114th CBC Florida Regional Summary

By Bill Pranty

As has been typical the past several years, the number of CBCs held in Florida this past season—72—set an all-time record. New counts were begun at Fort De Soto, Lake Seminole–Torreya, and Orange River. The Gulf Circle–Manatee County CBC has ended in favor of the new Fort De Soto count, which uses much of the former’s area. The Hamilton County and Lower Keys CBCs, not run during the 113th and 114th seasons, seem to have been retired.

These 72 CBCs accounted for (precisely) 9100 accepted count-day observations of 342 taxonomic forms and 1,893,721 individuals. The taxonomic forms comprised 285 native species, the reintroduced Whooping Crane, all 15 countable exotics (I am allowing Egyptian Geese to now be “countable” along the southeastern coast), 25 non-countable exotics, two color morphs (Snow Goose and Great Blue Heron), one species with two listed races (Palm Warbler), one hybrid (Mallard x Mottled Duck), one intergrade (“Wurdemann’s Heron”), and 11 species-groups. Seven other species—Bar-tailed Godwit, Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, Sooty Tern, Purple Martin, Sprague’s Pipit, and Dickcissel—were recorded solely during count-week.

Twelve CBCs, including two inland (*) exceeded 149 species: Jacksonville (166), West Pasco (164), Alafia Banks (163), *Zellwood–Mount Dora (161), *Gainesville (158), Sarasota (158), North Pinellas (157), St. Petersburg (155), Aripeka–Bayport (154), Cocoa (152), Merritt Island N.W.R. (151), and South Brevard County (150). Eight CBCs, including six inland (*), tallied more than 50,000 individuals: *STA5–Clewiston (155,474, with 130,000 American Coots), *Lake Seminole–Torreya (100,667, including 80,000 Red-winged Blackbirds), *Lake Placid (87,707), Cocoa (67,139), West Pasco (64,244), *Jackson County (59,491), *Lakeland (55,625), and *Econlockhatchee (51,960). Only six species (Double-crested Cormorant, American Kestrel, Belted Kingfisher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Palm Warbler) were tallied on all 72 counts.

Ten species exceeded 50,000 individuals statewide: American Coot (209,302), Red-winged Blackbird (159,441), American Robin (134,778), Tree Swallow (125,085), Laughing Gull (88,096), Lesser Scaup (82,443), Ring-billed Gull (69,947), Fish Crow (62,838), Yellow-rumped Warbler (63,265), and White Ibis (58,349). In contrast, 24 native species or natural vagrants were represented by a single individual each (excluding count-week reports): Harlequin Duck, Red-throated Loon, American Golden-Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Black-legged Kittiwake, Brown Noddy, Inca Dove, Snowy Owl, Short-eared Owl, Common Nighthawk, Lesser Nighthawk, Chaetura species, Calliope Hummingbird, La Sagra's Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Cassin’s Kingbird, Gray Kingbird, Cave Swallow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Louisiana Waterthrush, Lark Sparrow, Le Conte’s Sparrow, and Tricolored Munia.

The following section mentions only those rarities that were supported by digital images or documentation forms. The 7026 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks on 26 counts easily established the state’s high count (previous high: 4210 individuals during the 111th season); in contrast, only 417 Fulvous Whistling-Ducks were tallied on three counts, with 240 of these at Zellwood–Mount Dora and 165 at STA5–Clewiston. All but five of the state’s 197 Egyptian Geese were found in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, where the species is now “countable” for CBC purposes. There were 3635 Muscovy Ducks on 52 counts, and 3237 (mostly feral) Mallards on 51. Presumed Mallard x Mottled Duck hybrids numbered 388 individuals on 11 counts, with 260 at St. Petersburg. I suspect that many hundreds of hybrids are being passed off as “pure” Mottled Ducks or feral Mallards. I was very pleased that Cole Fredricks, the new compiler of the Lakeland CBC, included all of the city’s exotic waterfowl, including two Black-necked Swans (native to South America), which established a new species for the CBC database. The Lakeland CBC also provided the only two Common Shelducks and most of the Mute Swans and Black Swans reported in Florida. Single Cinnamon Teal graced Bradenton and Merritt Island N.W.R. A male Harlequin Duck in a freshwater lake at West Palm Beach, perhaps the same individual found on the 110th CBC, seems more likely to be an escapee. Amazingly, two female Common Mergansers— singles at Crystal River and Pensacola—were both photographed, establishing the sixth and seventh records for Florida. Sarasota reported 1900 Red-breasted Mergansers, almost all of them in a single, vast flock in Sarasota Bay.

Northern Bobwhites totaled 223 individuals on 27 CBCs, an improvement over the 113th season. Booby counts at Dry Tortugas National Park were 91 Masked and 126 Brown. There were 17,031 American White Pelicans on 45 counts and 19,958 Brown Pelicans on 47, with 80 inland at Lakeland. West Palm Beach tallied two of the now-resident Neotropic Cormorants at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. Wading birds totaled 129,617 individuals statewide, with 192 “Great White” Herons, 193 Reddish Egrets, 58,349 White Ibises, 8464 Glossy Ibises, 1385 Roseate Spoonbills, and 4356 Wood Storks.

Raptor totals included 4634 Osprey on 69 counts, 1705 Bald Eagles on 67, and 3070 Red-shouldered Hawks on 69. A surprising eight White-tailed Kites were reported, with five of these at STA5–Clewiston, and others at Lake Placid and Long Pine Key. Good counts of Snail Kites (among the 86 statewide) were 43 at Kissimmee Valley and 26 at STA5–Clewiston. Accipiter totals were 104 Sharp-shinned Hawks on 49 CBCs and 299 Cooper’s Hawks on 65. Thirty-eight Short-tailed Hawks were found on 14 counts, all in the single digits.

A stunning 18 Black Rails were heard at Coot Bay–Everglades N.P. (where tape playback is prohibited), with another at St. Marks. One-hundred seventeen Purple Swamphens were tallied at three counts, with 110 of these at STA5–Clewiston. Of the state’s 146 Purple Gallinules on 20 counts, 31 were at Lakeland with 25 others at Emeralda–Sunnyhill. Limpkins continue their increase, totaling 891 on 41 counts, with 140 at Lakeland, 100 at West Palm Beach, 93 at Kissimmee Valley, 83 at Sarasota, and 70 at STA5–Clewiston. There were 13,391 Sandhill Cranes on 48 CBCs, including 3000 each at Gainesville and Lake Placid. Totals of small plovers were 170 Snowy, 228 Wilson’s, 2203 Semipalmated, and 122 Piping, all totals higher than the 113th season. Cedar Key again led the state in American Oystercatchers (825), representing 68 per cent of the statewide total of 1205. Three of the state’s five Long-billed Curlews were found at Alafia Banks. The 1683 Red Knots found on 18 counts were a substantial improvement from the past three CBC seasons. A Bar-tailed Godwit that wintered in both Pinellas and Pasco counties was found count-week at West Pasco. Five Semipalmated Sandpipers were again found on the Key Largo–Plantation Key CBC, apparently confirming regular winter occurrence in Florida Bay. Unverified during winter in the state, a Pectoral Sandpiper was adequately described at Zellwood–Mount Dora.

Fourteen Common Terns were accepted on four CBCs: 10 at Venice–Englewood, two at Dry Tortugas National Park, and singles each at Pensacola and St. Petersburg. Among the state’s 8477 Black Skimmers on 36 counts were four-digit totals at Ponce Inlet (1900), Coot Bay–Everglades N.P. (1000), and St. Augustine (1000). Florida alcid totals returned to normal this season, with zero individuals reported statewide. (I append the 113th report to state that I eventually obtained impeccable documentation—photos and color paintings by Rafael Galvez—of the Dry Tortugas National Park Razorbill, almost certainly establishing the southernmost record anywhere).

Eurasian Collared-Doves numbered 6813 on 67 counts, reflecting a 10 per cent increase over the 113th season. A juvenile Inca Dove was adequately detailed at Jonathan Dickinson S.P. Mangrove Cuckoos graced Coot Bay–Everglades N.P. (2) and Key Largo–Plantation Key (1). One of the clear highlights of the 114th season was Florida’s third record of Snowy Owl at Jacksonville, which enthralled dozens of birders from around the state during its three-week stay. As expected, Fort Myers was the CBC hotspot for Burrowing Owls, accounting for 231 of the 270 found statewide. A Common Nighthawk was seen and heard calling at Econlockhatchee. A Chaetura swift photographed at West Pasco was never relocated; it either represented the southernmost Vaux’s Swift in the state or Florida’s first mid-winter Chimney Swift record. Hummingbird tallies were 197 Ruby-throated on 33 counts, seven Rufous on three, two Black-chinned and one Calliope at Tallahassee, and seven not identified to species. Numbers of Picoides woodpeckers were 1663 Downy on 68 counts, 41 Red-cockaded on nine, and 18 Hairy on eight. Statewide caracara and falcon totals were 98 Crested Caracaras on 16 counts, 2599 American Kestrels on all 72 counts, 79 Merlins on 43, and 78 Peregrine Falcons on 37 (but I questioned 13 reported on one CBC). A few Budgerigars persist in their established range: two at West Pasco and one at Aripeka–Bayport. It may be time to delist this species—or at least to cease considering them countable for CBC purposes. Totals of the three other “countable” psittacids were 1005 Monk Parakeets on 19 counts, 890 Nanday Parakeets on 12, and 170 White-winged Parakeets at Dade County. Totals of other psittacids, all in CBCs in Miami-Dade County, were 100 Red-masked Parakeets, 273 Mitred Parakeets, 140 White-eyed Parakeets, and 174 Yellow-chevroned Parakeets. Only three psittacids species were found at Fort Lauderdale, where as many as 18 species were found during the early 2000s.

Eleven species of flycatchers were accepted this season (two other species were deleted); rarest among these were a La Sagra’s Flycatcher at Kendall Area and the state’s sole Tropical, Cassin’s, and Gray kingbirds all at STA5–Clewiston! Eleven Ash-throated Flycatchers were found on six counts north to Choctawhatchee Bay, all of singles except for six at Zellwood–Mount Dora.

The expansion of wintering Great Crested Flycatchers seems to be continuing, with a record 361 on 28 counts, including 65 at Fakahatchee, and 54 at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; I questioned 83 reported on another CBC. Florida Scrub-Jays numbered 288 on 18 counts, with 57 at Merritt Island N.W.R., 38 at Lake Placid, and 27 at Peace River. All of the triple-digit totals for the 2054 Loggerhead Shrikes found statewide were from along the southern Gulf coast, at Peace River (182), Fort Myers (147), Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (141), and Naples (102). Jackson County again provided the state’s only Horned Larks, with 21. Birders searching for the West Pasco swift found a female-plumaged Purple Martin during count week. Twenty Barn Swallows were documented at Long Pine Key—I’ll remind Florida compilers that this species must be documented statewide.

In contrast to the irruption of Red-breasted Nuthatches into the state during the 113th season, one nuthatch at Gainesville was the sole report this season. Cedar Waxwings eclipsed the 10,000 mark this season, only the third time such numbers have been reported in Florida since I became editor in 2002 (the other seasons were the 103rd and 107th). Single Lapland Longspurs were photographed at Choctawhatchee Bay and St. Petersburg. Jacksonville provided the only Snow Buntings, with three. Twenty-three wood-warbler species were reported this season (all were accepted). The rarest among these were the Louisiana Waterthrush at Dade County (with another count-week at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary), single Nashville Warblers at Kendall Area and Lake Placid, two Tennessee Warblers at Dade County and another at Econlockhatchee, and single Wilson’s Warblers at East Pasco, Gainesville, and Zellwood–Mount Dora. Female-plumaged Western Tanagers enlivened Brooksville and Jacksonville.

Twenty species of sparrows were reported, including the sole Lark Sparrow at Pensacola and Le Conte’s Sparrow at Aripeka–Bayport. The ratio of “Sharp-tailed” Sparrows was 140 Nelson’s on 17 counts, 18 Saltmarsh on six counts (strangely all along the Gulf coast—not necessarily documented—except for three at Daytona Beach), and five not identified to species. It may be advisable for all Gulf coast Saltmarsh Sparrows to be documented in the future. An amazing 1250 Swamp Sparrows were tallied by two parties on the Avon Park A.F. Range CBC! Perhaps reflecting the lack of winter irruptions into Florida this winter, no Fox Sparrows were found on any CBCs. Five Blue Grosbeaks were documented, three at Zellwood–Mount Dora and singles at Alafia Banks and Choctawhatchee Bay. There were 340 Painted Buntings on 37 counts, and 125 Indigo Buntings on 19. The Brewer’s Blackbird at Aripeka–Bayport returned for at least its second winter. Yellow-headed Blackbirds graced Alafia Banks (1) and Lake Placid (2).  An amazing 50 Baltimore Orioles were at Lake Placid, with 19 others at Gainesville. The only Pine Siskins were singles at Jackson County and Lake Seminole–Torreya. House Finches numbered 1286 on 43 CBCs, while 2683 House Sparrows were tallied on 53. The adult Tricolored Munia photographed at Dry Tortugas National Park—the fourth record from there since 1999—probably represented a natural colonist from the population established in Cuba. If so, the munia would represent an addition to the North American bird list. Review of the munia records is underway by the Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee.

For the sixth CBC season, Bruce Anderson reviewed most of the 175+ documentation forms received from 49 counts. Bruce and I deleted 25 reports from 15 counts (one to four species per count), a total that represents less than 0.3% of all CBC observations. Species deleted due to lack of details or because the details ruled out the claimed species were Cinnamon Teal, Great Cormorant, Swainson’s Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Pectoral Sandpiper (two counts), Wilson’s Phalarope, Least Tern, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Kingbird, Sprague’s Pipit, Yellow-throated Vireo (two counts), Barn Swallow (two counts), Cave Swallow, Northern Shrike (!), Lapland Longspur, Yellow Warbler, Rusty Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, and Shiny Cowbird. Another 33 reports were accepted but appended with the “Details Desired’ or “Questionable Number” editorial codes. Two hybrid combinations reported in truly impossible numbers on one CBC were each changed to one of the parental species. Additional effort by compilers—especially new compilers—would greatly improve the quality of the raw CBC data submitted, and would greatly reduce the number of reports that are questioned or deleted from Florida’s CBCs.

Brian Ahern and Valeri Ponzo improved a draft of this summary.