Miami To The Dry Tortugas Tour: Pt. II

This annual trek, which I think of as the Florida Keys trip, is the one I enjoy the most.

The juvenile Bald Eagle harassed by Laughing Gull above (image 1) was photographed at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in May 2015.

Tom Obrock and I left Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, our first stop of the day at about 11:00 to arrive at Marathon Government Center shortly after noon. The target species here was Roseate Tern which were seen in good numbers. It's unfortunate that there is never ideal light for photography at this venue.

The Least Tern above (image 2) was photographed at Marathon Government Center in May 2015.

The Roseate Tern above (image 3) was photographed at Marathon Government Center in May 2015.

The Gray Kingbird with nesting material above (image 4) was photographed at Marathon Government Center in May 2015.

The Roseate Tern above (image 5) was photographed at Marathon Government Center in May 2015.

The Roseate Tern above (image 6) was photographed at Marathon Government Center in May 2015.

Our next stop was at Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park with hopes to observe a Mangrove Cuckoo. There were at least two heard, though they were not seen.

The Roseate Tern above (image 7) was photographed at Marathon Government Center in May 2015.

The Julia Butterfly above (image 8) was photographed at Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park in May 2015.

The Prairie Warbler above (image 9) was photographed at Card Sound Toll in May 2015.

The Masked Booby above (image 10) was photographed at Hospital Key in May 2015.

The scene above (image 11) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

Our last stop of the day on our return to Florida City was Card Sound Toll where the target species Cuban Golden Warbler was heard, but again not seen. The Prairie Warbler observed was an acceptable substitute for nothing at all.

The American Redstart above (image 12) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The American Redstart above (image 13) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Blackpoll Warbler above (image 14) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Blackpoll Warbler above (image 15) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Magnificent Frigatebird above (image 16) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

A 0430 departure was required to arrive at the Yankee Freedom III Ferry at Key West Bight for our departure for the Dry Tortugas. It was a weird feeling to appear to have arrived late with so many people already in the terminal. I believe the catamaran left its dock this Memorial Day with room for four (normal capacity).

The Magnificent Frigatebird above (image 17) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Magnificent Frigatebird above (image 18) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Magnificent Frigatebird above (image 19) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Brown Noddy above (image 20) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Sooty Tern above (image 21) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

As Tom and I boarded the Yankee Freedom III I heard Tom ask the Captain to make a close approach to Hospital Key for a good view of the Masked Boobies. While we were rewarded with that, the quick speed of the boat and high waves didn't allow for good pics of North America's only nesting colony of Masked Boobies.

The Sooty Tern above (image 22) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Brown Noddy with Sooty Tern above (image 23) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Sooty Tern above (image 24) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Sooty Tern above (image 25) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Brown Noddy above (image 26) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

After leaving the boat I immediately went in search of warblers on the appropriately named Garden Key as there had been good reports of their presence in preceding days. With good fortune I observed a Blackpoll Warbler substantiating Hemant Kishan's observation that the warblers are running late this season.

The Sooty Tern above (image 27) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 28) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

Thanks to Vince McGrath for positive ID on the blackpoll. Additionally within the compound of Fort Jefferson was a good view of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, but I couldn't capture its image. Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies were in very high numbers among a handful of Magnificent Frigatebirds.

The Sooty Tern above (image 29) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Sooty Tern above (image 30) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

Next week's post will conclude the report of this trip.

The Brown Noddy above (image 31) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

Please also see Miami To The Dry Tortugas Tour: Pt. I
Please also see Miami To The Dry Tortugas Tour: Pt. III