SWFloridabirder: Miami And Florida Keys June Wildlife Tour: Part V

Friday, July 11, 2014

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 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.

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.