Thanksgiving in Florida Nets Us 6 Life Birds -- Part 1

          OK, I will confess bluntly that Carl and I have never been fans of Florida.  To us, it was a ruined landscape -- an endless line of strip malls and hotels marring what would be the most beautiful parts of the state.  Hey, when you live in this glorious paradise here -- our SC Lowcountry -- other places often simply disappoint.  Well, that was  BEFORE we were birders.  This Thanksgiving, Carl and I just spent our first vacation in Florida as birders.  And so, speaking for myself, I can say that I am now changing my tune!  In fact, I am now quite eager for a return trip!  And it will not be just for the birds either as we had a quite a fun time with the family, too!  But with this blog being about nature, that is what I will share here -- the birds!

Tampa Skyline from Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

            What we did not know before was that hidden by the strip malls and hotels along its over-developed coastlines, many Florida counties and cities have beautiful, expansive parks and nature preserves.  Carl and I began to learn this even before our departure as we used resources sent by sister Chris (thank you,Chris!) and the online program eBird to plan our birding quests.  Knowing that Florida afforded us the opportunity to add some new birds to our life lists, we specifically began to investigate species available in Pinellas County at this time of year on eBird.  To make a long story short, we found some excellent life bird candidates in our research and some very birdy locations to explore right in the St. Petersburg area -- our destination for the family holiday. Thus, the research paid off!   During our stay, we made three birding excursions and got 2 life birds on each, plus some great bonus birds.   I also built a Florida list up to 94 species, landed on the eBird Rare Bird Alert 3 times and worked my way up to 72nd birder in the top 100 eBirders for Pinellas County!   In this 3-part post series, I will highlight our 6 life birds and a few of the special bonus birds.  This post, Part One, covers our first day of birding.

        Our first day, Wednesday, we set out towards the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.  We knew from our eBird research that Limpkins had been seen here recently.  As we were driving by Lake Maggiore (part of the preserve) towards the official  entrance, Carl spotted a Roseate Spoonbill nicely posed against the marsh.

Roseate Spoonbill -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

So we pulled off the road, and lo and behold, right behind the lovely Roseate Spoonbill, perched up high on the marsh, was a Limpkin!  --- Life Bird No. One of the trip!  This was just too easy!

Limpkin -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

In this preserve, we found another Limpkin and this beautiful Red-Shouldered Hawk, who, it would seem, owned the place.  He never flushed from his perch over the path as we approached and passed under him, allowing us wonderful close-up views and great photo ops!

Red-Shouldered Hawk -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Red-Shouldered Hawk -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

        Then, there was this wonderful, bright fellow.

Art in the Park! -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

He was subsequently joined by this anhinga.

Anhinga -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Statue and bird -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Statue and Anhinga -- 

       We soon noted that the statues scattered throughout the park were all constructed with recycled metal!  The armadillo below was made of various car parts!

Carl and the Armadillo -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

          In the pine flatwoods area, I heard, but did not see the now familiar sound of a Red-Breasted Nuthatch.  (My regular readers will remember the post in which I reported this species first arrival to our yard this Fall -- the pair has taken up residence!).  My report of this bird landed on the Rare Bird Alert for Florida! 

         Here are a few additional photos from this wildlife rich park.

Wood Stork and Little Blue Heron -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Little Blue Heron -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Belted Kingfisher -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Belted Kingfisher -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Anhinga -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Orange-Crowned Warbler -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

A "White-washing" Wood Stork -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Another view of Tampa from the park -- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

         By late morning, Carl and I had accumulated 38 species and the woodland birds had quieted.  We were ready for a new destination --  the reportedly premier birding site for Pinellas County -- Fort De Soto Park.  Over 328 species have been documented in 60 years in this park.  Recent eBird reports had revealed sightings of a Long-Billed Curlew and some Magnificent Frigatebirds.  In order to arrive at Fort De Soto, we would drive through the community of Tierra Verde.  A decent-sized flock of Ring-Necked Ducks and Redheads had been recently reported  in a pond along the roadside.  As we drove  through Tierre Verde, I was scanning the ponds that we were passing. Suddenly, Carl caught sight of 5 very large, dark birds with forked tails and cormorant-like beaks circling low, but rising, over a pond -- 5 Magnificent Frigatebirds -- Life Bird No. Two of our trip!  We came to a screeching halt, lept from the car and caught these images.  Wow!  Again, that was simply too easy!

Magnificent Frigatebirds -- Tierra Verde, FL -- November 21, 2012

Magnificent Frigatebird -- Tierra Verde, FL -- November 21, 2012

           As these great birds climbed in the sky and began circling away, we turned our attention to the ponds.  There they were --  the large flock of Ring-Necked Ducks and Redheads, as reported!

Ring-Necked Ducks and Redheads -- Tierra Verde, FL -- November 21, 2012

           After photographing these lovelies, we continued to our next destination -- Fort De Soto.  We knew that we would not have alot of time there as we were commissioned to be back at sister Chris' house to greet Carl's parents when they arrived from Tennessee.  Nonetheless, in the short time that we did spend in the park, we learned quickly what a birding mecca it was.  First, just crossing over the bridge into the park area, we saw numerous shorebirds and other water birds along the docks, the bridge and the bay.

American White Pelicans seen in Tampa Bay looking back towards St. Petersburg from Fort De Soto Park              November 21, 2012

American White Pelicans -- Tampa Bay, FL -- November 21, 2012

We decided to bird a bit at the bridge as the rails were lined with a variety of birds -- Wood Stork, Great Egret, Herring Gulls, and a Great Blue Heron -- waiting on a handout from the fishermen on the bridge.

Great Egret watching the fishermen on bridge to Fort De Soto -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Herring Gull on bridge to Fort De Soto -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Sadly, the fishermen, past and present, seemed to be more concerned with fishing than the environment.  The bridge walkway was covered with trash in which many of the birds took an interest. 

Herring Gull investigating the trash left on the bridge -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Some other birds seen from the bridge included Sandwich Terns and Snowy Egrets.  We also noted a number of shorebirds and gulls along the docks at the boat landing in the park and made a mental note to check out in the future.

Sandwich Tern -- Fort De Soto Park -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

Snowy Egret -- Fort De Soto -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

        We were running short on time but we continued into this large park nonetheless.  The birding from the road itself was spectacular.  The number of Ospreys, American Kestrels and Loggerhead Shrikes stunned us!  The Ospreys are everywhere throughout the county but in this park, the American Kestrels seemed to alternate with Loggerhead Shrikes perched on the wires along the roadside. 

One of many Loggerhead Shrikes  -- Fort De Soto -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

          A phone call from the parents informed us that they were still a couple of hours away.  Nonetheless, Carl and I decided to leave this park and bird in another park much closer to the house in order to be able to time our arrival with the parents' arrival.  Thus, we headed to our next destination -- Boca Ciega Millennium Park.   This park offers a boardwalk along the shore close to the mangroves and through some wooded areas.  It also has a 35 foot observation tower.  Upon arrival, our first find was this handsome Osprey eating his fish in a pine over the parking lot.

Osprey enjoying a dish -- Boca Ciega Millennium Park -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

           The afternoon sun shone harshly on the westward facing boardwalk which did not help us to obtain any decent landscape shots.  We saw multiple Black Vulture and Turkey Vultures overhead.  Certain areas were very birdy with woodland birds and others were fairly quiet.  We delighted in this nicely posing American Goldfinches who responded with curiosity to my phishing.

American Goldfinch -- Boca Ciega Millennium Park -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

American Goldfinches -- Boca Ciega Millennium Park -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

The Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers seemed to dominate the flocks but were difficult to photograph.   Just as we finished counting birds at the end of the boardwalk, the phone rang.  The parents had nearly arrived.  We had just enough time to capture this contemplative Great Blue Heron before departing to enjoy the holiday with family.

Great Blue Heron -- Boca Ciega Millennium Park -- St. Petersburg, FL -- November 21, 2012

             What an incredible day!  Carl and I are still awestruck by the ease with which we had obtained our 2 new life birds -- the Limpkin and the Magnificent Frigatebird -- and the superb opportunities for good birding afforded by the beautiful natural areas around the densely populated St. Petersburg.  This vacation birding saga will continue with our post Thanksgiving Day birding excursion in Part Two -- a return to the phenomenal Fort De Soto Park and our birding excursion side trip on our return home in Part Three -- a trip to a park for a Florida specialty bird!  More to come soon!