Florida USA 19-10-16 - 28-10-16

19-Oct-16 Miami Florida

We arrived at Miami International Airport at 14:40 local time and drove to Fort Lauderdale. On route Black Vulture, Boat-tailed Grackle, Feral Rock Dove and Northern Mockingbird were all noted. On reaching the beach at Fort Lauderdale 5 Brown Pelican were seen in flight.
20-Oct-16
An early morning visit to Hugh Taylor Birch State Park produced the following species:-

Great Blue Heron (1), White Ibis (9), Osprey (2), Red-bellied Woodpecker (2), Blue Jay (4), Northern Mockingbird (7), Grey Catbird (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1), Northern Cardinal (6), Boat-tailed Grackle (3).

                                         Northern Cardinal (male).

                                         Northern Mockingbird.

                                                     White Ibis.
21-Oct-16
An early morning visit to the Four Corners Area, Orlando provided the following species including three new lifers:-

Sandhill Crane (2), Common Ground Dove (4), Eastern Phoebe* (4), Blue Jay (8), House Wren* (2), Eastern Bluebird* (3), Blue-grey Gnatcatcher (1), Grey Catbird (4), Northern Mockingbird (4), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1), American Redstart (1), Northern Cardinal (5), Common Grackle (10).

                                                       Sandhill Crane (pair).

                                                     House Wren.

                                                       Eastern Phoebe.

                                                      Eastern Bluebird.

                                                            Blue Jay.

                                                              American Redstart.

                                                   Common Ground Dove.

                                             Gulf Fritillary.

23-Oct-16 Four Corners Area
An early morning return visit provided the following species:-

Great Blue Heron (1), Cattle Egret (2), Sandhill Crane (2), Common Ground Dove (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Eastern Phoebe (2), American Crow (2), House Wren (3) Blue Grey Gnatcatcher (3), Grey Catbird (2), Northern Mockingbird (2), Yellow-rumped Warbler (2), Yellow-throated Warbler (1), Northern Cardinal (2), Red-winged Blackbird (50).

                                           Common Ground Dove.

                                          House Wren.

                                          Eastern Phoebe.




24-10-16 Lake Louisa State Park
An early morning visit provided the following species including two new lifers:-

Anhinga (1), Great Egret (1), Turkey Vulture (1), American Kestrel (1), Mourning Dove (2), Red-bellied Woodpecker (4), Pileated Woodpecker (2), Eastern Phoebe (5), White-eyed Vireo* (1), American Crow (1), Tufted Titmouse (2), House Wren (1), Ruby-crowned Kinglet* (1), Blue-grey Gnatcatcher (6), Grey Catbird (5), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1).

 

                                          Eastern Phoebe.

                                                  Red-bellied Woodpecker.

                                            Eastern Black Swallowtail.

                                                 Gulf Fritillary.


25-Oct-16 Daytona Beach 
A late morning visit in sunny, hot conditions provided the following species:-

Brown Pelican (50), Great Blue Heron (12 over), Cattle Egret (10), Great Egret (1), Osprey (2), Black-bellied Plover (2), Semi-palmated Plover (5), Willet (10), Ruddy Turnstone (10), Red Knot (2), Sanderling (30), Laughing Gull (50), Ring-billed Gull (10), Herring Gull (5), Sandwich Tern (10), Royal Tern (30 including ringed individual right 814), Feral Rock Dove (10).  

                                               Brown Pelican.

L

                                             Laughing Gull.

                                              Ring-billed Gull.

                                             Royal Tern.

                                             Ruddy Turnstone.

                                             Black-bellied Plover.

                                              Sanderling.

                                                Sandwich Tern.

                                                Semi-palmated Plover.

                                                 Willet.


26-Oct-16 Four Corners Area, Orlando

An early morning visit provided the folowing species including a single lifer:-

Double Crested Cormorant (2 over), Sharp-shinned Hawk* (1), Red-shouldered Hawk (adult & juvenile), American Kestrel (1), Sandhill Crane (2), Feral Rock Dove (1 over), Common Ground Dove (5), Red-bellied Woodpecker (1) , Eastern Phoebe (8), Blue Jay (6), American Crow (1), House Wren (4), Blue-grey Gnatcatcher (2), Northern Mockingbird (5), Yellow-rumped Warbler (4), Eastern Towhee male), Northern Cardinal (5), Common Grackle (9 over), Boat-tailed Grackle (1 over).

                                             Red-shouldered Hawk (adult and juvenile).

                                                Sharp-shinned Hawk (record shot).

27-Oct-16 Four Corners Area, Orlando

A visit to the Four Corners Area the following morning produced the following species:-

Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), American Kestrel (2), Sandhill Crane (2), Common Ground Dove (4), Barn Swallow (9), Eastern Phoebe (4), Blue Jay (11), American Crow (1), House Wren (1), Grey Catbird (2), Northern Mockingbird (7), American Robin (2),Yellow-rumped Warbler (8), Common Yellowthroat (1),  Eastern Towhee (1), Northern Cardinal (5), Brown-headed Cowbird (5 over), Red-winged Blackbird (2 over), Common Grackle (9 over), Boat-tailed Grackle (1 over).

                                                                   Blue Jay.

                                                               White-tailed Deer.

Late afternoon at Woodoaks Farm

A late afternoon visit produced a wonderful female Common Stonechat along the main track. It busily fed on insects despite being harried by the resident European Robin. A single Black Redstart gave the briefest of views near the old black barn and a lone Coal Tit was located at Ladywalk Wood. Below the old orchard a pair of Little Owl nestled amongst a Hawthorn adjacent the horse paddock.

Dorset Birding

It's been quite a while since I last uploaded a post on here due mainly to other commitments.
A few days away with my family to Swanage gave me the opportunity to visit Durlston Country Park. An early morning walk on the 4th September provided the following species:-

Northern Gannet 3, Shag 4, Great Black backed Gull 7, Herring Gull 9, Peregrine Falcon 1, Feral Rock Dove 35, Woodpigeon 9, Green Woodpecker 2, Common Stonechat 3, Grey Wagtail (2), European Robin 11, Common Blackbird 1, Wren 6, Dunnock 4, Greater Whitethroat 2, Common Chiffchaff 3, Long-tailed Tit 5, Blue Tit 4, Great Tit 2, Magpie 7, Jackdaw 25, Carrion Crow 5, Common Raven 2, Common Linnet 10 Eurasian Bullfinch 5.

Whilst walking the coastal path above the cliffs a Peregrine Falcon provided very close views while it rested between hunting sorties.

Identity crisis

On the 6th May I heard a very unusual bird song coming from scrub behind my back yard. At first I thought I was listening to a Chiffchaff but the song ended like that of Willow Warbler. I managed to entice the bird closer and in to my garden by imitating the call of Willow Warbler and this ploy seemed to work. Attached are a couple of photos of the bird taken from my garden as it sang from my neighbours Rowan. I'm uncertain as to the identity of the bird in question, it looked very Willow Warbler like with the exception of having  darkish legs. I'll post video of the song if I'm successful in downloading it onto my PC, fingers crossed.