BIRDWATCHING
AT ITS BEST
OUR NEXT TRIPS
I plan to catch spring migration and as many warblers as possible through the following trips:
- 4/26 - Birch State Park/Evergreen Cemetery - 8am-12 noon. Meet at beach parking lot. Cost - $10.
- 5/3 - South Dade to where the most birds are being seen, but bascially A.D. Barnes, Lucky Hammock, upper E.N.P. and Old Cutler Wetlands (possibly white-rumped, Bairds Sandpipers) - $40 Meet at Sheridan Tri-rail - 7 am.
- 5/10 - Birch State Park/Evergreen Cemetery - 8 am-12 noon - $10
- 6/8 - Pelagic Trip out of Islamorada with Larry Manfredi - $125-$150.
COMPLETE SCHEDULE
OUR LAST TRIPS
Spanish River-4/12/08
An advanced Birding Class with Audubon of the Everglades (Palm Beach) was blessed with sightings of nesting Yellow-crowned Night Herons. A Black-whiskered Vireo was in full song and it was a life bird for many of the birders. A Northern Flicker and Blue-headed Vireo was seen as well as a few early warblers-Am. Redstart, Prairie and Blackpoll.
South Dade-Everglades N.P. & Old Cutler Wetland-5/3/08
A.D. Barnes was pretty quiet with a few Prairie, and, Blackpolls. Common Myna found in Florida City with the shock of our old warbler hammock now bulldozed with an access road right through it. Lucky Hammock stayed lucky with a flock of Eastern Kingbirds, Great-crested and one very special Brown-crested Flycatcher. In the fields were the bright golden flash
of undulating male Bobolinks. Also small collection of warblers-Am. Redstart, Black-throated Blue, Blackpoll, Magnolia, Prairie, Common Yellow-throat Research Road was full of song from E. Bluebirds, Pine warblers and various woodpeckers. Swallow-tailed Kites hunted over the fields. At Old Cutler Wetlands we got what we came for with Bairds and White-rumped Sandpipers and lots of other such as Black-necked Stilt, White Pelican and 10 other shorebirds.
Total-79 species.
Birch State park & Evergreen Cemetery-4/26 & 5/10
Fair weather makes for great beach days, but not for viewing migrating songbirds. It was a light season, with a few days of fall outs. Birch State Park had very few birds but the species were there after a lot of hard looking-Blackpoll, American Redstart, Cape May, Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, Black-throated Blue, Prairie, and Yellow-rumped warblers. Also seen Baltimore Oriole and Scarlet Tanager. Evergreen Cemetery had many of the same warblers but also Northern and Louisiana Water-thrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Cooper's Hawk .
Spring Migration
The Bonnet House brought many surprises with a very cooperative Connecticut Warbler walking on the grass in the courtyard. Lots of flocks of migrating warblers(above) and Yellow-billed Cuckoos. By far the best sighting of the spring was an amazing MANGROVE CUCKOO in the south part of the hammock following some Yellow-billed Cuckoos. It's black mask and greenish back, made for a beautiful sight. I believe Bonnet House will become an excellent birding spot with many surprises yet to be discovered.
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EVERGLADES BIRDING FESTIVAL
January 16-21, 2009
Click for an enlargement.
OUTSTANDING ADVENTURE
Canopy Tower and El Valle Panama
Mid July 2008
Panama has over 950 species in this tropical rainforest paradise. We will be staying at the world's famous Canopy Tower. It is know for its excellent guides, great food and birding at the canopy tops from the observation deck where you can be at bird's eye level to see Blue Contigas and Toucans.
We will be maximizing our birding time by staying at the lodge and taking day trips to one of the world's top birding spot Pipeline Road, Plantation Trail, Old Gamboa Road, Ammo Dump Ponds & much more.
The trip includes a night tour to look for Potoos, Sloths, Owls and nocturnal mammals. Also included is a trip up to the highlands of El Valle to the beautiful mountain lodge with its spectacular feeders, unique birds and casual elegance and a chance for 300 species. An optional to take a canopy ride is available. A day trip to the Pacific coast will be additional species and a beach picnic.
Last year a 5 day trip brought 263 species and rarities such as Spectacle Owl, Giant Potoo, Oscillated Antbird, Pheasant Cuckoo, White-whiskered Puffbird and much more.
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BIRDING
ADVENTURES
- 200 plus species in Florida per year
- Gain Life Birds
- Find Rare Birds
- Patient Instruction
- Expert Guiding
- Meet New Friends
- Visit Beautiful Natural Areas
- Learn New Skills
- Improve your ability to identify and locate birds
SOUTH FLORIDA HOT SPOTS
BROWARD HOT SPOTS
COSTA RICA
PANAMA - CANOPY TOWER
EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA
SPACE COAST BIRDING & WILDLIFE FESTIVAL
"You were a big hit with the attendees of the South Regional American Birding Association Conference. We couldn't of done it without you."
— Chip, Assistant Coordinator of Events and Conferences A.B.A.
"How does she do that? (find the birds) She has been doing it all day."
Everglades Bird Festival birder
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June 6, 2008
Hi Birding friends,
I send this off as the last minutes of my teaching year
ends and I am off to the continue my big year. YAHOOOOO!!!
At the end of the month I will visit Virginia-Shenadoah,
New York-Alleganies and then off to the Delmarva
peninsula-Eastern Shore to finalize plans for our fall Hawk
migration trip. I hope to go to the Outer Banks and then
spend time in the Gainesville area looking for my life
Mississippi Kite. I'm not done yet. I am going to the
Southwest Wings Birding Festival-Arizona in early August on
the quest of 100 new life birds. (still need a birding
partner) WOW! What a summer. I'll be working on an
article called the Super Mom's Guide to a Big Year.
Despite fewer trips Birding Adventure had the most species
found in a year at 234 species. I have update my bird list
which should be appearing on the website soon, which now
includes habitat, time of year and likelihood to see one on
my trips. Highlights include Mangrove Cuckoo, Red-throated
Loon, Rusty Blackbird, Greater White-fronted Goose,
Connecticut Warbler, Wilson's Phalarope, American
Bittern, Canvasback, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow,
Painted Bunting, Stilt Sandpiper and Hooded Warbler. A
Great Year.
Next year I will be phasing into my new adventure-Birding
By Intention. The weekend trips-Merrit Island/Forever
Florida, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Dry Torugas, spring
trip (Panamama?) and Everglades Birding Festival will be
accomplished through the joint efforts of my new associates
Dragonfly Expeditions and myself. Birding Adventures will
include educational classes at the Bonnet House and working
with local Audubon organizations. I will also be doing a few
local day trips-S.T.A. 5, Corkscrew, Everglades National
Park (2), and Sod Farms.
I am excited about the future success of my new company
and I have been busy building up my website, bird list and
writing my new book-Birding By Intention and articles for
publication. I know this is critical for my future success
on a national level. Wish me luck.
I will be very busy this summer so I won't be
checking my e-mail as much. I will be sending out a
tentative schedule before the school year starts, but my
first trip will be to the sod farms on August 16. See you
then.
Bird by Intention and become a Bird Seeker.
Paddy Cunningham
www.birdadventure.com
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