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DESTINATION - SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Typical BIRD SIGHTINGS - March
Provided by SRQ Bird Alert
31 March - Sarasota Audubon Society had a day trip to Carlton Reserve. Our
highlights were, many Red-headed Woodpeckers (approx. 6), Great Crested Flycatchers, FOS Eastern
Kingbird, Pileated Woodpeckers (4) and one low flying eating on the wing (dragonfly) Swallow-tailed
Kite. All were magnificent and beautiful we had so much fun birding we skipped the formal sit down lunch and
nibbled out of our lunch bags as we went.
Kathryn Young, Sarasota
31 March - I spent the morning at Felts Preserve and had a very good morning.
Arriving at 8:30 AM, I immediately saw the resident Pileated Woodpecker pair. I spent most of the morning in
the Bird Blind and was rewarded with my FOS of a Worm-eating Warbler after about an hour of watching a group of
Indigo Buntings at and around the feeders. Four of the males were already in their full breeding plumage, six
were in various stages of approaching breeding plumage (one was quite scruffy looking with mottled colors) and two
females. Also frequently at the feeder was a female Painted Bunting, four American Goldfinches and the
usual "resident" varieties that are normally seen at Felts. Also visiting the Solar fountain was a Gray Catbird,
Northern Parula, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. At 11:15 AM, I took a walk around the northern pond and
sighted two House Wrens, a Roseatte Spoonbill, Little Blue Heron, Wood Duck pair, and
Carolina Wren (2). In all, I recorded 38 species on my visit, including a fly-over of two Sandhill Cranes.
Dee Hanny, MCAS
21 March - At about 6:30pm, I saw a possible light-morph Swainson's Hawk at
Myakka River SP in the area of the weir. It flew across the river and headed east after soaring with the Black
Vultures for about five minutes. It appeared nearly as large as the vultures. It had a light body with a dark head
and throat, with a very clear demarcation between the dark and light, making it appear hooded. It had a longish
squared tail and long fairly narrow wings with pointed tips. The remiges were dark, the rest of the wings light.
When gliding, the wings were bowed downwards and at times pulled in and swept back like a falcon.
Valeri Ponzo, Sarasota
18 March - This morning Bill and I both had excellent looks at a NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSH at the edge of a large wetland at
Sleeping Turtles South on River Road near I-75. We're fairly sure there
was a 2nd one at the same location & maybe a 3rd as we heard the distinctive chip note at another area of the marsh.
We had a total of 40 birds including 2 hermit thrushes, a sapsucker, wood ducks, 3 singing blue-headed vireos, barred
owl, green heron, RC kinglet and many parulas. Thanks to Stu Lewis for encouraging us to bird there by sending us his
nice ebird list from a few days ago.
Margaret Dunson
17 March - A whimbrel was observed by numerous people from the Birdwalk on the
northern end of
Upper Myakka Lake from about 10 am-1 pm on March 17, 2009.
Bill Dunson, Englewood
16 March - While guiding 2 out of town birders today in
Pinecraft (and me), Rick
Greenspun spotted a nice male Wilson’s Warbler. Also there, a Prairie Warbler. Black and White, many parulas singing,
Pine, Palm, Yellow-rumped and the gorgeous Black-throated Green Warbler. An 8-warbler day this early in the spring is
very welcome. We also saw 2 baby Barred Owls. They look as though they may be 4-6 weeks old already. This is the first
time we’ve seen them in spite of once- or twice-a-week forays into the park lately. Before I met up with the
mini-group, they spotted a Lark Sparrow at the end of Center Road near the heliport behind the
Celery Fields.
Jeanne Dubi--Sarasota
15 March -
North Lido Park - From the mangroves to the beach, I observed the following birds: green-backed heron, black
crowned night heron, hooded warbler, common yellowthroat, numerous pine warblers and goldfinches, pair of pileated
woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers and a red-bellied, cardinals, blue jay, Carolina wren, catbird, eastern phoebe, ospreys,
2 male kestrels, a killdeer, a snowy plover and brown pelicans. The last of 2 great horned owlets has finally fledged
and was easily visible with both parents nearby, the female being particularly approachable.
Marc Hayman
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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