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DESTINATION - SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Typical BIRD SIGHTINGS
Provided by SRQ Bird Alert
29 January - As I was walking from my parking area to work on Siesta Key this
morning, two large flocks of Cedar Waxwings flew over head. Had to be at least 200+ birds in the flocks. A
smaller flock of Robins were around too. These are the first flocks I've seen on the Key and in Sarasota this
season. Always a joy to hear and see.
Tina Mossbarger, Sarasota
26 January - This afternoon about 4:00 pm my husband and I stopped at Ollie's Pond
in Port Charlotte, and we watched a first season male Orchard Oriole foraging in the tops of the trees that are
just getting their little green leaves, next to the pond. He was near the parking lot - to the right as you drive in.
He was down the path a bit after crossing the bridge that leads to the path along the water. From looking at the range
maps, we were fairly surprised to see him at this time - an early migrant or did he just not make his way to his
wintering grounds?
Judy List
26 January - Late this morning a female Long-tailed Duck was found at
Ackerman Lake. It was with a few Lesser Scaup at the north end of the lake. Some distant photos were taken.
Rett Oren Joe Yuhas
26 January - At about 5 PM we along with Jeff Palmer (we used his telescope) saw the
female long-tailed duck with several ring-necked ducks on Ackerman Lake. Elsewhere on the lake were many
lesser scaups and coots. Ackerman Lake is about 1/8th mile east of I-75 and 1/8th mile south of Fruitville
Road in NE Sarasota County. It is next to Ackerman Park.
Peter & Frances Rice
23 January - At the Celery Fields this morning birding with some visitors from out
of town we spotted two sora north of Palmer from the sidewalk at 7:45AM. We saw two Roseate Spoonbill in
the second pond west of the gazebo. Then at about 10:30AM south of Palmer in the disturbed area, an adult Peregrine
Falcon was sitting on a fairly low dirt mound near some gulls and killdeer. We had great looks at the
peregrine in the spotting scope for 10 minutes before it flew. There was construction going on the entire time in
the field to the east. It was the first peregrine I have ever seen at the Celery Fields.
Barry Rossheim
23 January - January - I just saw 2 Canada Geese at the pond in front of
Whitney Bank on SR64 a few miles west of I-75. I have never seen geese here.
Dan Irizarry, Bradenton
23 January - At the corner of Beneva and US-41, there were about 25
blackbellied whistling ducks sitting on the shore of the little pond next to the shopping center. Not actually
in the water, which isn't surprising since the water is filled with plastic take-out containers and shopping bags.
Just across the street were three male hooded mergansers and one female-the males strutting their stuff as if
spring might be coming.
Bob Thomas
22 January - Seven noisy Blue crowned parakeet are hanging out at the
CVS / Publix complex where Manatee Avenue approaches Anna Maria Island.
Mark Davis Longboat Key
22 January - About a month ago we put a bird house on a large pine tree in our
backyard in Venice hoping to attract a screech owl. The box has a 3”opening. On Saturday we heard loud knocking
out back. There was pair of Pileated woodpeckers on the tree and box. They opened the hole up to their liking and
moved in. We have only seen the female in the box. She leaves the box in AM and return just before dark.
Bill Ford
19 January - While working at Myakka today I saw two young Limpkins with an
adult at the weir. The young still had natal down on the rump area but were old enough to exhibit the white "diamonds"
on the sides. They must be at least 3-4 weeks old. Probably hatching some time in December. I guess they do breed almost
anytime in central Florida now!!! On another note, there is lots of water in the lake and the shoreline has disappeared.
There were no shorebirds, no ducks and only a few egrets and herons in evidence. Good Birding.
Rick Greenspun
18 January - This morning, just before sunrise, a brown, rag like form, fluttered
down onto the cartpath in front of my golf cart. Holey, moley a Whip-poor-will. It lit for a second and flew up
into the Oak Hammock at the The Meadows (a private golf course). After checking the number 9 tee, on a hunch I
returned to the path. and there was the Whip again. I tried to sneak up on it but it flew away.
Jeff Palmer, Sarasota
17 January - A lovely juvenile Loggerhead Shrike was at our bird feeder on
Siesta Key. We live near the Grand canal. Today, Jan 18th, pairs were flying and one sat for quite a while on a
telephone wire enjoying the sun. They are beautiful. Spotted off Sandy Nook!
Catherine Luckner, Siesta Key
17 January - In a quick walk through my apartment complex, I had a flock of hundreds
of Robins and Cedar Waxwings feeding on the berries outside my door. Also in the area: Red-shouldered
Hawk, Mourning Dove, ,Wood Stork, Palm Warbler, Northern Mockingbird, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Common
Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Dan Irizarry, Bradenton
17 January - My son and I took a stroll around Ollie’s Pond this morning and found
some nice birds. We were hoping to see Green-winged Teal (anybody know where any are hiding in Charlotte or
Sarasota County???), but lucked out. We did find Ring-necked, Hooded Mergansers, and Blue-winged Teals,
along with the usual C. Moorhens, Am. Coots, and Pied-billed Grebes. We also found a pair of very vocal
Hairy Woodpeckers, a bird we don’t see too often in Charlotte County, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, who, by
contrast, was unusually quiet. Five species of warblers were seen: Yellow-rumped, Yellow-throated, Pine, Palm,
and C. Yellowthroat, and two hawk species – Red-shouldered and Cooper’s. The expected waders,
Phoebes, Red-winged Blackbirds, and other birds who frequent fresh-water ponds rounded out the morning.
Susan Daughtrey, Englewood
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. You can also join them on day trips:
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