North American Migration Count September 19th. Birders, Compilers, photographers are welcome to join a
team. The post count gathering will be held at the Clewiston Inn at 5 p.m. on Sept. 19th.
Margaret England
30 August - This morning in Pinecraft Park in Sarasota, among expected migrants
like Black and White Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, several Red-eyed Vireos, and an Empid. I couldn't
I. D., I observed a stunning, adult, male Cerulean Warbler, gleaning insects from leaves, mid-story over the
small creek, near the Southeast corner of the park.
Jeff Palmer Sarasota
27 August - NOTE: You may be interested in seeing a bald eagle release on
Thursday, August 27 at Noon on the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve in Venice (Sarasota County).
Directions: I-75, Exit 193, north on Jacaranda Blvd., Right (east) on Border Road 2.5 miles to Carlton Reserve
entrance on left. Park on the road shoulder 1/4 mile from the entrance. The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey and former
Senator Lisa Carlton will release this bird originally rescued in Sarasota County. Staff has been waiting for
eagles to return to Florida so that this young bird would have other eagles to associate with and pick up some
hunting and foraging skills. Come join us for this wonderful event.
Belinda Perry, Manager, Sarasota County Natural Resources
23 August - John Ginaven and I birded both parks. Here’s what
we saw:
Rothenbach: 1 female Cerulean Warbler, 1 Yellow-throated Vireo, 2 Prairie Warblers, numerous parulas of all
ages, BG Gnatcatchers, Red-eyed Vireos, White-eyed Vireos, 5 Yellow-throated Warblers, and the usual woodland
birds. On the northern perimeter, we saw a Spotted Sandpiper over the fence on other County property.
Pinecraft: NADA!! A special hello to Theresa in New Jersey from me and John.
Jeanne Dubi, Sarasota
23 August - On Siesta Key this evening 6 - 7:30 PM between Beach Access 7 and 8 the
Piping Plover was still by the back lagoon area. There was also a dead Western Sandpiper. South of Beach
Access 8 there were four Snowy Plover and three Western Sandpiper. So it's still worth a try to see some
birds not too common for this area in the summer. I saw Piping Plover at Rockaway Beach, NY breeding this
summer...they must have followed me south. At Rockaway Beach they close the entire breeding area for these endangered
species, so you could only see them from the boardwalk. Siesta Key offers a much better look.
Barry Rossheim
22, 28 & 30 August - Jeanne Dubi has been helping me add birds to my Florida list as
I was nearly at 200 and eager to get there. On Saturday, Aug. 22, she took me with her to the Laurel Landfill to do a
survey. We found two Brown-headed Nuthatches in the back woods, despite extensive clearing and thinning of the
forest. We also saw at least six juvenile Eastern Bluebirds. Afterwards, we stopped at Carlton for my first
Red-headed Woodpecker, which I think took us all of about ten minutes to find, no more than ten yards from the
car!
Aug. 28, I spent some time (between rainstorms) in the Celery Fields area, mostly on the north end
across from the library and at the driving range. Due to all the rain we’ve been having there was water everywhere.
I found a flock of 500 to 600 Icteridae including mostly Boat-tailed Grackles, European Starlings, Redwing
Blackbirds, a few Brown-headed Cowbirds and one Yellow-headed Blackbird (female or juvenile.) This
bird was seen again the next morning (Sat, Aug 29) by Edith Miller and Janet Carlock. I was unable to find it again
Saturday or Sunday, but there were several types of shorebirds both days, Long-billed Dowitchers, Greater and Lesser
Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpipers and Western Sandpiper.
This afternoon (Aug 30) I spent a couple hours at
Pinecraft Park with Edith Miller, hoping to see the male Cerulean Warbler. We didn’t find it, but we did see a
Prothonotory Warbler.
Valeri Ponzo, Sarasota
21 August - This morning on Siesta Beach between public accesses 7 and 8 were 12
Snowy Plovers and one (FOS on Siesta) Piping Plover, among numerous Western Sandpipers,
Sanderlings, Ruddy Turnstones, Willets and other shorebirds. Also there was a good sized aggregation of
Royal and Sandwich Terns, including several of this year’s fledglings still begging for handouts from mom & dad.
The Piping Plover is not likely to stay long. It was foraging along the back beach tidal lagoon just north of
Access 8 and took flight anytime anyone came within 20 ft of it. Happy birding!
Michelle van Deventer
18 August - I’ve been dogging the polo grounds area for the last few weeks waiting
for shorebirds to show up. Today at last, a little action. There were 11 Black-bellied Plovers on the grounds,
some in the most gorgeous breeding plumage. The grounds are private property, so if you ever go, you have to scope
from the road. I’m looking for Pectoral Sandpipers and any other goodies. If I see anything interesting, I’ll
post it. Elsewhere in the commercial area of Lakewood Ranch, south of University Parkway, there were 8 juvenile
(all-white) Little Blue Herons in one muddy pond. Must have been a kindergarten class!
Jeanne Dubi, Sarasota
14 August - I'll bet it was less than two years ago that I saw my first House
Finch in Sarasota County. This morning at my feeders in my back yard I counted eight, including a bright male.
Jeff Palmer, Sarasota
6 August - While birding the Celery Fields this evening (6:30-8:30) I saw at least
one and possibly as many as three Cliff Swallows. Three swallows were circling over the fields and
appeared to be all the same type, but I only saw one of them well enough for a positive ID.
Valeri Ponzo, Sarasota
3 August - North American Migration Count In Florida: Fall
The Third Annual Hendry/Glades NAMC and post count gathering will be held Sept. 19th. Team leaders, spotter,
compilers, photographers are needed for the following teams.
1. STA5/Blumberg Road
2. Glades Northwest including Rainey Slough
3. Harney Pond, Ft. Center, Curry Island , Brighton
4. Big Cypress Reservation/835/C&B Farms
5. Fisheating Creek West: hike and canoe/kayak
6. Okaloacoochee Slough
7. LaBelle, Ft. Denaud, Glades southwest
8. Highway 80/27 Lee County Line to Clewiston
Peter Rice
Please send your input about rare and/or interesting bird sightings to:
SRQbirdalerts@msn.com
SRQBirdAlerts is brought to you by Peter Rice in association with the Sarasota Audubon Society. Visit them at
SarasotaAudubon.org
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