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 (Mimus polyglottos)](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7695/17054968232_8be1351273_z.jpg)
Northern Mockingbird at River City Nature Park | 09-MAR-15
![Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8769/16870209529_dbafa9dc96_z.jpg)
Red-shouldered Hawk at River City Nature Park | 09-MAR-15
![Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum)](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7672/16870207859_d27d027e8d_z.jpg)
Cedar Waxwings at Green Spring Park | 16-MAR-15
![Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata)](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8799/17055620761_cac9c02c76_z.jpg)
Ebony Jewelwing at Green Spring Park | 16-MAR-15
![Green Spring Park](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8806/17056435005_048541f2d9_z.jpg)
Green Spring Park | 16-MAR-15
![Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8721/16433998574_1f2bbb73f0_z.jpg)
Common Snapping Turtle at Gemini Springs | 18-MAR-15
![White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7604/17054963882_245aaf5478_z.jpg)
White Ibis flock flying over Gemini Springs | 18-MAR-15
![Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8699/17054962532_4763a6e5bd_z.jpg)
Green Anole at Audubon Park | 20-MAR-15
![Luna Moth (Actias luna)](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8781/17030443006_8dbb162f9c_z.jpg)
Luna Moth (deceased) at Audubon Park | 20-MAR-15
![Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7641/17054961532_2b8cc0632d_z.jpg)
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 (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris)](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7654/17030441516_7cf4647629_c.jpg)
Florida Water Snake at Gemini Springs | 27-MAR-15
![Florida Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris)](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8772/16436279393_f54c265c7d_z.jpg)
Florida Water Snake at Gemini Springs | 27-MAR-15
![Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina)](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7629/16436277953_87e349a93e_z.jpg)
Chipping Sparrows at Gemini Springs | 29-MAR-15
![Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis)](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7601/17055614031_3993696af7_z.jpg)
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 (Strix varia)](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8708/17030439126_8747322cdf_c.jpg)
Barred Owl fledgeling at Gemini Springs | 30-MAR-15
![Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7621/17030438816_5d5070e5e5_z.jpg)
Prairie Warbler at Gemini Springs | 30-MAR-15
![Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8798/16433990974_4314ff05d8_z.jpg)
Osprey at Gemini Springs | 31-MAR-15
![Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8699/16868882260_04665729db_z.jpg)
Red Admiral at Gemini Springs | 31-MAR-15