The long, hot Florida summer doldrums were finally over, and the excitement of fall migration was in the air. Six months ago, a wave of birds stopped in west coast Florida to refuel before their long journey north. Now, with breeding season complete, they are all heading back south across the Gulf of Mexico to warmer climates. We spent three weekends birding our local hotspots, catching up with friends, and searching for migrants passing through.
Sawgrass and Fort DeSoto with St. Pete Audubon
On Saturday, September 19th, we joined 40 birders from the St. Petersburg Audubon Society (SPAS) at Sawgrass Lake Park. It was a great opportunity to reconnect with friends, and our group, led by Ron Smith, managed to find 32 species. Highlights included five warbler species (Black-and-White, Hooded, Yellow, Yellow-throated, and Prairie), and a great look at a Least Bittern. We learned that the Black-and-White Warbler is the only warbler that can walk both up and down a tree trunk.
The next day, it was time for another SPAS trip, this time to the legendary Fort DeSoto Park. Thirty birders split into groups to cover different areas. The leaders stayed in touch, sharing tips on good findings, which is a great way to ensure everyone gets to see the best birds. We spent three and a half hours covering some of the park’s key migrant spots, including the Mulberry Tree and East Beach Woods, and the roped-off lagoon. We logged 45 species, including ten warbler and two vireo species. Highlights were an Eastern Wood-Pewee, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos, and an American Redstart.
A Weekend of Wrens and Plovers
On September 26th, we made a brief stop at Pinecraft Park in Sarasota County. It was a quiet visit, but we did manage to locate eight species, including a Carolina Wren and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. The Carolina Wren’s call is often described as “Tea-kettle, Tea-kettle,” but to us, it sounds more like “Vi-deo, Vi-deo.” Regardless of what you hear, one thing is for sure: the wren family has an incredible amount of volume per ounce, making them easy to hear and, therefore, a little easier to find.
The next day, Sunday, September 27th, we were back at Fort DeSoto for another three hours of birding, finding 45 species. While the migrant warbler numbers were lower this time, the East Beach Turnaround more than made up for it. This reliable spot for shorebirds did not disappoint, yielding 11 species. We were especially happy to find two of our favorites: the Wilson’s Plover with its “big honker bill” and the beautiful Marbled Godwit.
Chasing Sandpipers at Siesta Key
Our final weekend of migration birding took us across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Siesta Key’s Marker 5. The mission was to find the Pectoral Sandpiper that had been reported almost daily. Despite our diligent search, the bird seemed to be hiding from us again. However, we found plenty of other great birds, including an American Avocet and our best-ever looks at a Stilt Sandpiper—a new year bird for us! We managed to see 25 species, including an unexpected Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in the parking lot.
Over five trips to local hotspots, we only managed to find one new year bird. This might sound discouraging, but it simply means we’ve been diligent about covering our Florida patches, ensuring we’re not leaving any birds behind as we continue our quest toward 500!
Trip Summary:
- Total Species: 85
- Year Birds: 1
- Life Birds: 0
2015 Summary:
- Year Birds: 455
- Life Birds: 71
- 2015 Bird List
Next up: Owling with the Master
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