JACKSONVILLE BIRDING

BIRDING HIGHLIGHTS 2015

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Pelagic birding trip with Charles off from Mayport. We had Parasitic Jaeger, Pomarine Jaegers and my lifer Red Phalarope. Lots of Common Loons and Northern Gannets. Here is my checklist with photos in eBird. - December 28, 2015

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT. Our group had 108 species at Little Talbot Island cyrcle. All Duval County count was about 168 this year. - December 26, 2015

Ross's Goose continues at UNF campus. Finally I had a chance to check it out. - December 23, 2015

Lots of sparrows at Eastport Wastelands this morning, including 3 Grasshopper Sparrows. - December 15, 2015

I had a White-winged Dove at Little Talbot Island. I been looking for it forever. - December 13, 2015

Canvasback continues at Perdue Pond. First seen yesterday morning. - December 12, 2015

Rare American Black Duck continues at Perdue Pond, new lifer for me. - December 7, 2015

A Lark Sparrow at Little Talbot Island at south end in picnic area this morning. - November 27, 2015

Snow Goose and American Pipits at Sheffield Park this morning. A Snow Goose was in back pond and the Pipits on a football field. - November 27, 2015

Birding at Eastport Wasteland. Lots of Swamp, Vesper and Song Sparrows. I had 3 Field Sparrows and White-crowned Sparrow couple of days ago. Rare Lark Sparrow have been there least 10 days. I had a chance to see it this morning, new lifebird and county bird #272, county yearbird #243 - November 25, 2015

Winter ducks, sparrows and shorebirds are coming. Today's highlights:
Spoonbill Pond: lots of Blue-winged Teals, 5 Gadwalls, 3 Hooded Mergansers and 2 Chipping Sparrows.
Little Talbot: Northern Gannet, Northern Harrier "Gray Ghost", 3 Piping Plovers, Savannah, Chipping and Song Sparrows.
Huguenot Park: 2 American Avocets, Red-breasted Merganser and hundreds of Sandpipers, Plovers, Dunlins, Dowichers, Red Knots - November 11, 2015

I stopped at Ribault Monument in a morning to see if ducks and shorebirds showing up already at spoil area. Sure enough, there were about 15 Northern Shovelers and lots of Greater Yellowlegs and for my suprise 7 American Avocets. I been looking for them all year. County yearbird #240 November 9, 2015

I was away traveling in Tennessee and Virginia mountains. Got back last night and went this morning to Huguenot Park to look for reported Franklin's Gull. I found Franklin's at lagoon side. This bird has darker hood with white forehead, smaller bill and very bold eyering. Lifebird #450 and county bird #271 - November 3, 2015

Been birding every morning at Reddie Point. Cooler weather pushed migration in full speed. Rarities this morning: Nashville Warbler and Wilson's Warbler by the front pond, seen last few days. New bird in season: Orange-crowned Warbler. Total bird count today: 50 species. - October 19, 2015

Great morning at Reddie Point: Blackburnian Warblers, Tennessee Warblers, Magnolia Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Summer Tanager. New bird in season: Yellow-rumped Warbler. Total bird count: 55 species. - October 15, 2015

Highlights this morning at Reddie Point:
Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 5 Eastern Wood-pewee, 2 Magnolia Warbler and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. New birds for season: 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet and 3 Pied-billed Grebe in the front lake, total 46 species. - October 14, 2015

Highlights this morning at Reddie Point:
Magnolia Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Summer Tanager and Scarlet Tanager. - October 7, 2015

Highlights this morning at Reddie Point:
Hooded Warbler and Northern Watertrush. New birds in season: Palm Warblers and Gray Catbird, also was nice to see again Blue Grosbeak, Eastern Kingbird and Northern Flicker. - September 25, 2015

Rare but annual Least Flycatcher at Reddie Point Preserve this morning, main trail near entrance. - September 22, 2015

Rare Baird's Sandpiper at M&M this morning, same place where other rare sandpipers are, found by Kevin Dailey last night. - September 13, 2015

Adult Blackburnian Warbler at Theodore Roosevelt Area, near parking lot. - September 12, 2015

Rare Upland Sandpiper at M&M with Buff-breasted Sandpiper. - September 8, 2015

Rare Buff-breasted Sandpiper at M&M Dairy field, found by Bob Richter. - September 7, 2015

Birded in Hanna Park this morning. First Bank Swallow for this year. Also I had fist Black-throated Blue Warbler in season, immature female. - September 7, 2015

Annual, but rare Blue-winged Warbler at Theodore Roosevelt Area parking lot trees this morning. September 6, 2015

Reddie Point Preserve and Blue Cypress Park highlights: Prothonatary Warbler, Veery, 3 Eastern Kingbirds, Red-headed Woodpecker, Worm-eating Warbler and Summer Tanager. See photos from Blue Cypress Park ebird checklist. - September 5, 2015

Fall season starts at Reddie Point. This morning highlights were female Blackburnian Warbler, Baltimore Oriole and Eastern Wood-Pewee. See photos from ebird checklist. - September 3, 2015

Good birding 50 species in Hanna park this morning. Highlights were 5 Black Terns over the lake area, 3 Yellow Warblers and Blue-winged Teal. Also was nice to see Caspian Tern - September 1, 2015

First Ovenbird at fall season this morning at Fort Carolina Rebault Monument. - August 21, 2015

Great birding with Wade in Hanna Park this morning. We ended up with 58 species seen, including some good warbler species like Yellow Warbler and first in season Worm-eating Warbler. View ebird checklist here. - August 13, 2015

Lots of warblers at Hanna Park this morning including Yellow Warbler. See photos from ebird checklist. - August 4, 2015

Spoonbill Pond highlights: continues Stilt Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper and Glossy Ibis. New yearbird 3 Cliff Swallows in Huguenot Park. - August 2, 2015

I had Marbled Godwit and 2 Stilt Sandpipers at Spoonbill Pond, first seen by Kevin. All together 15 species of shorebirds including 5 Pectoral Sandpipers. At ocean side new yearbird Black Tern on scope view. - July 27, 2015

Warblers are coming. I had American Redstart, Black-and-White and Prairie Warblers this morning in Hanna Park. Here is my ebird checklist with photos. - July 23, 2015

A Spoonbill Pond continues to be great for shorebirds. I had many shorebird species including Pectoral Sandpiper. - July 21, 2015

Hanna Park birding this morning. Highlights were slightly out of season Belted Kingfisher and Prarie Warbler Also first time I had Reddish Egret at lake area - July 16, 2015

I had Red-headed Woodpecker (yearbird #223) at Tayre Brown Regional Park.
Other highlights were Summer Tanager in the same park, 3 Sandhill Cranes in two different locations nearby and out of season Spotted Sandpiper at Waterworks Pool - July 12, 2015

Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Big Talbot Spoonbill Pond this morning. eBird flagged Marsh Wren was singing other side of the road in marsh area. I went to Seaton Creek Preserve and found 2 Acadian Flycathers and 2 Hooded Warblers singing nearby. - July 5, 2015

Found a Pectoral Sandpiper at Spoonbill Pond at sunset. A Pectoral Sandpiper was the last bird for my June Challenge list #131, and a county yearbird #222 for me. June 30, 2015

Last day for June Challenge. Went out this morning to find a Great Horned Owl. My affords were rewarded with 3 of them. First one I tracked down at Cedar Point Preserve and later 2 more Great Horned Owls at Julington-Durbin Preserve. Bonus bird was a Eastern Wood-Pewee, which is also my new yearbird #221. - June 30, 2015

Highlights this morning were Hooded warbler at Thomas Creek and Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Seaton Creek Preserve. - June 29, 2015

All day birding with Daryl Bernard from Michigan. We ended a day with 90 species, seen only. I added 2 new birds to my June Challenge list: American White Pelican and Bachman's Sparrow. - June 26, 2015

Two new birds for my June Challenge list -
Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Northern Bobwhite. Found them at Pumpkin Hill Preserve this morning. - June 24, 2015

Bald Eagle was on top of its usual tree at Reddie Point Preserve. I still needed it for my June Challenge list. - June 23, 2015

Fort George Island before sunrise, added Screech-Owl for my June Challenge list. After that I spent couple of hours at Spoonbill Pond. Water level was very low but there were lots of shorebirds, even Glossy Ibis was still there. - June 20, 2015

Last two early mornings at Pumpkin Hill area for nocturnal birds. Heard and saw Chuck-will's-widows, heard Great Horned Owl, no luck with Screech-Owls or Woodcock. - June 18, 2015

Lots of shorebirds at Spoonbill Pond, including pair of Glossy Ibises. - June 14, 2015

June Challenge update - 120 species and counting. My previous record was 119. Still two weeks to go. - June 14, 2015

I had a new yearbird Common Tern (#220) in Huguenot Park. - June 12, 2015

Orchard Oriole has been singing in Hanna Park for a while now. Least Bittern continues by the picnic area cattails. - June 6, 2015

Two Sandhill Cranes (#219) at New World Avenue this morning. Other highlights were Yellow-throated Vireo and Summer Tanager at Equestrian Center. View checklist photos here - June 4, 2015

JUNE CHALLENGE. I was out all day and ended up with 88 species seen first day. - June 1, 2015

Today's highlight was Yellow-billed Cuckoo and 2 Yellow-throated Vireos at Tillie K. Fowler park. - May 27, 2015

I heard two Least Bitterns (#218) "talking" to each other at Imeson Field pond cattails, found first by Kevin. - May 26, 2015

Spring migration is almost over. Still few American Redstarts are around. Good bird were Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Blue Cyress Park and two Mississippi Kites and Swallow-tailed Kite at Spanish Pond last night. - May 25, 2015

I had Orchard Oriole (#217) at Hanna Park this morning. I been looking for them. Also 10 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were resting at picnic are. - May 22, 2015

I chased White-ramped Sandpiper (#216) today at Spoonbill Pond after ebird alert, found first by Kevin. - May 18, 2015

Locally very rare Scissored-tailed Flycatcher (#214) at M&M Dairy field today. Another good bird was Gray Kingbird (#215) right next to him. Amazing views both of them. - May 16, 2015

Spanish Pond hasn't been very birdy lately, but I still managed to see 32 species within an hour. Hightlight was 8:02pm when two Common Nighthawks flew overhead loudly calling.
- May 12, 2015

GLOBAL BIG DAY. Spending most of the day out there. Reddie Point had 50+ Redstarts, new yearbird Northern Watertrush (#212), numerous Ovenbirds, Black-throated Blues all together 12 warbler species. At Fort Carolina trail I had another yearbird Swainson's Thrush (#213). Many Ovenbirds, one moment I had 3 Ovenbirds in front of me. - May 9, 2015

Spoonbill Pond had some Long-billed Dowichers (#211) mixed in with Short-billed Dowichers. - May 8, 2015

Sheffield Park is a great place to see Blue Grosbeak, Indigo and Painted Buntings. They are singing and keeping the territory. Also I happen to see new yearbird Merlin (#210). - May 7, 2015

I spent some time at Theodore Roosevelt marsh area. Semipalmated Sandpiper (#209) was with Semipalmated Plovers. Least 120 Brown Pelicans were cyrcling in a sky and there were also 7 White Pelicans. - May 4, 2015

I saw my first Mississippi Kite (#207) at Reddie Point Preserve. At Ribault Monument we had Peregrine Falcon overhead and Theodore Roosevelt Area trail my first Veery (208) for this year. Also 3 Swallow-tailed Kites at marsh area. Looking good for this weekend birding. - May 1, 2015

Beautiful Bobolinks (#206) at Sheffield Park today - April 29, 2015

Lots of Blackball and Cape May Warblers at Reddie Point this morning. I found also rare in spring time Magnolia Warbler (#205) - April 28, 2015

Not many birds at Reddie Point this afternoon but managed to see first Acadian Flycatcher (#204) between rain showers. Saw also one late Blue-headed Vireo - April 25, 2015

Another good morning at Reddie Point, 54 species including female and male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (#203) - April 24, 2015

Reddie Point had lots of birds in a morning, 10 species of warblers including 2 Blackball Warblers (#202) and 3 Cape May Warblers (#201). Also had Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 4 Baltimore Orioles, male Scarlet Tanager (#200), Indigo Buntings. Spring migration is in full speed. - April 23, 2015

Spanish Pond had six Solitary Sandpipers (#195) and one Yellow Warbler (#196). After that I went to Reddie Point and saw two brilliant colored male Scarlet Tanagers (#197). Before sunset I went back to Reddie Point and saw Blue Grosbeak (#198) and Common Nighthawk (#199). Great day for birding. - April 21, 2015

Birds were active this morning, including Yellow-billed Cuckoo (#194) and Eastern Kingbird (#193) at Spanish Pond. - April 20, 2015

Prothonatary Warbler (#192) at Reddie Point, by the front gate smaller pond area. - April 19, 2015

Reddie Point was still good this morning. We got Black-throated Blue Warbler (#191), 2-3 Worm-eating Warblers, Painted and Indigo Buntings, even White-troated Sparrow was still here. - April 15, 2015

Ten species of warblers at Reddie Point this morning, including my first American Redstart (#190) - April 14, 2015

Flock of Indigo Buntings (#189) were at Reddie Point this afternoon. Also couple of male Painted Buntings with them. - April 13, 2015

Summer Tanager (#188) was calling by the Kingsley Plantation gate. New yearbird for me. - April 12, 2015

Gull-billed Terns (#187) are back in Huguenot. I saw one at lagoon side and two by the jetties. - April 8, 2015

Lots of Dowichers resting in spoil area, large group, scoped from Ribault Monument. Peregrine Falcon (#186) flew over and scared them off for a moment. There were also lots of Northern Shovelers, Yellowlegs and couple of Black-necked Stilts. - April 7, 2015

Big Talbot Spoonbill Pond had Stilt Sandpiper (#185) hanging out with Dowicher and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Lots of Shovelers and Blue-winged Teals are still there. - April 6, 2015

First sighting of Least Terns (#184) Lots of them flying back and forth over the river at Reddie Point. Known location. - April 5, 2015

Lot of driving today to catch up with the birds what were seen but weren't in my 2015 list yet. At Julington Creek Preserve we got Bachman's Sparrows (#181), they were singing all over preserve. Swallow-tailed Kite gave us very nice overhead show. At Lem Turner Sod Farms we saw 5 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks (#182) flying over the field. Near Airport we saw Wild Turkey in its usual spot, and at Huguenot Park we had 2 Whimbrels (#183). - April 3, 2015

Hooded Warbler (#179) was singing by the Spanish Pond trail. Saw in few seconds in two different locations, must have been two birds out there. Two Great-creasted Flycatchers (#180) at Boone Park this afternoon. - April 1, 2015

Rare, but annual Marbled Godwit (#177) was still in Huguenot Park this morning. I saw it 11:30am and 5:45pm at lagoon side. Big Talbot Island Spoonbill pond have still lot of ducs and teals, also 2 Black-necked Stilts (#178). - March 31, 2015

First Shimney Swift (#176) at Reddie Point. - March 29, 2015

Glossy Ibises were gone from Spanish Pond in a morning, but heard Ovenbird (#174) sang once, and we had another one singing at Arboretum. Also Red-eyed Vireo was still singing at Arboretum, heard first Wednesday. Upper Arial trail section we had Worm-eating Warbler (#175). Warblers are coming! - March 27, 2015

Three Glossy Ibises (#173) at Spanish Pond at 6:35pm. I went there in a rain about an hour after Kevin's report. - March 26, 2015

Three Rough-winged Swallows (#172) in Hanna Park this morning. First sighting in this year. - March 26, 2015

Red-eyed Vireo (#170) was singing in Jacksonville Arboretum by the parking lot, first time heard them singing in this year. At Fort George Island we had Yellow-throated Vireo. Two Snow Geese where at Huguenot Park jetties. Odd place to see them mixed in with gulls. Also we saw in the same group my first two Sandwitch Terns(#171) - March 25, 2015

I got my first Ruby-throated Hummingbird (#169) at Blue Cyrus Park this morning. Also there were two Yellow-crowned Night-Herons - March 24, 2015

Pair of Wood Ducks at spanish Pond. - March 23, 2015

Sora was calling after sunset at Spanish Pond. Also heard Eastern Whip-poor-Wills 7:54pm and 8:10pm at distance. - March 21, 2015

Great morning for marsh sparrows at Theodore Roosevelt Area. Least 25 Seaside Sparrows (#166), 2 Nelson's Sparrows (#167) and 5 Saltmarsh Sparrows (#168). Check out my ebird checklist for photos. Weather conditions were perfect: very quiet, foggy and lots of gnats. - March 20, 2015

Eastern Whip-poor-Wills singing before sunrise also at Theodore Roosevelt Area. Started at 6:47 and the last one I heard 7:04. - March 18, 2015

I had Louisiana Watertrush (#164) this morning at Spanish Pond. They are going through our area now. After Spanish I went to Hanna Park and had 4 really bright Prarie Warblers(#165). Warblers are coming :) - March 17, 2015

Early in a morning before sunrise I went to Pumpkin Hill Preserve. First Eastern Whip-poor-Will (#161) started to call 6:50am, followed by other one. 10 minutes later Chuck-will's-Widow (#162) also called. All together I heard within 20 minutes 2 Whips and 3 Chucks. When I was about to leave also Northern Bobwhite (#163) called maintenance building territory. - March 16, 2015

Snow Geese (#160) continue at Imeson Rd field at westside. Three white and one dark morph. - March 8, 2015

Reddie Point had lots of birds this morning. I got 60 species. Wood Duck (#158) and Yellow-throated Vireo (#159) were new yearbirds for me. Yesterday I got also my first Barn Swallow (#157) in Hanna Park. - March 10, 2015

I found a new county bird for me, 2 Pine Siskins (#156) were at Julington Creek Preserve. Also I saw first Swallow-tailed Kite (#155) for this year there too. My first Painted Bunting (#153) for this year at Spanish Pond. Also I heard Sora (#154) at Spanish Pond. - March 8, 2015

Northern Parulas (#150) are back. They were singing all over the Reddie Point preserve. As I pulled into Reddie Point parking lot Sharp-shinned Hawk (#151) flow over, square tail clearly visible. At sunset I visited Theodore Roosevelt Area and found Great Horned Owl (#152) in its usual spot. - March 5, 2015

Western Kingbird continues at Huguenot Park. I saw the bird on top of shrubs near park entrance. Sedge Wren at Fort Carolina behind the fort. - March 3, 2015

First Purple Martin (#149) for this year at M&M today and Sheffeld Park had one Rusty Blackbird at the front trees. - March 1, 2015

Jacksonville Zoo had male and female Baltimore Oriole by the picnic area trees; new yearbird(#148) for me. - February 26, 2015

Three White-winged Scoters (#146) continues at Big Talbot Spoonbill Pond. Also Yellow-throated Warbler (#147) was at the Rebault Club; it was was still missing from my yearlist. - February 23, 2015

New yearbird Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (#145) at Ringhaver Park. - February 21, 2015

I went to Ringhaver Park this morning and had American Pipits(#143) at baseball field.
Afternoon I went to Hanna Park to do some seawatching. I found 2 Red-throated Loons(#144). Much smaller than Common Loon, body deeper in a water, small pointed little bit up-turned bill. - February 18, 2015

I went to T.Roosevelt at sunset to see if Great Horned Owl shows up, but no show tonight. On a way back I heard Eastern Screetch Owl calling. - February 12, 2015

Rare but annual Western Kingbird(#142) continues at Huguenot Park. Other new yearbirds for me were Piping Plover(#141) and 4 American Oystercatchers(#140). - February 10, 2015

First singing House Finch at Castaway Island this morning. - February 9, 2015

New yearbirds were Lesser Yellowlegs(#135) at M&M Dairy. Lots of Wilson's Plovers(#136) at Huguenot, Greater Scaup(#137) at Spoonbill Pond, White-crowned Sparrow(#138) at usual spot on Little Talbot Island, and Spotted Sandpiper(#139) by the Sandollar restaurant. - February 8, 2015

Leat 9 Rusty Blackbirds(#134) at the M&M Dairy today. - February 3, 2015

I was looking this morning for reported Pine Siskins at Seaton Creek Preserve but couldn't find them. Then I checked usual spot for Wild Turkeys and they were there. - January 30, 2015

Great birding this morning in Blue Cyress Park - 52 species within 2 hours. Lots of birds at the paved loop. Check out ebird checklist - January 22, 2015

Roseate Spoonbills are rare in January North East Florida but some birds stay over winter. Group up to 10 birds staying at Theodore Roosevelt marsh area now. - January 9, 2015

All day birding today. I ended up with 110 species. Here is my list with first sightings. - January 1, 2015