Saturday, May 16, 2009

Florida Birding Trip Day 8: Kayaking the Keys. (Lifers are bolded)

This morning we went to Robbie's Marina in Islamorada to go kayaking in the keys. No White-crowned Pigeons on the ocean, but it was a nice change.

We rented a pair of kayaks, and paddled around the mangroves. I got a great view of an immature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and got nice and close to a red phase Reddish Egret. Of course, ever present, Magnificent Frigatebirds lazily soared overhead. What was kind of concerning were the lack of terns. Where were they?

We paddled ashore on Indian Key Historic State Park. Here, I saw our neotropical migrants that I would see a few weeks later at home. Black-throated Blue, Prairie, Palm, Blackpoll, Yellow, and Black-and White Warblers. We also had a bright male Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting and a pair of Merlin were present as well. A larger, more sluggish vireo was also near the path, a BLACK-WHISKERED VIREO. The bird was very tame and would've offered great photos, except I didn't bring my camera due to lack of a dry bag.

Leaving the tropical Florida keys was very hard that day. It was nice and warm, and we knew that we had to start to make our way back north, the first time for the whole trip.

Tomorrow though was payback time!! Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow Round 2 !!

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