In Search Of Miami Parakeets

The lush tropical vegetation in the Miami area is very conducive for large numbers and a great variety of parakeets and parrots that can be readily observed visually and audibly.

The Mitred Parakeet above (image 1) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

On 12 March I made a trip to Miami with the company of Frank Constantin, Suzanne Lanthier and Réal Jauvin, all visiting from Quebec. Our first stop was the Baptist Hospital of Miami offering a pair of Egyptian Geese as the first bird species seen. Mitred Parakeets could be heard overhead. There were in excess of 70 in a single flock before breaking up into smaller groups.

The Egyptian Goose above (image 2) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Graylag Goose (domestic type) above (image 3) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Swan Goose (domestic type) above (image 4) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Egyptian Goose above (image 5) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Rock Dove above (image 6) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

After photographing other species of birds at hand we followed the call of the Mitred Parakeets to the west side of the property. The parakeets were obviously very wary of the presence of an American Kestrel. At one point the parakeets took refuge in a berry laden tree before once again taking flight to keep a distance from the kestrel's approach of them.

The Egyptian Goose above (image 7) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

Réal Jauvin, Francois Constantin and Suzanne Lanthier (l-r) above (image 8) were photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Fish Crow with nesting material above (image 9) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Eurasian Collared-Dove above (image 10) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Mitred Parakeet above (image 11) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

Our next stop was the University of Miami where we were asked to leave by campus security as we did not have authorization to visit. A call of parakeets could be heard where we had parked, but they were not seen thus remaining unidentified. We next visited A. D. Barnes Park which was nearly completely devoid of birds save a pair of Black Vultures, a Northern Mockingbird, a Mourning Dove and a Blue Jay.

The Mitred Parakeet above (image 12) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The American Kestrel above (image 13) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Mitred Parakeet above (image 14) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Mitred Parakeet above (image 15) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Mitred Parakeet above (image 16) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

Castellow Hammock Park was our next stop with hopes of photographing the Buff-bellied Hummingbird that was discovered by Colorado birder Connie Kogler. Word quickly got out about the rare to Florida hummingbird with eBird reports first appearing on 2 January. This was my second attempt to photograph the Buff-bellied Hummingbird, and was only fortunate enough to definitively see and hear it on this trip.

The Mitred Parakeet above (image 17) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Mitred Parakeet above (image 18) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Mitred Parakeet above (image 19) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in March 2016.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 20) was photographed at Castellow Hammock Park in March 2016.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 21) was photographed at Castellow Hammock Park in March 2016.

In the company of the Buff-bellied Hummingbird were no less than four Ruby-throated Hummingbirds which favored the depths of an approximately 15 foot tall by 35 foot wide Chinese hat plant. Again a parakeet was heard, but not seen. A White-winged Dove was a pleasure to find as I had not photographed this species in quite some time.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 22) was photographed at Castellow Hammock Park in March 2016.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 23) was photographed at Castellow Hammock Park in March 2016.

The White-winged Dove above (image 24) was photographed at Castellow Hammock Park in March 2016.

The Palm Warbler above (image 25) was photographed at Castellow Hammock Park in March 2016.

The Northern Cardinal above (image 26) was photographed at Castellow Hammock Park in March 2016.

Onward in the direction of home we made a brief stop at the Shark Valley Visitor Center where the water level was very high in the canals due to January's rainfall. The expected wading birds were absent as a result.

The Mourning Dove above (image 27) was photographed at Castellow Hammock Park in March 2016.

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The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 28) was photographed at Castellow Hammock Park in March 2016.

Miami To The Dry Tortugas Tour: Pt. III

The time passes much too quickly when visiting Dry Tortugas National Park via the Yankee Freedom III.

The juvenile Sooty Tern above (image 1) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The solution for this is overnight camping which is offered as an option while visiting Fort Jefferson. I will be acquiring a tent in the near future.

The Sooty Tern above (image 2) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The juvenile Sooty Tern above (image 3) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Sooty Tern above (image 4) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Sooty Tern above (image 5) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Magnificent Frigatebird above (image 6) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Sooty Terns significantly outnumbered the Brown Noddies that nest on Bush Key and Long Key which at the moment has a land bridge to Garden Key on which Fort Jefferson was built. One may have great delight in attempting to photograph these birds that are in constant motion around you through the summer season.

The juvenile Sooty Tern above (image 7) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The juvenile Sooty Tern above (image 8) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The juvenile Sooty Tern above (image 9) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The juvenile Sooty Tern above (image 10) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The juvenile Sooty Tern above (image 11) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

In reflection, I have a regret in not being more mobile in exploring the grounds of the Park. The few observation points I had were more than gratifying, however. I was pleased that fellow traveler Tom Obrock got a great shot of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo which I could not.

The Brown Pelican above (image 12) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The male Magnificent Frigatebird above (image 13) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Brown Noddy above (image 14) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Sooty Tern above (image 15) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

The Gray Kingbird above (image 16) was photographed at Garden Key in May 2015.

After the return to Key West, Tom and I had unusually good weather while making stops along the way back to Florida City. Our first was at Big Pine Key which offered a family of Key Deer. We had passed a representative of the endangered species in the median of the Overseas Highway pre-sunrise on the way to the ferry.

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

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

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

The Key Deer above (image 20) was photographed at No Name Key in May 2015.

The Key Deer above (image 21) was photographed at No Name Key in May 2015.

The last stop of the day was at Florida Keys Marathon Airport with the hope of observing Antillean Nighthawks near sunset. A bonus species seen here was brought to our attention by fellow wildlife observers that found a very late migrating Bobolink.

The Key Deer above (image 22) was photographed at No Name Key in May 2015.

The Antillean Nighthawk above (image 23) was photographed at Florida Keys Marathon Airport in May 2015.

The Bobolink above (image 24) was photographed at Florida Keys Marathon Airport in May 2015.

The Bobolink above (image 25) was photographed at Florida Keys Marathon Airport in May 2015.

The immature White Ibis above (image 26) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

The final day of our travels included a first stop at the University of Miami with hopes of observing all the parrots and parakeets the city has to offer. Well, we got a lifer for both of us with Scaly-headed Parrot. This species is not countable, and in fact is not even mentioned in my Sibley (eighth edition of the original) or Peterson guides.

The Green Anole above (image 27) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

The Muscovy Duck chicks above (image 28) were photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

The Green Heron above (image 29) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

The Common Gallinule above (image 30) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

The Hill Myna above (image 31) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

A pair of Hill Myna were very enjoyable to observe on the university campus. There was evidence of a Mourning Dove having dominance over the parrots while driving one from its perch.

The Hill Myna above (image 32) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

The Hill Myna above (image 33) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

The Hill Myna above (image 34) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

The Scaly-headed Parrot above (image 35) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

The Scaly-headed Parrot above (image 36) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

Dozens of other parrot species remained elusive at the University of Miami this day while Tom photographed the White-winged Parakeet (which may be in decline) as well as Red-masked Parakeet.

The Scaly-headed Parrot above (image 37) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

The Scaly-headed Parrot above (image 38) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron above (image 39) was photographed at the University of Miami in May 2015.

Our last stop before the ride back to Fort Myers was to investigate the Cave Swallow site at SW 72 St and Snapper Creek Drive in Kendall. The Cave Swallows have become proven to be very reliably seen here.

The Mitred Parakeet above (image 40) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in May 2015.

The Mitred Parakeet above (image 41) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in May 2015.

A last visit on the trip was made to Baptist Hospital of Miami where an Egyptian Goose was observed. Upon closer inspection there was another goose which was likely the mate, seen in a cavity at the water's edge. There may have been a nesting event happening there.

The Mitred Parakeet above (image 42) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in May 2015.

The Egyptian Goose above (image 43) was photographed at Baptist Hospital of Miami in May 2015.

If you haven't made this trip, what are you waiting for?

The Common Gallinule above (image 44) was photographed in Kendall in May 2015.

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