Chasing Florida State Vagrants in January 2020 Birding has many facets, as many of us know. It gets us outside, exploring new and fascinating places we wouldn’t normally visit. It connects us with people we may never interact with otherwise. But one part of the hobby that really drew me in nearly 11 years ago and continues to do so … Read More
Cooperative Florida Scrub-Jays – Merritt Island NWR
During this year’s Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival, I met up with a few folks from the Leica Birding Team to search for Florida Scrub-Jays at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The obvious place to look for them within the refuge is along the Scrub Trail. Drew and I dipped on them last year, but we turned the tables … Read More
Blue Heron Wetlands in Titusville FL – a birder’s guide
Last year during the World Digiscopers Meeting, there was an outing to a local birding hotspot in Titusville called Blue Heron Wetlands. We spent a few hours in the afternoon sun and wind, which produced very little. Needless to say, I wasn’t too impressed. That was until I revisited the site last week. In this post, I’ll give tips and … Read More
Crested Caracaras at Sunset
Drew and I spent the last two hours of January 21st looking for the Smooth-billed Ani in Broward County, Florida. We worked a 100 meter stretch of scrubby habitat along Government Rd. anxiously waiting for the ani to pop out, call, and make it’s presence known. There were numerous birds flying to roost during our ani search including White Ibis, … Read More
Weekend Digiscoping Spotlight 27
The Weekend Digiscoping Spotlight will highlight some of the fun shots we’ve gotten recently with a camera paired with a spotting scope or binoculars. We welcome submissions of your favorite digiscoped shots to be featured in future spotlights, just use the contact form in the menu above. I arrived in Florida for the World Digiscopers Meeting and Space Coast Birding … Read More
Photo Study – The Ponce Inlet Purple Sandpiper
On the afternoon of January 25, 2015, a few members of the Leica Birding Team and I stopped by the jetty at Lighthouse Point Park (Ponce Inlet, eBird checklist) to see if we could get Raymond his lifer Purple Sandpiper. Purple Sandpipers are only being seen at two locations in Florida, Lighthouse Point Park and Fort Clinch State Park, making … Read More
Thayer’s Gull – Daytona Beach Shores, Florida
The gull spectacle at Daytona Beach Shores in Volusia County, Florida, is talked about across the country and especially here at the Space Coast Birding Festival. Drew and I have seen reports of Thayer’s, Iceland, and Glaucous Gulls in the area, so we decided to check it out. We arrived on sight around 4:30, drove onto the beach, and saw … Read More
Florida Kayak Birding: Black-bellied Whistling Duck
I’m not sure if it is just me, but I think the weather has been amazing in Florida this summer. We have only had a few days of unbearable heat, and while most days are indeed hot and humid, they aren’t like the horrendous FL summer days you are warned about. Evenings are downright pleasant, especially right before and right … Read More
Florida Kayak Birding: Prothonotary Warbler
My field season has slowed down a little bit, so I have had some time lately to kayak some of the local lakes. Kayaking is a great way to beat the Florida heat, and birds are often concentrated around lakes, rivers, and wetlands to do the same. It’s been so hot that I almost want to jump in the lakes….almost…but … Read More
An evening in Ocala National Forest: Common Nighthawk flight display
Yesterday, as part of my work with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, I spent part of the day mapping territories of Florida Scrub-Jays in Ocala National Forest. I spent a few hours out in the morning, but high humidity and baking sun had the jays quiet by 11:00 or so. There is no standing water in the scrub, so … Read More
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