Trip to Miami, 12/28 and 12/29

On December 28 and 29 I traveled to Miami to pick up Alex from the airport for a visit.  We spent a day birding in the area and saw a good variety of Florida birds, and picked up what will be our last new year birds.  We did see an adult Snail Kite on Route 41 but were a little too far for photos!

Here are some of the Florida specialties, many of which are not native but have established populations within cities.

Muscovy ducks in Florida are not true Muscovys, but are domesticated with

established populations in the wild.

Common Mynas are not native, but can be found in Miami, FL

This adult White Ibis spent a long time trying to get this frog down!

Piping Plovers were numerous on Key Biscayne

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Ring-billed Gull, and Double Crested Cormorant

on Key Biscayne

Short-billed Dowitchers on Key Biscayne

Black-bellied Plover eating a large long worm (Piping Plover in foreground) on Key Biscayne

Sanderlings foraging

(Key Biscayne)

Black-bellied Plover

(Key Biscayne)

Juvenile Peregrin Falcon

(Key Biscayne)

Common Moorhen

Anhinga

Eurasian Collared Dove

Egyptian Goose; domestic but is likely breeding in city ponds

This Little Blue Heron caught a bass but lost it to a gull

Flocks of hundreds of Fish Crows can be found all over Miami

The Kendale Baptist Hospital is home to an established population of Mitrid Parakeets.  We found them roosting in a tree just outside the entrance, hidden high in the trees

male Boat-tailed Grackle

female Boat-tailed Grackle

Boat-tailed Grackles are very common in every city in Florida

Loggerhead Shrike are fairly common throughout south central Florida

Black Vultures are also very common

Wood Storks (juvenile on left and adult on right)