In March I visited 11 different birding spots to add to my 2015 green year list. Birds at home and some seen along the way while I was biking also contributed to my monthly total of 97 green species for March.
I added 13 new birds to the year list: Rock Pigeon at Lake Monroe Park; Marsh Wren, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Purple Martin, Red-eyed Vireo, and Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Gemini Springs; Swallow-tailed Kite in DeBary; European Starling and White-winged Dove at Dewey Boster Park; Common Ground-Dove at River City Nature Park; Indigo Bunting, Great Crested Flycatcher, and Brown-headed Cowbird at home. I had biked to Dewey Boster Park in hopes of finding Red-headed Woodpecker in addition to the doves, but I was skunked. That trip was about 13 miles round trip (about the same to Audubon Park).
At Gemini Springs I had 81 species in 14 visits. Previous March totals: 69 in 2014; 79 in 2013; and 66 in 2012.
Here are some photographic highlights from my green birding outings in March!
Northern Mockingbird at River City Nature Park | 09-MAR-15
Red-shouldered Hawk at River City Nature Park | 09-MAR-15
Cedar Waxwings at Green Spring Park | 16-MAR-15
Ebony Jewelwing at Green Spring Park | 16-MAR-15
Green Spring Park | 16-MAR-15
Common Snapping Turtle at Gemini Springs | 18-MAR-15
White Ibis flock flying over Gemini Springs | 18-MAR-15
Green Anole at Audubon Park | 20-MAR-15
Luna Moth (deceased) at Audubon Park | 20-MAR-15
Swallow-tailed Kite at Audubon Park | 20-MAR-15
On March 27th I had a short walk in the late afternoon at Gemini Springs. As I walked out onto the fishing pier, a gentleman in a Volusia County polo pointed out a snake in the water. Later we saw a different snake on the other side of the pier. I have only seen water snakes at Gemini Springs a handful of times so I thought seeing two was quite remarkable. But then there was another snake sunning itself on the dam. I think they might all be Florida Water Snakes. All three snakes had a different look, but this species does have a lot of variability in pattern and color. Here are two of them:
Florida Water Snake at Gemini Springs | 27-MAR-15
Florida Water Snake at Gemini Springs | 27-MAR-15
Chipping Sparrows at Gemini Springs | 29-MAR-15
Sandhill Cranes flying over Gemini Springs | 27-MAR-15
On March 30th I found a fledgeling Barred Owl, along with one of its parents. The baby flew across the forest, but made a poor landing and ended up hanging upside-down from a branch. The parent looked on, and so did I. Eventually the baby managed to upright itself.
Barred Owl fledgeling at Gemini Springs | 30-MAR-15
Prairie Warbler at Gemini Springs | 30-MAR-15
Osprey at Gemini Springs | 31-MAR-15
Red Admiral at Gemini Springs | 31-MAR-15
