Archive for the ‘Members Location Report’ Category

Date and Time: February 7, 2010, 9-11 AM

Location Name: Jetty Park, Port Canaveral

Day Rating: B

Special Encounters: Northern Gannets, Flocks of Black Skimmers and Bonapart’s Gulls

Report:
Jetty Park is a great place for me. This Sunday was cold, overcast, and particularly windy. However there were quite a few things going on.
On the fishing pier were Royal Terns, Ruddy Turnstones, Boat Tailed Grackles, and Brown Pelicans. Looking off the pier I found lots of Gannets of varying ages, Bonaparte Gulls, Royal Terns, Common Terns, and Cormorants. I often find Green Sea Turtles bobbing next to the pier as well, today was no exception.
On the beach, Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, Common Terns, Least Terns, Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, Black Skimmers, Herring Gulls, fully hooded Laughing Gulls, and Ring-billed gulls. Overhead you could see Osprey and Black Vultures. The Bonapart’s gulls were feeding in the waves with the Least Terns. Really nice!
Always look out for banded birds in this area, I find a large number of them here. Report those to USGS Bird Banding Site and Bandedbirds.org.

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submitted by: JamieD

Date and Time: 01/07/2010, 8:00A – 12:00A

Location Name: Merritt Island N.W.R.

Day Rating: A

Special Encounters:

Report:
(This report specifically refers to Blackpoint Dr and Gator Creek Rd) It was easily the most activity I’ve seen at the refuge since last winter. Personally I’ve found it slow out there this winter but it looks like this cold snap and lower water levels have brought it to life. There was nothing terribly exotic to see but the number of birds was incredible. Flocks of Spoonbills, Avocets, all your typical waders, migratory ducks, eagles, sparrows, it really was fantastic out there.

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submitted by: P Simmons

Date and Time: 1-2-10, 6 am – 2 pm

Location Name: Circle B Bar Reserve

Day Rating: A

Special Encounters: If there were a higher rating than A – Circle B Bar Reserve would certainly get it these days. Unbelievably packed with wildlife. Special encounters: Bobcat (Donnie Thompson), Peregrine Falcon Bald Eagles, Lesser Yellowleg, White Faced Ibis

Report:
The Audubon American White Pelican count is now at 7,000. It’s an unforgettable view to see that many soaring over your head. Add to it hundreds of Cormorants, Woodstorks, Many Terns.
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submitted by: Klaus Peter

Date and Time: 12-26-09, 12-30-09

Location Name: Myakka River State Park

Day Rating: B

Special Encounters: Enjoyed seeing numerous limpkins along banks of river south of Upper Myakka Lake.

Report:
We camped at Big Flats Campground for four nights. Found the campground to be very crowded and noisy, but this wasn’t too much of a problem as our plans were to hike and bike some trails and get out in the kayaks. The first day, we biked most of the park and I saw my first barred owl. The tourists seemed to be most impressed with the great number of feral pigs in the park. A ranger told us that the wading birds were MIA due to high water levels, but that kayaking would be better than usual. We kayaked on day two, encountering a large number of very big alligators – rather intimidating when they patrol around in front of the yaks! We saw many osprey, red-shouldered hawks, wood storks, little blue heron, great blue heron, belted kingfishers, snowy egret, anhinga, cormorants, black vultures (huge numbers), turkey vultures, green heron, cattle egret, a number of limpkins (my favorites), one solitary roseate spoon bill and a pair of lesser yellowlegs. Also, raccoons and white-tailed deer. There is a “birdwalk” but not much action on the days we visited. The last full day we spent hiking some of the VERY beautiful trails in the park – but, very few birds – just a woodpecker or two. A good place to spend multiple days as the park is very large. There is also a canopy walk between two towers which is fun for kids, and the 75 foot tower has great all-around views. Overall, it was a great trip, but it was a bit too touristy and I wish there had been more birds!
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submitted by: catmca

UPDATE!!!!
My photographer friend, Jason Flowers, just wrote to me to give me a heads up since he knows I frequent Lake Woodruff.
This past weekend he went into the dark, thick, wooded trail to the left shortly after you leave the parking area,
to photo some mushrooms and had a huge, black bear cross his path not 10 feet away! He, Jason, retreated immediately.
He did not get a shot of it due to the adrenaline fueled retreat   Just FYI.

Submitted by Kittyseye