Winter 2007-2008

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The Bananaquit is a common to abundant bird throughout its range, which includes the West Indies (except Cuba), Central America and much of South America. I saw hundreds during my recent visit to Trinidad and Tobago. Though they breed in locations as close as the Bahamas, they are rarely found in Florida. The mid-February discovery of a Bananaquit in an upscale Ft. Lauderdale neighborhood was thus major news not only in south Florida but throughout the North American birding community. Found by an out-of-state birder, this colorful little bird delighted hundreds of local and visiting birders during its three-week stay. In mid-March, birders visiting the Dry Tortugas found and photographed another West Indian specialty, a Loggerhead Kingbird. This is only the second verified North American record for this species, the first being just last spring. This bird remained on Garden Key in the Tortugas through the end of the month.

South Florida has always been one of the better places in North America to see a variety of wintering warblers, with close to twenty species possible in and around Everglades National Park. A couple of warbler species were found during the local Christmas Bird Counts that, while unusual for Florida in winter, are now becoming regular for our CBCs. A Prothonotary Warbler was again found during the Coot Bay/Everglades National Park CBC. A Nashville Warbler was seen once again during the Kendall CBC, this time on the campus of the University of Miami. A Hooded Warbler was spotted along Hidden Lake Road during the Long Pine Key CBC, and remained for much of the season. Other not-to-be-expected CBC finds included Long-billed Curlew and Short-eared Owl, both seen during the Coot Bay CBC, and Horned Grebe on the Miami CBC. The Hialeah-area flock of Bronzed Cowbirds was found again this year during the Miami CBC. A Brown-crested Flycatcher was seen on Hidden Lake Road during the Long Pine Key CBC; a second bird was later discovered there, and both remained at that location for several months.

A surprising number of species from the western United States were found in Florida this winter. Many were seen during Tropical Audubon's annual trip to North Florida in January, including a Say's Phoebe near Lake Apopka and Broad-tailed, Anna's and Rufous Hummingbirds, Western Tanager, Fox Sparrow and Bullock's Oriole in the Panhandle. Several Horned Larks again wintered in Jackson County in the Panhandle, but could not be found by the TAS group. Elsewhere, a Groove-billed Ani was found at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota County during January. In February, Lazuli Buntings were present in both Lee and Lake Counties. A Cassin's Kingbird spent much of the winter near Stormwater Treatment Area 5 in Hendry County. The hundreds of birders who flocked to STA-5 in February were also treated to close-up looks of a Greater Flamingo. During March, a visiting birder reported a Golden-cheeked Warbler at Six-Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Lee County, but the bird could not be relocated and was possibly misidentified. Closer to home, a possible Hammond's Flycatcher was reported in December at Long Key Natural Area in Broward County, but that bird was also never confirmed. In Miami-Dade, a Yellow-headed Blackbird was found at Dump Marsh in December and a Western Tanager was at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park during January. A Dickcissel, along with Shiny and Bronzed Cowbirds, were regularly visiting a Homestead feeder throughout the season.

Several rare-for-Florida gulls appeared in the state during the winter months, especially at landfills in the Daytona and Cocoa Beach areas. California, Glaucous, Iceland and Thayer's Gulls were recorded from both locations during the season. In January, an Iceland Gull was seen north of Jacksonville. A Glaucous Gull was found in Key West during February. A Great Cormorant was discovered for the second consecutive winter at John U. Lloyd State Park in Broward County; another wintered at Ponce Inlet in Volusia County. Both Razorbill and Dovekie were reported from Ponce Inlet during January; also seen there this winter were Purple Sandpiper and Brant. In early March, two Brant were spotted by visiting birders near the Card Sound Bridge in Key Largo; possibly the same two birds were later seen on Key Biscayne. Other unusual waterfowl found in the state this winter included Ross's Geese in Jackson and Manatee Counties, a White-winged Scoter seen off Black Point in early March and a Snow Goose, first reported from Cutler Wetlands this fall, which reappeared at that location in mid-March.

Finally, all is apparently not yet lost for the family of Smooth-billed Anis that resides in the area south of Ft. Lauderdale International Airport. For the past couple of years, anis could be consistently found in weedy fields near a warehouse on Old Griffin Road. In January, one of those fields was bulldozed, and the anis seemed to disappear. In late March, they were rediscovered in an unplowed field at this same location, and are now being reported regularly again. How long they can hold on there is anyone's guess. This species, while still common throughout its range in the Caribbean and Central and South America, has mysteriously disappeared from just about all of its former range in Florida, and sadly may be on the brink of extirpation from the state.

—Brian Rapoza
TAS Field Trip Coordinator