Category Archives: Gemini Springs

I birded Gemini Springs 10 times in September, tallying 56 species. Last September I only saw 43 species in 9 trips. New for the year were Eastern Wood-Pewee, Veery, Swainson’s Thrush, Ovenbird, and Baltimore Oriole. The complete list is at the end of this post.

Here are some photographic highlights from a month of birding at Gemini Springs.

Common Gallinule chick | 02 September 2013

Florida Box Turtle | 06 September 2013

Golden Orb Weaver sp | 06 September 2013

With the cooler fall weather, Arthur and I biked the Spring-to-spring Trail a few evenings over the last month. On September 8th, we came across a runner who had stopped to photograph something off the path – a BOBCAT! Our first in the park (which is adjacent to the trail) and a new BIGBY species. Woo hoo!

Bobcat | 08 September 2013

Naturally, we saw (but did not photograph) another one just two days later. 😉

crisp morning | 10 September 2013

During another evening ride a few days later, we saw a family of feral pigs in the same area we saw the first bobcat. I’ve only seen pigs a couple of times before, always in a much more remote area of the park. The piglets are cute but the species is invasive and does a lot of habitat damage. Not good.

feral pigs | 11 September 2013

little gator | 13 September 2013

Southern Black Racer | 16 September 2013

Brown Thrasher | 16 September 2013

During yet another evening bike ride, I was extremely thrilled to come across a Scarlet Kingsnake on the bike path right at the entrance to the park.

Lifer Scarlet Kingsnake — so beautiful!! | 18 September 2013

Viceroy | 20 September 2013

Eastern Glass Lizard | 22 September 2013

Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth | 22 September 2013

noctuidae sp | 29 September 2013

Golden Orb Weaver sp with swallowtailed-prey | 29 September 2013

even crisper morning | 30 September 2013

Marsh Rabbits | 30 September 2013

Common Yellowthroat | 30 September 2013

Prairie Warbler | 30 September 2013

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September 2013 bird list, Gemini Springs

Muscovy Duck – Cairina moschata
Anhinga – Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue Heron – Ardea herodias
Great Egret – Ardea alba
Little Blue Heron – Egretta caerulea
Tricolored Heron – Egretta tricolor
Green Heron – Butorides virescens
Black Vulture – Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura
Cooper’s Hawk – Accipiter cooperii
Bald Eagle – Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered Hawk – Buteo lineatus
Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata
American Coot – Fulica americana
Sandhill Crane – Grus canadensis
Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
Barred Owl – Strix varia
Chimney Swift – Chaetura pelagica
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Archilochus colubris
Belted Kingfisher – Megaceryle alcyon
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus
Downy Woodpecker – Picoides pubescens
Northern Flicker – Colaptes auratus
Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus
Eastern Wood-Pewee – Contopus virens
Great Crested Flycatcher – Myiarchus crinitus
Loggerhead Shrike – Lanius ludovicianus
White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus
Red-eyed Vireo – Vireo olivaceus
Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow – Corvus ossifragus
Carolina Chickadee – Poecile carolinensis
Tufted Titmouse – Baeolophus bicolor
House Wren – Troglodytes aedon
Carolina Wren – Thryothorus ludovicianus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea
Veery – Catharus fuscescens
Swainson’s Thrush – Catharus ustulatus
Gray Catbird – Dumetella carolinensis
Brown Thrasher – Toxostoma rufum
Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottos
Ovenbird – Seiurus aurocapilla
Common Yellowthroat – Geothlypis trichas
American Redstart – Setophaga ruticilla
Northern Parula – Setophaga americana
Palm Warbler – Setophaga palmarum
Yellow-throated Warbler – Setophaga dominica
Prairie Warbler – Setophaga discolor
Eastern Towhee – Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
Indigo Bunting – Passerina cyanea
Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus
Common Grackle – Quiscalus quiscula
Boat-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus major
Baltimore Oriole – Icterus galbula

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This August I birded at Gemini Springs 7 times and saw 40 species of bird. This seems a bit pathetic, but compared to last year’s 28 species in 5 checklists, its not too shabby. New to my year list were Red-eyed Vireo on August 26 and Northern Waterthrush on August 16th. I had previously seen a Northern Waterthrush at Gemini Springs once before, two years prior on nearly the same date: August 17, 2011. Returning to the park after summer break were the Bald Eagle pair and at least one female Belted Kingfisher. The complete list of birds for this month is at the end of this post.

I was deep into our sweet cat Arby’s health issues last August, so I didn’t post a summary of my birding at Gemini Springs last year. So let me start with a photo of a Black Racer I took last year. August 2013 was surprisingly snakeless.

Black Racer | 10-AUG-12

And now here are some photographic highlights from Gemini Springs taken during August 2013.

new sign ~ I wish they would add DO NOT FEED WILDLIFE | 07-AUG-13

yellow | 07-AUG-13

black and white greens | 07-AUG-13

Bird Grasshopper sp | 07-AUG-13

Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk | 07-AUG-13

Tricolored Heron | 14-AUG-13

Common Gallinule family | 18-AUG-13

fungus | 20-AUG-13

Water Turkey / Snake Bird | 20-AUG-13

Rhinoceros beetle sp | 20-AUG-13

Eastern Gray Squirrel… or bat?! | 20-AUG-13

Barred Owl camo | 26-AUG-13

Little Blue Heron | 26-AUG-13

deliberate or random? nut art found on the fishing pier | 26-AUG-13

Strutter | 26-AUG-13

Marsh Rabbit | 27-AUG-13

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August 2013 bird list, Gemini Springs

Muscovy Duck – Cairina moschata
Anhinga – Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue Heron – Ardea herodias
Little Blue Heron – Egretta caerulea
Tricolored Heron – Egretta tricolor
Black Vulture – Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura
Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
Swallow-tailed Kite – Elanoides forficatus
Bald Eagle – Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered Hawk – Buteo lineatus
Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata
American Coot – Fulica americana
Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
Common Ground-Dove – Columbina passerina
Barred Owl – Strix varia
Chimney Swift – Chaetura pelagica
Belted Kingfisher – Megaceryle alcyon
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus
Downy Woodpecker – Picoides pubescens
Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus
Great Crested Flycatcher – Myiarchus crinitus
White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus
Red-eyed Vireo – Vireo olivaceus
Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow – Corvus ossifragus
Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica
Carolina Chickadee – Poecile carolinensis
Tufted Titmouse – Baeolophus bicolor
Carolina Wren – Thryothorus ludovicianus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea
Northern Waterthrush – Parkesia noveboracensis
American Redstart – Setophaga ruticilla
Northern Parula – Setophaga americana
Yellow-throated Warbler – Setophaga dominica
Eastern Towhee – Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus
Boat-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus major

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I only birded at Gemini Springs twice during July. In my defense, Arthur and I spent much of the month up in Illinois visiting family and friends. Also, it’s crazy hot here in July. Anyway, on those two outings I saw 25 species of bird. Nothing new for my all-time list but Barn Swallow was new for me at the park for the year. The complete list is at the end of this post.

Last July I didn’t publish a summary post like this one. I only birded at Gemini Springs once that month (!!), with a total species list of 23 birds. Since I have so few photos to share from this year, here is a photo of a baby Barred Owl I took at the park last year. I had much better luck with baby owls last year.

Young Barred Owl | 02 July 2012

On July 7th Arthur and I took a late morning walk at the park. We were treated to a loose group of seven Swallow-tailed Kites soaring over the fishing pier.

Shadow of Arthur and your blogger | 07 July 2013

Swallow-tailed Kites | 07 July 2013

Even Anhingas get hot in Florida in July | 07 July 2013

My other visit was on July 13th, when butterflies dominated the landscape. The number of Gulf Fritillaries especially was remarkable. They were everywhere!

White Peacock | 13 July 2013

6 Gulf Fritillaries | 13 July 2013

Gulf Fritillary | 13 July 2013

July 2013 bird list, Gemini Springs

Anhinga – Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue Heron – Ardea herodias
Great Egret – Ardea alba
Little Blue Heron – Egretta caerulea
Tricolored Heron – Egretta tricolor
Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura
Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
Swallow-tailed Kite – Elanoides forficatus
Red-shouldered Hawk – Buteo lineatus
Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata
American Coot – Fulica americana
Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus
Great Crested Flycatcher – Myiarchus crinitus
Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow – Corvus ossifragus
Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica
Tufted Titmouse – Baeolophus bicolor
Carolina Wren – Thryothorus ludovicianus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea
Northern Parula – Setophaga americana
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus
Boat-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus major

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I birded Gemini Springs 5 times in June, finding just 39 different species. This is a huge improvement over the measly 27 species I found there last June (in just two outings). I was deep into my first June Challenge in 2012, which is why I kind of neglected my local patch last year. This year I kind of neglected birding altogether and just succumbed to the heat. BAD BIRDER!! Anyway, my total June 2013 list is at the end of this post. And I was able to add a new species to my Gemini Springs list. Early in the month I heard an Eastern Towhee calling close to the bike trail access parking lot.

Anhinga | 02-JUN-13

Red-bellied Woodpecker at nest cavity | 02-JUN-13

On June 2nd I stopped at one of the bridges to chat with a couple that was walking a pair of dogs. The friendly woman pointed out a basking Red-eared Slider to me and mentioned that she never saw turtles at the park — and that she was there several times a week. This was really surprising to me as I would estimate that I see turtles 95% of the time I visit Gemini Springs. I don’t often see them basking like this one and I hardly ever photograph them.

Red-eared Slider | 02-JUN-13

The most interesting find for the month was a pair of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks I was surprised to find standing on the fishing pier early in the month. This was the third time I’ve seen this species at the park; the previous sightings were in August 2011 and August 2012.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck | 04-JUN-13

American Alligator | 04-JUN-13

Little Blue Heron | 04-JUN-13

Spicebush Swallowtail | 04-JUN-13

Boat-tailed Grackle relaxing on the fishing pier | 16-JUN-13

Preening Common Gallinule | 16-JUN-13

Begging baby Fish Crows | 16-JUN-13

Summer is a traditional time for birders to start paying attention to local odes. Odes is short for odonates, which is the taxonomical order of dragonflies and damselflies. It’s true, the odes (and leps) were calling in June.

Eastern Pondhawk male | 28-JUN-13

Golden-winged Skimmer | 28-JUN-13

Gulf Fritillary | 28-JUN-13

Muscovy Duck in rushing spring water | 28-JUN-13

Mourning Dove & Carolina Wren in tree | 28-JUN-13

June 2013 bird list, Gemini Springs

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis
Muscovy Duck – Cairina moschata
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
Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron – Butorides virescens
White Ibis – Eudocimus albus
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
Sandhill Crane – Grus canadensis
Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
Common Ground-Dove – Columbina passerina
Barred Owl – Strix varia
Chimney Swift – Chaetura pelagica
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus
Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus
Great Crested Flycatcher – Myiarchus crinitus
White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus
Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow – Corvus ossifragus
Tufted Titmouse – Baeolophus bicolor
Carolina Wren – Thryothorus ludovicianus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea
Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottos
Northern Parula – Setophaga americana
Eastern Towhee – Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus
Boat-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus major

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I was out of town for almost a week, but I still managed to bird Gemini Springs 7 times in May, coming up with a total of 45 species. That’s the same amount of species I saw there during May 2012, although only 32 are on both lists. The complete list of species for May 2013 is at the end of this post.

The last spring migrants pushed through the park during the month, though I feel like I missed most of them. In May Gemini Springs was full of growing babies. I finally found baby Barred Owls in two different parts of the park. The baby Red-shouldered Hawks continued to hang around their nest tree, and dark-billed baby Northern Cardinals were all over the place.

A lousy photo but only my 3rd Gemini Springs Painted Bunting [still looking for a male] | 03-MAY-13

Wet Barred Owl | 03-MAY-13

Limpkin | 04-MAY-13

Marsh Rabbit | 07-MAY-13

Northern Cardinal, 2013 ed. | 07-MAY-13

Green Anole | 10-MAY-13

Passiflora incarnata, a host plant for Zebra Longwing butterflies | 10-MAY-13

Barred Owl, 2013 ed. | 10-MAY-13

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | 10-MAY-13

The obligatory Tricolored Heron photo | 10-MAY-13

lantana sp | 10-MAY-13

A Wild Turkey high up in an oak tree | 10-MAY-13

Eastern Grey Squirrel | 13-MAY-13

small/youngish American Alligator | 28-MAY-13

Great Blue Heron… this is what happened next | 28-MAY-13

Northern Cardinal on the singing snag | 28-MAY-13

Red-shouldered Hawk, 2013 ed. | 28-MAY-13

May 2013 bird list, Gemini Springs

Muscovy Duck – Cairina moschata
Northern Bobwhite – Colinus virginianus
Wild Turkey – Meleagris gallopavo
Anhinga – Anhinga anhinga
Great Blue Heron – Ardea herodias
Snowy Egret – Egretta thula
Little Blue Heron – Egretta caerulea
Tricolored Heron – Egretta tricolor
Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis
White Ibis – Eudocimus albus
Black Vulture – Coragyps atratus
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
Limpkin – Aramus guarauna
Spotted Sandpiper – Actitis macularius
Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
Common Ground-Dove – Columbina passerina
Barred Owl – Strix varia
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Archilochus colubris
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus
Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus
American Kestrel – Falco sparverius
Great Crested Flycatcher – Myiarchus crinitus
White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus
Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow – Corvus ossifragus
Carolina Chickadee – Poecile carolinensis
Tufted Titmouse – Baeolophus bicolor
Carolina Wren – Thryothorus ludovicianus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea
Gray Catbird – Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottos
Brown Thrasher – Toxostoma rufum
Common Yellowthroat – Geothlypis trichas
American Redstart – Setophaga ruticilla
Northern Parula – Setophaga americana
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
Painted Bunting – Passerina ciris
Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus
Boat-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus major

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On April 2nd Arthur and I got the key to our new home, and we spent the following weeks working on various repairs, cleaning, and updating jobs around the house. Mid-month we gladly hosted a good friend of mine for a weekend, and just a day later we welcomed my in-laws for a two-week visit. I managed to lure said guests to my local patch a couple of times during their visits, so despite the excitement from the move and our welcome visitors, I managed to complete 8 birding checklists at Gemini Springs during the month.

I saw just 55 different species, a significant decrease from last April’s total of 67 birds. None of the 55 were new to my all-time patch list, either. At least I finally got my FOY Limpkin! The full species list is at the end of this post.

One of the two springs | 01-APR-13

Common Gallinule mid-preen (it was full-on bath time) | 01-APR-13

FOY (First-Of-Year) Indigo Bunting | 01-APR-13

A beautiful and docile rat snake that I assisted off of the bike path | 01-APR-13

sunrise | 07-APR-13

Anhinga on the fishing pier | 07-APR-13

Marsh Rabbit | 16-APR-13

Green Heron | 16-APR-13

Boat-tailed Grackle | 16-APR-13

On April 16th I finally managed to locate the Red-shouldered Hawk nest between the fishing pier and the parking lot. The nest had two babies (confirmed the next day) and I noted their growth during my subsequent visits. They seem to have fledged before the end of the month. Also on the 16th, I saw a pair of Common Gallinules that were caring for three small babies. I hope to have a separate post about them published here in a couple of days, so stay tuned.

Common Gallinule adult with two babies | 16-APR-13

Red-shouldered Hawk nestling | 16-APR-13

Red-shouldered Hawk nestlings | 17-APR-13

On April 20th I visited the park with my friend Kim. We saw some good birds and had a fine time. I lucked out when I brought Kim to a spot where I had seen Barred Owls before; we saw an adult fly from its perch to a nest cavity (I’ll have a bit more about this bird later, too).

Gemini Springs | 20-APR-13

Tricolored Heron (Photoshop filter fun) | 20-APR-13

Barred Owl | 20-APR-13

On April 24th Arthur and I visited Gemini Springs with his parents. We showed them the hawk nest but the Barred Owl was a no-show that morning. And I FINALLY got to see my FOY Limpkin.

Gemini Springs | 24-APR-13

Gemini Springs | 24-APR-13

Curious Blue Jay | 24-APR-13

pink | 29-APR-13

On April 29th I saw another Limpkin. This one put on a bit of show, and I’ve saved a few photos for a separate post. That morning I also saw the Red-shouldered Hawk kids for the last time; I hope they successfully fledged!

Limpkin | 29-APR-13

Red-shouldered Hawk shortly before fledging | 29-APR-13

Eastern Grey Squirrel | 29-APR-13

Muscovy Duck feet | 29-APR-13

April 2013 bird list, Gemini Springs

Muscovy Duck (Domestic type) – Cairina moschata (Domestic type)
Double-crested Cormorant – Phalacrocorax auritus
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
Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron – Butorides virescens
Black-crowned Night-Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax
White Ibis – Eudocimus albus
Glossy Ibis – Plegadis falcinellus
Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura
Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
Bald Eagle – Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered Hawk – Buteo lineatus
Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata
American Coot – Fulica americana
Limpkin – Aramus guarauna
Black-necked Stilt – Himantopus mexicanus
Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
Barred Owl – Strix varia
Chimney Swift – Chaetura pelagica
Belted Kingfisher – Megaceryle alcyon
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus
Downy Woodpecker – Picoides pubescens
Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus
Great Crested Flycatcher – Myiarchus crinitus
White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus
Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata
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
Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottos
Brown Thrasher – Toxostoma rufum
Cedar Waxwing – Bombycilla cedrorum
Black-and-white Warbler – Mniotilta varia
Common Yellowthroat – Geothlypis trichas
American Redstart – Setophaga ruticilla
Northern Parula – Setophaga americana
Palm Warbler – Setophaga palmarum
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Setophaga coronata
Chipping Sparrow – Spizella passerina
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
Indigo Bunting – Passerina cyanea
Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus
Common Grackle – Quiscalus quiscula
Boat-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus major
American Goldfinch – Spinus tristis

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