Birding April 2013
April was a real spring migration month, I added 26 new species to my 2013 Year List. Let's look some of the highlights of the month.
M&M Dairy field was undoubtedly one of the hottest birding hotspots of the month. Wet dairy field was hosted with both Yellowlegs, Snipes, Ibises, Herons, Geese, Egrets, even Glossy Ibises showed up. Kevin was lucky to find an Upland Sandpiper. I got there in 15 minutes, but missed the bird. Sun was just about to set and the bird decided to get down for a night, so that we were not able to see him anymore.
We were all back in a morning, but Upland was nowhere to be found. Later in the day Upland showed up again, but I missed it again. Next few days the bird was absent until finally Friday night I noticed lonely Sandpiper from distance. He was too far to ID for sure. I photographed it and forwarded to Kevin for confirmation. I got email back: Congratulation! You got an Upland Sandpiper.
Reddie Point Preserve
Great migration hotspot in Jacksonville is Reddie Point Preserve. Reddie Point is located end of University road in Arlington area. If you want to see Blue Grosbeaks or Buntings in April, then Reddie Point is the place to go.
Reddie Point gave me: Black-throated Blue, Cape May, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Hooded Warbler, Blackpoll and Yellow-throated Vireo. Can't believe I missed rare Clay-colored Sparrow which so many of us saw. Other good bird I missed was Blue-winged Warbler, can't get always lucky.
Reddie Point is not just great birding hotspot, but also active with other wildlife like Marsh Rabbits, Red Fox and Gopher Tortoises.
List of my year birds in April
- Bobolink - M and M Diary, 30 Apr 2013
- Yellow Warbler - Hanna Park, 30 Apr 2013
- Prothonotary Warbler - Hanna Park, 27 Apr 2013
- Roseate Spoonbill - Teodore Roosefelt, Area 26 Apr 2013
- Yellow-throated Vireo - Reddie Point Preserve, 23 Apr 2013
- Whimbrel - Huguenot Memorial City Park, 21 Apr 2013
- Blackpoll Warbler - Reddie Point Preserve, 21 Apr 2013
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Blue Cypress, 20 Apr 2013
- Hooded Warbler - Reddie Point Preserve, 16 Apr 2013
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Reddie Point Preserve, 15 Apr 2013
- Blue Grosbeak - Reddie Point Preserve, 15 Apr 2013
- Northern Waterthrush - Jacksonville Arboretum, 15 Apr 2013
- Least Tern - Helen Cooper Floyd Park, 14 Apr 2013
- Cape May Warbler - Reddie Point Preserve, 13 Apr 2013
- Black-throated Blue Warbler - Reddie Point Preserve, 13 Apr 2013
- Summer Tanager - Ft George Island - Tour Stop 15, 13 Apr 2013
- Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Fort George Island, 13 Apr 2013
- Chuck-will's-widow - Fort George Island, 13 Apr 2013
- Worm-eating Warbler - Fort George Island, 13 Apr 2013
- American Redstart - Fort George Island, 13 Apr 2013
- Common Nighthawk - Taye Brown Regional Park, 11 Apr 2013
- Louisiana Waterthrush - Jacksonville Arboretum, 10 Apr 2013
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Spanish Pond, 10 Apr 2013
- Caspian Tern - Hanna Park, 06 Apr 2013
- Upland Sandpiper - M and M Diary, 04 Apr 2013
- Red-eyed Vireo - Whitworth Ct. (backyard), 04 Apr 2013
