Part 2 (February 1 2018) - Circle B Bar
Part 3 (February 2 2018) - More Resort Birding and the Apopka Wildlife Drive
Part 4 (February 2 & 3 2018) - Rock Springs Run State Reserve and Hal Scott Regional Forrest
Part 5 (February 3 2018) - Canaveral National Seashore
In between exams, I was lucky enough to have some time off, and it coincided with my Grandparents condo rental near Celebration, Florida. So my parents took work off for a few days, and the trip was set into motion. It would last three days, the shortest international trip I've ever been on. Although it was going to be (very) short, I had high hopes. My targets are as follows, in order of want:
Florida Scrub Jay (endemic)
Limpkin
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Purple Gallinule
Yellow-throated Warbler
White-eyed Vireo
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Bachman's Sparrow
Snail Kite
Carolina Chickadee
I would have placed Snail Kite higher, but I didn't think that I'd really have a shot at them anyways. I obviously had a few other wants, but they were lower because I expected them. Then there was a few other species that were only possible under very unlikely circumstances, so I discounted them. As you can see, Florida Scrub Jay was my number one target, being Florida's only endemic, and I was in a pretty good spot for range.
Day one way pretty much all travel, or so my parents thought... A Ross's Goose had been found to be reliable at Spencer Smith Park, only a few hundred meters off of our route to Buffalo International Airport (flights were cheaper there than Toronto). We were pretty tight on time, so I quickly speed walked across the park. I got a few duck year birds like a juvenile White-winged Scoter, and Ruddy Duck.
Juvenile White-winged Scoter, not to be confused with the quite similar juvenile Surf Scoter!
Ruddy Ducks, and a tag-along Greater Scaup
I saw some other birders (they were actually photographers), and they said they hadn't seen it. I kept walking East up the park, and a medium sized white bird drifted only a few meters above my head. I was a little befuddled, and momentarily forgot what I was looking for. White bird, black wingtips, Gannet? My brain thought, just having gone through an hour and a half of solid math, then I remembered, The Ross's Goose! I ran up, and watched it land on a little man made beach, where it rested for a while, and I got some good photos.
Obviously a much, much smaller and daintier bird than a Snow Goose. Phew, not a hybrid at all!
Not even cropped!!!!
Needless to say (although I'll say it anyways), I was feeling pretty good about my Florida trip, hadn't even left the province, and I'd already gotten a lifer! This felt like an overdue bird for me, because it's my last expected Ontario Goose! I just (just, ha) need Pink-footed, Barnacle and Emperor and I'll have all of the Ontario geese!
More to come, only actually Florida this time, I swear...
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