Feature: Sawgrass Lake Park Pt. I

It required a single visit to Sawgrass Lake Park in Pinellas County to consider it one of my favorite wildlife venues in Florida.

The Anhinga above (image 1) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

Sawgrass Lake Park, north of downtown St. Petersburg and southwest of Tampa, was created primarily to manage stormwater flooding in the adjacent city of Pinellas Park. A small waterfall in fact could be seen flowing into Sawgrass Lake while looking in the direction of Pinellas Park from the lake's observation tower.

The Blackburnian Warbler with prey above (image 2) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker above (image 3) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Common Grackle above (image 4) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

This park was not originally on my radar in early planning for a Fall migration trip from Fort Myers with birding bud, Tom Obrock. The initial thought was to make a trip to Miami's A. D. Barnes Park with unfavorable weather persistent, and then Fort De Soto Park considered with hopes of seeing migrating birds.

The Blackburnian Warbler above (image 5) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Blackburnian Warbler above (image 6) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Prairie Warbler above (image 7) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

Trumpeter Swan, reported earlier at Eagle Lake Park immediately southeast of Clearwater, was on my mind when deciding at the last minute to make Sawgrass Lake Park the primary destination with its potential for something unusual. Hurricane Hermine had made impressive checklists at Sawgrass Lake Park in the days preceding our visit.

The Prairie Warbler above (image 8) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Prairie Warbler above (image 9) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Northern Parula above (image 10) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

It required a 5:00am departure from Fort Myers for Tom and I to arrive at the park shortly after sunrise. The traffic on I-75 seemed unusually heavy to me on this 6 September journey. Shortly before arriving at the park we approached what could have become a catastrophic accident on the interstate. I will be getting a dashcam soon.

The Black-and-white Warbler above (image 11) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Yellow Warbler above (image 12) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Northern Parula with prey above (image 13) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

There were already a few cars parked at the visitor's facilities when we arrived. I noticed that a couple of people with binoculars and cameras were walking back toward the entrance to the park. They obviously knew something that we didn't.

The Northern Parula with prey above (image 14) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Northern Parula above (image 15) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Tufted Titmouse above (image 16) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

Tom and I opted to traverse the boardwalk that meanders into the Red Maple swamp first. We soon found that the Maple Trail portion of the boardwalk was closed perhaps due to storm damage from Hurricane Hermine. A park worker advised that entering the closed area would result in a one year banishment from the park if caught.

The Worm-eating Warbler above (image 17) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Worm-eating Warbler above (image 18) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Yellow-throated Warbler above (image 19) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

Shortly after passing the intersection of the Sawgrass and Maple Trails we encountered birds. Mainly Blackburnian Warbler which was a life bird for me. A Golden Silk Orb-weaver was motionless in its web in this area as well.

The Yellow-throated Warbler above (image 20) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Yellow-throated Warbler above (image 21) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Yellow-throated Warbler above (image 22) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

Continuing on to the observation tower resulted in an unexpectedly quiet walk. There was also a near complete absence of birds flying over the lake although many waders could be seen foraging on the far side with a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks perched on a distant fence. A scope would have been useful here.

The Yellow-throated Warbler above (image 23) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Hooded Warbler above (image 24) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

The Red-eyed Vireo above (image 25) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

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The Summer Tanager above (image 26) was photographed at Sawgrass Lake Park in September 2016.

Please also see Feature: Sawgrass Lake Park Part II

Feature: Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park

Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park is one of the newest parks to open in southwest Florida offering another great opportunity to stretch your legs beyond the beaches.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 1) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

While a pedestrian bridge has been proposed to connect the park to the "greenway" to its south, it is my belief that the idea should fail. Without this connection to Freedom Park, bicycle traffic will be minimized which is necessary for the visitor's ideal connection to a wildlife experience.

The American Goldfinch above (image 2) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

The Prairie Warbler above (image 3) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park officially opened on 6 October 2009. The average cost for each of its near 50 acres was an amazing $384,000 in taxpayer dollars. The park is bordered by a highway to its south and west, a golf course to the north and undeveloped land to the east.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 4) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 5) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

Stormwater treatment is a primary purpose of the park. Water that is directed into a near five acre pond from the highways and surrounding neighborhoods is then redirected into a few other "water filters." These comparatively insignificant waters then enter Naples Bay and the Gulf of Mexico cleaner via the Gordon River.

The Orange-barred Sulfur above (image 6) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

The Palm Warbler above (image 7) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

This venue appears to be a boon for the seeker of wildlife. As the dust has cleared from construction activity at Freedom Park it's clear that a good diversity of creatures will at least make a pit stop for their sustenance.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 8) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 9) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

With great fortune I had the opportunity to observe and photograph a Broad-billed Hummingbird (BBIH), a rare visitor to Florida and Freedom Park. Wildlife aficionado Hemant Kishan described the BBIH here as a southeast Arizona specialty.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 10) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

The Broad-billed Hummingbird above (image 11) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

Follow the list of species that are seen at this park, and reported to eBird, certain to exceed 200 in time. Additionally, Freedom Park will at some point offer a memorial to those lost on 9/11.

The Broad-billed Hummingbird above (image 12) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

The Broad-billed Hummingbird above (image 13) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

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The Broad-billed Hummingbird above (image 14) was photographed at Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park in February 2016.

Western Spindalis At Markham Park

Almost like clockwork, another vagrant bird entered the airspace of southern Florida and landed in late 2015 on the heals of Variegated Flycatcher, Northern Wheatear, and a Mountain Bluebird.

The Zebra Longwing Butterfly above (image 1) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

Though not as rare in Florida as the aforementioned species, a much sought after Western Spindalis zena zena (Bahamas Black-backed) was reported by David Hall at Markham Park on 26 November.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher above (image 2) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Cape May Warbler above (image 3) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

As the Spindalis had been reported through the end of the month of November, Bird Patrol volunteer and wildlife blogger, Tom Obrock, and I made a trip on 1 December to chase the rarity. Arrival at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida, was after my fear that we might be rained out as there was an ominous looking sky approaching the east coast.

The Blue Dasher Dragonfly above (image 4) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Western Spindalis above (image 5) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

With the car parked where instructed from previous eBird Florida Rare Bird Alert reports, Tom and I made our way toward the Nature Trail. I immediately had the thought that if I lived nearby, I would visit Markham Park often.

The Magnolia Warbler above (image 6) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Spot-breasted Oriole above (image 7) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

Markham Park is multi-use venue with events on the weekend that one might expect to be disruptive of the wildlife, but has been proven not to be the case. At the time of my visit there were many other wildlife subjects on hand that I enjoyed observing and photographing even with a relatively small footprint of the park explored.

The Spot-breasted Oriole above (image 8) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Spot-breasted Oriole feeding on Coco Plum above (image 9) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The spindalis had been reported to be favoring the company of a group of Spot-breasted Orioles, and such was the case this day. While the orioles were highly visible, the spindalis was a relative skulker.

The Spot-breasted Oriole above (image 10) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Spot-breasted Oriole above (image 11) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

I met Angel Abreu, among the many birding enthusiasts on hand this day, who pointed out David Hall also present who was the first to report the Western Spindalis at Markham Park. It ultimately became a crowded field of observers which made it a challenge for me to photograph the spindalis when it made an appearance.

The Western Spindalis above (image 12) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Spot-breasted Oriole above (image 13) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Western Spindalis zena zena at Markham Park is the most common sub-species that visits Florida. Although not considered migratory, a Bahamas Black-backed Western Spindalis was remarkably observed at Leffis Key near the turn of the millennium by Bill Pranty and Brian Ahern.

The Spot-breasted Oriole above (image 14) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Spot-breasted Oriole above (image 15) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

Brian has an eBird checklist from that time while Greg Lavaty has a gallery of older images of spindalis that he had observed in Puerto Rico when this species was generally called Stripe-headed Tanager. Greg's tanager is now Puerto Rican Spindalis (Spindalis portoricensis) according to the American Ornithologists' Union.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 16) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Prairie Warbler above (image 17) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

There are currently five sub-species of Western Spindalis which include Spindalis zena zena (Bahamas Black-backed), Spindalis zena townsendi (Bahamas Green-backed), Spindalis zena pretrei (Cuban), Spindalis zena salvini (Grand Cayman Island), and Spindalis zena benedicti (Cozumel Island). Bill Pantry notes that only pretrie, townsendi and zena have been documented in Florida.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird above (image 18) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Spot-breasted Oriole above (image 19) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The genus Spindalis currently consists of four species including Spindalis zena (highlighted in this article), Spindalis dominicensis, Spindalis portoricensis, and Spindalis nigricephala. Wildlife blogger Hemant Kishan photographed the Puerto Rican Spindalis (portoricensis) well. Larry Manfredi's web page offers interesting comparisons of a few Spindalis zena subspecies.

The Spot-breasted Oriole above (image 20) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Common Basilisk above (image 21) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

While a Western Spindalis should not be expected to be seen at any time in Florida, the 2009 Long Pine Key nesting event will hopefully be a harbinger of things to come. It would certainly be prudent to look extremely closely at any bird thought Spindalis to ensure it is not another rare visitor to Florida, or possibly a first known record.

The Gulf Fritillary above (image 22) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Long-tailed Skipper above (image 23) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

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The Julia Butterfly above (image 24) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.

The Band-winged Dragonlet above (image 25) was photographed at Markham Park in December 2015.