Florida trip report header

Systematic list - part 5: Ibises, Spoonbills and Vultures

 

White Ibis Eudocimus albus (380)

Very common and widespread with birds often seen away from birding locations. Best counts were 100+ at Tamiami Trail (S-334) 14th and 100+ Snake Road 25th. Relatively scarce in the Keys where only 26 seen. These included 1 Dry Tortugas (Garden Key) 21st - apparently a fairly scarce bird there.

click for larger image click for larger image

White Ibises, Loxahatchee, 26th April (left) and Seminole, 25th April (right)

 

click for larger image click for larger image

White Ibises, Ding Darling, 16th April (left) and Fort Myers Beach, 17th April (right)

 

click for larger image click for larger image

White Ibises, Ding Darling, 16th April

 

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus (126)

None seen in the west or in the Keys and a flock of 16 over the Anhinga Trail 18th was the only record in the Everglades. Seen at several sites inland and towards the east coast including 30+ Tamiami Trail (S-334) 14th, 50 Snake Road 25th, 10 Green Cay 25th, 10 Loxahatchee 26th and smaller numbers at a few other places.

click for larger image click for larger image

Glossy Ibises, Snake Road/Seminole Reservation, 25th April

 

click for larger image click for larger image

Glossy Ibises, Green Cay, 25th April

 

Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja (93)

This species proved much easier to find than I feared, though the largest count was at dawn on my first day: 70+ Tamiami Trail (S-334) 14th. Elsewhere 12 Ding Darling 16th was the best count. In the Everglades mainly seen at and near Pouratis Pond (max. 6 24th). Only singles seen at each of Green Cay, Wakodahatchee and Loxahatchee.

click for larger image
click for larger image

Roseate Spoonbills and other wading birds, Tamiami Trail (S-334), 14th April

 

click for larger image click for larger image
click for larger image click for larger image

Roseate Spoonbills, Tamiami Trail (S-334), 17th April

 

click for larger image click for larger image

Roseate Spoonbill, Snake Bight Trail, Everglades, 24th April

 

Black Vulture (American Black Vulture) Coragyps atratus (323)

Very common, though not seen in the Keys. Often seen in flocks including 110 Tamiami Trail (S-333) 17th and 50 Snake Road 25th.

click for larger image click for larger image

Black Vulture, Tamiami Trail Loop Road, 14th April

 

click for larger image click for larger image

Black Vultures, Tamiami Trail Loop Road, 14th April (left) and Snake Road/Seminole Reservation (right), 25th April

 

click for larger image click for larger image

Black Vultures, Anhinga Trail, Everglades, 18th April (left) and Wakodahatchee, 27th April (right)

 

click for larger image

Black Vultures, Tamiami Trail (ST-333), 17th April

 

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura (155)

Although smaller numbers overall than the last species, this species was seen more frequently, just not in such large flocks. Largest count was 30 Everglades 18th but that was over a large area - no more than about 6 seen together anywhere. Unlike Black Vulture, this species was seen in the Keys.

click for larger image click for larger image

Turkey Vulture, Boca Chica, 23rd April (left) and Key West Botanical Garden, 19th April (right)

 

click for larger image click for larger image

Turkey Vulture, Tamiami Trail Loop Road, 14th April

 

click for larger image click for larger image

Turkey Vultures, Snake Road/Seminole Reservation, 25th April

 

Click here to carry on...

Or here to return to the sytematic list index

Or here to jump to itinerary.