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DESTINATION - SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Typical BIRD SIGHTINGS
Provided by SRQ Bird Alert
16 January - After three weeks of not running the boat, and jonesing for shorebirds,
I went out with my family this afternoon for a quick look-see around Stump Pass in Englewood. No Am. White Pelicans
were seen in the ICW, which was a surprise, but there was a Caspian Tern mixed in with a group of Laughing
and Ring-billed Gulls in front of the turn-off to Rum Bay. We motored down Ski Alley, looking for the Merlin
and Peregrine Falcon, seeing neither, although the Great Horned Owl was still peeking out from the Osprey
nest. The Stump Pass Beach State Park side of the pass was nearly empty, but when we cruised down the Palm Island side,
we saw numerous gulls, terns, Black Skimmers, and the usual shorebirds. Hanging out in a group of Herring,
Ring-billed, and Laughing Gulls was one lone Lesser Black-backed Gull, a bird not frequently seen on
our beaches and a nice surprise.
Susan Daughtrey, Englewood
15 January - We've had 10+ American Goldfinches at our backyard nyjer &
regular feeders today. The Pine Siskin we thought left the area last week returned today, and we also had an
Indigo Bunting that came to our tray feeder, but also spent some time picking at seeds on the ground. We had our
usual contingent of Mourning Doves, Northern Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, as
well as some Pine Warblers and a surprise (to us) visit from a Black-and-White Warbler, but I wasn't able
to get a photo.
Sue & Bill Herring, Sarasota
15 January - Just before sunset we saw 15 white-winged doves in several
trees and the telephone line along Bee Ridge Road Extension. Two doves were on a telephone line along Bee Ridge
Road Extension about 300 yards north of the main entrance to Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club. The rest were in several
trees about 300 yards south of the main entrance to Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club. This is the first time in about
six weeks that we have seen any white-winged doves. Typically, the white-wing doves are in this location
only soon after sunrise and soon before sunset. For the past four years a flock of 30+ White-winged Doves have lived along Bee Ridge Road Extension (at the
far eastern end of Bee Ridge Road, east of I-75). We first saw White-winged Doves in this area in 2004. In
December 2005 we saw 38, in December 2008 we saw 20, and for the January 2009 CBC (Christmas Bird Count) we saw 29.
Until early December 2009 we continued to see one or two on the wires along Bee Ridge Road Extension.
Peter & Frances Rice
15 January - BirdFriends, Went to Circle B Bar in Lakeland today with friends Lou
Newman and Ron Mayberry to find the White faced Ibis that has been reported. We found it in the first pool you
come to after leaving the parking area. The lighter gray bill and glowing red eyes were evident. Also seen were Purple
Gallinule, Am. Bittern (3), Spoonbills, thousands of White Pelicans and the usual herons and
egrets and an otter. If you go, go very early. I-4 at exit 17 is down to one lane because of the sink
hole(s) and the detours are no better. You can get through on I-4 if you go before the work crowd starts commuting. Its
a fabulous place!! Good Birding.
Rick Greenspun
12 January - While birding my apartment complex, I had some nice finds:
2 Bald Eagles flying overhead, 4 Black-hooded Parakeets, 2 Killdeer, Mourning Dove (lots),
Eurasian Collared Dove (1), Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers everywhere, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
(3), Tufted Titmouse (1), Carolina Wren (2), House Wren (1 heard chattering), American Goldfinch,
Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Northern Mockingbird, Red-shouldered Hawk, Brown-headed Cowbird (1), European
Starling, House Finch. I don't have much experience with Finches, and haven't seen many reports of them
around here. This is the first I've seen in the area.
Dan Irizarry, Bradenton
11 January - I saw the female bufflehead from there I checked out Glen Lake
in the Bradenton area. I turned off 51st onto 43rd then left into Glen Lake subdivision. Stay left and you come to the
tiny Glen Lake Park. In the scaup flock was a drake Pintail and along the shoreline were several green-wing
teal.
Vince McGrath, Fort Myers
11 January - Two pine siskins joined our regular group of goldfinches
feeding on seed this morning in our back yard in Englewood.
Margaret Dunson, Englewood
10 January - Spent a windy and chilly afternoon at Robinson Preserve today. The
first thing I noticed was the massive fish kill in the park. There were dead fish along the marsh shore and lots of
dead horseshoe crabs at the mouth of the Manatee River. Fittingly, the park was full of both Black and Turkey
Vultures and many Wood Storks feeding on the dead fish. There weren't any gulls seen in the park or along
the gulf at all! I did, however, find a small flock of Semipalmated Sandpipers along the trail adjacent to the
river. Here's what I saw: Common Ground-Dove (6 - First time I've seen them in the park), Wood Stork (100+),
Black Vulture (100+), Turkey Vulture (100+), Great Egret (50), Reddish Egret (2), Cattle
Egret (1 - first time I've seen one within the park), Green Heron (1), Great Blue Heron (10), Snowy
Egret (20), Tricolored Heron (3), Killdeer (20 - 1 had a mangled foot), Spotted Sandpiper (6),
Semipalmated Sandpiper (15), Palm Warbler (10), Brown Pelican (1), Double-crested Cormorant
(15), Osprey (2). On my way home, I saw a lone Laughing Gull along Manatee Ave. At home, a small flock of
Robins were feeding along the fence line.
Dan Irizarry, Bradenton
10 January - I am in Bradenton, just off of I-74 and State Highway 70 (Lakewood Ranch).
There is a gorgeous Peregrine Falcon in a pine tree just outside our second story condo. It has been here for a
couple of hours.
Sue Graffius
8 January - Bob Lane took a picture on a drizzly Friday afternoon of Limpkin
chicks in the Celery Fields. Like Bob said pretty amazing, huh? Limpkin chicks in January.
Jeff Palmer Sarasota
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
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