We’re finally sitting down in early 2016 to write about a project that quietly took over our 2015: our little “Big Year.” The goal was 500 species in the lower 48, but the truth is we didn’t fully believe we were doing a Big Year until April. Birding, traveling, and trying to write each trip in the same week was more than we could keep up with, so we’re catching up now with clearer heads and a full year’s perspective.
We’re very fortunate to have excellent birding locations near St. Petersburg, Florida. If you’re not familiar with the area, we highly recommend signing up for the Bird Brains List Service. It covers all of Florida, and we rely on it for important sightings in our own Pinellas County. The members are incredibly helpful and post regular updates.
Our first stop was the Duck Ponds & Tierra Verde eBird Hotspot, where we found 17 species. While we only saw two types of ducks—a rare sight for this time of year—Redhead and Ring-necked, Tierra Verde proved its reliability with a great sighting of a Roseate Spoonbill.
We continued to Fort DeSoto Park, a place known for its diverse habitats and high number of species. We made sure to check the north beach and lagoon, Gulf Pier, and east beach turnaround for shorebirds, gulls, and terns. During spring and fall migration, the Mulberry tree near the ranger’s house and the woods at the north and east beaches are prime spots. Don’t forget to grab a map at the Park Headquarters. We were thrilled to see 43 species, including Red-breasted Mergansers and a flock of Nanday Parakeets. Other great birds included American White Pelicans, American Oystercatcher, Belted Kingfisher, Black Skimmer, and a hundred Dunlin. Of course, all the usual herons and gulls were also there.
Our final stop was Lake Maggiore Park in search of a Common Goldeneye that was reported on December 13th, as well as some continuing Canvasbacks. While we didn’t find them, we did spot a Caspian Tern to add to our day list.
It was a great first day of birding, and a surprisingly strong start to the year. With 53 species already on the list, we’re officially 10% of the way toward our goal of finding 500 birds in the lower 48.
Total Species: 53 Year Birds: 53 Life Birds: 0
Here’s the list: 2015 Bird List
Next up: Whoop, Whoop – A winter rarity chase and our first life bird of the year
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