I put 347 miles on my bike in July. I didn’t bird too much. I submitted 11 “green” checklists to eBird for a total of 56 species. Last year during July I only saw 31 species at Gemini Springs.
At the end of June a new segment of the East Regional Rail Trail opened, extending the path another 2.5 miles to Guise Road in Osteen. Hickory Bluff Preserve is about a mile further south on Guise Rd, so I visited there by bike in July. The park is rather small but nicely wooded. I didn’t see too much but it might be nice for migrants in a month or so. The southern part of the park is bordered by a pretty and quiet stretch of the St. Johns River.
The best bird of the month was the Louisiana Waterthrush our group found during Harry Robinson’s monthly walk at Audubon Park on July 19th. I’m a little embarrassed to say this was not only a new bird for my green list, but also for my LIFE LIST. I was very glad to have diagnostic looks at the little skulker; for some in our party I think it was heard-only.
Here are a few photographic highlights from birding around southwest Volusia County in July.
Red-shouldered Hawk eating frog at Gemini Springs | 05-JUL-15
Halloween Pennant at Audubon Park | 07-JUL-15
Quail Lakes Powerline Trails in DeBary | 08-JUL-15
White-tailed Deer at Quail Lakes Powerline Trails | 08-JUL-15
Northern Bobwhite at Quail Lakes Powerline Trails | 08-JUL-15
St. Johns River at Hickory Bluff | 13-JUL-15
Osprey at Hickory Bluff | 13-JUL-15
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Audubon Park | 19-JUL-15
Great Egret at Audubon Park | 19-JUL-15
Young Red-shouldered Hawk at Lake Monroe Park | 29-JUL-15
