Systematic list - part 6: Osprey, Kites, Harries and Hawks
Osprey Pandion haliaetus (70)
Common everywhere but especially so along the west coast.
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adult Osprey, Tamiami Trail (S-333), 14th April
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juvenile Ospreys, Lovers Key State Park, 15th April
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Ospreys, Flamingo, 24th April (left) and 18th April (right) |
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Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus (26)
Small numbers were seen at several different locations, though none east of Snake Road and the Everglades and none in the Keys. Only one bird was seen perched, and that too briefly to get a photo. Although I knew I stood a good chance of finding these I didn't expect them to be quite so easy. These are truly impressive birds, well up there in my top birds of all time, so please forgive the plethora of photos!
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Swallow-tailed Kite, Corkscrew Swamp, 16th April
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Swallow-tailed Kites, Alva, 15th April (left) and Snake Road/Seminole Reservation, 25th April (right) |
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Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis (1)
1 seen from one of the Airboat concessions along the Tamiami Trail at Miccosukee (though not the abandoned one that's famous for this species). It was a bit too distant for photos though views were clear enough through the 'scope.
Northern Harrier Circus (cyaneus) hudsonius (2)
1 Lake Edna (Middle Keys) 23rd and 1 Snake Road 25th. Both were ring-tails.
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Northern Harrier, Lake Edna, 23rd April |
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Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus (1)
1 Dry Tortugas (Garden Key) 22nd.
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus (40)
Common and often absurdly tame. Records were fairly widespread, although none in the Miami metropolitan area (unless 1 at Loxahatchee was just in). The southern Florida race extimus is much paler than the birds I have seen previously (in California, elegans).
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