Thirty-two birders joined TAS field trip leader Stephen Paez today for a pleasant morning of fall migration birding at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park. By morning’s end, the group had encountered 51 different species. The most unexpected sighting of the morning was a White-crowned Pigeon that was entirely white. This leucistic individual was perched in a tree near a typical-looking White-crowned Pigeon at the east end of the park.
We found a nice selection of migrant birds, including thirteen warbler species: Worm-eating, Black-and-white, Tennessee, Bay-breasted, Black-throated Blue, Palm, Yellow-throated, Prairie and Black-throated Green Warblers, plus Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart and Northern Parula. Other migrant birds encountered included Ruby-throated Hummingbird, American Kestrel, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Western Kingbird, White-eyed, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos, Tree Swallow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Gray Catbird, Swainson’s Thrush, Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Painted Bunting. Resident birds seen included White-winged Dove, Anhinga, Cooper’s, Red-shouldered and Short-tailed Hawks, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet and Brown Thrasher.
An eBird checklist for the trip can be viewed here.
Leucistic White-crowned Pigeon: Photo by Brian Rapoza