Despite Gray Skies, Birders Enjoy Birdy Things on Siesta Key Trolley

The Shorebird Trolley missed the rain and scored on the raptors. We ended up having more fun with all the Raptors than the Shorebirds. It all started in the parking lot (of course) with a Red-tailed Hawk on a low wire and Coopers Hawk 5 feet away on the next higher up wire. Both stayed long enough for extended looks/comparisons.

At the public beach on Siesta Key we found a Lesser Black-backed Gull in among all the Herring Gulls again fun to compare. At access 8 we spotted the American Kestrel perched on top of one of the masts in the sailboat area. Out on the Gulf we found 2 soaring Gannets and 1 sitting Juvenile. Gannet in the water. Heading back to the access 8 we spied the Peregrine Falcon perched on a balcony on the tallest building. Next we went to the North Bridge and found 2 American Oyster Catchers and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers.


Thanks to Kathryn Young for organizing the expedition and to Kathryn and Penney Hill for the great report back! Don't want to get left out next time? E-mail publicinfo@sarasotaaudubon.org and we'll add you to Sarasota Audubon Society's e-list.