Before the long, hot summer months set in, we took some time to seek out a few of West Coast Florida’s specialty birds. Summer in Florida is notoriously slow for birding, so much so that a “June Challenge” was created to encourage people to keep looking for birds during the doldrums.
Chasing Rarities in Sarasota
Based on reports from the SRQ Bird Alerts, we started our day at Siesta Key Beach, looking for a Wilson’s Phalarope at Stop Number 5, which is known for its tidal pools and shorebirds. We were in luck, spotting the Wilson’s as well as two Snowy Plovers. Another birder reported a second phalarope, possibly a Red-necked Phalarope, but without our camera battery, we couldn’t confirm it.
Following another lead from SRQ Bird Alerts, we headed to St. Armands Circle in search of “Dot,” a local celebrity Tropical Kingbird. According to Stu Wilson, “Dot produced 4, 3, and 2 Tropical Kingbird x Gray Kingbird hybrid fledglings in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively (it’s possible she was present before 2013 but went unnoticed). Dot is famous for producing the first confirmed cases of Tropical Kingbird nesting east of the Mississippi River. We located her near the Columbia Restaurant, alongside a Gray Kingbird.
Our last stop was at a local preserve, hoping to see or hear a Mangrove Cuckoo. This bird is so rare that we’re keeping the exact location a secret. We were fortunate to find a gentleman making audio recordings of the bird, which made for a very successful day. This sighting was a lifer for Mike; Sharon had seen one before in Grenada.
Heading South for More Specialties
The following Saturday, we headed south again. Our first stop was back at the Celery Fields to search for a Shiny Cowbird, a rare bird in the U.S. We found it, along with several Brown-headed Cowbirds and a Purple Gallinule.
No “big year” in Florida is complete without seeing the state’s only endemic bird, the Florida Scrub-Jay. We went to Oscar Scherer State Park, one of the most reliable locations due to its perfect low-oak scrub habitat. The park is a great spot with excellent camping and a small lake, all close to the beautiful beaches of Venice. We didn’t find our target bird, but we did spot Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Towhee, and three types of woodpeckers: Red-headed, Red-bellied, and Pileated. We met friends at Sharky’s for a wonderful lunch with amazing views before continuing south.
Cape Coral to Fort Myers Beach
After lunch, we continued south to Cape Coral, one of our favorite spots to see Burrowing Owls. We checked several neighborhoods, the Cape Coral Public Library, and a local ball field, tallying an impressive 34 owls in total. We arrived during a light rain shower and found the owls out enjoying the shower. If you’re looking for them, keep an eye out for the cross posts in vacant lots.
We spent the night at Hideaway Village, a charming old Florida motel on Fort Myers Beach. The next morning, we were up early for two reasons: to eat breakfast at the Heavenly Biscuit and to go birding on the beach. Their cinnamon rolls are iced upon order and a must-try! With full bellies, we headed to Carlos Pointe. We were thrilled to witness over 200 Least Terns, 150 Black Skimmers, 7 Snowy Plovers, and 8 Wilson’s Plovers in the roped-off breeding areas.
Our final stop was Bowditch Point Park, a beautiful beach park at the northern tip of Estero Island. We found a Magnificent Frigatebird, a Reddish Egret, 27 Willets, and two Red Knots, a new bird for the year list. On the drive home, we had a fantastic incidental sighting of 15 Swallow-tailed Kites flying over the interstate near Prairie Pines.
As May came to a close, we reached 340 species for the year. The summer doldrums are here, but with our eyes set on the 500-bird prize and the friendly competition of the June Challenge, we’re ready to embrace the heat and continue the hunt for Florida’s special birds.
Next up: Ponce Inlet Pelagic
Trip : Total Species: 54 Year Birds: 9 Life Birds: 0
2015 : Year Birds: 340 Life Birds: 25
Here’s the list: 2015 Bird List
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