Trip to southern Florida -Jan 20-27

Prairie Warbler with leg band, Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, Key Biscayne, FL, Jan 26, 2024

After my time in the Bahamas I took a short flight over to Miami to meet up with Sherri and continue the vacation with a few days in the Florida Keys followed by a few more days on Key Biscayne. After leaving from one of the smallest airports I have ever flown out of I had one of the shortest flights on a jet I have ever had with just a little over a half hour of flying time. After meeting up in Miami, getting some food and driving south we made it to Tavernier and our lodging for the next four nights. On the way down a stop off for food south of Miami proved fruitful with the sighting of three Mitred Parakeets, an established exotic and a new life species for me, number 1996. Not much birding otherwise as we got settled in on a warm, breezy day. 

Black throated Green Warbler, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Park, Key Largo, FL, Jan 21, 2024

Yellow throated Vireo, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Park, Key Largo, FL, Jan 21, 2024

Red breasted Merganser, Old Settlers Park, Tavernier, FL, Jan 21, 2024

Magnolia Warbler, Old Settlers Park, Tavernier, FL, Jan 21, 2024

Blue headed Vireo, Old Settlers Park, Tavernier, FL, Jan 21, 2024

Sunday was another breezy day and quite cool to start (mid 50’s so not terrible and a whole lot better than home where the temps were in the single digits with a strong wind). I drove north and arrived before sunrise at Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical SP.   Although the area had lots of reports of good birds and the habitat looked great and was extensive, the bird activity was very low. I spent over two hours in the hopes I would eventually find some birds with very little luck. I then decided to head back south to check out a very small park in Tavernier called Old Settlers Park. Although a tiny place it proved to have much more activity and I had about the same number of species there as I had at my first stop and covered just a fraction of the same amount of territory. I had seven species of warblers (including a Magnolia Warbler), a couple vireo species and others. Always amazing what small parks can hold for birds. By late morning we decided to try John Pennekamp Coral Reef SP and this place was even more devoid of birds than my morning stop at the location just north. Perhaps the lateness of the visit and the crowds kept activity low. I had just eight species in an hour! The remainder of the day was spent outside at our lodging enjoying the warm weather. 

Yellow rumped Warbler 'myrtle', Old Settlers Park, Tavernier, FL, Jan 22, 2024

Julia, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Park, Key Largo, FL, Jan 22, 2024

On Monday I headed a short distance south to a small park in Islamorada called Plantation Hammock Preserve. Again some decent habitat and again nearly devoid of birds. The continued windy conditions certainly didn’t help. After nearly an hour there I left there and headed back to Old Settlers Park that was fairly productive the day before. It was certainly less active than the day before but there were still some birds around. I then headed back to our lodging for a short time and then we headed up to Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Park and walked a variety of trails and found the park to be very quiet once again. By midday we headed back to our lodging to head out onto Florida Bay with kayaks. 

Little Blue Heron, Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, Tavernier, FL, Jan 23, 2024

White Ibis, Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, Tavernier, FL, Jan 23, 2024

Palm Warbler 'western', Old Settlers Park, Tavernier, FL, Jan 23, 2024

Royal Tern, Long Key SP, Layton, FL, Jan 23, 2024

Little Blue Heron, Long Key SP, Layton, FL, Jan 23, 2024

Yellow crowned Night Heron, Long Key SP, Layton, FL, Jan 23, 2024

Prairie Warbler, Long Key SP, Layton, FL, Jan 23, 2024

Great Crested Flycatcher, Long Key SP, Layton, FL, Jan 23, 2024

Dragonfly species, Long Key SP, Layton, FL, Jan 23, 2024

Beach, Long Key SP, Layton, FL, Jan 23, 2024

The rinse and repeat days of windy weather continued on Tuesday albeit with a bit warmer temps. I headed out before dawn trying a few nearby spots without finding anything too noteworthy. We then headed further south to Long Key SP which was also fairly quiet but did feature a few pockets of birds with a few new species for the trip. 

Northern Cardinal, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Park, Key Largo, FL, Jan 24, 2024

Piping Plovers, Virginia Key Ecosystem Restoration Area, Miami, FL, Jan 24, 2024

Wednesday was our day to leave the keys and travel north to stay on the peninsula of Key Biscayne (near Miami) for three nights. It was yet another windy day pretty much from start to finish although it seemed to be slightly less strong. I had a few hours available in the morning and made a few stops including Plantation Hammock Preserve, Old Settlers Park and Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Park. The first two were quiet with nothing too noteworthy. The last stop was a little more productive when I had a decent mixed flock containing at least seven species of warblers, including my first Yellow Warbler I have actually had in Florida. I then headed back to pack up and start the drive north. We made one stop along the way to walk and we chose Navy Wells Pineland Preserve where we walked for about half an hour and had some typical species. As we made the long stop and go trip through the greater Miami area I was actually able to add a life bird with a Red whiskered Bulbul (another established exotic in the area)….species number 1997. We also made a short stop at Virginia Key Beach after going over the causeway where I added a few more species for the trip. 

Orange crowned Warbler, Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, Key Biscayne, FL, Jan 25, 2024

Gray Catbird, Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, Key Biscayne, FL, Jan 25, 2024

Yellow throated Warbler, Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, Key Biscayne, FL, Jan 25, 2024

Prairie Warbler, Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, Key Biscayne, FL, Jan 25, 2024

Great Crested Flycatcher, Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, Key Biscayne, FL, Jan 25, 2024

On Thursday the 25th I spent most of the day at Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP which was a just down the street from our Airbnb. Unfortunately the gates don’t open until 8AM so I had to try to find other locations to bird and had little luck finding any that were open. Once the gates opened I headed out on the trails and ran across a number of mixed species flocks. Blue gray Gnatcatchers were around in good numbers with nearly thirty present. I also had eight species of warblers including my first Orange crowned Warbler of the trip. I walked several miles between my morning stop and my afternoon stop and had nearly thirty species overall. The wind was a bit less once one got away from the beach. 

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, Key Biscayne, FL, Jan 26, 2024

Palm Warbler 'western', Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP, Key Biscayne, FL, Jan 26, 2024

Sunrise, Crandon Park, FL, Jan 26, 2024

On the last full day I once again headed to Bill Baggs Cape Florida SP after I caught the sunrise at Crandon Park. I had a distant look at a shearwater from the beach at Crandon Park that was almost certainly an Audubon’s Shearwater. Once in Bill Baggs there was less warbler diversity during my morning trip but more species overall including a couple new ones for the trip. After a break for lunch we headed back to the park in the heat of the day to take another walk. As expected the activity was quite a bit lower so nothing unusual. Total of 86 species in Florida for the trip which is rather low.  I added three new Florida species on the trip, bringing my total to 240.  

More on the warblers of the trip at the following link.

Say's Phoebe continues to end January

Say's Phoebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 31, 2024

Say's Phoebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 31, 2024

Say's Phoebe, Winsor Dam, Quabbin Park, MA, Jan 31, 2024

Pale/leucistic Canada Goose, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jan 31, 2024

Wilson with a stick, Belchertown, MA, Jan 31, 2024

The big surprise today as I finished out the month of January with a little birding after work was the return of the Say's Phoebe at Winsor Dam.  The bird has now been present on and off (mainly off lately) since December 10th, when it was first discovered by Mary.  During the month of January it has only been reported on the 2nd when Brian and I had it along the dam and then again on the 10th when I had found it again.  I truly wonder where it spends its time when not along the dam or at the admin building.  Today's sighting was totally unexpected with all the recent cold weather and snow.  I was standing with another birder checking out the reservoir when we heard the distinct call of the phoebe and then watched it fly over the building.  It was out of view for a few minutes and then reappeared and grabbed a stinkbug that it quickly ate.  We watched it for several minutes and marveled at its toughness to still be around.  Before making it to Quabbin I stopped in the East Meadows to mainly scan the river for waterfowl and had three American Wigeons and the continued pale Canada Goose, that is now on its fourth winter in the area.  The wigeons were new for me for the year in the county and I ended the month with 98 species.  I'm sure I could have reached a hundred if I was not away for a week and half down in the Bahamas and Florida.

Abaco in the Bahamas Jan 16-20 produces great birds including Kirtland's Warblers

Kirtland's Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

I took a trip down to Abaco in the Bahamas on January 16 and spent the next four days there mainly looking for a few resident warblers as well as overwintering migrants (with the most unusual overwintering species being Kirtland's Warbler).  This was my third time in the Bahamas with my first being a short visit to Nassau on a cruise in 2003 and the next being a trip to Grand Bahama in February 2017 (posts from that trip...part 1 and part 2).  I happily found all my targets and had a great time...more details below.  To see more on warblers check out the attached link: Warblers on Abaco.

Prairie Warbler, Murphy town, Abaco, Jan 16, 2024

The forecast for the day I was leaving changed at the last minute and the snow moved in earlier than predicted just a half day before which resulted in some delays in Hartford on my way to Atlanta and then onto Marsh Harbor. Thankfully I picked a flight that had a couple hour layover so I still made the second leg of the journey with a few minutes to spare. After a few more weather delays in Atlanta (thanks to a frozen door on the jetway and the need to get the plane deiced) I made it to Abaco. I picked up my rental, headed to the supermarket and then onto my Airbnb. I wanted to stay south of Marsh Harbor but a cancellation a few weeks ago at my original lodging I had to settle for a spot in town. I birded a little in the neighborhood and turned up a few overwintering species. Although a bit breezy it was at least warm with temps in the 70’s.

Bahama Yellowthroat, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Olive capped Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Cuban Pewee, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Pine lands at dawn, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

The Toyota POS, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Atala Hairstreak, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Cuban Parrots (Bahama subspecies), Crossing Rocks, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Western Spindalis (Bahamas Green-backed), Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Yellow throated Warbler, Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Thick billed Vireo, Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

Black faced Grassquit, Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 17, 2024

My plans for the first full day on the island was to get up well before dawn and drive almost an hour south to Abaco National Park. As I headed out the door a little before five it was obvious it had rained hard at some point overnight. The drive south on the wet roads with puddles was less than relaxing and I had to deal with a little additional rain from time to time. I did add a Chuck Wills Widow on the way (my first new Bahamas species for the trip). I arrived at the entrance to the park a bit before six and waited for it to get light enough to see to start my walk for a few miles south on the dirt road. If I had a better vehicle with more clearance it would have been easier to get further south but I was stuck with what I had for a vehicle. One of the first birds I heard for the morning were a couple of Bahama Yellowthroats. I got some recordings and a few looks but no chance for any photos (I did get much better looks and some photos a bit later in the morning). I spent the next three hours walking the road and only had to deal with a few passing showers as I turned up about twenty species, including several Cuban Parrots (Bahama subspecies) and nine species of warblers. I made brief visit to the very end of the island at Sandy Point, which was quite windy and fairly barren of bird life. I then spent the next four plus hours slowly working my way back north to my lodging with multiple stops along the way. I added several species for the day along the way (including two new species for my Bahamas list with West Indian Woodpecker and Western Cattle Egret) and finished the day with 39 species.

Bahama Woodstar, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Red legged Thrush, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Bahama Yellowthroat, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Cuban Emerald, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Bananaquit, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Ovenbird, Robert's Nursery, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Yellow throated Vireo, Robert's Nursery, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

American Redstart, Robert's Nursery, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Common Ground Doves, Columbus Cay Eco Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Northern Waterthrush, Columbus Cay Eco Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Lincoln's Sparrow, Treasure Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Black faced Grassquit, Murphy Town, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

Magnificent Frigatebird, Murphy Town, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

La Sagra's Flycatcher, Murphy Town, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 18, 2024

For my second full day on the island I decided to head north all the way to Treasure Cay and see what the north end of the island had to offer. The morning started off overcast and breezy and eventually some drizzle started up. I was able to get in a few walks before a more steady rain began and added two new species to my Bahamas list with Tricolored Heron and Eastern Phoebe. As the rain continued to fall I made a few more stops but did not venture far from the car. These stops were also productive with some shorebirds and waterfowl. By around 9:30 the rain stopped and I was able to take some longer walks in the area of Treasure Cay. Among the highlights was the first life bird of the trip with distant views of a couple Bahama Swallows (life bird #1994). I also added a few more species to my Bahama list including a rare Lincoln’s Sparrow plus Yellow throated Vireo, Willet and Baltimore Oriole. I made it back to my lodging in the early afternoon and the sun actually stayed out for a good part of the rest of the day. Overall I found a total of 52 species for day. 

Dawn over Pinelands, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Bahama Swallow, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

West Indian Woodpecker, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Loggerhead Kingbird, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Black throated Green Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Bahama Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Olive capped Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Western Spindalis (Bahamas Green-backed), Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Kirtland's Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Kirtland's Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

Kirtland's Warbler, Abaco National Park, Abaco, Bahamas, Jan 19, 2024

My plans for the last full day on Abaco was to make the drive back down to Abaco National Park before dawn and then walk south to the end to get out of the pine lands and into an area that might host an overwintering Kirtland’s Warbler. It would be a long shot chance for sure that would require at least a ten mile hike one way. I was out the door early on a very humid morning that featured some low fog in spots that made the journey more adventurous. I got a caution light on the car when I was perhaps 2/3 of the way but after stopping and trying to figure it out I started the car back up and the light went out. I almost turned back at that point but decided to press on. I made it to the park a little after six and drove in perhaps two miles over rough dirt roads and then stopped and started the hike down with all my gear and lots of water (which was still not enough). I walked steadily down with not much stopping along the way to look for birds with most tallied along the way as heard only. The best bird by far on the way down was a distantly calling Key West Quail Dove, which became species 1995 for me. I eventually made it out of the pine lands after a little over four hours of walking and about ten miles distance. I then walked another hour or so in the blazing sun in the area I hoped would have a Kirtland’s Warbler. I made it to within sight of the lighthouse and then turned back with no luck. I knew I still had to retrace all my steps back to the car and I didn’t want to arrive back too late in case the car had issues getting me back north to my lodging. As I started my walk back I heard a loud chip that sounded unlike others I have heard and after a few moments I got fleeting looks at a Kirtland’s Warbler! I then spent the next 15 minutes or so trying to get some photos and recordings and at that point I noticed there were two Kirtland’s Warblers and not just one. Although I had the species way back when on their breeding grounds in Michigan when I made a day long drive to get them when I was in Ohio I had never gotten photos of them before. I then made the long slog back to the car where I arrived tired, thirsty and with some blisters after walking over 23 miles total…almost a marathon but worth the pain and effort for sure. The chances of coming across an overwintering Kirtland’s Warbler in the vast habitat was quite small so I felt incredibly lucky. I made a couple more brief stops on my way home and added some species for the trip as well as new Bahama species for me…getting me to 99 species ever in the Bahamas and a total of 41 species for the day.

I had a few hours available on my last morning before making the short flight to Miami. I decided to not push my luck with the crappy car by driving anywhere so I walked around the neighborhood. Nothing out of the ordinary but I did add my 100th species to my Bahama list with a couple of Limpkins.

During my short time in the Bahamas I found a total of 74 species with two of the those being life birds for me (Bahama Swallow and Key West Quail Dove). I had 18 new species I was able to add to my Bahama list, bringing that total to a nice and even 100 species.

All photos from trip at the following link.