So when birders look for a bird and don't find it we call it Dipping. I dipped this morning on the Bahama Mockingbird and even went back this evening before dinner -- this time I think I heard it and I saw some other folks looking at/taking photos of something but I didn't see it and I had to leave to make dinner on time with friends. Sigh. Sometime you just don't get the bird. I did get another life bird while I was there.
Common Ground Dove
After the dip this morning I went on to Merritt Island Black Point Drive. I couldn't imagine it could be better than yesterday -- if it wasn't better it was at least as good, but in kind of a different way. First of all in Florida the birds seem much more plentiful than back in Rhode Island. Today they were especially plentiful.
Birds were everywhere - thousands of them! I thought this must be like this all the time...NOT! I ran into a local birder who was gushing about how incredible the day was. I continue to believe that I am a birdy individual (they come to me) and this trip isn't dissuading that notion. Yesterday it was supposed to rain and it did a little, but for the most part I had all the birds I could want. Tomorrow it is supposed to rain again -- I'll let you know.
There were thousands of white birds -- Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, White Ibis, Immature Little blue Herons -- Like this --
Also at least 1000 Dowitchers
Lots of Avocets and so much more
American White Pelican
Black Skimmers by the dozen plus Royal Tern (left) and Caspian Tern (right)
Wilson's Snipe
Great Horned Owl
Roseate Spoonbill
When to the Helen & Allen Cruickshank Sanctuary to see Florida's endemic bird -- the Florida Scrub Jay. Four people loudly talking walked by me and told me there were no birds -- but I persisted. Around the next corner was this beauty:
Couldn't get closer because this guy was in the path -- when he finally moved the Jay was gone.
Then this Brown Thrasher showed up!
A good day! New Life birds on the trip = 17, Florida Life list = 137
Comments