Miami And Florida Keys June Wildlife Tour: Part V

The trek home to conclude an annual wildlife tour including the Florida Keys with Tom Obrock was leisurely through Miami-Dade County on 11 June 2014.

The Barn Owl above was photographed near Lucky Hammock in June 2014.

My first sighting of Shiny Cowbird was made at Key West Country Club to end the day the night before while I almost neglected to include its image in the blog.

The Shiny Cowbird above was photographed at Vaca Key in June 2014.

The Swan Goose above was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in June 2014.

The Mitred Parakeet above was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in June 2014.

My first sighting of a Barn Owl which was roadkill (ironically for the bird near Lucky Hammock) will unfortunately be thought of on every future trip to this beautiful place. With good fortune I'll have another Barn Owl observation.

The Mitred Parakeet above was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in June 2014.

The European Starling above was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in June 2014.

The Chimney Swift above was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in June 2014.

In my haste to get a gander of White-tailed Kite near the entrance to Everglades National Park we drove to this area first on the final day of the trip. Tom advised visiting here later in the morning when the thermals would offer a possibility of seeing the species in flight.

The Fish Crow above was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in June 2014.

The House Sparrow above was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in June 2014.

The House Sparrow above was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in June 2014.

Since I had only observed White-tailed Kite once before, it would not have been a problem for me to wait as long as necessary, within reason, for another view of them. As the rainy season has become just that, we continued to Baptist Hospital of Miami with the clock ticking.

The Mitred Parakeet above was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in June 2014.

The Mitred Parakeet above was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in June 2014.

The Fish Crow above was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in June 2014.

Upon arrival to the hospital where wildlife is abundant, a large flock of Mitred Parakeet worked the grounds. It was a treat for me to see Chimney Swift which I have not had enough chances to document. I spent the greatest time here watching them.

The House Sparrow above was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in June 2014.

The Red-masked Parakeet above was photographed at the University of Miami in June 2014.

The Red-masked Parakeet above was photographed at the University of Miami in June 2014.

Tom and I then chose to look for the Red-whiskered Bulbul which remains a nemesis bird for me even after this trip. Though I prefer to photograph birds in flight or at rest in a natural setting, I would have been excited to see the species on a wire.

The Red-masked Parakeet above was photographed at the University of Miami in June 2014.

The Red-masked Parakeet above was photographed at the University of Miami in June 2014.

The Red-masked Parakeet above was photographed at the University of Miami in June 2014.

We continued on to the University of Miami for other exotics. It was a treat to have my first sighting of Red-masked Parakeet. It was interesting to see how they were so camouflaged in the trees. If the birds did not take flight, I would have never noticed them.

The Red-masked Parakeet above was photographed at the University of Miami in June 2014.

The Cave Swallow above was photographed at the Snapper Canal in June 2014.

The Cave Swallow above was photographed at the Snapper Canal in June 2014.

Our last stop before the deluge was at the Snapper Canal where Cave Swallows have been reported. One in a hurry would have missed the species as they were not immediately present.

The Cave Swallow above was photographed at the Snapper Canal in June 2014.

The Cave Swallow above was photographed at the Snapper Canal in June 2014.

You may see Tom's account of this trip here.

The Cave Swallow above was photographed at the Snapper Canal in June 2014.

Please also see: Miami And Florida Keys June Wildlife Tour Part I
Please also see: Miami And Florida Keys June Wildlife Tour Part II
Please also see: Miami And Florida Keys June Wildlife Tour Part III
Please also see: Miami And Florida Keys June Wildlife Tour Part IV

If Not By Sea, Then By Land: Part I

A season long anticipated pelagic trip into the Atlantic Ocean to benefit the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, Florida, was met with uncertainty as the second tropical weather disturbance of the earlier than expected 2012 hurricane season created unsafe conditions to be on the water far offshore.

The Cave Swallow above was photographed at the Kissimmee River and Route 70 in May 2012.

This was to be my first trip of its kind. Waves of 10 feet or more possible with the wave frequency likely extremely uncomfortable were determining factors with regard to safety as Tropical Storm Beryl reversed direction. Beryl would be the most powerful storm to make landfall in May in the last 100 years. En route to the Florida East coast, notification had been received from Michael Brothers that the trip was a possible go after an earlier cancellation. Initial plans to visit Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge were scuttled when final word was received from Michael that the trip had to be cancelled. Vince McGrath and Dr. Jose Padilla traveling in the lead vehicle coordinated with Tom Obrock traveling with me. A recommendation was made to head south toward the keys to avoid the storm. A few stops on the first day of the road trip offered new species of bird I had not yet seen nor photographed. We traveled as far south as mile marker 48 on Route 1 to end the first day's observations. It was here at sunset that I had my first sighting of Antillean Nighthawk that Tom was certain would be seen. There were a pair of the birds that put on a high altitude show over the airport after I excitedly made my first observations of Roseate Tern and White-crowned Pigeon at the government buildings with Cuban Golden Warbler and Black-whiskered Vireo seen at the tollbooth. A photo of the Mangrove Cuckoo remains elusive after I had a pair of these birds in the viewfinder of the camera. Coincidentally, Neal Boortz from the Atlanta area, one of my favorite talk radio hosts had made a light aircraft flight out of Naples over Marathon Airport and the Florida Keys about twelve hours later offering a short video of his trip. Vince has an extremely acute sense of hearing which is a benefit in finding birds or at the least identifying those that remain unseen. It was ironic that Vince made the comment not to "chase" the birds as I will often settle in one spot for four to five hours at a time waiting for the birds to come to me. It is with regret that very heavy crops of images taken of the wildlife on this trip have resulted in less than favorable image quality in many cases. The company of Vince McGrath as leader was very important in making observations on this trip which continued for another day.


The Gray Kingbird above was photographed at Cutler Ridge in May 2012.


The Cave Swallow above was photographed at Cutler Ridge in May 2012.


The Black-whiskered Vireo above was photographed at the toll booth on Card Sound Road in May 2012.


The Cuban Golden Warbler above was photographed at the toll booth on Card Sound Road in May 2012.


The Cuban Golden Warbler above was photographed at the toll booth on Card Sound Road in May 2012.


The Cuban Golden Warbler above was photographed at the toll booth on Card Sound Road in May 2012.


The Magnificent Frigatebird above was photographed at the toll booth on Card Sound Road in May 2012.


The Roseate Tern above was photographed at the Government Complex in May 2012.


The White-crowned Pigeon above was photographed at the Government Complex in May 2012.


The Common Myna above was photographed near the Government Complex in May 2012.


The Antillean Nighthawk above was photographed at Marathon Airport in May 2012.


The Antillean Nighthawk above was photographed at Marathon Airport in May 2012.

Please see If Not By Sea, Then By Land: Part I.