Oscar Scherer State Park, Sarasota, FL, USA, 18-Nov-2012

10:50 AM - 2:10 PM

Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Comments: First full day on holiday & a visit to a nearby state park looking for scrub-jays with the father-in-law, Mr. Correia. Didn't see them but a good long walk during which 3 Bobcats (1 adult & 2 juveniles) walked across our path, which was amazing!
Weather: hot & sunny.
13 species

Little Blue Heron 1 on water from South Creek Trail.
Black Vulture X - several including two perched on a naked tree branch, like from Jungle Book!
Turkey Vulture X

Bald Eagle X - approx. 6 during the day. The first was an immature; light brown top, dark primaries, cream mottled under prominent head; distinct size & flight. Later adults on a nest were also seen as well as an adult perching on a tree near to black vultures & another 2 soaring in the distance with a buteo sp. Life-tick.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 soaring alongside an eagle. Smaller than red-tailed, tawny on top but distant otherwise. Size, compact shape & distribution points to this species. Life-tick.

Laughing Gull 1 first winter bird over.
Belted Kingfisher 1 flew up creek after we stopped at visitors' centre.
Tree Swallow 2 over.
Grey Catbird 2 heard.
Palm Warbler X
Pine Warbler X
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Chipping Sparrow X - in trees near to visitors' centre.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13475553

Englewood Isles Parkway, Sarasota, FL, USA, 18-Nov-2012

2:45 PM

Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Weather: bright, sunny & warm. <br />Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.5.2
1 species

Sandhill Crane 2 laying on roadside verge between road & houses! Life-tick.

Sarasota--Route 75, Sarasota, FL, USA, 17-Nov-2012

5:15 PM

Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Species seen on the road after leaving the airport, many in flocks apparently flying to roosts as dusk descended.
Weather: bright, sunny, warm.
8 species

Anhinga 1 female (non-breeding) on stump in a roadside swamp.
Great Egret 1 over the road.
Cattle Egret 1 non-breeding perched in carpark when nearing Eden Drive.
White Ibis X - many over the road in 3s & 4s, distinctive, life-tick.
Glossy Ibis X - large flocks over the road, distinctive, life-tick.
Black Vulture 3 total, first two flying/soaring with shallow dihedral then one atop a telegraph pole at the side of the highway. Life-tick.
Sandhill Crane 3 approx. glimpsed on a roadside lake from the highway. Unmistakable, life-tick.
Common Grackle X

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13642686

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, Sarasota, FL, USA, 17-Nov-2012

5:00 PM

Protocol: Incidental
Comments: Picked up from the airport the mother-in-law, Mrs Correia. The airport at a new location is usually always good for a few species.
Weather: bright, sunny, warm.
5 species

Anhinga 1 perched in a tree on the side of the small pond at the exit. Distinctive look & size with a pale breast & dark belly.
Osprey 1 atop a telegraph pole next to the small pond.
Monk Parakeet 10 in a swift-flying flock low over the cars in the carpark. I thought they might have been budgerigars but these were larger in the brief look I had. Life-tick?
Palm Warbler 1 flew into the tree above the car in the carpark as I put my bags in the boot/trunk; allowed a close-up view.
Boat-tailed Grackle 1 juvenile, strutting around on carpark's grass verge. Larger size and distinctive shape identified my first Florida life-tick.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13600851

Apponagansett Beach & Bay inc. Knowles Beach & Marsh, Bristol, MA, USA, 11-Nov-2012

11:15 AM - 12:30 PM

Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: Second part of a walk with Kim.
Weather: bright, sunny, mild, cooler wind.
11 species

American Black Duck 6 on the small saltwater inlet adjacent to Knowles Marsh.
Long-tailed Duck 9 in total; 2 females, 7 males on the water in Apponagansett Bay.
Bufflehead 20 +
Red-throated Diver 1 on the water in Apponagansett Bay.
Turkey Vulture 1 soaring over the far-side of the water from Apponagansett.
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Northern Flicker 1 flew out over the water at Apponagansett from Knowles Marsh.
Carolina Wren 1 heard from a garden on the way back.
American Robin X
Northern Mockingbird 1

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13389773

Smith Neck Road & Area, Bristol, MA, USA, 11-Nov-2012

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM

Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments: First part of a walk with Kim around the local area.
Weather: bright, sunny; warm.
7 species

Mourning Dove 2 with the savannah sparrows.
Blue Jay X
Tufted Titmouse X
Palm Warbler 1 at the corner of Smith Neck & W Smith Neck.
Savannah Sparrow 4 on edge of fallow Birchfield Farm field. They flew from a tree onto the field where they disappeared into the muddy background.
Dark-eyed Junco X
Orchard Oriole 1 female, probable. I saw it in one of the gardens from about 30ft away. It was large & bright yellow with dark wings that had faint wingbars. Either this oriole or a female scarlet tanager. Its brightness & size struck me, but unfortunately it soon went down out of view & didn't reappear despite my best pishing efforts.

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13389757