Dec 20 2008 Mike Kell -- After a foggy start the sun came out and did not deter the nine Audubon members who saw 63 species and literally thousands of birds.  Near Trinity College we came across a cloud of Tree Swallows swarming like large bees.  Highlites of the day include Green winged teal, seven glossy ibis, Eastern Meadowlark and Wilson's snipe.  See Aggy's trip report.

Dec 2, 2008 Ken Tracey  -- Out at Green Key this morning a lone plover caught my eye. When I finally got close enough for these photos I was struck by it's small size, golden hue, and it's call. Three Semipalmated Plovers were between us and as they called the larger plover returned almost the exact same call.  It was determined to be a Golden Plover.

Nov 26, 2008

Ken Tracey A quick ride around the neighborhood this afternoon produced the following ducks in local ponds. 86  Hooded Merganser 44  Ring-necked 28  Mottled 14  Blue-winged Teal 14  Pied-billed Grebe 10 American Coot 8  American Wigeon 7  Mallard 4  Green-winged Teal 2  Lesser Scaup 2  Redhead The Franklin's Gull has not made an appearance for the last 2 days that I know of. Photo shows unusual color of 4 Mallards.  Pure black!  These have been around for about 1 year now.

Nov 22, 2008 

Mike Kell  -- Northern Harrier Hawk at  HWY 19 and  Gulf Blvd.  Saw Imm Eagle fly over there Thursday same spot.  This morning had a Shinned Tail hawk chasing the Redwinged Blackbirds in back yard.

Dave Gagne -- Broad-winged Hawk New Port Richey  - This afternoon at 3:40 PM I observed the immature Broad-winged Hawk, (first seen on Thursday morning on my neighbor's antenna!) circling over my neighborhood on Limerick Ave in New Port Richey!!  This bird has very distinct barring below the streaking on the upper part of the breast.  Hopefully it will stick around another 6 weeks for the CBC (wishful thinking?)

Ken Tracey -- I have attached Nelson's Sharp-tailed photo from this morning; F.O.S. for me.
Although Jim, David, and I tried for the Franklin's Gull this morning we could not find it. This afternoon at 2:30pm I did relocate it. (Note location; in back of Sunset Bay Club apartments off Rowan 1 block north of Hwy 54.)

The ponds also have more ducks then before. IE;
42  Ring-necked
8  Mottled
6  Blue-winged Teal
3  Mallard
2  Redhead
2  Northern Pintail
20 Coot

Nov 20, 2008 Ken Tracey  -- Murray Gardler and I  found a Redhead Duck at the Beall's ponds and F.O.S. Common Loon at Gulf Harbors.

Nov 13, 2008 Ken Tracey found a Baffle headed Duck on Beall's pond.  Mike Kell drove by later but the Duck had moved on, just the eleven Ring Necked Ducks for winter visitors.

Nov 12, 2008 Murray Gardler and Ken Tracey spotted a Franklin's Gull at Beall's Pond.  Calls to Mike Kell and Bill Pranty soon had a bird outing.  One lone Franklin among several laughin gulls and a few Ring Billed Gulls

Nov 2 Ken Tracey   -- Yesterday morning Jim McKay and I had a Seaside Sparrow at Green Key. This is an apparent wanderer from their southern nesting limit 2 1/2 miles to the north at the Salt Springs Bayou in Port Richey.

This morning Jim and I had the following sparrows along Hwy 54 near Gunn Hwy intersection;

Savannah, Swamp, Grasshopper, Chipping, Vesper,  Photo

Nov 2 2008 Dave Gagne --Since I aaven't seen any reports of American Robin yet, I'll post this sighting as 1 American Robin moving south this morning in New Port Richey.  Also seen over my yard was the Short-tailed Hawk  (Light Morph), that has been seen since May.

Oct 19, 2008 Ken Tracey - I went on a 5 mile walk to see what was new in the salt marsh along Pasco coast this morning. A Northern Mockingbird was doing a pretty good imitation of a Black Rail call and FOS birds were; Swamp Sparrows, Northern Harrier, and Sedge Wren.
Most impressive were the high numbers of Marsh Wrens. Some were obviously northern migrants, but approx. half appeared to be local Marian's subspecies with their light gray chest with dark gray back. At one group of mangroves I went in to, 4 Marian's and two chestnut/buff colored northern wrens flew in as I pished. They then went into a strange chatter display response that included the one Marian's in the photo that has it's tail held over the top of it's head?
Some of the birds found;
House Wren  12, Marsh Wren  32, Sedge Wren  1, Clapper Rail  6, Sora Rail  3, Common Yellowthroat  18, Palm Warbler  6, Prairie Warbler  1, Northern Waterthrush  5, Yellow Warbler  1, Seaside Sparrow   9, Swamp Sparrow  3, Tree Swallow  1, Northern Harrier  2, Merlin  2, Red-tailed Hawk  3, Red-shouldered Hawk  1, Cooper's Hawk  1, Caspian Tern  1, Indigo Bunting  2

Oct 9, 2008    Mike Kell - Thursday Oct 9^th Laurie and I drove over to Anclote Pier Park and took our first walk on the boardwalk over to Vista Key Park.  We concluded it is an excellent addition to both parks..
The Anclote Park parking lot and picnic area had Killdeer running around.    The tree in the dog run area was full of Monk Parakeets.  Going to the North end of the picnic area(opposite end from the pier),  you will find the new boardwalk.  The first part of the boardwalk runs near the road and crosses a drainage ditch and we found several Cardinals, Red Bellied Woodpeckers and Catbirds there.  I saw my first Red Bellied with a true Red Belly as red as his head. Later the boardwalk  turns and heads toward gulf and connects with the existing Key Vista boardwalk.  We found an Osprey and a Bald eagle sitting in trees overlooking the gulf on the older Key Vista part of boardwalk.  Both were less than 50 yards from boardwalk.  We almost missed the Eagle sitting in under the foliage of a Pine tree.   Tide was high, so only one willet and a few laughing gulls at the pier.

Sept 5, 2008   Ken Tracey -I saw  my first Baird's Sandpiper down at Honeymoon Island Friday. Photo

Sept 3, 2008 Ken Tracey - Prarie Waeblers on Green Key Photo

June 24, 2008 Ken Tracey -Here is a photo that shows a comparison of Eastern and Western Willets. The bird on the left is a Eastern I just photo'd on the salt barrens in West Pasco, the bird on the right is Western Willet at Green Key in May. Both are in breeding plumage.
I now realize that the differences in these sub-species of Willets are as striking as the differences in Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs.
I intend to take a closer look at our wintering Willets because all the birds I have been seeing along the coast have probably been Western Willets.

May 30, 2008 West Pasco sightings;
Possible nesting Yellow-billed Cuckoo seen on small wooded tract just north of Hudson Ave. We were reviewing property for Pasco Environmental Lands purchase. I found Northern Rough-winged Swallows nesting in concrete debris at plant in Hudson. Photo
Short-tailed Hawk, dark morph, dove at Mourning Dove on electric wire in River Crossing; it missed and then as it soared upward a Red-shouldered Hawk flew out of cypress stand to protect its territory.  Photo

May 29, 2008 Ken Tracey - All the bird activity at Green key this morning was about White-winged Doves. Photo
Two birds were in full song south of the causeway in the mangroves while two others perched on the wires along the causeway. At the end of the parking lot another two White-winged Doves were singing in the mangroves and palm trees while another dove watched from the wire. It then landed on the parking lot and one of the singing birds landed next to it and passed it something with it's bill. Male, female interaction I assume. Then they went out on the beach. This  mornings observation could indicate possible nesting out at the key; or maybe they just were having a beach day?

May 29, 2008 Maria  Valentine -A Swallow Tail Kite ( photo) was soaring over the Clear Lake.  Mike Kell saw one soaring with vultures over Plathe and Rowan also.  L. Kell spotted two near theTrinity YMCA.

May 14, 2008 Ken Tracey - Green Key Results. There were some warblers flying through the "Funnel", but the numbers and species were disappointing. For a while it looked like we might have more birders than birds!  
101 Warblers came through, Identified;
56    Blackpoll, 3   Common Yellowthroat, 2   Cape May
2   American Redstart,  2   Prairie, 1   Black-and-white, 1   Black-throated Blue
Other migrants;
11   Bobolink, 1   Chipping Sparrow

We did locate 2 White-rumped Sandpipers south of Trouble Creek.

May 8, 2008 Ken Tracey - At a small Port Richey Park, Brasher, I found this Clapper Rail perched in a tree, (Black Mangrove).
Photo

May 8, 2008 Ken Tracey - At several coastal sites in West Pasco Semipalmated Sandpipers have been found.  Webbing between the toes, on this one I found on a small salt barren, may be a good field mark. Photo

May 1, 2008 Ken Tracey - Great flight of warblers, 857, flew over the count site this morning
Warblers ID;
168   Blackpoll, 20   Palm, 8   Prairie, 8    Northern Waterthrush
20   Cape May, 15   Black-throated Blue, 34   American redstart, 2   Black-and-white
1   Ovenbird, 4   Northern Parula, 2   Common Yellowthroat

Other migrants;
12   Barn Swallow, 12   Gray Catbird, 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 1  Veery, 88 Bobolink

April 30, 2008 Ken Tracey - Besides a good flight of warblers, 301, a record number of Bobolinks flew over the count site. 468 is a one day record for the Funnel and is also higher than any other years spring total!
Warblers;
26   Blackpoll, 19   Palm, 11   Prairie, 8    Northern Waterthrush
6   Cape May, 4   Black-throated Blue, 3   American redstart
2   Black-and-white, 1   Ovenbird, 1   Black-throated Green

Other migrants;
2   Barn Swallow, 17   Gray Catbird, 1   Merlin, 2   Red-eyed Vireo
1   Veery, 1   Gray-checked Thrush, 1  Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 2    Eastern Kingbird
468   Bobolink

Photo; Whitish form of Northern Waterthrush

April 29, 2008 Ken Tracey - Strong north winds this morning at the funnel meant few warblers, 15 total. 1 Amer. Redstart, 3 Northern Waterthrush and 5 Prairie Warblers were ID'd.
Thrushes that came in with the passing front last night were feeding along the road;
6   Veery. 2   Swainson's, 1   Gray-cheeked
Other migrants were moving in off the Gulf ;
21   Barn Swallow, 9   Gray Catbird, 1   Merlin, 1    Orchard Oriole
1   Red-eyed Vireo, 1   Yellow-throated Vireo, 2    Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
Attached photos; Cape May Warbler feeding on insects on Silk Oak blossoms in Beacon Woods development, photo1

Vireos and Thrushes from Green Key photo2, photo3

April 25, 2008 Ken Tracey - From 6:25am to 8:45am, 1197 warblers flew past the count point.
Identified warblers;
141   Blackpoll, 53   Cape may, 41    Black-throated Blue, 15   American Redstart
15   Prairie, 12   Palm, 12   Common Yellowthroat, 11   Black-and-white
4   Northern Parula, 4   Northern Waterthrush, 3   Ovenbird
1    Black-throated Green, 1   Cerulean*   ID comfirmation needed, see photo
Other migrants;
15    Bobolink, 2   Barn Swallow, 32   Gray Catbird, 1   Yellow-billed Cuckoo
4   Indigo Bunting, 1   Tree Swallow

April 23, 2008 Ken Tracey -Green Key Funnel 4-24-08, 3 Kingbird species were at the Funnel this morning, all landed on the same electirc wire,
at different times, Western, Eastern, and Gray. Warblers and other migrants were slow.  Photo
From 6:15am to 8:15am, 101 warblers flew past the count point.
Identified warblers;
17   Blackpoll, 1   Cape may, 12   Palm , 1    Black-and-white, 9   Prairie
1   Northern Parula, 2   Northern Waterthrush, 1   Black-throated Blue

Other migrants;
12    Bobolink, 1   Barn Swallow, 10   Gray Catbird, 1   Eastern Kingbird, 2   Gray Kingbird, 1   Western Kingbird

A Common Loon and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers are still hanging around. The one Whimbrel is now 2.

April 23, 2008 Ken Tracey - Warblers and other migrants showed up this morning at the "Funnel", along Green Key Road in West Pasco. From 6:20am to 8:10am, 352 warblers flew past the count point.  Photo.  Identified warblers;
38   Blackpoll, 13   Cape may, 11   Palm, 7   Black-throated Blue, 7   Prairie
2   Northern Parula, 1   Louisiana Waterthrush

Other migrants;
28    Bobolink, 17   Barn Swallow, 3   Gray Catbird, 1   White-eyed Vireo, 1   Swamp Sparrow

April 22, 2008 Ken Tracey - For the last couple of days A Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, 3 - 4 Lesser Yellows, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Least sandpiper have been at a temporary pond at the corner of a pasture south of Mitchell High School Road off Little Road in West Pasco. Jim McKay notified me of these birds.
Also seen there;
4 Black-necked Stilt, 4-6 Glossy Ibis, 100+ Barn Swallow, 20 Bank Swallow
4 Eastern Kingbird, 1 Savannah Sparrow, 1 Eastern Meadowlark

Attached photo of Solitary & Lesser Yellowlegs

April 21 2008 Ken Tracey - I went on a survey with biologist this morning on the salt barrens at the Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park. Sightings;
1    Ornate Diamondback Terrapin Photo
4   Eastern Willets (indicating possibly 3 nesting pairs) Photo
11   Wilson's Plover (7 males may indicate 7 nesting pairs) Photo
50+    Black-bellied Plovers (large flocks use barrens each spring)  Photo
Many singing Seaside Sparrows
2   Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows
Many Swamp Sparrows

April 18 2008 Ken Tracey  This morning 4 Bobolinks (F.O.S.) flew over the Green Key Funnel location. The only interesting warbler out of an unexpected slow morning (39 warblers), was a Blackpoll Warbler.
Spring of 2006 was the record year for Bobolinks at the Funnel with 443 counted from 4/28/06 to 5/12/06.

April 14 2008 Ken Tracey - This morning at the north end of Werner-Boyce State Park in Pasco, I found a few migrants. (photo)
Prairie Warbler
Orchard Oriole
Gray Kingbird
Blue Grosbeak

April 1, 2008 Ken Tracey -  Found this banded Florida Scrub-Jay  along Old Dixie Hwy next to the Sea Pines Golf Course.
Of the 19 jays banded in West Pasco in 2004 & 2005 by Archbold, this is jay Pink/Silver - Green/Blue, #1573-97691, banded 2/17/2005.  This bird has remained at the exact spot it was caught and banded.

Also I got a comparison photo of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs at the golf course this afternoon in West Pasco.

March 2008 Ken Tracey - Our winter effort to get hummingbirds into our back yards with feeders out was not very successful. Fran had one at her yard in early December, but none after that. We did get one hummingbird report for our CBC along the river in New Port Richey and Dorothy in Beacon Woods had several in late December, but she had no feeders out.
Good news! The spring season for hummers has started already with reports from Maria, Agnes, and one in my own backyard yesterday and today. Clean out those feeders and put in some new nectar. You will see a hummingbird any day now.

Mar 5, 2008 Ken Tracey  -- I took a photo of an Orange-crowned Warbler  at Green Key this morning. This is the first time I taken photos showing the orange in it's crown!

March 4, 2008  Ken Tracey I had 4 Florida Prairie Warblers, paludicola, singing in the mangroves along Sand Bay, in West Pasco this morning.
I enticed one to come in close as I snapped some photos. The first photo shows the back on the warbler with no chestnut markings which would be expected on a breeding male. The Peterson Field Guides "Warblers" does state that paludicola 'has the chestnut markings on the back more restricted". The second photo shows the bird singing, which it decided to do approx. 12 inches from my elbow, which of course was to close for the camera to focus on.

March  3, 2008     A couple weeks ago Rick spotted the eagles' nest on Bailies Bluff Rd. and also the nest at the power plant. I was eager to see the eagles so we went there today with our granddaughter, Amber. The photos at the power plant weren't good, but we saw the two eaglets out of the nest on branches of the nest tree.
  I had better luck at Bailies Bluff. The adult eagle was perched on a branch above the nest with the two eaglets in it.  I'm enclosing a photo of that and also a decent closeup I got of the baby eagles in the nest.
Barb

Feb 27, 2008 Ken Tracey - West Pasco birds the last 3 days;
1. Gull-billed Tern - this morning at Green Key, hiding in the mob of skimmers and gulls as 30 mile-per-hour winds kept birds down on beach.
2. Grasshopper Sparrow - one of 4 at Grassy lake at Starkey Park Monday; it thought it was well hidden.
3. Northern Gannet - at Sea Ranch condos at Hudson Beach yesterday; photo by Barb Van Welden.
4. Short-tailed Hawks - one dark morph at Grassy Lake, Starkey Park, Monday, chased by Red-shouldered Hawk - one dark morph at intersection of Rowan and Trouble Creek Rd Tuesday, soaring with 2 Black Vultures.

Feb 6, 2008 Ken Tracey    - An Eastern Meadowlark cooperated for a few photos down at the West Pasco Industrial Park, but I was surpised at not finding any sparrows.

Feb 3,2008 Ken Tracey - After finding 5 Seaside Sparrows and 7 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows in the state park in Pasco this morning, I went over to Starkey park this afternoon and re-found the  3 Grasshopper Sparrows at Grassy Lake that I have seen there for the last 3 days. Composite photo of today's Grasshoppers.

Jan 31 Mike Kell  Wood Storks have returned to Tidewater Rd and starting the pair up and nest site selection.  22 Wood Storks have been counted here.

Jan 30 Maria Valentine Nesters are arriving and jostling for sites at the Embassy Crossing Rookery. Today I saw 8 Wood Storks (photo), several Great Egrets—one pair already staked out the single small low cypress tree on north and were building; male of another pair was displaying madly. She apparently wasn’t too impressed and flew off to check out someone else; 20 or so Snowy Egrets, several Little Blues,  including at least 2 white morphs, 1 Anhinga, Common Moorhens, Kingfisher, Shrike.......3 turtles.....one photographer....5 other human observers. Looks like the birds are going to be OK even with the construction next door.

Jan 22, 2008 Ken Tracey - As 53 Palm Warblers were passing through the "Funnel" this morning at Green Key from 7:00am to 8:00am, an America Redstart was noted. Also the first Glossy Ibis for the Key was also found along with a House Wren and 30 Tree Swallows.
Spring is around the corner!

Jan. 21, 2008. Maria Valentine.  Ann, Eileen, Jan, and I did the 3-mile Loop at Starkey this morning. Best sighting was an Eastern Towhee on the trail. Also seen: cardinals, pine warblers, one prairie warbler, many American robins, tufted titmice, turkey vultures, bluejays, downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, Carolina chickadees, mourning doves, and a single dark sparrow foraging on the ground, which we couldn’t id. Heard but not seen were catbirds, American crow, and goldfinches.

Jan 12 2008 Ken Tracey -Warbler sightings continued today when I stopped at Starkey Park at 11:00 am. In a large mob of birds moving past the center's boardwalk, I found a male Black-throated Green Warbler. The mob also included numerous Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadees, Yellow-throated, Black-and-white, Pine, Palm, and Yellow-rumped Warblers, along with 3 Blue-headed Vireo and 4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Jan 1, 2008 Mike Kell  A New Year’s day trip to Veterans park was an nice afternoon outing today.
It was gray and dreary on Tidewater RD with cloud cover and windy.  But driving north to Hudson Ave drove us out from under the clouds.
We walked the south perimeter of the park and caught a couple unusual birds. 
Down just past the pump house we jumped a Snipe.  A grebe and moorhen were on the lake.
A couple of Red shouldered hawks in an old dead tree.  Then a little farther back along the lake we saw a pair of eastern bluebirds.
And while we were looking at the Bluebirds suddenly there appears a Northern Flicker.
At this point I realize the reason the camera isn’t taking pictures is because it has no memory card.  There is one in the car way back in the parking lot.
There are numerous palm and yellow rumps in the trees.
We head back to the main building and the car looking for a restroom.  A Kestrel is on the light poles.
No restrooms open.  We get in car and drive down to gas station at corner of Hicks Rd and Hudson Ave.  I get some of that gourmet coffee Paul had on our recent field trip.  Rested we go back to the park.
We come back and park on the north side and walk that fence line.  But a Red Shouldered is carrying on and flying around over that pond there.  I notice now the battery in my camera is low.  The spare is in the car of course.
We heard parakeets but never saw them.  I did see a shrike and some mourning doves but think the Hawk put all the little guys under cover.
Beautiful day for a walk in our long pants and sweatshirts.
Happy New Year

Dec 31 20074:00 pm Mike Kell A pair of Black Hooded Parakeets were on the wire across from the Tarpon Springs Golf driving range (east side) next to the Osprey nest on US 19 just north of Anclote river.  Sorry no camera in car.

 Dec 24 Ken Tracey - At 4:30pm this evening I found this Bonaparte's Gull on the beach at Green Key.