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DESTINATION - SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Typical BIRD SIGHTINGS
Provided by SRQ Bird Alert
28 February - I checked the ponds at the west end of the El Conquistador Parkway at 6:30
this evening to see if there were any ducks left since the construction in the area has been reignited. The 2 female
Buffleheads amazingly are still there.
Jeff Fisher, Bradenton
27 February - A pair of Shoveler ducks were spotted yesterday at the Celery Fields
in Sarasota.
Maxis Gamez, Sarasota
26 February - BirdFriends, Though you would never know it by the temperature, Spring is
in full swing in Florida. The rookery islands are hopping with breeding and brooding herons, egrets, cormorants and
pelicans. Nesting densities are way down from previous years even though the new rip rap surrounding the islands
is doing a great job of protecting them from wave action. Had the opportunity to visit Roberts Bay Rookery aboard Capt.
Terry Frankfords boat(Reelin and Chillin Charters) with his wife Marla and my birding buddy Lou Newman. It was bone
"chillin" cold alright, but the winds were calm and the sky was clear. While some Great Blue Herons had
almost full grown chicks, other birds were just getting started on nest building. There were also a pair of
Oystercatchers copulating and many White Pelicans with breeding knobs. All we need now is about 20 more
degrees. Good Birding
Rick Greenspun
25 February - Today, Jeanne Dubi and I did the Clay Gulley Loop starting from I-75 and
Clark Rd (SR 72) Past the South entrance to Myakka about six miles, we came upon 5 Caracaras that were displaying,
vocalizing and fighting for females attention. There was even an attempted copulation. Further up the road we counted 5
more (all on Sr 72) Turning on Sidell Rd, we saw Bluebirds and Pine Warblers all in their breeding glory. We then went
down Jomar Rd. (it leads to Crowley Nursery) and spied our first Swallow tailed Kite of the Season. We then
attempted to walk out on the BirdWalk at Myakka, but were promptly blown back off. Water levels are subsiding somewhat
but still way too flooded for any wading bird action. At the weir, we had a single Spotted Sandpiper amongst a
flock of Least Sandpipers and a lone Bald Eagle circling above us. On the way back into Sarasota, we saw
one more Caracara next to the National Cemetery. An extremely cold and windy day, but very rewarding. Good Birding
Rick Greenspun
23 February - Observed a juvenile dark morph Swainson's Hawk this afternoon at
Myakka River State Park, at the end of the bird walk.
Steve Schlabach, Sarasota
23 February - Approximately 150 noisy Black-bellied Whistling ducks on the grassy
bank (parking lot side) of the pond outside the shopping mall on Potter'a Park Drive off Central Sarasota Parkway at
8.00 a.m.
Michael Hamilton
21 February - Thanks to responses from birding friends, it appears that Loggerhead
Shrikes can, indeed, have hooks at the end of their beaks - even though Sibley states (in his field guide) that the
Loggerhead has a "stubby bill without obvious hook at tip". Thus endeth the lesson.
Bob Kelly
21 February - Went to Manatee Audubon's Felt's Preserve today and spent two hours near the
bird feeders from 7:30 to 9:30 and saw the following birds: 3 Painted Buntings (1 male, 1 female and 1 juvenile
male), Pine Warbler (eating bird seed), Yellow throated Warbler, Common Yellowthroat Warbler, Indigo Buntings
(lots!!!), House Finch, Tufted Titmouse, Red bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Great Horned Owl, Purple Martins
sitting on the gourds, as well as the usual grackles, doves, cardinals, etc
Good Birding
Rick Greenspun
21 February - This mid-morning, Karen Jensen and I went to Rothenbach Park. It was fairly
quiet, but we did see a Hermit Thrush, 2 Blue-headed Vireos and a Black and White Warbler among the
usual others. Also heard a Barred Owl. The Common Goldeneye was in the Founders Club pond at 8:20 this am.
Shrikes: just saw Loggerheads. Did see a Merlin sitting on a snag at Hidden Creek, a development-to-be
off Fruitville Road.
Jeanne Dubi
20 February - This afternoon at around 2:00 PM, we went looking for ducks - a nice family
of hooded mergansers were seen at the pond next to the Pagoda in the celery fields. We then went to the pond across
from the Shining Light church on Fruitville Road to see if the Goldeneye was there (it wasn't - no ducks were on
the pond). However, as we were walking through the Shining Light parking lot, we looked to the west and spotted a bird in
a tree. First glance indicated that it could have been a Loggerhead Shrike judging by its overall coloration (we
noticed at least one of those birds elsewhere in the area). The problem was the bird's beak - it had a very pronounced
hook at the end of its beak making it disimilar to that of the loggerhead. We may be whacked but we do not think that bird
in question was a Loggerhead Shrike. Sibley indicates that the Northern Shrike has just such a hook on its beak, but the
book also indicates that the bird is not found this far south. The bird then flitted back and forth down the lane leading
to the Bethel Mennonite church. If anyone see's the bird, we would love to get their read on it.
Bob Kelly
Please send your input about rare and/or interesting bird sightings to:
SRQbirdalerts@msn.com"
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