Last month I visited Gemini Springs nine times, finding 57 different species of bird. Last year we spent most of the month out of state so I have no checklists from Gemini Springs for October 2012. The complete 2013 list is at the end of this post.
One species, Eastern Kingbird, was new for my year list. Returning winter visitors arrived, including Eastern Phoebes, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Swamp Sparrows, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. I also saw an adult Red-headed Woodpecker, my first at the park since March. I’m still looking for my First of Fall Yellow-rumped Warblers (already seen by others at Gemini Springs), Chipping Sparrows, American Goldfinches and American Robins.
Here are some photographic highlights from October 2013.
Southern Leopard Frog | 01-OCT-13
Tricolored Heron | 01-OCT-13
Common Yellowthroat | 04-OCT-13
Green Anole | 04-OCT-13
Loggerhead Shrike | 04-OCT-13
pollinator | 04-OCT-13
On October 9th I took a trail I don’t often take. It’s a mowed path but it had not been cut for some time, and there were deep grooves of mud throughout. As I walked on, the path got more and more overgrown and I wished I hadn’t gone the way I had. It looked like rain and I was afraid I would have to do some serious bushwhacking — in sandals and shorts — to get back to pavement. I was rewarded with a nice aerial dance by our breeding pair of Bald Eagles soaring above me, the female being chased by her mate.
Bald Eagle pair | 09-OCT-13
And then I found a lifer insect smiling up at me. Worth it. 🙂
Bold Jumping Spider | 09-OCT-13
Eastern Phoebe | 11-OCT-13
Sunning Southern Black Racer | 11-OCT-13
We finally got our kayaks in the water | 14-OCT-13
Black-and-white Warbler | 16-OCT-13
Peninsula Cooter | 21-OCT-13
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October 2013 bird list, Gemini Springs
Anhinga – Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue Heron – Ardea herodias
Great Egret – Ardea alba
Snowy Egret – Egretta thula
Little Blue Heron – Egretta caerulea
Tricolored Heron – Egretta tricolor
Green Heron – Butorides virescens
Black Vulture – Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura
Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
Bald Eagle – Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered Hawk – Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed Hawk – Buteo jamaicensis
Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata
American Coot – Fulica americana
Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
Common Ground-Dove – Columbina passerina
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Archilochus colubris
Belted Kingfisher – Megaceryle alcyon
Red-headed Woodpecker – Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – Sphyrapicus varius
Downy Woodpecker – Picoides pubescens
Northern Flicker – Colaptes auratus
Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus
American Kestrel – Falco sparverius
Eastern Phoebe – Sayornis phoebe
Eastern Kingbird – Tyrannus tyrannus
Loggerhead Shrike – Lanius ludovicianus
White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus
Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow – Corvus ossifragus
Tufted Titmouse – Baeolophus bicolor
House Wren – Troglodytes aedon
Marsh Wren – Cistothorus palustris
Carolina Wren – Thryothorus ludovicianus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Regulus calendula
Gray Catbird – Dumetella carolinensis
Brown Thrasher – Toxostoma rufum
Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottos
Ovenbird – Seiurus aurocapilla
Black-and-white Warbler – Mniotilta varia
Common Yellowthroat – Geothlypis trichas
American Redstart – Setophaga ruticilla
Palm Warbler – Setophaga palmarum
Pine Warbler – Setophaga pinus
Yellow-throated Warbler – Setophaga dominica
Prairie Warbler – Setophaga discolor
Swamp Sparrow – Melospiza georgiana
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
Indigo Bunting – Passerina cyanea
Painted Bunting – Passerina ciris
Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus
Common Grackle – Quiscalus quiscula
Boat-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus major
