Here’s my year-end update for my sad Green Birding effort for 2016. My previous post covered January through June, so here’s what happened in July and beyond.
In July I added a few lists incidental to bike rides, where I ticked Eurasian Collared-Dove in Sanford (a new county for my green listing). At home I added a handful of birds as well. On July 23rd I joined West Volusia Runners for a group run at Beck Ranch Park. I ran towards the Lake Monroe Conservation Area bridge where I thought I saw a Purple Gallinule out on the water. It was one of the many times I wished it was practical to carry a pair of binoculars on a run — though this would not have been for my green list as I had driven to Beck Ranch. A few days later I biked out to the bridge (about 26 miles round-trip) and confirmed my suspicion, excited to add Purple Gallinule to my all-time green list.
Baby Florida Softshell Turtle on the East Regional Rail Trail, July 15 2016
Black Vultures on the carcass of a cow at Lake Monroe Conservation Area, July 25 2016
Purple Gallinule at Lake Monroe Conservation Area (WOO HOO), July 25 2016
August wasn’t very birdy (or I guess it wasn’t very birdingy) but I saw some herps while out on the trails.
Ring-necked Snake on the Spring-to-Spring Trail, August 1 2016
Scarlet Kingsnake on the East Regional Rail Trail, August 6 2016
Surprise Gopher Tortoise in our back yard, August 19 2016
I next added to the list in September, with a pair of warblers at Gemini Springs.
Mourning Doves sunning in our back yard, September 11 2016
Northern Cardinal at Gemini Springs, September 23 2016
In October I had a surprise Tennessee Warbler at home. Finally, in December, I added King Rail and Field Sparrow at Gemini Springs to finish the my 2016 list at 108 green birds.
Limpkin at Gemini Springs, December 20 2016
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