FORK IN THE ROAD

This post has everything to do with finding the fork in the road.  Well to be correct, it's really about finding about a fork-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) in the road.  Well, alongside the road to be more specific.  Actually, to be more accurate, it was found perched on the overhead power lines.  Truthfully, the aforementioned fork-tailed flycatcher was really splitting time between the power lines and the adjacent disturbed field full of alive and decaying thistle (Cirsium sp.), dog fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium), and bluestem (Andropogon sp.) at the Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration Area (LANSRA) - Jones Avenue Basin.  But whose going to get nit-picky when you're dealing with a fork-tailed flycatcher?  Not me.

Fork-tailed flycatcher perched on power line.  Note the shorter tail feather length which likely indicates an immature individual.

After I got back to the office late Wednesday night from a long day of field work, I was checking on some email and was waiting for some documents to download.  I decided I'd check eBird and BirdBrains to see if anything interesting had been sighted in the state.  Lo and behold, a fork-tailed flycatcher had been seen and photographed at LANSRA.  Well this stoked my internal fires to say the least.

2013 has been the unofficial Year of the Tyrannidae for me.  It started on January 1, observing the ash-throated flycatchers (Myiarchus cinerascens) along the Cones Dike trail at Paynes Prairie.  It just continued form there, as I spent nearly the next 4 months down in extreme south Florida and was treated to a panoply of Tyrannidae members, most of which I have mentioned in previous posts this year.  So there was no doubt in my mind I was going find this bird.  I was even fortunate to be going near the area for work 2 days later, so I thought this was going to be incredibly advantageous schedule-wise.  Then came the posts about how the bird had been sighted in a restricted area normally off-limits to the public, and that access had only been granted the first day only.  My hopes were dimming.  Then finally the posts came on Friday the St. John's River Water Management District (SJRWMD) staff had been incredibly kind enough to let birders into the restricted area just to see the flycatcher.  It was all I needed.  I knew where I was going to be Saturday morning...LANSRA.

As the weather patterns have been keeping true to the age old rhythms of afternoon/early evening rain showers this summer in Florida, I knew I had to get out somewhat early to catch sight of this bird.  So there I was walking down the restricted road when I saw a group of birders concentrated in one location - they must be watching the fork-tailed, I thought to myself.  So I ambled down the road and about halfway down I ran into what else, but a couple of Gainesville birders who came to see the flycatcher.  We exchanged pleasantries and they told me where it had been seen.  I finished moseying to the spot and there it was perched on the power lines stretched out between the old, wooden, creosote soaked utility poles.

Notice the yellow crown patch, a seldom seen feature

Wing displayed as taking off in flight

It appeared to be an immature based on the somewhat duller overall plumage coloration, as well as the black tail feathers were not fully grown out as in an adult.  It was incredible to finally see this bird to say the least.  I watched it with a couple of other extremely nice birders for a short while.  As they left, it flew off into the adjacent disturbed field.  I decided I was going to crouch down under some of the thicker roadside vegetation, so as not to disturb the flycatcher when it came back, and possibly just get some great time to observe its habits.  No sooner had I stepped towards the vegetation, and a bustle of rapid movement and a low, piercing squeal rang out.  I looked by my feet and I saw a red rat (or corn to some) snake (Pantherophis guttatus guttatus) had just caught and was constricting a hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus).  I called the other birders back thinking they may find this scene interesting (you don't get to see this everyday), and we watched the corn snake loosen its jaw hinges and begin to devour its prey. Absolutely fascinating. 

Adult red rat (aka corn) snake constricting a hispid cotton rat

With jaws unhinged, it begins to devour its prey

Shortly after this, the birders left and I was on my own with the flycatcher.  I probably watched it for 45 minutes.  I watched it successfully hawk for insects, get harassed by a mockingbird, and flit to and fro between the thistle-dominated field and the overhead power lines.  I truly enjoy getting to observe the habits and behaviors of species.  I find it helps me identify them easier in the future and also gain a clearer understanding of what truly drives the species to do what it does and where it does it.  It was a truly glorious day.  I couldn't believe my good fortune at being able to watch this bird in Orange County, Florida when it should in all rights be in Texas or Mexico chasing after a myriad of different insects.  You have to love these immature birds who (for some reason - food sources, weather conditions, etc.) end up in places they don't typically belong.  Manna from heaven indeed!

Its not everyday you get to frame an eastern kingbird and a fork-tailed flycatcher in one shot

Besides the fork-tailed, there were multitudes of fascinating birds to behold.  An eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus), yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), barred owl (Strix varia), a pair of glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) and blue grosbeaks (Passerina caerulea), along with several indigo buntings (Passerina cyanea), ground doves (Columbina passerina), and swallow-tailed kites (Elanoides forficatus) were out and about to be observed.  The other highlights of the day were seen and heard by the aforementioned Gainesville birders.  They were lucky to add an early fall migrant, a yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia) and what was likely an escaped caged bird, a female pin-tailed whydah (Vidua macroura).  I thought it was quite interesting that this wydah also happened to be in the same location as the flycatcher, seeing as the male of the species has tail feathers whose length would give an adult fork-tailed a run for its money.  Unfortunately I was unable to relocate the bird, but it appears they were able to take useable photos to accurately ID the individual.  What an odd day and location for these two species to be observe.  But I guess that's life for you.  You can never predict when and where something will occur.  It's these surprises which keep life interesting and a great adventure!

Immature eastern kingbird

A yellow-billed cuckoo with caterpillar prey

Male indigo bunting

Ground dove perched on power lines

Swallow-tailed kite soaring and foraging overhead

Adult green heron

Immature boat-tailed grackles

HERE COMES THE RAIN

It's pretty much been a return to normalcy throughout the state this year regarding the daily summer rains.  In fact, the last week or two has seen quite a deluge of precipitation.  Certainly it's a huge deal, as it is helping to recharge the aquifer and abate the long-term drought.  However, it does put a damper on how often one gets out to bird.

Yesterday it was a mix of rain and overcast weather, but it seemed to let up in the early evening.  Upon checking the weather radar, it appeared most of the rain had subsided for the day, or at least the next few hours.  So I decided it might be a decent chance to go bird the prairie and check out what wading birds and other species may be lurking about before bedding down for the night.

The weather continued to be overcast, but it seemed the rains would be held in-check while I went for a walk along the trail system.  I had brought my camera along with its waterproof case, but I decided to leave it in the truck because I didn't feel like lugging it around and it was probably not going to rain on me.   Big mistake on my part.

Some of the "wild" horses foraging near the barn

For a long while, the weather was nice and cool, with a light breeze.  Some of the horses were foraging around the barn.  Birds were out and singing and calling all around.  The typical wading birds were out foraging (great blue heron, great egret, snowy egret, etc.), as an osprey was tearing apart a fish for dinner above the sink, and several male indigo buntings and blue grosbeaks were out singing their hearts out.  Even a mother orchard oriole was bringing a caterpillar meal to her 2 young fledglings just off the trail where red-winged blackbirds had made their nests and reared their young this year.

Adult female orchard oriole with juvenile

Adult male blue grosbeak belting out a tune for the ladies

I figured since the weather was looking fine I would head down to the observation platform and see what was present.  A few minutes later I noticed the sky was turning pretty dark on the east and south ends of the prairie, and I could see rain coming down.  I still chanced it, figuring I may just have enough time to get to the platform for a couple of minutes and make it back before the rains hit.  Another big mistake on my part.  I didn't even reach the platform when the rains unleashed.

I ran as fast as I could to the platform to stand under it for shelter from the storm.  Right where the short trail begins prior to the platform, I scared a king rail off the trail and into prairie as I was running full steam ahead.  I made it to the platform and all the equipment was dry so far.  I thought it might pass over quickly, but I was wrong yet again.  With no end in sight of the rain and lightning and thunder now making an appearance (with me just standing under a nice magnet for the lightning to boot), I decided to make a run for it.  I wrapped up the camera and binoculars under my shirt and made a mad dash for the parking lot.  I ran non-stop all the way to the boardwalk by the sink.  Along the way, about halfway to the boardwalk, I accidentally chased off a pair of adult king rails.  Apparently this species enjoys popping out on the trails near nightfall when it is pouring down rain.  I made it to the covered part of the boardwalk, rested a minute and then headed for the barn.  Again, I rested there for a minute to catch my breath.  It was still coming down in buckets, so I decided to just run for the truck.

I finally made it to the truck, where I had luckily kept some towels.  I quickly dried off a bit, and checked the equipment to see if it had made it through my stupidity.  Luckily everything was pretty dry and no damage seemed to have been incurred.  I dried off the equipment and headed for home.  So, the lesson learned is don't take anything for granted and don't assume anything, especially when you've lived in the state long enough to know the summer rains can be unpredictable.  So be prepared and don't slack off just because you don't feel like carrying the load.

A NEW KING IS CROWNED

It seemed it would be a fairly simple task to provide some commentary and/or updates during the June Challenge (JC) this year via this blog.  Apparently between working out of town and actually getting some time to bird when home, it proved a more difficult task seeing as it's the day after Independence Day and I'm just getting to writing about the JC.

A lack of severe weather (aka tropical storms) and a return to more typical water levels in the local wetland environs severely limited the number of rarities encountered this year, especially compared with the species last year's drought brought in for the JC.  However, some good finds at Newnan's kept it interesting.  Caspian, least, and forster's terns were identified on the lake, along with a greater yellowlegs and tree swallow.  In fact, except for backyards, the rarities were pretty much confined to Newnan's. 

Even though the rarities weren't abundant, it didn't diminish the challenge one iota.  I had a blast running around and checking places I sometimes forget to during the summer.  I followed a hot lead on a hairy woodpecker at LEAFS and was rewarded with observing a pair where the most recent prescribed burn occurred.  While there I was also fortunate to collect some solid BBA II data, such as fledgling pine warblers, eastern bluebirds, and brown-headed nuthatches.  I also ran into a recently killed scarlet kingsnake probably dropped by an american crow.  Certainly it's something you don't get to see by sitting indoors during June.

Juvenile eastern bluebird at LEAFS

Adult red-headed woodpecker at LEAFS

Brown-headed nuthatch in flight at LEAFS

Juvenile pine warbler foraging in recently burned portion of LEAFS

Over at Possum Creek I waited over 2 hours to see an adult yellow-crowned night heron, all the while questioning my sanity.  Thankfully there were two similar-minded individuals present who made passing the time quite a treat.  In fact, I had more fun waiting to see the bird and enjoying my company than actually seeing the bird.

Later in the month I decided to combine atlasing in one of my blocks with the JC at San Felasco SP, north of Millhopper Road.  I was fortunate to collect great breeding data on several species and also got great looks at hooded warblers, eastern wood-pewee's, red-eyed and yellow-throated vireos, northern bobwhite, numerous red-headed woodpeckers, and a cooper's hawk.

Adult male hooded warbler singing to attract a mate

Adult red-eyed vireo foraging at San Felasco SP

The JC even spurred a few of us out to Barr Hammock just for kicks to see what was present.  No rarities were present, but there certainly was a wealth of expected freshwater marsh and shrub marsh species present.  Getting out to some places you might forget about during the summer months is another one of the great attributes of the JC.  Heck, even checking out the super moon at the 441 observation platform in the prairie provided great looks at barn owl and black-crowned night heron. 

Yellow-billed cuckoo with insect prey in bill

Singing adult male blue grosbeak

Not a bird, but a luna moth drying its dew-laden wings in the early morning sun is always a superb sight to behold!

The last interesting bit of birding for me came on the second to last day of the JC.  In an attempt to gather a few last minute birds, I checked out the Newnan's Lake environs.  Even though I had heard no gulls or terns had been spotted earlier in the day, I figured since I was there I might as well check out Palm Point to see if anything had come in by chance.  After scanning the lakeshore for quite some time I decided to pack it in and head home.  Halfway to the parking lot I had looked up watching the vultures soaring overhead when one didn't look quite right.  It was smaller than the surrounding vultures, had upswept wingtips, and was hovering like a...short-tailed hawk!  Sure enough, I was looking up at a dark morph.  I got the word out as quick as possible, but only two people were able to make it out.  We watched the hawk intermittently from the parking area for nearly 2 hours as it soared, foraging overhead.  What a great species and high note to end my JC!

Sadly I missed out on the JC potluck party because I was yet again out of town for work, but I was elated to hear Jonathan Mays took home the trophy!  I couldn't believe his tally, especially given he missed quite a bit of the month being out of town himself.  Rex again showed his JC dominance with a strong second place finish.  I was surprised to find out I tied with Lloyd and Howard for third place - a great duo to be tied with indeed!  So there you have it, a new king of the JC was crowned this year. 

JUNE CHALLENGES TO LOCATE THE BREEDERS

Wow, apparently I'm getting very lazy about posting blogs here as it has been almost a full month since my last one.  Sheesh.  Since I've finally been more evenly splitting my work time between the field and office, it has given me the opportunity to catch up on atlasing my quad for the Breeding Bird Atlas II project.  Interestingly it has coincided with the 2013 June Challenge.  However, as much fun as it is to participate in the JC, the atlasing definitely takes precedence over the JC endeavors.  However, one is allowed to assist others with their quads, right?  With that mindset I decided it wouldn't hurt to participate in this year's JC as much as possible (I missed a full week being out of state for work), while atlasing and hopefully collecting some extensive breeding data for not only my quad, but others' as well.

I was lucky enough to be present for the first 2 days of the challenge, which thankfully fell on a Saturday and Sunday this year.  Before meeting the Audubon-led trip at Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve (LFR), I decided to check out Fish Camp Road (which is about a 1/4 mile south of LFR) for lingering chuck-will's-widow and maybe a barred owl.  All I had to do was turn down the dirt road and I heard my first chuck calling.  However, this being the JC, I had to see the bird as well.  I just drove a short distance and saw one flying overhead, then another, and finally one other.  Difficult bird to see #1 - check!

After not hearing or seeing any owl species, I noticed it was time to head over and meet everyone at LFR.  About 35 other intrepid JC'ers showed up to kick off the JC in appropriate fashion.  Although there were no yellow-crowned night herons observed flying overhead like last year, we did manage to get sightings of bachman's sparrow, common nighthawks, red-headed woodpeckers, and both american white pelican and black-bellied whistling ducks flying overhead.  It was a solid start to the morning for everyone.

Red-headed Woodpecker

Another birder and I decided to stay behind to look for the hairy woodpeckers which had been seen by many in late winter.  We searched for quite a bit, but were only lucky to encounter a downy woodpecker.  We then left to re-join the group over at Newnan's Lake.  However, we went to the wrong boat ramp and figured everyone had already left for the prairie, but decided to stay and see what was present.  Boy, did we a pay a price for going to the wrong boat ramp.  Even though we got great looks at green heron, osprey, and a few other wading birds, the rest of the group were treated to great looks at limpkin and laughing gulls at the other boat ramp.  D'oh!

Immature King Rail

We ended up joining the group at Paynes Prairie to finish out the morning as they were getting ready to hit the trails.  As always, the avian diversity along the La Chua trail was impressive.  Most everyone was fortunate to set their eyes on purple gallinule, whooping cranes, roseate spoonbills, blue-winged teal, blue grosbeak, indigo bunting, white morph great blue heron (not that subspecies count for the JC), northern rough-winged swallow, least bittern (difficult bird to see #2-check!), and king rail (difficult bird to see #3-check!).  As the morning was turning into a hot early afternoon, some of us decided to linger along Sweetwater Dike and Sparrow Alley, while most of the group disbanded and headed home.  Those of us who stayed were treated to looks at orchard oriole, yellow-billed cuckoo, ground dove, and bobwhite (difficult bird to see #4-check!).  When all was said and done, there was an impressive tally for the first day.

Purple Gallinule in field of Hyacinth

The second day I took it easy and only went out in the late afternoon to bird.  I went back to La Chua in search of the yellow-breasted chat we dipped on the prior day.  It was an excellent decision.  I ended up finally hearing a male singing just west of the transmission line, and was able to get a brief glimpse of it in a nearby persimmon clump.  After this great addition to my JC list, I headed to Cellon Creek Blvd. to see what was out there.  Lucky for me several species which can sometimes be difficult to find (especially in one spot), were present and drying out from the downpour which had just passed through.  Species such as eastern kingbird, loggerhead shrike, eurasian collared dove, purple martin, and easern meadowlark were out and about.  I didn't see any southeastern american kestrels there, but I figured there had to be one or two nesting a short distance away at the entrance to San Felasco via the Progress Center.  All I had to do was drive up and an adult male was perched on one of the overhead power lines.  It capped off a great beginning to the 2013 JC, especially since TS Andrea came through while I was away and brought species like caspian and least tern for only a day or so.  Ah well, it's probably a good thing, seeing as I have lots of atlasing to catch up on still and only so many opportunities to verify breeding status in my quad.

Wood Stork soaring overhead the La Chua trail

GOOD PICKENS

 

I suppose there's no other way to begin this blog entry, so I might as well get it out of the way now.  My girlfriend and I left on vacation on May 5th, heading to Milton, FL to get away from everything and enjoy some nature and solitude.  Since we had a long drive to Pensacola Beach where we were spending the first night, we left somewhat early.  Then I got the text.  While we were getting close to Pensacola.  I had to look twice to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.  "KI WA at San Felasco."  No way in hell I told myself.  It must be a joke.

It wasn't.  Mike Manetz, local birding extraordinaire, had found just the second ever Kirtland's Warbler in the county's history.  Naturally I just left for vacation.  I can't tell you how long I wrestled with turning the car around and heading back to Gainesville.  My girlfriend just gave me a look that said "There's no way in hell we are turning around now."  I don't even know if I could truly justify it, but I still toyed with the idea.  Talk about starting the vacation on a dour note.  I was very excited all day with the prospect of getting to bird Gulf Breeze National Seashore/Ft. Pickens that evening and the next morning, and here I was already feeling ho-hum about it, thinking there was no way I was going to replicate what had been found in Gainesville that morning.

However, it didn't take long birding at Ft. Pickens to pique my interest.  Least terns were flying around everywhere, with males flying around with small fish in their bills trying to attract the attention of females.  The first battery we stopped at was Langdon, and it seemed to be the hotspot for me both times out.  Right off the bat I saw a brilliant male scarlet tanager, a swainson's thrush, and a bold, breeding plumaged male magnolia warbler.  On the way to the fort, we saw a gull-billed tern, bald eagle, and loads of osprey.  At the fort we were treated to another brilliantly plumaged male scarlet tanager and several blue grosbeaks. Barn swallows flew close overhead, as did a common nighthawk.

A striking male Scarlet Tanager

Female Blue Grosbeak on the fort grounds

The next morning I headed out early, determined to find some great birds to make up for missing out on the Kirtland's.  I arrived at the entrance only to find it didn't open for another hour and I did not have a camping code to unlock the gate.  So I waited a short distance away and decided to check out a little part of the beach, which ended up yielding a few bobolinks, a nelson's sparrow, and what I assume was a juvenile sora, although my first instinct was yellow rail.  While walking through some vegetation to get a good ID on the nelson's, I flushed out the rail.  Of course it flew in the direction of the rising sun so I could not get a good look to see if I could see any white on the wings.  However, I noted where it landed and just a few seconds later I was right were it should have been (close to an open, exposed area) and it was nowhere to be found.  Just like a yellow rail.  And it made no noise when it was flushed.  Not that it is an identifiable feature, but in my experience with soras, they usually will make some noise when flushed.  And you typically can find them again with little trouble.  This bird was just completely hidden or gone, in no time flat.  Just like a yellow rail.  Alas, I could not positively ID it, so I was left assuming it was a juvenile sora.

Following this shot of adrenaline, I walked the beach noting the black-bellied plovers, willets, semipalmated sandpipers, ruddy turnstones, and white-rumped sandpipers.  Soon it was time to get into the park and back to Battery Langdon.  I ended up birding it twice - once when I arrived and again as I left.  Both times yielded different species and great finds.  I had a male and female scarlet tanager, male and female rose-breasted grosbeaks, eastern kingbird, red-eyed vireos, tennessee warblers, a male blackburnian warbler, yellow warblers, common yellowthroat, magnolia warbler, black-throated blue warblers, ovenbirds, veery, swainson's thrush, and gray-cheeked thrush.  All three thrush species were found within about 150 feet of each other, in about a 10 minute span.

Male Blackburnian Warbler (who was only an arm length from me)

Swainson's Thrush

Eastern Kingbird

I then headed to the fort, determined to find the lark sparrow I dipped on the evening prior which had been hanging around since October.  I found it right away foraging in the grass with some brown thrashers and a mockingbird.  It must have been quite accustomed to all the foot traffic because it kept foraging closer and closer to where I stood watching and photographing it.  It was gracious (or hungry) enough to give me long, unobstructed looks at the field markings and feeding behavior.  The same blue grosbeaks were back out, along with the male scarlet tanager.  Barn swallows were flying close by, and the beach off the dock held a spotted sandpiper along with the other typical shorebirds.  Traveling around the various Batteries around the fort yielded courting and copulating least terns, several gull-billed terns, red-breasted mergansers, common loons, and indigo buntings.

Handsome Lark Sparrow on fort grounds

Feeling quite satisfied with my morning already, I checked out some of the other Batteries a short bit away from the fort.  It was getting late in the morning when I arrived at the Ft. Pickens Park/Battery Worth area.  I checked out the park first and didn't find much of anything hanging out.  I walked up to the back (facing the Gulf) and was enjoying another gull-billed tern when I spotted two ducks not far offshore.  I figured they were probably scaups, but I got the bins out and thought they actually were too solid dark to be scaups.  Thinking I might have a pair of scoters in front of me, I raced down to the shoreline for a closer look.  Thankfully these two were in no hurry, so I got my bins up and found out I was looking at a male and female surf scoter.  The males two white head patches (front and back of head) and bill coloration were unmistakeable.  I was ecstatic and couldn't believe my good fortune.

Gull-billed tern foraging along shoreline

Courtship display of Least Terns (copulation did occur!)

Male and Female Surf Scoters just offshore!

I left the Ft. Pickens area quite satisfied with the fantastic array of species I was fortunate to have observed.  It might not have been the same as seeing the Kirtland's, but it sure made up for it in a big way.  When we arrived in Milton at our cabin, we had some nice birds right outisde our front porch.  We saw a chuck will's-widow fly down every night just a couple feet of our porch and sit there for a few minutes getting ready to begin its nightly chase for insects.  Summer tanagers, brown thrashers, and great-crested flycatchers were singing like mad.  Yellow-billed cuckoos, northern parula, ovenbirds, prothonotary warblers, and hooded warblers were all found in close proxmity to our lodgings as well.  On our kayak trip down Wolfe Creek, we were fortunate to hear prothonotary and swainson's warblers, along with a broad-winged hawk.  All in all, it was a great trip for birding and a great exploration of a part of the state we had yet to visit.

FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS

Smorgasboard of shore birds

Taking a cue from Team Sapsucker's NA Big Day, I decided to travel to Cedar Key last Saturday to see if any interesting migrants were around and also to look for some coastal birds I don't usually get the chance to see in Alachua County unless a tropical storm or hurricane is bringing them inland.  The morning didn't start as planned, as I overslept my alarm by an hour.  Guess I needed the extra zzz's.

I drove over to Cedar Key on SR 24, and just past Archer I spotted a pair of Eastern kingbirds on a snag on the side of the road.  A little while later, I stopped to use the facilities at one of the Upper Waccasassa Conservation Area entrances and noted a flock of Bobolinks flying overhead and bearing to the north/northeast.  I could also hear a Northern parula and White-eyed vireo calling in the early morning.  It was already a good start to the day and I hadn't even made it to my destination yet.

I pulled up to the #4 bridge while it was still low tide and had to get on the birds quick because they were everywhere.  At low tide this channel is well-known for the amount of shorebirds, most notably the short-billed dowitchers, which come here to feed.  As expected, the short-billed dowitchers were out en masse, along with least sandpipers, willets, semipalmated sandpipers, american avocets, and a marbled godwit.  I just love watching avocets feed, with their re-curved bills swishing from side to side catching macroinvertebrates.  Its a unique feeding habit unto them and makes them very interesting to observe.

Breeding and non-breeding plumage American Avocets

Pair of Clapper Rails flying along vegetation line in front of American Avocets

While watching the avocets for probably much longer than I should have, a pair of clapper rails flew out from and flew along the edge of the salt marsh vegetation.  I hadn't seen one since this exact location on nearly this same date last year.  Black skimmers were also foraging around, as were ospreys and a bald eagle.  The real treat outside of the avocets and rails were a pair of Nelson's sparrows which were conspicuous and calling repeatedly.  It was my first time seeing this species, and it just supercharged me for the rest of the day.  I believe they were immatures based on the extensive and bright orange facial coloration both individuals prominently displayed.  Unfortunately, they didn't stay out in the open for long, and once they popped down into the vegetation, I didn't see or hear them again.

Nelson's Sparrow

Nelson's Sparrow

Clapper Rail

By then it was time to get going to the next location - the 5th street church.  Outside of a chimney swift flying overhead and a common grackle, the place was a ghost town.  So I quickly headed over to the cemetery to see what migrants and shore/wading birds might be present.  Right off the bat I decided to check the boardwalk and was rewarded with the closest and easiest looks of any rail species (outside of the soras at La Chua trail this year) I've ever experienced.  This clapper rail was preoccupied with preening and then foraging, as it paid absolutely no attention to my presence.

Red-breasted Nuthatch!

Within the cemetery, it was fairly quiet which was not altogether unexpected, as no fronts had come through in the last few days.  Warbler species and numbers were pretty low.  Only a handful of cape may's and blackpolls stood out.  Some northern parula and black-and-white warblers were also present.  The real treat was getting the ultra-close looks at three different red-breasted nuthatches.  Apparently these individuals have hung out since the irruption last year and must have a plentiful enough food source, as they didn't appear in a hurry to leave.

Male Blackpoll Warbler

Male Cape May Warbler

I was unable to re-locate the great horned owl from the previous spring migration excursion, but when I went behind the cemetery to the shoreline there, I was pleasantly surprised to see a common loon in either full or near-full breeding plumage, a pair of male mallards (provenance unknown), common and forster's terns, and another clapper rail (who, when noticed me, made a beeline to some cover).  On the way back to the vehicle, I noticed some cedar waxwings flying around and then a swallow-tailed kite.  All in all it was a pretty decent expedition, especially with no weather fronts pushing the birds here or keeping them pinned down here.

Black Skimmer skimming the water's surface

Pair of Mallards just offshore near the cemetary

I then stopped at the unfinished new neighborhood to check on things, and was eventually rewarded with several cape may and blackpolls, along with two different red-breasted nuthatches.  I couldn't believe my luck.  By the time I made it to the museum, it was getting late in the morning and I thought I may have been too late to catch any migrant warblers.  I suppose I was wrong.  On the boundary between the park and residential neighborhood, I caught a very vocal mixed flock which contained white-eyed vireo, carolina wren, northern cardinal, great crested flycatcher, northern parula, blackpoll warblers, black-and-white warblers, and yellow-rumped warblers.

Along the museum trails and at the buildings, the blackpoll warblers were thick and heavy in comparison with what I had witnessed all morning to this point.  A nice surprise was a gray-cheeked thrush perched on one of the live oaks near the bird bath.  For a secretive bird, it allowed great looks out in the open.  A couple of ovenbirds, a palm, and a prairie warbler rounded out the warblers present.

Male Northern Parula foraging

Male Black and White Warbler foraging

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Male House Finch

Since midday had approached and started slipping away and it was high tide, I still figured I would check out the airport to see if anything was still lingering around.  Alas, the tide was well too high for any shorebirds to stick around and the airport was pretty quiet except for a few willet, a green heron, and a gray kingbird hawking insects from the power lines.  However, on the way to and from the airport, there were a few docks which had a nice little gathering of shorebirds and terns.  There were royal, forster's, and common terns resting, along with loads of short-billed dowitchers, ruddy turnstones, willets, and at least one dunlin.  Some of the nearby homes had purple martin condos in their yards, and many of them were occupied by martin couples.

Dock full of terns and shore birds

Male and Female Purple Martins residing outside their McMansion

Seeing it was already afternoon, I decided to head over to Shell Mound to see if any migrants were hanging around the trails.  I figured looking for shorebirds would be a bust since the tide was nearing high, and I was correct.  Nary a shorebird was present.  However, walking the trails revealed marsh wrens, lots of blue-gray gnatcatchers (lots of singing heard), northern parula, summer tanager, and an immature male and female orchard oriole.

1st Year Male Orchard Oriole

Driving to and from Shell Mound I kept my eyes and ears open for any florida scrub jays, but none were present.  The nice stretch of mixed forested wetlands a short distance before the Shell Mound entrance had northern parula, northern waterthrush, red-eyed vireos, and a pair of yellow-billed cuckoos.  These species were all calling and/or singing, filling up the humid afternoon air with glorious song.

I decided to head home after this since it was getting late.  I spotted some american crows and a mississippi kite on the drive back.  I stopped by Watermelon Pond (boat ramp area), and it was fairly quiet.  Some greater and lesser yellowlegs were present, with a solitary sandpiper living up to its name.  A couple of sandhill cranes and some great egret were also there.  Some barn swallows and a common nighthawk were flying overhead.  When the common nighthawk started "peent"-ing, I took it as a cue to finally head home from a long day of birding.  When all was said and done, I believe I saw at least 100 different species throughout the day, even with missing some expected species.  Not quite up to par with Team Sapsucker, but it made for one hell of a fun day.

Male and Female Lesser Scaup