Florida birding in November

  • By Bruce Glick
  • November 21, 2012
  • 320
                        
Columnist Bruce Glick summarizes happenings in the local birding world. This week Bruce just returned from a week of Florida birding. Find out more in the "Gone Birding" column. Although our week in Florida was not a birding trip, there was plenty of time to enjoy the birds in the Sarasota area. The schedule was relaxed, with time for walking on the beach and just taking it easy for a few days. The weather was nice, including the trips down and back. Our daughter Kimberly was able to get free and join us for the week. Several mornings found me at the local birding location known as the celery fields. At this point in time, it is a large recreation area, including a number of ponds, lots of trails, and a nice variety of birds. I wasn't sure what to expect in mid-November since I've never been to Florida at this time of year. Overall, there were lots of birds but probably less than in mid-winter. Raptors could almost always be seen in the air over the celery fields. Most common were the Ospreys. In fact, we saw Ospreys almost everywhere we went in Florida. Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures were also regulars, soaring over the area at any time of day. There were also a number of Bald Eagles, but they were not as numerous as the Ospreys. One young Bald Eagle put on quite a show. I had noticed it on the ground at the edge of a wet area. A Red-shouldered Hawk (another common Florida raptor) was screaming and flying at the eagle, time after time. Finally the Bald Eagle took off, holding a large, five-foot snake in its talons. With the hawk still chasing it, the eagle finally dropped the snake and flew off. Red-shouldered Hawks could be seen and heard in the area daily. Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks both seem to be doing well in the Sarasota area. I encountered them in a number of places, sometimes quite close to a road or trail. On a day trip to Sanibel Island, we saw both species in ditches along the main highway as we approached the island. Wood Storks are certainly beautiful birds when they are soaring overhead, less so on the ground at close range. Another bird that puts on a show in the air is the White Pelican. There were flocks of 30-100 at the celery fields, and we saw them at a number of other locations. White Ibis and Glossy Ibis were also present in large numbers. Brown Pelicans were numerous, but only along the coast. Everywhere I went during the week, there were lots of Palm Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers. You could hear and see them almost anywhere. We also heard and saw parrots a number of times. There are many exotic parrots and parakeets in Florida, and sometimes it can be hard to identify them. Probably the most interesting birding was at the area beaches. Birds have become so tame that you can walk right up to flocks of Black Skimmers, various species of terns and gulls, Sanderlings, Willets, Ruddy Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers and more. It's a great way to get very close looks at these birds, with no need for binoculars. Meanwhile, here at home there have been more sightings of Crossbills, as well as some excitement along Lake Erie in Cleveland where a very rare King Eider was seen for several days. More interesting birds will undoubtedly be found in the coming weeks. Good birding! Bruce Glick birderbruce@yahoo.com 330-317-7798


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