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DESTINATION - SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Typical BIRD SIGHTINGS
Provided by SRQ Bird Alert
24 July - Returning home from work in Venice today at 4:15pm, I spotted a single
swallow-tailed kite just above the slash pines and oaks along I-75 south flying low and slow just before exit
182 (Sumpter Blvd) and the Myakkahatchee Creek bridge in North Port, Fl. Nice to see this beautiful bird still around.
Tom Allen, North Port
24 July - While out looking for Bobwhite (heard but not seen) this morning
in the Lake Osprey (Lakewood Ranch) area, Jeanne Dubi and I found three (not so) Solitary Sandpipers in a small
shallow pond somewhere SE of the main lake.
Valeri Ponzo, Sarasota
20 July - A nesting white-winged dove was seen at Green Key in Pasco County.
In the nest is a young WW dove. The photo was provided as a reference for the appearance of a young WW dove. Should
you see a white-winged dove nesting, in particular with a young bird, please let me know the location and if possible,
provide a photograph. We wish proof that WW doves are nesting in Sarasota County. The WW doves have been seen in and
near to Heritage Oaks Golf & County Club on Bee Ridge Road Extension since May 2005 and continue to be seen at least
weekly. We have seen as many as 38 at one time. Many of them seem to spend their nights in the trees on the west
side of Bee Ridge Road Extension about 500 yards south of the main entrance to the Heritage Oaks Golf & County Club
compound. This morning I saw three on the wires in this location. There is a sidewalk through this area that one may
walk on, however, the WW doves typically fly off when humans get within about 30 yards. Access to Heritage Oaks Golf
& County Club compound is restricted and not needed to view the WW doves in this location. Bee Ridge Road Extension is
at the east end of Bee Ridge Road about three miles east of I-75. Bee Ridge Road Extension connects Bee Ridge and
Clark roads. Thank you,
Peter Rice
14 July - Last week, Alice Deutsch was visiting the CF and saw a Barn Owl
hunting at about 9 a.m. Valeri Ponzo then saw a Barn Owl later on in the week in broad daylight at about 5
p.m. This morning, just after 9 a.m., I watched a male Barn Owl scouring the fields in front of the gazebo.
So, for anyone who wants a good look at a Barn Owl during the day, check out the Celery Fields. The Fields are
currently being overrun by Caribbean Crazy Ants. Although they do not bite, they are a nuisance, indeed a pest. A
look into the Barn Owl boxes a month ago revealed an infestation, with one of the boxes having 3 abandoned eggs.
Another thing of note, several of us watched a coyote tearing up the hill yesterday morning. This doesn’t bode well
for ground birds, but nature is nature I guess.
Jeanne Dubi, Sarasota
8 July - In Myakka Valley east Sarasota working Mexican Petunia and the blossom
of lemon basil, a Ruby Throated Hummingbird. This is the second sighting in three weeks. Rick Heyer
Rick Heyer
5 July - A Least bittern has been at the Venice Area Audubon rookery for a week.
Paul Newhart
2 July - Today at the Celery Fields, 10 limpkins in 2 families were feeding
in the ditch beside the road — 5 juveniles, not quite fully grown and probably some fully grown juveniles along with
adults. At one point they actually were running around the field—very much like ostriches! Later on this afternoon,
I spotted 21 Common Nighthawks on University Parkway, north of the polo grounds in Lakewood Ranch. They were
all hawking insects and were very vocal, some even squabbling with each other on the wing.
Jeanne Dubi, Sarasota
2 July - The FWC has delisted the peregrine falcon from its endangered
species list as of June 17, 2009. This is a great example of successful wildlife management, their comeback from
the brink of extinction mirrors the Bald Eagle's success. The peregrine falcon is still protected
under the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Coincidentally, last Friday (6-26-09) while participating in 'Jay Watch',
we saw a first year peregrine falcon at Caspersen Beach Park. Florida Scrub-Jays be warned.
Barry Rossheim
1 July - It’s time to start watching for Swallow-tailed Kites as nestlings
are fledging now. This morning, I saw 5 kites hunting over the Celery Fields, and I had a report of 6 others
kiting over an area west of I-75 in Sarasota yesterday. Two weeks ago I was at Station 5 in Hendry County and saw
50+ kites over the fields near Clewiston.
Jeanne Dubi, 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
SarasotaAudubon.org
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