Razorbills Flock To Florida In Late 2012 Part I

In the historical record of bird observations in Florida, 14 accounts of Razorbill were made prior to December 2012.

The male Long-billed Curlew above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

A mere one of those observations included a sighting of Razorbill in the Gulf of Mexico. December 2012 would unfold to offer a remarkable event with an estimated 1000 Razorbills making their way here from the northeast Atlantic coast. Although speculation is rampant in an attempt to explain this phenomenon, it may not be known for years what led these cold water alcids to an environment the Razorbill is certainly not accustomed to (predators and food source). Hurricane Sandy is at the top of the list of suspects. A Razorbill has been reported to be actively feeding in the Florida Keys although many others are not surviving.

The male Long-billed Curlew above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The male Long-billed Curlew above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The male Long-billed Curlew above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The male Long-billed Curlew above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The White Pelican above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Ring-billed Gull with Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The White Pelican above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The White Pelican above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Sanderling above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The White Pelican above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Osprey above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The immature Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

Although the first known Razorbill to be reported in December 2012 occurred on the 9th at Boynton Inlet, it wasn't until the 14th when I read Vince McGrath's report from Bunche Beache Preserve where he and Dr. Jose Padilla observed the Razorbill that morning at a low tide. Tom Obrock told me that he visited the Preserve later that day missing the Razorbill, but did see Black Scoter. It wasn't until the 17th when I could get to Bunche for observation and missed the Razorbill as well at that venue. Thereafter I became aware of the Stokes' report of Razorbill at Blind Pass, and thus made a trip there on the 20th.

The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The immature Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The banded Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Sanderling above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Osprey above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The male Long-billed Curlew above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2012.

The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Sanderling above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Razorbill was first personally seen at Blind Pass on the Captiva Island side at less than 20 feet as I walked along the sea wall. I followed the lone Razorbill two miles north along the beach as it drifted with the waves, and as it swam above and below water. The bird traveled this distance in about 75 minutes. After Tom caught up with me, the Razorbill was well out of range. An additional highlight north of Blind Pass was the hunting of Royal Tern by a Peregrine Falcon which was successful after giving up on its first target, dropping the second, and carrying away the third. Before returning mainland, I tried to get ahead of the mobile and apparently very healthy Razorbill at Alison Hagerup Beach Park, but was unsuccessful in observing the bird again this day.

The Razorbill above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Razorbill above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Razorbill above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Razorbill above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Royal Tern above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Sanderling above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Razorbill above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Razorbill with Brown Pelican above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Razorbill above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Razorbill above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Magnificent Frigatebird above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Sanderling above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Red-breasted Merganser above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Red-breasted Merganser above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Red-breasted Merganser above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Red-breasted Merganser above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The immature Magnificent Frigatebird above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Peregrine Falcon with Royal Tern above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Peregrine Falcon with Royal Tern above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Peregrine Falcon with Royal Tern above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

The Peregrine Falcon with Royal Tern above was photographed at Blind Pass in December 2012.

Addendum: A few corrections. Your Whimbrel is rather a LONG-BILLED CURLEW. Its short bill suggest a male. I also photographed this same bird at Bunche Beach on Tuesday (January 1st). Your Western Sandpiper is a SANDERLING (note absence of a hind toe). You also mislabelled your last image of a Red-breasted Merganser as a cormorant. Thank you, Robert.

Please see Razorbills Flock To Florida In Late 2012: Part II.