Current contender for new BirdingPI.com Miami, FL HQ is this recently reduced waterfront Italianate villa @ USD $19.5MM – a bargain! Great spot for seeing Ring-billed Gull.
Can’t live in Miami w/o a boat, so it’s off to Crandon Marina Park on Key Biscayne for some boat shopping + birding. (Maybe mostly birding.)
Thanks to the kind folks at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center for mentioning this amazing/easy to access spot (+ free parking). Excellent views of Biscayne Bay + lawn/trees/natural beach:
By pure happenstance, the ‘bird of the trip’ (re. unusual sightings) was an amazing Smooth-billed Ani at this spot. First a sound ID via Merlin:
Then flying between trees eventually to perch by the park restrooms:
Perhaps common in places like Brazil, this beautiful member of the cuckoo family = rare to see in the US. Per Sibley Birds East (2nd ed., page 200), “Rare and declining [in S. Florida]… recently recorded only a few times each year, mostly single individuals.” A good omen for visiting Miami!
Very cool zygodactyl toe arrangement (toes 2 & 3 in front, toes 1 & 4 in back):
Don’t see many Black-crowned Night-Heron at Presque Isle. Guess they’re all down south, looking for fish scraps when the charter boats return, like these beautiful adults at Crandon Marina:
More Black-crowned Night-Heron:
‘Bird of the trip’ in the common/multiple sightings category was the lovely White Ibis, e.g., this adult at Crandon Marina Park. Plenty more shots of White Ibis to follow.
Coming up soon, lots more from Crandon Park! Plus great ACIF shots at Gull Point!