Wildlife At Miami's Matheson Hammock Park

At the suggestion of Tom Obrock we made a late May trip to Florida's east coast with the possibility of observing Bahama Mockingbird, a rare bird species in Florida, that had been reported in Fort Lauderdale at eBird.

The immature Red-tailed Hawk above (image 1) was photographed near Homestead in May 2016.

Before leaving the limits of Fort Myers we decided instead to head toward Miami as the mockingbird had not been reported in a couple of days. The Baptist Hospital of Miami was our first stop after observing a Red-tailed Hawk being harassed by a Red-winged Blackbird north of Homestead. There was no luck in finding Egyptian Geese that should be expected. Tom and I then devoted much time in a search of Red-whiskered Bulbul in the area of the hospital which was elusive as well.

The immature Red-tailed Hawk above (image 2) was photographed near Homestead in May 2016.

The Red-headed Rock Agama above (image 3) was photographed at Matheson Hammock Park in May 2016.

The Eastern Puerto Rican Crested Anole above (image 4) was photographed at Matheson Hammock Park in May 2016.

Matheson Hammock, our next stop, offered a lifebird for both Tom and I as a handful of Orange-winged Parrot made a direct flyover from the north in the area north of Camp Mahachee at the far west fringe of the park. I regrettably had to forfeit the photography of the birds to put Tom on them. Many invasive lizards were seen at this park as well which turned out to be a highlight of the trip.

The Red-headed Rock Agama above (image 5) was photographed at Matheson Hammock Park in May 2016.

The Zebra Longwing Butterfly above (image 6) was photographed at Matheson Hammock Park in May 2016.

The Red-headed Rock Agama above (image 7) was photographed at Matheson Hammock Park in May 2016.

After leaving Matheson Hammock Park we devoted much time in search of parakeets in the neighborhoods north and northeast of Miami International Airport. We remained unsuccessful in our search with David A. Sibley noting that no native parrot species remain in North America though 65 imported species have been recorded in Florida at the October 2000 publication of his Guide to Birds. He noted that many feral populations may exist. Sibley's 2nd Edition would certainly be the preferred version to consider at the time of this writing.

The Red-headed Rock Agama above (image 8) was photographed at Matheson Hammock Park in May 2016.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker above (image 9) was photographed at Matheson Hammock Park in May 2016.

The Green Iquana above (image 10) was photographed at Matheson Hammock Park in May 2016.

Without the help of the Tropical Audubon Society it is hoped that at least one more journey to the Miami area can be made in search of exotics to add a few more unseen species of parakeet to the list.

The Red-headed Rock Agama above (image 11) was photographed at Matheson Hammock Park in May 2016.

The Red-headed Rock Agama above (image 12) was photographed at Matheson Hammock Park in May 2016.

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The Red-headed Rock Agama above (image 13) was photographed at Matheson Hammock Park in May 2016.

A Fish Heist At Carlos Pointe: Pt. I

It was surreal to drive along Estero Boulevard and Fort Myers Beach on the morning after the Independence Day holiday.

The sunrise above (image 1) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

It appeared I was one of few up and about save a few pedestrians in the predawn hour about while on my way to Carlos Pointe. Bud Tom Obrock had told me of the Black Skimmer fuzzballs that were abundant there a few days earlier.

The fisherman above (image 2) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The fishermen above (image 3) were photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 4) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Least Tern above (image 5) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Snowy Plover incubating eggs above (image 6) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer chick above (image 7) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The birds were active over Big Carlos Pass as were the fishermen shortly before sunrise. Certainly nothing unusual about that. After parking I was eager to cross the bridge and see the action at Carlos Pointe up close.

The Black Skimmer chick above (image 8) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with chick above (image 9) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer chick above (image 10) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer above (image 11) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with prey above (image 12) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with prey above (image 13) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

A dozen or so Roseate Spoonbills immediately caught my attention at the pool. The purpose of the circus flags that are hung over the water there are a mystery. I should have asked one of the wildlife volunteers that were seen this day who is responsible for them.

The Black Skimmer with prey above (image 14) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with prey above (image 15) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with prey above (image 16) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with prey above (image 17) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with prey above (image 18) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with prey and chick above (image 19) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The next thing of interest as I walked north were the owl decoys. My thought was that they were to deter other predator birds that would readily consume the chicks and juveniles that are abundant at this venue this time of year.

The Black Skimmer with chick and Laughing Gull above (image 20) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with Laughing Gull above (image 21) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with prey above (image 22) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with prey above (image 23) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with chick above (image 24) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with Laughing Gull above (image 25) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

Well, my attention was next focused on the Black Skimmer colony. It was here that I would settle down and observe. Although I was tempted on a few occasions to get closer to the wildlife, it was rewarding enough to watch the action from the point where its was impossible to identify the decoys without very close scrutiny.

The Laughing Gull above (image 26) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with chick above (image 27) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with chick above (image 28) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with chick above (image 29) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer with chick above (image 30) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Snowy Plover above (image 31) was photographed at Carlos Point in July 2015.

There was a very modest breeze this particular morning which made the flight of the birds unpredictable though I managed to occasionally stay with them. There was a recurring auto focus opportunity. This venue had previously been of interest to me for observation of a Red-necked Phalarope.

The Brown Pelican above (image 32) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Common Ground Dove above (image 33) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The juvenile Little Blue Heron above (image 34) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

The Black Skimmer above (image 35) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

A small flock of Laughing Gulls were assessing the situation.

The Black Skimmer above (image 36) was photographed at Carlos Pointe in July 2015.

Please also see A Fish Heist At Carlos Point: Pt. II

Blind Pass In Mid Winter: Captiva Side

An early February visit to Blind Pass was with the hope of observing Northern Gannets as reported by Lillian Stokes the previous week.

The sunrise above (image 1) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

While waiting for them unsuccessfully I was entertained by the other wildlife that was active in the noticeable wind from the east northeast. The best bird of the morning at the pass was a Bonaparte's Gull.

The Ruddy Turnstone with prey above (image 2) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ruddy Turnstone above (image 3) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 4) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 5) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 6) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 7) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Bonaparte's Gull above (image 8) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

When I was reviewing its images for this post, I was unsure of what it was and requested the advice of master birder, Vince McGrath. Asking Vince if this might be a Ross's Gull, he informed me otherwise noting it as a Bonaparte's Gull highlighting the bill and tail feathers as telltale characteristics.

The Bonaparte's Gull above (image 9) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 10) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Great Black-backed Gull (3rd winter) above (image 11) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Great Black-backed Gull (3rd winter) above (image 12) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Great Black-backed Gull (3rd winter) above (image 13) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Great Black-backed Gull (3rd winter) above (image 14) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 15) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

I had previously only seen a Bonaparte's Gull on one other occasion while birding Bald Point State Park in February 2013 with Tom Obrock. The butt shot image of the gull on that trip has finally been improved upon.

The Royal Tern above (image 16) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 17) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 18) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 19) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Black Skimmer above (image 20) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 21) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 22) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

As a coincidence, I had the good fortune of observing a Great Black-backed Gull for the second time as well with its previous sighting at Lovers Key State Park in either 2007 or 2008.

The Great Black-backed Gull (3rd winter) above (image 23) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 24) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Great Black-backed Gull (3rd winter) above (image 25) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

I left Blind Pass reluctantly with my next destination Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 26) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Herring Gull above (image 27) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.