Birding with the St. Petersburg Audubon Society is always a highlight of our local routine. Their monthly walk at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is the perfect mix of learning, community, and great birds — and Ron Smith’s expertise (and jokes) make every outing memorable.
Birding with St. Petersburg Audubon
If you are interested in birdwatching after reading this blog, we encourage you to visit your local Audubon Society website. They offer field trips suitable for both beginners and experienced birders. Additionally, your local Audubon Society often provides binoculars that you can borrow.
We are members of the St. Petersburg Audubon Society (SPAS), which hosts a monthly bird walk at Boyd Hill Nature Park. Ron Smith leads these walks and is recognized as one of Pinellas County’s best birders, as well as the author of “A Birder’s Guide to Pinellas County.” Over the years, he’s helped us identify countless birds we weren’t sure about. During the walks, Ron points out every bird and shares a few entertaining bird jokes, too. In this month’s walk, we spotted 41 bird species, including the Great-horned Owl, Limpkin, Purple Martin, and Hermit Thrush.
Before the walk on March 7, 2015, Ron spotted a Cave Swallow at Lake Maggiore, and it was clear that he wanted to see it again. After the walk, a group of us set out to look for it and were rewarded with a lifer! We saw the Cave Swallow flying alongside Tree and Barn Swallows. Thanks to JoAnna Clayton for sharing this fantastic picture of the Cave Swallow!
A Sunday Visit to Kapok Park
On Sunday, we visited one of our favorite parks in Clearwater, Kapok Park. This trip allowed us to spot some new birds for the year, including the Pileated Woodpecker, Green Heron, and Common Yellowthroat. Kapok Park features a boardwalk that winds through a pond and old live oaks, attracting a nice variety of birds.
Back at Blue Heron Lake
Sharon’s office is located on Blue Heron Lake in St. Petersburg, which is known for attracting quite a few good birds. A pair of Brown Thrashers has been present almost every year. If you listen to the song of the Brown Thrasher, you’ll understand why it’s one of our favorites. This year, the bird arrived on March 10, and we are hopeful for a successful nesting season.
It was a great weekend of local birding, from Boyd Hill’s owl and Limpkin to the Cave Swallow at Lake Maggiore and a peaceful walk through Kapok Park. With new year birds and a few surprises, March is shaping up to be a strong month for our list.
Trip Totals: 41 species • 9 year birds • 1 life bird
2015 Totals: 119 year birds • 5 life birds
Next up: The Big ‘O’ — Lake Okeechobee Birding
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