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DESTINATION - SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Typical BIRD SIGHTINGS
Provided by SRQ Bird Alert
26 November - I spent several hours at the Celery Fields this afternoon (12:30-4:00pm.)
The highlight was a female American Widgeon in the pond closest to the gazebo (maybe the same one seen there on
the 21st?) The south cell has undergone major changes already. The entire area by Palmer is a huge flat-bottomed pit
with a shallow covering of rain water. Not as many shorebirds as I was hoping for, though. Birds seen (both sides)
were: Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Tricolor Heron, Glossy Ibis, White Ibis,Limpkin,
American Coot, Common Moorhen, Sora, Pied-billed Grebe, American Widgeon, Blue-winged Teal, Mallard, Mottled Duck,
Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Wood Stork, Anhinga, Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican,
Belted Kingfisher male, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, Osprey, American Kestrel female,
Boat-tailed Grackle, American Crow, Mourning Dove, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser
Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper
Valeri Ponzo, Sarasota
Perhaps of interest - If you have been to Celery Fields (in SRQ) lately you may
have seen all the pink blobs on the stems of the aquatic life in the ponds. Lots of people are asking - What are
they? I have asked a few people and looked them up online and it looks like they are APPLE SNAIL EGGS, and as
you all know this is what the Limpkin and Snail Kite eat. Limpkins eat many different snails, but
Snail Kites eat only Apple Snails - so why don't we get more Snail Kites at the CF's? Here is some info about
the snail eggs: Apple snails lay eggs above the water line. They can leave the water for a few hours as long as they are
kept moist. The eggs are usually pretty colors like yellow or pink. In aquariums, they are laid on the side or lid of
glass. In ponds, they are laid on vertical plant stems. After about two to four weeks, they hatch. Eggs that do not
hatch are usually not fertilized. Newborns may drown and need to stay out of the water. If anyone has more information
on the Apple Snails please come forward.
Kathryn Young, Sarasota
Perhaps of interest - This morning, the International Baccalaureate (IB) class of Brookside Middle School
went into Pinecraft Park for their semi-annual air potato pick up. There were about 70 students with a dozen or so
working/supervising adults. They swarmed through the park like ants and filled bucket after bucket with potatoes. I
estimated 7,000 to 10,000 in all. They also freed up some trees from those strangling vines. This IB class program is
led by Deb Walker who coordinates the effort with Lynda Eppinger of SRQ Parks & Rec. This is the third year of the
program. In addition to the potato gathering, a smaller crew of students worked with P&R staffers to erect permanent
boundary markers in the park. Believe or not, the County does not own all of Pinecraft Park; the paths snake in and out
of County and private property. The markers will not be joined by wire or tape, so birders will still be able to access
the private areas. Please exercise discretion though, so that the homeowners don’t feel as though they are being spied
on. Many thanks to all involved today in helping to keep Pinecraft Park exotic free.
Jeanne Dubi, Sarasota
24 November - Driving through the Rotonda community in Englewood this afternoon,
just before 3:00 PM, I saw a beautiful adult Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on the power lines on Boundary Circle. I
did not see the bird on my return trip home two hours later, however, so it’s possible the bird was just migrating
through and not hanging around. Should anyone care to go poking about for him, check the lines and the large field on
the east side of Boundary, between Indian Creek and Rebel. This is the same area where an Upland Sandpiper was
located a few years back. I am curious if anyone else has seen an STFL in Charlotte County before, as this is my first
sighting here. Please let me know, if so. Thanks.
Susan Daughtrey, Englewood
23 November - Among a group of 85 RED KNOTS I spotted at Don Pedro Island
State Park (western portion) today I noticed later in my photos that 5 were banded. Yesterday while having lunch with
family on our back porch we noticed a beautiful male BLACK-THROATED BLUE warbler bathing in a nearby birdbath &
were delighted to see one this late.
Bill Dunson, Englewood
20 November - The Englewood Birding group made a trip to the Celery Fields today,
and picked up a few nice species besides all the expected waders and waterfowl. A female American Wigeon flew into
the pond closest to the gazebo, which also contained Blue-wing Teal, Mallards, Mottled, and Black-bellied
Whistling Ducks. An unusually bold Sedge Wren came within 5-6 feet of the group, giving us crippling looks.
We saw at least three Marsh Wrens, as well, and some members of the group saw a Sora, of which we heard a
few others. Savannah and Swamp Sparrows, along with Palm Warblers, were plentiful, and a few male
and female Common Yellowthroats were also popping around. Frankly, with all the machines working on the property,
I thought it would be a less productive day, so I was quite pleased with the morning.
Susan Daughtrey, Englewood
17 November - Went to Ft D today to see some shorebirds and found N. Beach to be
completely empty of any birds. Went to the Gulf Pier and discovered two Merlins and a Peregrine strafing
the beaches. Im sure any shorebird with sense was miles away from that action. I did see a Broadwing Hawk near
the Ranger station and two American Pipits at East Beach in the grass on the east side of the road. Couldnt get
pic of the Pipits but a friend of mine did and will forward it to me shortly. Good Birding.
Rick Greenspun
P.S. I saw the Scissor tailed Flycatcher there yesterday, but not today
17 November - Robins showed up in Rothenbach Park on the 14th of Nov. and
goldfinches at my feeder on the 18th. On the 16th, the bird walk at The Isles’ wetland (private development in
Palmer Ranch) discovered 3 Marsh Wrens. Folks living in closed developments that have woods and wetlands should
really see what’s about. You may be surprised.
Jeanne Dubi, Sarasota
13 November - I went out to Siesta Access 7 again today with Mary Heinlen from about
9 am to 12 pm. Most of the water was gone and so were most of the Red Knots. We only saw about twenty live ones
(three new band #s) and one dead one. I got so wrapped up in trying to find it a new home (it’s going to the Fish &
Wildlife Research Institute) that I almost forgot to report that we saw a Bridled Tern!! Unfortunately I did not
get a picture. Other than that, it was mostly the same as yesterday, plus 5 Herring Gulls, one Ring-bill
and a flock of Black Skimmers.
Valeri Ponzo, Sarasota
12 November - Today on a Sarasota Audubon Day trip thru Oscar Scherer Park we saw 12
Loons flying overhead. They were heading west but then turned and went in a southerly direction. It was a
highlight of the trip to see so many Loons on the wing. I received an email from birding friends in Madison, Wisconsin
yesterday stating that there were over 20 Loons o a Lake in Madison, Wisconsin. Evidently, the Loons like other birds
and ducks do a bit of staging before and during migration. I did not know that about those Loons!
Kathryn Young, Sarasota
11 November - Finally I’m done counting the Siesta Key knot of Knots! If you’ve ever
wondered what 248 Red Knots crammed into a 10 ft circle looks like, now you know. Plus another 112 on the other
little island for a grand total of 360!
Valeri Ponzo, Sarasota
11 November - I went out to Siesta Key Beach Access 7 & 8 this morning (8 am-9:45)
and found the beach mostly flooded and very windy. There were small numbers of several different shorebirds:
5 Semipalmated Plover, 10 Snowy Plover, 2 Black-bellied Plover, 4 Dunlin, 5 Western
Sandpiper, 3 Least Sandpiper, 9 Ruddy Turnstone, 8 Willet, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, about 30
Sanderling. The highlight was a large flock of somewhere between 200 & 300 Red Knots. They were on top of a
couple of little dunes that were like little islands on the flooded beach. Several of them were banded; I was able to read
15 of the flags. I also saw a lot more with federal bands, but couldn’t tell if they had flags. I took some pics I will
send out after work today and try to count them as well. Also seen: Laughing Gull, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Forster’s
Tern, Brown Pelican, Osprey.
Valeri Ponzo, 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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