Twenty-two birders joined TAS Field Trip Coordinator Brian Rapoza this morning for a couple of hours of birding at Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables. There were more birders than birds present, as migrant songbirds continue to be hard to come by this spring in the Miami area. Early arrivers got to watch a pair of Piliated Woodpeckers interacting around their nest near the parking area. An Eastern Screech-Owl was calling from somewhere nearby. Three Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, four Chestnut-fronted Macaws, an Orange-winged Parrot, several small flocks of Yellow-chevroned Parakeets, a single Turkey Vulture and a few Chimney Swifts and White Ibis were also seen around the parking area.
More parrots were encountered when we arrived at the west end of the park, including a pair of Blue-and-yellow Macaws, a pair of Red-masked Parakeets and more Orange-winged Parrots and Yellow-chevroned Parakeets. A possible Black-and-white Warbler was spotted while most of us were looking at the parrots. Other than a couple of Gray Catbirds, no other migrant songbirds were seen or heard. Several Northern Cardinals, a few Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Fish Crows and a couple of Mourning Doves were among the resident birds seen. Indian Peafowl and Blue Jay were heard only.
An eBird checklist for the walk is here.
Piliated Woodpecker photo courtesy of Brian Rapoza