On Saturday, November 18, seventeen birders joined me for a morning of birding at Tropical Park in Miami. In spite of threatening skies, we managed to tally forty-three bird species before calling it a morning.
Waterbirds seen on or around the park’s four lakes and ponds included Egyptian Goose, Muscovy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Gallinule, American Coot, Ring-billed Gull, Anhinga, Double-crested Cormorant, Little Blue and Tricolored Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Great Egret and White Ibis. We also spotted five birds of prey: Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin and American Kestrel, as well as three parrots: Monk and Yellow-chevroned Parakeet and Orange-winged Parrot. Other birds encountered during our exploration of the park included Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, House Wren and seven warblers: Black-and-white, Black-throated Blue, Palm, Pine, Prairie, Yellow-throated and Black-throated Green Warbler.
An eBird checklist for this morning’s trip can be viewed here.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: Photo by Brian Rapoza