I just returned from a birding trip to S. Florida. It consisted
of two tours, run by Florida Nature Tours; the first a 3-day trip to the
Dry Tortugas followed by 5 days around S. Florida. Wes Beggs, who runs
the tours, is an outstanding birder, but not an outstanding organizer.
Murray Gardler, who was our main guide, was outstanding.

The Dry Tortugas trip was made on a 100 foot boat, the Yankee
Freedom. We saw 51 species. Highlights for me (and new life birds) were
Bridled Tern, Roseate Tern, Brown Booby, Masked Booby, Sooty Tern, Brown
Noddy, Black-whiskered Vireo, and Black Noody (apparently the 1st seen in
the US in 4 years). Because of persistent E winds, warbler abundance was
down; lots of Palm, Prairie and Black-and-whites, and some Redstarts,
Black-throated Blue, Cape May, Hooded, Worm-eating Warblers and Ovenbird.
There was a Sora perched in a tree two days, and of course lots of
Magnificent Frigatebirds.

The follow-up van trip (10 birders and Murray) found 99 additional
species. New birds for me included Mangrove Cuckoo, White Headed
Pigeon and Grey Kingbird on the Keys, Eurasian Collared-Dove and
Broad-winged Hawk, Piping Plover (in the scope at the same time as
Wilson's and Semipalmated!), Limpkin, Flamingo and Shiny Cowbird in the
Everglades, Short-tailed Hawk, Pine Warbler and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
near Avon Park, and in the Miami area Red-whiskered Bubul, Monk Parakeet,
Mitered Parakeet, Spot-breasted Oriole, Hill Myna and Muscovy Duck.

The most beautiful bird was the Swallow-tailed Kite (3 times had a
pair 50 feet overhead). Wonderful looks at "Great White" and "Wurdemann's
Herons", as well as Reddish Egrets, Least Bitterns and Wood Storks. All
in all, a wonderful trip.
************************
Robert Cleland

Professor, Botany Dept. Box 355325
Univ. of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-5325
Phone (206) 543-6105; FAX (206) 685-1728