By Molly Pollock April 29 – May 7

Day 1 – After arriving in Key West, I bird the Hampton Hotel grounds and spot my first tick of the trip, a GRAY KINGBIRD. Eurasian Collared Dove and Common Grackles are common. I spot a Louisiana Waterthrush underneath some bushes.

Day 2 – Before dawn, the group of 30 or so meet our VENT tour leaders, Jeff Gordon and Steve Hilty. In no time, we board a bus and are off to board the Yankee Freedom, our home for the next few days. Shortly after our departure, we swing by some buoys, to get close up views of ROSEATE TERNS. We head down to the gulf stream to catch some pelagics on our way to the Dry Tortugas. Northern Gannet, AUDUBON’S SHEARWATERS, absolutely stunning Brown Bobbies, and BRIDLED TERN, keep us company along the trip. As we near the Dry Tortugas, we see our first Sooty Terns, and BROWN NODDIES.

We land at Ft. Jefferson and sight our first warbler, a male Cape May, in the sea grape, before we even enter the Fort. As we enter the Fort, Jeff begins spotting and calling out warblers in the near tree. "Black-throated Green, Magnolia, and Blackpoll" he calls. In all, we see 21 species of warblers over the next 2 days. Above us glide Magnificent Frigatebirds. Other treats include Dickcissel, Clay-colored Sparrow, Common Nighthawk, and CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW.

Day 3 – Day 3 is basically more of the same birding on the Fort, although we do begin the morning on one of the other Islands. It was very windy, and what birds we do see are hunkered down to stay out of the wind. We welcome returning to the Fort where the warblers are easy to spot. At the end of the day, we zip over to Hospital Key, where we are treated to wine and cheese, for end of day MASKED BOOBY viewing. One Magnificent Frigatebird soared overhead, waiting for a Masked Booby to arrive with the best treat. Eventually he spots one, and goes into a dive after it, hoping to get the booby to drop its dinner.

After our own dinner, we join to watch the sunset, in hopes of seeing the "green flash", which Jeff swears is real. No flash this night. We then walk the moat and see several species of fish and other sea life.

Day 4 – We spend a few hours at Ft. Jefferson and then depart for the Key West. The Tour One ends with our arrival in Key West.

The Keys tour begins late that afternoon, with a drive through Key West to check out the feeders. We soon see WHITE-CROWNED PIGEONS, but never do spot a SHINY COWBIRD. It’s a good thing that Steve found us a female at Ft. Jefferson. We then head to the airport for ANTILLEAN NIGHTHAWK. One does call and we see a speck in the sky very far from us. Jeff takes us to one other spot where one is spotted by most, somewhat closer. Unfortunately, two of our group missed both birds.

Day 5 – We wake up to rain showers predicted to last until mid-morning. We first head toward Deer Key in search of MANGROVE CUCKOO and BLACK-WISKERED VIREO. Not too long after the rain stops, we have both birds, almost close enough to touch. A great video opportunity! We also see Key Deer. Following lunch in Marathon, we drive to a spot where Key West Quail Dove was once seen. Heading down the road, Jeff pulls to a sreeching halt, proclaiming "FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER". At first, we don’t see the bird and Jeff doubts his sighting. Then it appears as big as life. While not with a full tail, it is definitely the bird. The day gets even more strange as we hear an Antillean Nighthawk calling in the day. This time, we all get on the bird as it flies very close above us.

Day 6 – As we already succeeded in getting all the target birds, we spend the morning birding around Key West until it’s time to get ready to catch our flights home. At the airport, I pick up a rental and head up the Keys towards Miami. I stop at the Fork-Tailed Flycatcher spot, but it is long gone. As it’s already getting late, I head straight to Kendall. Within 30 minutes, I see YELLOW-CHEVRONED PARAKEETs by the school, White-winged Parakeets at the Hospital, and RED-WHISKERED BULBUL in the neighborhood across from the hospital. Where is the Oriole so I can be done with Kendall? No luck, so I return to Homestead for the night.

Day 7 – The morning starts in the Everglades, with Nighthawks flying over the road as I enter the Park. I head to the King rail spot and hear several. But not a one would budge into an opening! While there, I do spot a Seaside Sparrow. After several hours trying desperately to see King Rail, I depart to be in position for Bachman’s Sparrow in the morning. On the way, I try Kendall again. One of the locals turns me onto an Eastern Screech Owl, and I happen upon a Helmeted Guineafowl. But no Oriole!

I decide to take the Tamiami over to Ft. Meyers. On the way I stop for Snail Kite at Shark Alley where I also see Purple Gallinule. I stay the night at Punta Gorda to place myself closer to the Bachman’s Sparrow viewing areas.

Day 8 – I arrive at Babcock Webb Wildlife area right as the sun is rising. I head to a grove of pine that seemed to follow the directions I had. I hear several Sparrows calling as I park the car. And there are Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers calling and flying about. How cool! So I go about looking for BACHMAN’S SPARROW scanning the tops of the Palmettos. Eventually, I see a bird perched on a low pine branch. Success! When I shared this story with a friend, she pointed out that in the National Geographic, the bird is illustrated on a pine branch. Duh!

With target bird down, I head back to the Kendall and the Everglades to try for the Oriole and the Rail yet again. After some more unsuccessful hours in Kendall, I head to the Everglades. Once again, I have two rails so close, but I can never spot them.

Day 9 – Determined to see SPOT-BREASTED ORIOLE, I arrive in Kendall, by the school at 7:30 a.m., even before Starbucks opens. After more than an hour in this sure spot, I decide just to drive. Many blocks west, and even west of the Hospital, I don’t believe my eyes when I see an Oriole perched on a telephone wire. But it’s true, and I am able to view it for several minutes checking out all the field marks.

A very successful trip with 17 North America birds.