NOW IS THE WINTER OF OUR CONTENT

A frosty cold morning along the Cones Dike trail on Paynes Prairie has been all too common this winter

Although the term snowbirds is used to define those people who head to warmer locales (i.e. Florida) during the winter time to escape harsher and colder weather conditions where they inhabit, it may have a new meaning for Florida birders after the onslaught of northern and western vagrants which have shown up this winter season.  I'm not even sure which bird to start on, as there have been so many interesting and unique species which have shown up on our doorstep.  I suppose I should begin with 4 species which probably kicked off this generous surplus for the state.

Although a little bit belated, these 4 species served as the state's unofficial Christmas presents.  The one given the most notoriety to date has been an immature snowy owl which showed up at Little Talbot Island State Park in Duval County.  It marked only the 2nd or 3rd ever snowy to show up in Florida, the last being in 1999 at St. George Island State Park near Apalachicola Bay.  The highly diurnal hunting habits of this owl species made it very easy for birders to find this individual in the expansive coastal sand dune habitat which pervade Little Talbot.  The owl is still being seen at the time of this writing, and I'm hoping it sticks around for a little while longer.  Whether food scarcity (i.e. lemming population crash) or a successful breeding season (let's hope it's this one) has forced this individual to find hunting grounds far from its usual range, Florida birders and non-birders alike have been celebrating the presence of this captivating youngster.

Where's Snowy?  It's hidden in plain sight.  The extensive coastal dune system at Little Talbot provides atypical, albeit useful, camouflage for the owl whilst hunting for prey.

A little closer look at this uber-rarity for the state

Not to be outdone, a handsome drake Harlequin duck showed up just south of the Florida/Georgia border at Ft. Clinch State Park at the same time.  As with the owl, it has wooed and delighted many a Florida birder.  It's not every day a Harlequin makes its way from its typical mid- to north-Atlantic coast range to the Sunshine State.  Normally this species doesn't head south from Virginia and northern North Carolina in the winter, but no one seems to be complaining.  Although the snowy owl was certainly a sight to behold and cherish, for me observing the drake Harlequin was almost more rewarding.  Ever since I was a young boy going through my first field guide, the Harlequin was so visually arresting I couldn't help but think I couldn't wait to see one in the feather one day.  Alas, my travels had yet to take me to their territory at the right time of year and now one showed up on the doorstep with a bright ribbon tied around it.  There was no way I was going to miss observing this duck.  And so it goes I was fortunate to be able to watch this drake forage, defecate, and navigate over a rope left in the ocean from merely feet away.  Although a few people were present and observing it with me, it felt like the duck and I were having our own private interaction.  As with the owl, I probably spent far too long observing it.  However, it is not everyday I am so fortunate to watch how it is supremely adapted for a pelagic lifestyle, most notably how it dives after prey, seemingly effortlessly swims against a strong current (and makes excellent progress), and can navigate strong waves so it doesn't crash into the pier posts.

Almost appears he is thinking of how to cross this obstacle

He tries going under

But he cannot quite get it up over his head

He takes a step back to re-assess the situation

Aha, success at last!

Although I was not fortunate to find the other great bird species at Ft. Clinch, the Harlequin sure made up for it.  In fact, not only did I dip on finding the Purple sandpipers that day, I also dipped on the trio of Snow buntings at Hugenot Memorial Park.  It was not for lack of effort though.  Even though bitingly cold temperatures and strong winds with even more forceful gusts had kept the buntings (and most other passerines) hunkered down in the safety of the dune vegetation, an intrepid birder from Pinellas County helped in the search for the birds.  We spent quite a bit of time walking around the park at high tide to no avail.  Well, we did get sand blasted in our face, and I also had loads of sand deposited into my binoculars, so I guess that's something.  In all seriousness though, there were still great birds to see at the park, such as Red knots, Bonaparte's gulls, Lesser and Great black-backed gulls, Royal terns, and Black skimmers. 

The Hugenot dunes

The Hugenot rock jetty

The shoreline was littered with Cannonball jellyfish...

...which the tiny Sanderlings were picking at all morning long.

Some red knots decided to show up this morning to boot

Meanwhile, back home in Alachua County we've been blessed with a load of western and northern vagrants which have been rejoiced by local, state, and out-of-state birders.  Species such as Red-breasted nuthatch, Bullock's Oriole, Calliope, Black-chinned, and Rufous hummingbirds, Western tanager, Least and Vermilion flycatchers, Yellow-breasted chat, Wilson's warbler, Henslow's and Fox sparrows, and White-faced ibis have well made their presence known.  One backyard in High Springs has been incredibly blessed with a trio of excellent vagrants.

Even though it has been cold at home lately it hasn't stopped the vagrants from wintering here.

One of my favorite flycatchers, the Least, has been vacationing along the Cones Dike trail of Paynes Prairie for several months now.

This yard has played retreat to not only a Western tanager, but a Rufous and male Calliope hummingbird.  It's not often you get the chance to be so warmly invited into someone's yard to watch the tiniest of the tiny up close and personal to see the magnificent gorget of the male.  Simply beautiful.  Meanwhile, in Gainesville, another backyard was equally blessed to play host to a Bullock's oriole.  Many people the state over have had the opportunity to witness this gorgeous male specimen feeding with a large flock of Baltimore orioles.  All the buzz surrounding the bird translated into a local television appearance for the family and other neighbors suddenly erecting oriole and other bird feeding stations in their yards.  These will most certainly be the most well-fed orioles in the area, as they now have their choice of establishments to patronize.

A stunning male Calliope hummingbird has been tantalizing birders for a couple weeks now

Another shot of the Calliope heading off

Not to be outdone, this Black-chinned is making Alachua County its vacation spot this year as well.

It seems this winter has seen very large numbers of Baltimore orioles come through Alachau County. 

Not to be outdone, the Cedar Key area has also had its fair share of interesting birds this winter.  At one viewing off the main pier in downtown, I was able to spot Black, White-winged, and Surf scoters!  All 3 scoters at once, it was a new feat for me.  Several American avocets, Whimbrels, and American oystercatchers have share the same space with tremendous amounts of bufflehead, lesser scaup, and several different shorebird species.  For me though, the best bird I encountered on this excursion came as a complete surprise.  As I had timed my early morning arrival with peak low-tide, I figured I would try to find some Clapper rail and Sharp-tailed sparrows amongst the vast ocean of Saltmarsh cordgrass off the side of Bridge No. 4, the first crossing upon entering Cedar Key.  Much to my surprise, I didn't find any Sharp-tailed sparrows, but I did flush a yellow rail!  Although I nearly stepped on the bugger before it took off, I was clearly able to see a short, stubby yellowish bill, overall scaled brown plumage, and white wing patches...trademarks of the species.  In typical yellow rail fashion it quickly descended and I quickly went over to the spot where it landed only to not be able to re-locate it.  I carefully walked around the cordgrass (so as not to trample it) to no avail.  It wouldn't even respond to a recording of the "typewriter" call.  But there was no denying what I saw, one of the more elusive rail species.

The extensive coastal saltmarshes of the Cedar Key area.

Another shot of the Cedar Key coastal saltmarsh

Oyster bars at low tide are a typical coastal feature for the Cedar Key area.

Numerous Buffleheads have been seen at Cedar Key this winter.

Surf scoters lingering off the main pier with a drake Bufflehead

To be honest, I could probably write about these wonderful winter guests to the point it would bore you, but I think I've already done it.  It's terribly difficult not to rejoice over this manna we have received throughout the state.  I really am not sure how the rest of the year will compare with this winter, but I am getting excited by the proposition of a truly stupendous year for Florida birding. 

NORTHERN EXPOSURE

I headed up to Raleigh, North Carolina to spend New Year's with the in-laws directly after the conclusion of the Pinlusiavardno Exploits.  Sadly not much birding was had in these days following as other obligations took precedence.  However, I was able to sneak out one morning to a local nature center named Durant Nature Park.

It is a small park with 2 decent sized ponds as their central feature, and they are surrounded by mixed deciduous hardwood forest.  I stepped out of the parking lot and was greeted with several species calling and flitting to and fro.  Pine warbler, Yellow-bellied sapsuckers, Downy woodpeckers, Dark-eyed juncos, Carolina chickadees, Tufted titmice, Ruby-crowned kinglets, and boisterous White-breasted nuthatches were all over the parking lot.  Little did I know this would be the largest congregation of birds I would encounter, but at least I spent a good amount of time watching and photographing these individuals.

White-breasted nuthatch

 

I walked around the rest of the park in a fairly short time.  Sadly very few ducks were out and about.  In fact, a gathering of 7 mallards were the only ducks I saw this morning.  However, other very interesting species such as Belted kingfisher, Hairy woodpecker, Brown-headed nuthatch, and Red-breasted nuthatches were easy to spot and gave good looks.  I was pretty elated for a quick dash to the park.  One doesn't have much opportunity to see Brown-headed, Red-breasted, and White-breasted nuthatches at one locale and in such a short time in Florida.

Mallard drakes and hens

Male Hairy woodpecker

While I was up in NC, all hell broke loose in Jacksonville.  You know what I'm talking about.  First Snow buntings appeared at Hugenot Memorial Park.  Then what everyone was hoping for actually happened.  An immature Snowy owl finally made its way to Florida.  But wait, nature wasn't done doling out the gifts to Florida birders.  At Ft. Clinch State Park a drake Harlequin duck was found hanging out around the half-mile long fishing pier.  Toss in some Purple sandpipers, a Glaucous gull, and an Iceland gull, and this small stretch of NE Florida coastline was absolutely rocking!!!

The day after I returned from NC I headed to Jacksonville first thing in the morning to go find those birds.  Unfortunately the weather wasn't helping me out at all.  The temperature had dropped significantly overnight (high 30's) and 20mph + winds were howling all day long.  I started at Hugenot to search for the Snow buntings.  However, after searching for almost 2 hours, I could not relocate them.  The strong winds probably confined them to the interior dunes this day, because only a few passerines were hanging out at all.  Loads of gulls, terns, and shorebirds were present.  Shorebird species hanging out at high tide were Sanderlings, Red knots, Ruddy turnstones, and Willets.  Gull species present included Herring, Ring-billed, Laughing, Bonaparte's, Lesser black-backed, and Great black-backed.  No Glaucous or Iceland gulls were to be found.  Tern species included Royal, Caspian, and Forster's.  After failing to find the buntings and being pelted by sand for far too long a time, I decided to call it quits and headed a few minutes up the road to Little Talbot Island State Park in search of the Snowy owl.

The Hugenot dunes in the waning afternoon light

 

This time the target bird did not disappoint.  Luckily the owl was still hanging out in the dunes where it had last been reported.  It was still very cold out and the winds hadn't let up much, and the owl was hunkered down behind some beach grasses.  It allowed great looks as it just sat there the entire duration I was present.  It was such a beautiful and moving moment walking up and seeing this bird for the first time.  It was simply gorgeous and you could see how special it was to see this bird in the eyes of all the birders and visitors to this incredibly rare visitor to the Sunshine State.  It was so entrancing, I believe I ended up watching it for a solid hour, just watching it move, preen, and even defecate.  After seeing the third only Snowy owl ever found in the state, I decided to head to Ft. Clinch to see if I could find the drake Harlequin and the Purple sandpipers.

An incredibly rare visitor to FL - the magnificent Snowy owl!!!

 

Ft. Clinch lies at the extreme north end of the state.  In fact, the Florida-Georgia border lies in the middle of the inlet just north of the fishing pier.  I walked along the pier for a bit after having heard the duck had just flew off a far distance.  I was hoping at least the Purple sandpipers would be out while I waited for the Harlequin.  Sadly the winds were still pretty fierce at the pier and the sandpipers were nowhere to be found.  They may have been hanging out on the other side of the seawall, sheltered from the winds, but they were certainly not obliging in providing me any looks at them.  With the winds whipping and the windchill making it feel almost below freezing, I still kept waiting for the drake to appear.  All of a sudden a duck flew in from the east.  It was the Harlequin!  This is a species I have wanted to see in person since I was a little boy and seen it in my first field guide.  I thought it was one of the most interesting plumaged ducks in North America.  The deep blues, the rusty flanks which stand out against the deep blues, and all the brilliant white facial and neck and coloration.  The drake certainly did not disappoint me in my expectations.  With the sun shining on it and showcasing it perfectly, every single color hue exploded on the duck.  I don't think words can do justice to how handsome it is.

A handsome and spectacular drake Harlequin duck

Elated with having seen the duck and spent a large amount of time watching it swim against the tide and dive to forage, I decided it was finally time to head home.  But not before checking for the Snow buntings one last time at Hugenot.  Sadly the weather conditions were still not favorable when I arrived, and the buntings were still nowhere to be found.  It was still beautiful watching the sunset at low tide at the park.  It was a very fitting way to end the day.  Then it was time to head back home to Gainesville and revel in the glorious day.

TIME OFF FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR (THE CONCLUSION OF THE PINLUSIAVARDNO EXPLOITS)

The days immediately following Christmas Day found me over in Ormond Beach staying with family.  I had two days which I could use at my leisure and I decided to head to some favorite haunts within the area.  My first stop was Ponce Inlet the day after Christmas.  While many people were busy returning gifts, I was still receiving some.

The Ponce Inlet lighthouse with fog retreating

I decided to try and find a Purple sandpiper at the inlet seeing as one had been present a short while before the holidays.  A small cold front had come down from the north and the morning was quite chilly and a fog lingered over the inlet.  The rocky jetty at the inlet is usually a great place to find this type of sandpiper, as during the winter it loves to forage among the rocky outcroppings along coastlines and jetties for small crustaceans and mollusks.  Winter is usually the only time purple sandpipers make their southern range limits into Florida, and the rocky jetty at Ponce Inlet is typically a location they frequent.

A large congregation of ruddy turnstones, a species with similar foraging habits as the purple sandpiper, had me thinking a purple just might be present, but it was not to be.  I searched several times throughout the morning, as it was low tide, an optimal time for finding the species as more of its foraging grounds are exposed.  In its stead, I was treated to some fantastic coastal and pelagic species. 

Ruddy turnstone baths:  Lather,

Rinse,

Repeat.

Time to towel dry

Duck species such as Lesser scaup, Red-breasted mergansers, and Black scoters were present off the inlet.  Black scoters have invaded Florida this year at a record clip.  Last year brought in what was thought as one of the larger amounts of this species in quite some time, but this year has seen just as much as invasion, if not more.  Shorebirds such as Ruddy turnstones, Black-bellied plover, American oystercatchers, Sanderlings, and a lone Spotted sandpiper were also present.  Gulls such as Laughing, Ring-billed, Herring, Lesser black-backed, and Great black-backed gulls were present in strong numbers. Tern species such as Forster's, Sandwich, Royal, and a lone Caspian were present.  An uncommon Common tern and a Gull-billed tern were highlights of the morning.  As the tide lowered even more and increased shoreline was revealed, the numbers of Black skimmer, Brown pelican, and shorebirds, gulls, and terns increased.  Northern gannets were out in full force, circling, gliding, and plummeting for their pelagic prey.  Both adults and immatures were in a feeding frenzy and were quite a sight to behold.

Photo above and below: Brown pelicans flying over and settling in

Double-crested cormorant on the rocks...drying off

Whatchoo lookin' at?

Immature Herring gull and Ring-billed gull

Some of the multitudes of Northern gannets flying and diving about

Royal tern resting

Female Red-breasted merganser in the inlet

Western sub-species of Palm warbler (with facial virus)

I probably stayed too long at the inlet, but since I don't get to spend much time on the coast anymore, I was relishing my time there.  I finally left late in the morning to check out another haunt further south I had enjoyed in the recent past.  However, I was delayed along the Port Orange Causeway due to loads of avian species present just off the causeway.  I couldn't resist pulling over and checking out what species were hanging around.  It was certainly a good call.  A Common loon, American oystercatcher, Black-bellied plovers, Least sandpipers, Sanderlings, and hundreds of Laughing and Ring-billed gulls and Brown pelicans were just lazing about.  Winds were still blowing strong and the late morning was still very cold.  The numbers and diversity of species made it all worthwhile.

Island of Brown pelicans

Wintering Laughing gull

Finally I was able to get on my way to my real destination, the Canaveral National Seashore.  I was venturing to a quiet location in Oak Hill called Seminole's Rest.  In the past I had quite some luck with interesting mixes of freshwater and saltwater tolerant waterfowl, shorebird, wading bird, and passerine species such as Hooded mergansers, Spotted sandpiper, Bald eagle, American white pelicans, Royal terns, Painted bunting, and Swamp sparrows.  Today yielded a different array of species, as I was there later in the day and climatic conditions were much different than in times past. 

I was the only individual present, as has been typical at this location.  It almost pains me to reveal it, but it can be a very interesting spot at certain times.  Other times it may yield not much at all.  But so it goes with birding sometimes.  To digress, my initial feeling was that I had arrived too late and the noon-time species were not going to be plentiful.  But I was mistaken.  After taking my time in some spots, the birds began to reveal themselves to me.  Mottled ducks, Great egrets, Snowy egrets, Ring-billed gulls, American white pelicans, Brown pelicans, Yellow-rumped warblers, Forster's terns, Royal terns, and a lone Caspian tern were flying all around.  After taking some time near the mansion, I spied some Common loons, a lone Red-breasted merganser, and the most Black scoters I have ever encountered at this location, just off-shore.  In the end I tallied 92 Black scoters paddling in the intercoastal waterway, a true highlight.

The following day I decided to head to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) to spend some time in one of my favorite locations in the state.  Even though Snow buntings, a Snowy Owl, and a drake Harlequin duck had been documented in Duval and Nassau Counties, I decided to forgo the twitch, as I figured I could get them shortly after heading to MINWR.  It ended up being a great call because there was just an enormous wealth of avian diversity to be found at the refuge.  The Max Brewer Causeway just outside the refuge was chock full of Lesser scaup and Willets.  Once inside the refuge I head along East Gator Creek.

Smorgasboard of shorebirds, chiefly Dunlin

The area was simply popping with shore and wading birds.  It was the place to be.  I ended up running into a couple of excellent GA birders and we simply stood at one spot and immersed ourselves in the avifauna which just poured forth.  Thousands of Dunlin were foraging and flying to and fro.  Hundreds of Black skimmers stood in-line resting.  Ring-billed gulls were observed harassing shorebirds such as the Dunlin and Willets.  American white pelicans, Reddish egrets, Lesser scaups, boatloads of Snowy and Great egrets, American avocets, Semi-palmated plovers, Greater yellowlegs, Red knots, and Western sandpipers were all busy flying to and fro and foraging for favored prey items.  As with Ponce Inlet, I probably lingered here too long, but how is it possible to pull yourself away from such a scene.  One doesn't simply encounter this menagerie everyday.  These moments are special and should be treasured to the point one lingers far too long.

American avocets!!!

Great blue heron (blue form)

After steeling myself from this incredible scene, I decided to head to Black Point Wildlife Drive to see what it would reveal to me.  It was actually pretty quiet for the most part, and I almost found myself wishing I had stayed at East Gator Creek.  However, I would soon find myself pleased with the venture.  Although the avian diversity wasn't as incredible as in 2012, it was still plentiful.  Double digit Reddish egrets, Tri-colored herons, loads of Glossy ibis, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged teal, and massive amounts of Northern pintails were present.  The multitude of pintails was simply breathtaking.  I can't recall a larger expanse of pintails as what I was surveying along this drive.  When you end up studying one species for 30 + mintues, you know you're enthralled.  Or hooked.  Or obsessed.  Or all of the above. 

More Northern pintail than you can shake a stick at!

Pintail coming in!

The landing

The Cruickshank Trail was fairly interesting this time around.  An incredibly close adult Roseate spoonbill, Clapper Rail, and both yellowlegs species were foraging about.  The rest of the drive was fairly barren, but a few Killdeer were lingering around.  I then headed to Biolab Road where hundreds of Black scoters and American white pelicans were seen a short distance off-shore.  Numerous shorebird species such as Killdeer, Black-bellied plovers, Willets, Ruddy turnstones, Dunlins, Sanderlings, Western sandpipers, and Least sandpipers were foraging just off-shore and offered great looks at them. 

Adult Roseate spoonbill

Lesser yellowlegs foraging

Clapper rail running out into the flats before fleeing

Glossy ibis foraging...one of many

By the end of the day I attempted to see if the Short-eared owl was present at Peacock Point, but it ended up being a no-show.  As was the Black rail.  I figured it was a sign to head out and be pleased with everything I had witnessed throughout the day.  It was an amazing two days in Volusia and Brevard Counties and uncovering the avian wealth within. And so it goes with the conclusion of the Pinlusiavardno Exploits.  A simply amazing array of avifauna diversity speading from coast to coast just waiting to be found.  Running the gauntlet can be tantalizing, exhilarating, and tiring.  But most of all it is rewarding and humbling, as it should be.