Bird Board
Northern Wheatear, Lower Matecumbe Key
Just got an eBird alert of a Northern Wheatear at the south end of Lower Matecumbe Key (map https://www.google.com:443/maps/search/24.8450441,-80.7479453/@24.8450441,-80.7479453,13z/data=!4m2!2m1!4b1). There is an identifiable photo with the eBird report (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25572213) today at 530 PM. The observer, Simon Priestnall from the UK, wrote: Comments: "Female on rocks below parking lot. Watched and photographed for 10mins. Very familiar with this species in UK and recognized immediately. Preened then started feeding, digging in soil beneath palms the very southern tip of the Key, immediately next to the parking lot. Was still present when we left. Seemed in good health. Unusually confiding compared with Wheatears in UK which made us think it is a Canadian/Greenland bird as we would never have got this close (approx 2m) of a European bird. Photos from back of camera. Better quality when back in UK and can download."
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Strangely enough, I believe one was seen and photographed near this location in the fall last year. Similar to this one, it was reported on e-bird and flew under the radar.
OK, so a rare bird from far to the south flies over Dade County to the next county north of us. Then, another rare bird from far to the north flies over Dade County to the next county south of us. Hum???? Am I the only one that sees a pattern here?
Northern Wheatear seen at 3:15 pm.
Bird still being seen as of 6:50pm right before I left. Almost made it to a third consecutive month with a Florida review species lifer. Guess I'm going to have to work hard in November!
Toe: Hehehe
Toe wrote: "Hum???? Am I the only one that sees a pattern here?"
Angel and Mariel's bird radar is scaring them away, in addition to sending secret messages directly into my camera viewfinder.
Damn, that's awesome Rangel. I can't believe that thing stuck around.
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