Florida 2009 – Elusive Specialties
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Sep 7, 2009 | by Adrian Binns
A stop along the mangrove lined road to the Upper Keys produced a very cooperative Cuban Yellow Warbler (above), the resident race of Yellow Warbler that resides in these mangrove islands. Our search for Mangrove Cuckoo continued to prove fruitless.
My good friend Larry Manfredi invited us to his house for a trio of cowbirds, Brown-headed, Bronzed and Shiny that were frequenting his feeders. There are not many locations were one could see all North American cowbirds in one location at the same time. Of note was the Bronzed Cowbirds doing their amazing helicopter hovering display. (Check out my blog on June 18 “The Dance of the Bronzed Cowbird.”) As an added bonus, our only Yellow-chevroned Parakeets of the trip flew over the neighborhood and showed up to feed.
As we returned to Miami we paused briefly to watch the Caribbean race of Cave Swallows flying under the turnpike overpass where they nest. In the well vegetated Matheson Hammock Park it was not long before we located a pair of Hill Mynahs (below top) as well as very noisy Chestnut-fronted Macaws (below lower). Both of these introduced species favor nesting in abandoned Pileated Woodpecker holes.
The daunting task of finding one of Florida’s last remaining Smooth-billed Anis was next. We had made numerous attempts anytime we were nearby Fort Lauderdale. So today it was back to the usual strategy. Drive the neighborhood blocks slowly, checking every possible tree, potential perch and open area, then park and walk. As I pulled in to park, Lee shouted “there it is”. Indeed, sitting on a fence there was a Smooth-billed Ani (below). Finally!
The following day was our last of the trip. We had to give the Mangrove Cuckoo (below) one more crack on the last morning. As luck would have it, we picked the right spot! One flew across the road and perched for us. A second followed and chased it away, then two returned! After so many hours looking for it, we were finally rewarded with excellent views. It was a great way to end a wonderful trip.
I look forward to the challenge of finding Florida’s elusive specialties when I return to this sub-tropical destination April 24 – May 3, 2010
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I was reading your posts amd viewing pictures,and noticed that you are a true fan of nature and all of the beautiful wonders it has to offer. The community needs to know the true essence of value, and beauty nature holds within the dflicker of a butterfly's wings, a still shot of a bird pirching on a leaf, or within the park that houses all of the species. This is one of the reasons I believe you and some of your nature bound colleges would be interested in viewing the many documentaries WPBT2 is bringing to the television screen from September 24 to October 2. WPBT2 is bringing positive exposure to Florida’s Parks by airing three documentaries that bring some of natures most breathtaking highlights to life. “The Story of Florida’s State Parks airing Monday-Wednesday, September 28-30“The National Parks: Americas Best Idea” airing Sunday-Friday, September27-October 2, and “Into The Wild: An Everglades National Park Adventure” airing Thursday, September 24, at 7:30pm, are all must see productions. These productions support the reasons why everyone, especially Floridians should fight to support the preservation of these parks, because they are not just a part of history but a part of all of us.
Check it out at http://www.wpbt2.org
The documentary beig aired September 24, 2009, is most likely what you woukld be most interested in viweing. This documentary covers an American family's stay in the Florida Everglades, and what it will be like for a non outdoor family to be introduced to Florida's wildlife, in Into The Wild.
Into the Wild Promo – uVuSouthFlorida Video