The morning started with a chill in the air, but the enthusiasm coupled with the sun made the experience warm.  We had 13 birders with excitement abounding and ready to view the surroundings.  We were not disappointed.  We had 36 species for the walk.  There was much excitement with the great views of the Hermit Thrush.  A waterthrush was also in the same area. Many Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-eyed and White-Eyed Vireos, but few warblers.  Next month should be more active with the migrants. The ebird list is at this link

17 participants enjoyed a superbly 79 degree sunny day at Honeymoon Island.  We had a special treat observing up close several Reddish Egrets and also 1 White Morph Reddish Egret as they displayed their talents for food gathering. We spent the morning scouring the area.  We got to see the Great-horned Owl on her nest.  We also saw Black-bellied, Wilson's and Piping Plovers, Marbled Godwits. There was a count of over 500 Redheads.  This is the most we have seen at any other time and the most ducks for any one area this season. We had 49 species for Honeymoon.  After a long wait for lunch at the Lucky Dill we went to Fred Howard Park and had 16 species. The park was extremely busy with people and might be the reason for so little bird activity.  Honeymoon Island list is here.  Fred Howard Park list is here.

Date range:Mar 2, 2015 - Mar 8, 2015Total # of Species:52Total # of Checklists:2Location(s):   Dunedin, 240 Causeway Boulevard; Tarpon Springs, Howard Park Causeway 


Summary Mar 2Mar 3Mar 4Mar 5Mar 6Mar 7Mar 8Number of Species52------------Number of Individuals720------------Number of Checklists2------------

Highest Count for a Species   (sample size)Hide Sample SizeSpecies NameMar 2Mar 3Mar 4Mar 5Mar 6Mar 7Mar 8Mallard1 
(1)------------Redhead500 
(1)------------Red-breasted Merganser4 
(1)------------Pied-billed Grebe4 
(1)------------Horned Grebe2 
(1)------------Northern Gannet1 
(1)------------Double-crested Cormorant11 
(2)------------Brown Pelican7 
(1)------------Great Blue Heron3 
(1)------------Great Egret1 
(1)------------Snowy Egret1 
(1)------------Little Blue Heron2 
(1)------------Reddish Egret4 
(1)------------White Ibis3 
(2)------------Black Vulture1 
(1)------------Turkey Vulture1 
(1)------------Osprey5 
(2)------------Bald Eagle1 
(1)------------Black-bellied Plover1 
(2)------------Wilson's Plover5 
(1)------------Semipalmated Plover1 
(1)------------Piping Plover18 
(1)------------Killdeer2 
(1)------------Willet2 
(1)------------Marbled Godwit2 
(2)------------Ruddy Turnstone8 
(2)------------Sanderling2 
(2)------------Least Sandpiper7 
(1)------------Short-billed Dowitcher3 
(2)------------Laughing Gull7 
(2)------------Ring-billed Gull1 
(2)------------Herring Gull4 
(1)------------Forster's Tern4 
(1)------------Royal Tern45 
(2)------------Black Skimmer1 
(1)------------Rock Pigeon6 
(1)------------Eurasian Collared-Dove1 
(1)------------Common Ground-Dove3 
(1)------------Mourning Dove4 
(1)------------Great Horned Owl1 
(1)------------Red-bellied Woodpecker2 
(1)------------Loggerhead Shrike2 
(2)------------Blue Jay1 
(1)------------Fish Crow4 
(1)------------Gray Catbird2 
(1)------------Northern Mockingbird2 
(1)------------Palm Warbler1 
(1)------------Yellow-rumped Warbler3 
(1)------------Northern Cardinal1 
(1)------------Red-winged Blackbird2 
(1)------------Boat-tailed Grackle5 
(2)------------Brown-headed Cowbird1 
(1)------------