Category Archives: Gemini Springs

On March 18th I teased about a fun raptor encounter I had that topped a Bald Eagle flyby and an Osprey-Red-tailed Hawk nest fight.

What could top seeing those birds of prey in action? Only a Barred Owl.

Earlier that morning, I was standing at an overlook of one of the springs, watching a Great Blue Heron. I don’t often walk right up to the spring openings themselves, so I was surprised to see such a large bird standing right there just a few feet away from me.

In that quiet moment a Barred Owl swooped down between the heron and me, and flew down the spring run. I scrambled down the path towards where the owl was heading, trying to get a fix on its location. I found it sitting on a branch near the water.

I held my breath as the bird dipped into the water to bathe. It splashed around a bit and then returned to the branch. It jumped back into the water several times. I took a little video.

After its morning dip, the owl flew up to a higher perch, but it would get no rest. Two Blue Jays began harassing the owl. I captured a moment on video: a jay dive-bombing the owl. See the slo-mo action:

I was especially thrilled to see a Barred Owl in this part of Gemini Springs. Last year a pair of owls raised a pair of chicks to branching age and beyond, and I had so much fun watching them each time I visited the park. This year I have been looking and listening for signs of nesting, but until the day I spotted this bathing beauty I had not seen any sign of owls in the same area. I’m hopeful that I will be able to see more Barred Owl action at the park in the coming weeks.

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I submitted 15 checklists from Gemini Springs to eBird in March. Wow! I didn’t realize I visited so often… but I know April will be a super-busy month so I guess I tried to squeeze in a lot of birding before the chaos begins. 🙂 I ended up seeing 79 species (but still no Limpkin!) — see the full list at the end of this post.

New to my all-time Gemini Springs list were House Finch, Sedge Wren, and Lesser Scaup.

American Robin | 02-MAR-13

I spent some time in the early part of the month looking for the Fox Sparrow I first spotted on February 25th. I learned from other observers that the area where the bird was hanging was a sinkhole, not a “marshy area” as I had described. Anyway, I was only able to find the Fox Sparrow one more time, on March 9th. According to eBird, our avian northern visitor was last seen by anyone on March 10th.

Birders seeking Fox Sparrow | 02-MAR-13

My last look at the Fox Sparrow | 09-MAR-13

I found Barred Owls in a part of the park I don’t usually visit. I managed to spot a roosting owl in the same spot a few more times in the month. I’ve been looking and listening in a few spots for signs of babies, but no luck so far.

Barred Owl | 05-MAR-13

Boat-tailed Grackles | 05-MAR-13

Live Oak with Spanish Moss | 05-MAR-13

Great Blue Heron | 06-MAR-13

Pied-billed Grebe looking up | 06-MAR-13

omnomnom | 06-MAR-13

Nine-banded Armadillo | 11-MAR-13

Northern Cardinal | 12-MAR-13

I saw the Bald Eagle pair off their nest quite a lot, and I saw juvenile birds soaring over Gemini Springs a few times this month. I hope this means the eagles have successfully raised a chick or two or three to fledge. I am kind of frustrated that I have not been able to find their nest. Keeping in mind that males are smaller than females, can you tell who is who in the photo below?

Bald Eagles at dusk | 12-MAR-13

sunset | 12-MAR-13

grasshopper sp | 13-MAR-13

Common Gallinule in the fog | 15-MAR-13

Anhinga preening | 15-MAR-13

Great Blue Heron | 15-MAR-13

Gemini Springs | 15-MAR-13

Northern Mockingbird | 15-MAR-13

Black Vulture on the fishing pier | 18-MAR-13

Chipping Sparrow in the sinkhole | 18-MAR-13

Blue Jay gathering nesting material | 26-MAR-13

Red-shouldered Hawk | 26-MAR-13

I had two surprises towards the end of the month. I found a Black-crowned Night-Heron standing across from the fishing pier on March 26th, my second ever at Gemini Springs. The next day I found a totally unexpected Lesser Scaup swimming on the spring side of the dam, my first ever at the park.

Black-crowned Night-Heron | 26-MAR-13

Lesser Scaup | 27-MAR-13

rodent, species unknown | 27-MAR-13

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Gemini Springs, March 2013 month bird list
Muscovy Duck (Domestic type) – Cairina moschata (Domestic type)
Blue-winged Teal – Anas discors
Lesser Scaup – Aythya affinis
Pied-billed Grebe – Podilymbus podiceps
Wood Stork – Mycteria americana
Double-crested Cormorant – Phalacrocorax auritus
Anhinga – Anhinga anhinga
American Bittern – Botaurus lentiginosus
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
Black Vulture – Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura
Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
Swallow-tailed Kite – Elanoides forficatus
Northern Harrier – Circus cyaneus
Cooper’s Hawk – Accipiter cooperii
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
Killdeer – Charadrius vociferus
Black-necked Stilt – Himantopus mexicanus
Ring-billed Gull – Larus delawarensis
Caspian Tern – Hydroprogne caspia
Forster’s Tern – Sterna forsteri
Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
Barred Owl – Strix varia
Belted Kingfisher – Megaceryle alcyon
Red-headed Woodpecker – Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – Sphyrapicus varius
Downy Woodpecker – Picoides pubescens
Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus
Eastern Phoebe – Sayornis phoebe
White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus
Blue-headed Vireo – Vireo solitarius
Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow – Corvus ossifragus
Tree Swallow – Tachycineta bicolor
Carolina Chickadee – Poecile carolinensis
Tufted Titmouse – Baeolophus bicolor
House Wren – Troglodytes aedon
Sedge Wren – Cistothorus platensis
Marsh Wren – Cistothorus palustris
Carolina Wren – Thryothorus ludovicianus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Regulus calendula
American Robin – Turdus migratorius
Gray Catbird – Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottos
Cedar Waxwing – Bombycilla cedrorum
Black-and-white Warbler – Mniotilta varia
Orange-crowned Warbler – Oreothlypis celata
Common Yellowthroat – Geothlypis trichas
Northern Parula – Setophaga americana
Palm Warbler – Setophaga palmarum
Pine Warbler – Setophaga pinus
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Setophaga coronata
Yellow-throated Warbler – Setophaga dominica
Chipping Sparrow – Spizella passerina
Fox Sparrow – Passerella iliaca
Swamp Sparrow – Melospiza georgiana
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus
Common Grackle – Quiscalus quiscula
Boat-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus major
House Finch – Haemorhous mexicanus
American Goldfinch – Spinus tristis

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In February I submitted 9 eBird checklists from Gemini Springs. I saw 74 species total; see the complete list at the end of this post.

Two birds were new for my all-time Gemini Springs list. I was a bit dismayed to find a pair of Muscovy Ducks by the fishing pier on February 3rd. These large fowl aren’t native and are known to be aggressive to resident species. However, a few days later there was just one Muscovy Duck. I have seen the single bird each visit since, and that this individual bird lost its companion makes me even more sad. The other new bird for the month was a doozy! I found a Fox Sparrow on February 25th. The following morning Arthur and I found the bird again, and I know from eBird and the Florida birding listserv that it was seen again on the 27th and the 28th. It may not have been seen since.

One bird I’ve had on my mind is the Limpkin — because I haven’t seen one AT ALL this year so far! By this time last year, I had seen a Limpkin at least 5 times at Gemini Springs, plus a few other sightings at other birding spots. So far this year, I’m skunked! Hopefully this disturbing trend will change in March. 🙂

Here are some photo highlights from February birding at Gemini Springs.

Northern Mockingbird | 03-FEB-13

Red-shouldered Hawk | 03-FEB-13

Great Blue Heron & Double-crested Cormorants | 11-FEB-13

Eastern Gray Squirrel | 11-FEB-13

looking rosy | 11-FEB-13

Gray Catbird | 17-FEB-13

Swamp Sparrow | 17-FEB-13

blue & bright | 17-FEB-13

Muscovy Duck, solo | 17-FEB-13

Double-crested Cormorant | 19-FEB-13

American Coots | 22-FEB-13

Yellow Jacket sp. nest entrance | 22-FEB-13

Pied-billed Grebe | 25-FEB-13

Snowy Egret | 25-FEB-13

Boat-tailed Grackles | 26-FEB-13

Thanks for checking out this post! If you are a fan of Gemini Springs, please become a Fan of Gemini Springs on Facebook!

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Gemini Springs, February 2013 month bird list
Muscovy Duck (Domestic type) – Cairina moschata
Blue-winged Teal – Anas discors
Green-winged Teal – Anas crecca
Hooded Merganser – Lophodytes cucullatus
Pied-billed Grebe – Podilymbus podiceps
Wood Stork – Mycteria americana
Double-crested Cormorant – Phalacrocorax auritus
Anhinga – Anhinga anhinga
American Bittern – Botaurus lentiginosus
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
Glossy Ibis – Plegadis falcinellus
Black Vulture – Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura
Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
Sharp-shinned Hawk – Accipiter striatus
Bald Eagle – Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered Hawk – Buteo lineatus
Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata
American Coot – Fulica americana
Sandhill Crane – Grus canadensis
Ring-billed Gull – Larus delawarensis
Caspian Tern – Hydroprogne caspia
Forster’s Tern – Sterna forsteri
Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
Common Ground-Dove – Columbina passerina
Barred Owl – Strix varia
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
Loggerhead Shrike – Lanius ludovicianus
White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus
Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow – Corvus ossifragus
Tree Swallow – Tachycineta bicolor
Carolina Chickadee – Poecile carolinensis
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
American Robin – Turdus migratorius
Gray Catbird – Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottos
Black-and-white Warbler – Mniotilta varia
Orange-crowned Warbler – Oreothlypis celata
Common Yellowthroat – Geothlypis trichas
Northern Parula – Setophaga americana
Palm Warbler – Setophaga palmarum
Pine Warbler – Setophaga pinus
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Setophaga coronata
Chipping Sparrow – Spizella passerina
Savannah Sparrow – Passerculus sandwichensis
Fox Sparrow – Passerella iliaca
Swamp Sparrow – Melospiza georgiana
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus
Common Grackle – Quiscalus quiscula
Boat-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus major
American Goldfinch – Spinus tristis

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In January I submitted 11 eBird checklists from Gemini Springs (the start of a new year of the Bird-a-Day Challenge is a big extra motivation to get out and bird). I saw a total of 68 species; the complete list is at the end of this post.

New for my all-time Gemini Springs list were: Common Ground-Dove; Eastern Bluebird; Merlin; Red-headed Woodpecker; and Wilson’s Snipe. Here are some of my favorite photos from the month.

Great Blue Heron | 02-JAN-13

There were several mornings that started off with thick fog. Birds may have been singing, but they were hard to spot in the mist.

Hazy sun | 06-JAN-13

I had been taking a certain route each visit, neglecting a portion of the woods I used to visit more often. I decided to walk through the woods one morning and check out a stand of snags where Pileated Woodpeckers and Mourning Doves like to hang out. I was pleasantly surprised to see a juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker — my first at Gemini Springs — checking out a few snags. Later I spotted a second bird.

Red-headed Woodpecker | 06-JAN-13

American Robins | 06-JAN-13

A clear morning | 07-JAN-13

Early in the month I got a new camera, the Canon SX50 HS. I am still warming up to it. Arthur took the photo below with my old camera, the Canon SX40 HS.

Northern Mockingbird | 08-JAN-13 | photo by Arthur de Wolf

Wood Stork | 08-JAN-13

Eastern Bluebird | 15-JAN-13

sunrise | 15-JAN-13

Northern Mockingbird | 15-JAN-13

Wood Stork in fog | 26-JAN-13

Kayak fishing in the fog | 26-JAN-13

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | 26-JAN-13

Photoshop fun with a Grey Catbird | 30-JAN-13

Gemini Springs, January 2013 month list
Blue-winged Teal – Anas discors
Pied-billed Grebe – Podilymbus podiceps
Wood Stork – Mycteria americana
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
White Ibis – Eudocimus albus
Glossy Ibis – Plegadis falcinellus
Black Vulture – Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura
Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
Bald Eagle – Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered Hawk – Buteo lineatus
Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata
American Coot – Fulica americana
Killdeer – Charadrius vociferus
Wilson’s Snipe – Gallinago delicata
Ring-billed Gull – Larus delawarensis
Caspian Tern – Hydroprogne caspia
Forster’s Tern – Sterna forsteri
Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
Common Ground-Dove – Columbina passerina
Belted Kingfisher – Megaceryle alcyon
Red-headed Woodpecker – Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – Sphyrapicus varius
Northern Flicker – Colaptes auratus
Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus
American Kestrel – Falco sparverius
Merlin – Falco columbarius
Eastern Phoebe – Sayornis phoebe
Loggerhead Shrike – Lanius ludovicianus
White-eyed Vireo – Vireo griseus
Blue-headed Vireo – Vireo solitarius
Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow – Corvus ossifragus
Tree Swallow – Tachycineta bicolor
Carolina Chickadee – Poecile carolinensis
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
Eastern Bluebird – Sialia sialis
American Robin – Turdus migratorius
Gray Catbird – Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottos
Black-and-white Warbler – Mniotilta varia
Orange-crowned Warbler – Oreothlypis celata
Common Yellowthroat – Geothlypis trichas
Palm Warbler – Setophaga palmarum
Pine Warbler – Setophaga pinus
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Setophaga coronata
Yellow-throated Warbler – Setophaga dominica
Prairie Warbler – Setophaga discolor
Savannah Sparrow – Passerculus sandwichensis
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus
Common Grackle – Quiscalus quiscula
Boat-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus major
American Goldfinch – Spinus tristis

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In December I birded at Gemini Springs 7 times. My species total for the month was 63. Four of these were new for my year list, which ended at a total of 106 species. The new birds were Black-crowned Night Heron, Ring-billed Gull, Field Sparrow, and Baltimore Oriole. Only Field Sparrow was new for my all time Gemini Springs list, which stands at 110. Field Sparrow was a new Florida bird for me as well. The complete list is at the end of this post. Here are some of my favorite photos from the month.

Northern Mockingbird | 01 December 2012

Red-bellied Woodpecker feathers | 01 December 2012

Bald Eagle pair; female on right | 02 December 2012

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | 02 December 2012

gone to seed | 02 December 2012

misty morning | 10 December 2012

On December 10th I stopped to watch an Eastern Grey Squirrel busy in the treetop above me. I think she was gathering nest material. She would grab a leafy branch and then bring it into a large clump of vegetation that I think she was shaping into a cozy nursery. She would disappear into the clump and then each time she emerged, she would spend a moment washing her face and sides before proceeding to gather another branch. The below photo is awful but you can see she is working with a twig.

busy squirrel | 10 December 2012

Cooper’s Hawk | 10 December 2012

Grey Catbird | 10 December 2012

American Alligator | 10 December 2012

Osprey | 10 December 2012

Tricolored Heron | 10 December 2012

On December 28th Arthur and I went to the park in the afternoon for a short walk. We were surprised to see a Gopher Tortoise close to some picnic tables in the lawn area across from the dog park. A family was using the closest table, and a little boy was interested in the tortoise and watching it from a respectful distance. This was the second time I have seen a Gopher Tortoise at Gemini Springs. The park does not have the kind of sandy scrub or longleaf pine habitat where I would expect to find them, but obviously I am no expert.

Gopher Tortoise | 28 December 2012

Pileated Woodpecker | 30 December 2012

Northern Cardinal | 30 December 2012

Pied-billed Grebe – Podilymbus podiceps
Wood Stork – Mycteria americana
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
Black-crowned Night-Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax
White Ibis – Eudocimus albus
Black Vulture – Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura
Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
Cooper’s Hawk – Accipiter cooperii
Bald Eagle – Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered Hawk – Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed Hawk – Buteo jamaicensis
Sora – Porzana carolina
Common Gallinule – Gallinula galeata
American Coot – Fulica americana
Sandhill Crane – Grus canadensis
Killdeer – Charadrius vociferus
Ring-billed Gull – Larus delawarensis
Forster’s Tern – Sterna forsteri
Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
Belted Kingfisher – Megaceryle alcyon
Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – Sphyrapicus varius
Downy Woodpecker – Picoides pubescens
Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus
American Kestrel – Falco sparverius
Eastern Phoebe – Sayornis phoebe
Loggerhead Shrike – Lanius ludovicianus
Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchos
Fish Crow – Corvus ossifragus
Tufted Titmouse – Baeolophus bicolor
House Wren – Troglodytes aedon
Carolina Wren – Thryothorus ludovicianus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Regulus calendula
American Robin – Turdus migratorius
Gray Catbird – Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottos
Black-and-white Warbler – Mniotilta varia
Orange-crowned Warbler – Oreothlypis celata
Common Yellowthroat – Geothlypis trichas
Palm Warbler – Setophaga palmarum
Pine Warbler – Setophaga pinus
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Setophaga coronata
Yellow-throated Warbler – Setophaga dominica
Chipping Sparrow – Spizella passerina
Field Sparrow – Spizella pusilla
Savannah Sparrow – Passerculus sandwichensis
Swamp Sparrow – Melospiza georgiana
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus
Common Grackle – Quiscalus quiscula
Boat-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus major
Baltimore Oriole – Icterus galbula
American Goldfinch – Spinus tristis

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