14 February - Just now (2:40 pm) refound this bird (Western Kingbird. Its on the
south side of the HS foraging on berries on a barren tree across from a sign that reads "Reserved Parking. Junior ROTC
only".
Craig Faanes
13 February - Today John Ginaven and I led five hardy people through the frigid morning
for Sarasota Audubon’s monthly Celery Fields walk. Despite 45 degree temperatures and fairly strong wind, we were able
to come up with 62 species. The highlight of the morning was an American Bittern, five white Pelicans
and three Sora. Surprisingly, we did not see a single Black-bellied Whistling Duck. The complete list is
as follows:
Bald Eagle (1 immature, 1 adult), Osprey, Red Shouldered Hawk, Northern Harrier, Turkey Vulture,
Black Vulture, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Great Blue Heron, Tri-color Heron,
Little Blue Heron, Limpkin, Wood Stork, Sandhill Crane, American Bittern, Sora, Roseate Spoonbill, Pie-billed Grebe,
American Coot, Common Moorhen, Anhinga, Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican, White Pelican, Hooded Merganser,
Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Mottled Duck, Mallard hybrid,
Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Forster’s Tern, Killdeer, Least Sandpiper, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, Mourning Dove,
Common Ground Dove, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Fish Crow, Northern Mockingbird,
Grey Catbird, American Robin, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Northern Cardinal, Palm Warbler,
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Carolina Wren, Loggerhead Shrike, Belted Kingfisher.
Valeri Ponzo
12 February - I visited South Lido Key beach this afternoon shortly after the rains
subsided. At 5:02 p.m. I watched a juvenal Parasitic Jaeger mercilessly harass a Laughing Gull until the
later disgorged its dinner. The birds were about 100 meters off shore; the Laughing Gull provided an excellent
size comparison. A third-cycle Great Black-backed Gull was at the southern tip of the island mingling with a
horde of Herring Gulls in about every plumage variation imaginable.
Craig Faanes, Sarasota
12 February - I finally saw some Cedar Waxwings this year! A small group of 5 were
in a tree on the SW corner of Bee Ridge Rd. & Beneva then flew off to the NE.
Jeff Fisher, Bradenton
11 February - The Common Goldeneye is still at The Founder’s Club pond on Fruitville
Rd (exit 210, I-75). In addition to the two male and one female Painted Buntings at my feeder, there are now two
male Indigo Buntings turning nicely blue. Also, a yellow House Finch. No goldfinches at the moment
and I haven’t seen the hummingbird since the frost of a month ago. Of the large masses of Tree Swallows
noted near University Parkway and I-75, 6 to 8 weeks ago, not a sign of ANY last evening. I have had reports though of
many thousands of Tree Swallows down in south county, so Venetians start looking for a roost site.
Jeanne Dubi, Sarasota
8 February - After reading other beachbird surveys done Friday 2/5, I thought I would
chime in and help fill in more of the gap between Turtle Beach and Anna Maria Island. On Lido Key 8-10am had two
flocks of targeted shorebirds. The first flock observed on S. Lido Beach consisting of 4 Snowy Plovers and 10
Semipalmated Plovers trying to feed and rest mid-bch in a strong wind. The other flock was at N.Lido consisting
of a tight group of 52 Red Knots, 35 Sanderlings, 3 Black-bellied Plovers, 3 Ruddy Turnstones
and nearby spread out 7 Snowy Plovers and 1 Wilson's PLover. Only saw one banded Red Knot but
I'm sure there were more in the group but I did not have the heart to disturb them with the wind picking up. Also
throughout walk saw a sprinkling of Sanderlings and Willets feeding at shoreline with the usual gulls
and terns aggregating here and there. No wading birds too windy I guess. Good birding,
Ruth Ellen Peipert
8 February - I've been visiting the Venice Rookery for at least 6 years, and it seems that
each year the number of nesting birds, especially the Great Blue Herons has declined significantly. This year, I'd
estimate that there are no more than 10-12 nesting pairs of GBH's. Activity is pretty intense now however and there's
probably some GBH chicks already. It's interesting to note that the lores on both birds are just beginning to show the
powder blue color, but it's not really intense yet.
Ron Wooldridge, Parrish
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