K

Cuban Bullfinch



Photos by Larry Manfredi

Gray Kingbird (leucistic)



Photos by Larry Manfredi

This is the first time that I have every seen a Gray Kingbird that looked like this!  I have not checked
into this yet, but I don't recall ever seeing or hearing of a leucistic Gray Kingbird.  The bird was
seen on 10-22-2011 in Homestead at s.w. 320 st. and s.w. 152 ave.  It was feeding from the
phone wires on the west side of s.w. 152 ave.
 

Kirtland's Warbler



Photos by Larry Manfredi

Found by Russ Titus in Richardson Park, Wilton Manors Florida on October 20, 2001 one of very
few records for Florida.  An excellent find by Russ!  Directions to the park are at the park website
here:  http://www.wiltonmanors.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BE8B0EFD8-D65A-434A-9294-91A932670FDC%7D
I don't get many lifers in my own state, it sure was nice to get one with this bird.  I was able to
later get my son at school and a friend to go back up to see the bird again, a lifer for them as well!

Yellow-green Vireo

Photo by Larry Manfredi

Found on October 3, 2011 by Roberto Torres at Matheson Hammock County Park located in Coral Cables Florida
just south of Miami.  For directions to the park:  http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/locations.html#South
The bird photographed above was seen just south of the main park entrance and parking lot.  There is
at rock picnic shelter just south of the road going into the park.  West and a little north of here is a
Strangler Fig with a lot of fruiting Virginia Creeper vine which has dark berries in it.  There is a
picnic table here fairly close to the Strangler Fig that the bird was seen in.  The Strangler Fig is located
between the Picnic table and the main road coming into the park.

Thick-billed Vireo

Photo by Larry Manfredi

This bird was found by Carlos Sanchez on August 6th. 2011 at Matheson Hammock County Park
just south of Miami.  This was an excellent find and a tough I.D. with a very ratty bird!  The bird
was seen on the service road on the west side of the south parking lot which is next to Fairchild
Tropical Gardens.  It was about three quarters of the way down the service road that leads to the
 back side of Matheson Hammock.

Thick-billed Vireo

Copyright Hop Hopkins

Photo by Hop Hopkins on November 13, 2010 on Crandon Park, Key Biscayne.
Directions:
I was in the deep central woods north of the nature center, I think the trail is Bear Cut Trail.  The trail ended adjacent to the bike path, and the
bird was near the end of the trail where there are a lot of switchbacks. I first saw it before the trail cut back, but the bird followed me for
 a little while, so it must like that area. I told one of the naturalists about it, but he was not a birder, but said he would tell one that
was...I do not know if they have tried looking for it or not.



Cuban Pewee


Notice the very short primary projection as well as the "Crescent behind the eye".

Look at the wide bill which is mostly orange on the underside.


Here is a recording I made of the song, this is all that I was able to get.  You can hear it in the distance.
Cuban Pewee song

Video of the Cuban Pewee
(The above video file may take a while to load so be patient!)

I found this bird on September 5, 2010 in Long Pine Key Everglades National Park.  This will be the third documented
record for the U.S.  There is another record from the Dry Tortugas that has not been submitted yet, I hope that the
information for the Dry Tortugas bird finally gets submitted!  The bird was in pretty ratty plumage but nice never the less!

The bird was found at 8:00 a.m. near the residence building on Long Pine Key.  It then flew across the street into the
pine woods and then over to the hammock that has a trail on the south side of it.  The photos that I got were along the
edge of this hammock.

Directions:
Drive into Everglades National Park west of Florida City.  After paying the entrance fee ($10.00) go about four miles
until you see the sign for Long Pine Key.  Turn left here and drive in about one and a half miles, you will see a small white
house on the right side of the road.  Drive past this staying to the right until you see parking spaces on your left.  Park here
and walk back towards the residence house.  The bird was behind the house and to the right of the house.  It then flew north
or back up the road to the hammock right next to the road.  The bird was calling and singing here, it even bathed in the dew
of some leaves.  I hope that it sticks around for others to see.

Shiny and Bronzed Cowbirds

The above picture is a male Shiny Cowbird in the front with a female
Bronzed Cowbird in the back.

The above picture is with a female Bronzed Cowbird and an immature female
Shiny Cowbird.

I have been getting up to 19-Shiny Cowbirds at my feeders as of September 5, 2010 as well as a couple
of dozen Bronzed Cowbirds.  Anyone who would like to come by and see them, can send me an e-mail: 

birderlm@bellsouth.net


Red-legged Thrush

Found and photographed by Marcus Ponce on May 31, 2010 at Maritime Hammock Sanctuary Brevard County.
(Photo Copyright by Marcus Ponce)
Directions:
The Red-Legged Thrush was seen on the south end of the Maritime Hammock trail. The Maritime Hammock trail is south of
Melbourne Beach. There is a north entrance to the trail and a south entrance to the trail. It was seen just into the trail via the south entrance.

To reach the Maritime Hammock north entrance: From Interstate 95, take exit 180 for Melbourne. Follow US 192 east 8 miles through
downtown and continue over the causeway to Indialantic. When the highway ends at the beach, turn right and follow A1A for 10.3 miles,
passing a variety of public beaches en route to the community of Melbourne Beach. Park at the north trailhead (you'll have to pull across
the bicycle path to do so, so watch for pedestrians and bicycles) The entrance is small and you will have to look for the gate and little sign.
The GPS coordinates of the north gate are:
N 27° 57.395
W 080° 30.239 (Deg.-Min. format)

You will have to walk down the paved bicycle path heading south from the north entrance parking area (this parallels the highway) for a
ways until you reach the south entrance to the trail. There is a little wooden trailhead there. Walk down the dirt road a short ways until
you see the trail-blazes on the left which take you into a maritime hammock. The bird was seen foraging directly on the trail a short ways ahead.
The GPS coordinates where I saw the bird are:
N 27° 57.164
W 080° 30.110



Bar-tailed Godwit

Photo by Larry Manfredi April 2, 2010

Bar-tailed Godwit in flight showing the rump well.  Notice
the spotting indicating the baueri race.

Photo by Larry Manfredi April 2, 2010

A good comparison with a Marbled Godwit, the Bar-tailed is
the bird in focus.  Much less pink on  the Bar-tailed Godwits
bill, far more on the Marbled Godwits bill.

Photo by Larry Manfredi April 2, 2010

The bird was found on March 28th. 2010 by Doug Gochfeld of New York.  It was in the tent campground
in Everglades National Park Flamingo.  It was about mid-way across the campground at the Florida Bay
edge.  The birds like to roost here at high tide.  An excellent find by Doug!!!!

La Sagra's Flycatcher


This is the second La Sagra's Flycatcher found this season, the first on was found in the Everglades by
Robin Diaz and Carlos Sanchez on December 17, 2009.  The above bird was found by Robin Diaz and
Liz Golden January 14, 2010 at Bill Baggs State Park located on Key Biscayne south of Miami.
Directions to Bill Baggs State Park are here:  http://tropicalaudubon.org/locations.html#South



    Common Eider
         
Wil Domke found a Common Eider while looking for the Red-Footed Booby
which is also still present. The bird was seen on the north side of the
n.e. 79 st. causeway. It was left of the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station
address: 1279 NE 79th. street Causeway, Miami. It swam around the boat
docks and out towards the bridge on N.E. 79 st. causeway. As you face
the rehab building, the bird was to the left.
Rufous Hummingbird 


  
I found this hummingbird in my yard December 20, 2009.  I have been expecting to get one and finally did!
It was a nice surprise, he seems to be chasing off any Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.
Sharp-shinned Hawk    

The above Sharp-shinned Hawk has been in my yard for about a month.  It has eaten at least one
male Shiny Cowbird and lots of House Sparrows.  The bird is very efficient in catching them, this has
kept most of my birds away from the feeders.  I have not seen a Shiny Cowbird since it showed up.

             Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Found on Thursday October 8th., 2009 by Roberto Torres at Matheson Hammock County Park, Coral Cables Florida.
All of my photos were taken on Monday October 12th., 2009.  The shot above shows two features; completely orange lower
mandible as well as the yellow throat.  This is a very rare migrant in Florida with not too many records from south Florida.

We were lucky to watch the flycatcher catch a large moth (Heterocampa astarte thanks Vince)
which it beat on the branch it was perched on.

The moth is ( Heterocampa astarte) it was not too happy.

Here is a better view of the moth.

After a few beatings on the branch it was ready to try and swallow it.

You can clearly see the yellow throat and the nice yellow eye-ring.

It was finally able to swallow the moth, you can still see legs sticking out.  The bird had to scrunch its
neck to try and get the moth down.

Directions:
The bird was found at Matheson Hammock County Park in Miami/Dade County.  A link to the park location is HERE.
Scroll down until you see Matheson Hammock, there will be directions to the park here.  Park in the north parking lot, walk
across the main road to the road going south in the park.  Look for the sign for the bathrooms, follow the road towards the bathrooms.
Then look for a dirt road going south through an oak grove, walk down this about halfway between the bathrooms and a picnic shelter. 
The bird was seen feeding in the oaks in this area.  The bird also goes towards a tree island just east of here.  It has called several
times which can help in locating the bird.

       Zenaida Dove

 I found a Zenaida Dove with Jim Kopitzke and my son Philip today June 4th, 2009.  The bird was found
on Key Largo.

Directions from Florida City/Homestead:
From the south end of the Florida Turnpike, take US1 south to upper Key Largo.  After you go over the high bridge you
enter Key Largo.  Look for a Circle K store and Shell Gas Station on the left side of US1.  Just past the Circle K
 turn left on C-905 road, head north 2-miles.  After you pass a neighborhood on your right called I believe Gulfstream Shores,
look for Valois st. on your right  Turn right on Valois and then right on La Croix ct. PARK HERE, there should be room
on both sides of  La Croix.  After you park, walk to Marseilles st., turn left.  From this point look down Marseilles east to
around the 5-6 telephone pole.  Look on both sides of the street for the dove feeding along the road.  There is no need to go
 any farther down  Marseilles st.  The person who lives on the end of this street is not supposed to be very friendly.  There are no
other houses on Marseilles st.  A SCOPE would be very helpful to view this bird and not SCARE it away!!!

I would recommend not bothering the neighbors on Valois street or any other street.  Bird looking down MARSEILLES ST.
this is your best bet to see the bird.  Stay near the beginning of Marseilles so that you don't flush this SKITTISH BIRD!!
You can not leave the road anywhere in this area, it is either private property or state property.  So do not trespass!

Good luck to all of those who try!
                                              Rusty Blackbird

The above bird was found by Gavin Bieber a Wings Tour Leader on November 14, 2008.  The bird is being seen in
Everglades National Park at Pa-hay-okee.  It was easily this morning on November 15, 2008 feeding along the road in
mowed grass.  We also so it eat a small frog which can be seen in the above photo taken by Larry Manfred.  From the
entrance of Everglades National Park go  about 13-miles to Pa-hay-okee turn off.  Turn right and go in about half a mile
to just before the parking lot of Pa-hay-okee.  Look anywhere in this area for the bird, especially along the road.

Thanks Gavin for alerting me!!!  A short video can be seen HERE
 

Tropical Kingbirds  First found on Sunday November 2, 2008 by Roberto Torres along with a Western Kingbird.  On November 8, 2008 Mark Berney found a second Tropical Kingbird.  I believe this may be the first time that two Tropical Kingbirds have been found together in Florida!  Photo by Larry Manfredi Directions: From Florida's Turnpike, exit at SW 112 Avenue (exit 9). Turn right on SW 248 Street and drive east (bearing right when the road forks) to SW 97 Avenue. Continue east on the unpaved road on the south side of the canal. Park along the fence before a bridge and locked gate.  The Tropical seems to prefer the fence between 97 Ave. and the locked gate mentioned above, but it also perched on the wires on the north side of the canal and on the fence to the wastewater facility. Click here for a recording.   Least Grebes, yes "GREBES!"      Photo above and photos below, taken on September 30, 2008 by Larry Manfredi Two Least Grebes, the nest is located in the Bulrushes to the right. You can see one bird bringing food to the nest which is located to the right.  You can see one bird on the nest in the Bulrushes. Two birds were found by Lee and David Hassee on Saturday September 20, 2008 in Boca Raton, an excellent find!  I have waited for many years for one of these to show up.  I predicted that these birds were nesting, Andy Bankert is the one who found the nest, two eggs have hatched and the grebes are now riding on their parents back.  Way to go Lee and David and Andy as well for finding the nest!  Directions for the location of the grebes: From I-95 exit  onto Yamato Road (also know as n.w. 51st st)  go west to Congress Ave. turn right to Clint Moore Road and go east.  Look for a sign for Yamato Scrub Preserve, you will have to make a U-Turn on Clint Moore Road to enter the preserve.  A Mapquest link in below.    http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Boca+Raton&state=FL&address=701+Clint+Moore+Road Calls of the Least Grebes and the babies as well as a piercing high pitch call can be heard HERE.                                    Alder Flycatcher From August through at least the end of September, the area south of Lucky Hammock called the Annex, has half a dozen or more Alder Flycatchers.  Many of the surrounding areas with Willow type marsh habitat also have them. A recording of one from August 28, 2008 can be found HERE. Lark Sparrows The above photo was taken on August 28, 2008 just south of Lucky Hammock on the phone wires.  Lark Sparrows show up every year in the area around Lucky Hammock and the Annex.  Others can be seen through out South Dade County in the Agricultural areas or any weedy lots.  They are uncommon to rare in most areas. White-tailed Kite The above photo was taken on August 26, 2008 approximately 3-miles north of 9336 on the south side of s.w. 224 ave.  This is a dirt road that goes through the farm fields in this area.  The bird was seen on the west side of the road along the canal bird with all of the dead trees.  I saw another bird on the southwest side of the Homestead Airport. Horned Lark The above bird was found on August 10, 2008 it was last reported on August 24th.  The fields have now just been plowed on August 28th. so the bird may have moved on.  Not rare in most parts of the country, but sure rare here in Florida, especially South Florida.  The bird is being seen in a farm field in Florida City.  Directions: From 9336 the road that goes into Everglades National Park, go west towards the park to s.w. 217 ave., turn right and go north about a quarter mile to s.w. 384 st. Turn left and go west 0.2 miles (dirt road) until you see two orange flags that mark a well in the farm field on the left next to the road. The bird was seen to the right or north for most of the time that we saw the bird. Black Noddy above, Brown Noddy below. Photo taken at Dry Tortugas National Park April 10, 2008. Copyright Larry Manfredi   Red-footed Booby dark morph immature Photo taken on Long Key in the Dry Tortugas April 20, 2008. Copyright Larry Manfredi Loggerhead Kingbird The above photo was taken on March 22, 2008 on Garden Key by Larry Manfredi and is copyrighted by Larry Manfredi. Found and photographed March 14th., 2008 on Garden Key, Ft. Jefferson Dry Tortugas by Laure Neish. This is only the second documented record of Loggerhead Kingbird in the A.B.A. area!!  What an excellent find by Laure Neish, thanks Laure for sharing your photo with me!   Bananaquit        Found by Joe Kaplan of Michigan on February 12, 2008 I saw the Bananaquit today, February 14, 2008 around 9:45 a.m. located in Hollywood., other birders had seen it at 9:00 a.m. I stuck around and saw it again around 11:30 and watched it take a rest around noon. It is being seen from address 1023 to the house across from 1100 (north side of st.) The best place seems to be the beautiful house and yard located at 1050. Thanks to Joe Kaplan from Michigan for finding such a cool bird while jogging!!! The best place to park is on the dead end street located between 1100 and 1050 address. The bird was feeding in the flowers of a Royal Palm located on the west side of the 1050 address. The bird went to rest in a pretty large clump of Bamboo, the Royal Palm is locatedright next to the Bamboo. My photo shows the flower cluster of the Royal Palm, where the bird was feeding on the nectar. Joe Kaplan's directions and sighting are copied and pasted here: I am a visiting birder from Michigan and observed a Bananaquit yesterday and today in Hollywood in a residential area just off the intercoastal. It is an active bird and easiest to track by its call note which it gives almost continually when it is in view. The call is warbler-like, not unlike a Palm, except it has a unique and distinct metallic quality. I have observed the Bananaquit twice in the same yard (house address 1050) --otherwise it has been in two other yards along the same street. The location of the bird is: N. Southlake Drive between S 10 & S 11 Ave. I have seen the bird in the yard (at or near the road) of houses 1050, 1023 (on the telephone line), and 1045 -- all are along the same block. I have only seen the bird in the morning though yesterday afternoon there were high winds and rain. This morning I only saw the bird for approximately 10 minutes as it flew between house 1050 & 1045 and then disappeared.

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