Hi there Dry Tortugas birders! It’s been a long time, but it seems that for now, the wind and the waves have subsided. The Yankee stayed docked for two days last week due to high winds and dangerous storms, which dampened the Fort a little but also paid off big for birders.  While it had seemed that spring migration was coming to a close across the Dry Tortugas, it seemed that the wind and rain dropped down one last hurrah of migrants.

There was a slew of new warblers, other passerines, raptors, and shorebirds. On the shoreline, right next to the NPS docks mostly, lesser yellowlegs, semipalmated sandpipers, least sandpipers, and even a Baird’s sandpiper have been seen for several days straight. There was even a constant sighting of a leucistic male hooded warbler (seen and confirmed by many seasoned birders) hopping around under the two bridges connecting the dock to the beach.

Profile of a semipalmated sandpiper on the beach near the NPS dock. In this shot, the slight webbing (semi-palmated) between the toes of the bird are easily seen. The least sandpiper can be distinguished from this bird by its yellow legs and lack of webbing.

I was also pleased to hear from some of our birding campers that a black noddy was sighted two evenings in a row. This bird was not sighted during the day when the boat was there, but later on in the evening, after all of our passengers departed; sighted once on the north coaling dock ruins, and once on the tip of Bush Key near the land bridge.

Inside the Fort, we had a handful of peregrine falcons and merlins, which have been dining on the migrating passerines with relish; we even had a merlin take a fully-grown sora last week! Our smaller, resident kestrel seems to have finally moved on.

Great shot of a merlin taking flight from a snag. Take a look at the talons on this bird, perfect for snagging passerines out of the parade ground.

Baltimore and orchard orioles, scarlet and summer tanagers, bobolinks, dickcissels, and blue and rose-breasted grosbeaks made up the majority of the larger passerines, although male and female indigo and painted buntings were a colorful addition to the mix as well.

Beautiful close-up of a male scarlet tanager, almost out of his molt, perched on the bird fountain.

Close-up of the bright orange breast of this male Baltimore oriole, hanging out around the fountain.

One of several male bobolinks that came in with the storm. Keep an eye out for the flock of dickcissels out there as well.

Profile of a male rose-breasted grosbeak at the fountain.

Notice the Tennessee warbler and gray catbird that were also hanging around the fountain.

There’s been a swarm of ruby-throated hummingbirds move into the parade ground, and they have been observed feeding from the sea grape blossoms.

Fat little veery perched in the tree above the bird fountain. The veery has almost no spotting on its breast compared to the gray-cheeked or Swainson's.

Two eastern kingbirds perched in a snag. They have been seen around along with one or two gray kingbirds.

This rock dove has been hanging out at the Fort for the last week. The banding may indicate that this bird is a homing pigeon that lost its way during the storms last week. It's been spending a lot of time on the Yankee.

In terms of warblers, the pickings have been great:

palm, prairie, blackpoll, hooded, common yellowthroat, Cape May, northern parula, worm-eating, Swainson’s, ovenbird, yellow, Tennessee, black and white, northern waterthrush, prothonotary, and american redstart, to name a few.

profile of a male yellow warbler at the bird fountain

Female prothonotary warbler at the top of a buttonwood tree in the parade ground.

Perky little northern waterthrush hopping around near the fountain; several were also seen on the beach near the NPS dock.

Beautiful close-up of a male Cape May warbler in the sea grapes.

In other news, the brown boobies have been sighted pretty regularly on Iowa Rock (green channel marker #3) for the last week, so keep your eyes open on the ride into the park.

I’m sure as the days progress, these migrants will slowly make their way to their respective breeding grounds, but while they’re here, happy birding!

–Chelsea B.

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Happy spring migration, Dry Tortugas birders!

Things couldn’t be more exciting out here this week. The warblers just keep coming in, as well as a few other exciting songbirds.

So far, regular migrant sightings in the parade ground include:

1. black-and-white warbler
2. Swainson’s warbler
3. worm-eating warbler
4. palm warbler
5. prairie warbler
6. yellow-rumped warbler
7. hooded warbler
8. common yellowthroat
9. northern parula
10. prothonotary warbler
11. ovenbird
12. eastern wood pewee
13. orchard oriole
14. scarlet tanager
15. summer tanager
16. rose-breasted grosbeak
17. white-winged dove
18. barn swallow
19. northern rough-winged swallow
20. cave swallow
21. cliff swallow
22. merlin
23. peregrine falcon

…and many more!

This little Swainson's was more than happy to pose for my camera to get this shot!

This is a great shot showing the foraging behavior of the busy little Swainson's warbler, notice the overall tawny color and dark eye stripe.

This Swainson’s warbler was a life bird for me, and I’ve been able to see it several times in the last week. The best spot for viewing this bird, and most of the other warblers, is by sitting on the benches under the buttonwood trees by the bird fountain.

A constant summertime sighting for the Tortugas, these ovenbirds are not nearly as shy as the ones heard out in the woods on the mainland. They have quite the outgoing personality here!

Beautiful black and white warbler on the benches across from the visitor's center.

These outgoing little black-and-white warblers can be tracked down by listening for their “squeaky wheel” call in the parade ground.

A side shot of this wonderful backyard bird.

You can’t mistake this male grosbeak for any other songbird when you see that stark red patch on his chest!

Here's a nice shot of the male rose-breasted grosbeak perched high up in the gumbo-limbo tree near Dr. Mudd's cell.

Here’s a scruffy male indigo bunting that’s been out at the Fort for a few weeks, and just can’t seem to get his molt under control…

Here's a molting indigo bunting spotted for the last couple of weeks in the parade ground; at the bird fountain in this shot.

Here's the best shot I could I could get of one of the shy orchard orioles hanging out around the bird fountain. Compare this dark, rusty color to the brighter orange of the Baltimore oriole.

Another surprise out at the Fort for me, there are at least two orchard orioles hanging out in the buttonwoods by the bird fountain. This one came down as close as the benches for me to photograph for a split second.

Sleeping nighthawk (most likely a common) on a snag above the benches in the parade ground.

I was even lucky enough to get a look at a sleeping nighthawk last week, waiting for night to fall so it could take flight and chow down on thousands of insects!

Here's a nice close-up of one of the four white-winged doves that I've been seeing in the parade ground in the last week.

This white-winged dove can be distinguished from the similar mourning dove by the squared off, ruddy tail, the lack of wing spots, and the obvious white trim on the wings, visible in flight and when perched.

One of the many merlin sightings out at the park these days.

The abundance of warblers at the Park these days has attracted a fair number of bird-eating raptors, such as: merlins, peregrines, and sharp-shinned hawks.

Although these are a year-round sighting at the Fort, take a look at the breeding vs. non-breeding ruddy turnstones. The bird on the far left is in breeding plumage, i.e. bright orange and black.

Even our plucky resident ruddy turnstones have molted into their brighter breeding plumes.

I’ve had the privilege of meeting some fantastic birders from around the country and the world in the last month, and I can only say thanks for what I have learned from them, and hope that I can share my knowledge with birders in the same way, through these entries.

Happy birding and see you soon!

–Chelsea B.

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Happy spring, Dry Tortugas birders!

The official arrival of spring at Fort Jefferson has been marked by the arrival of some beautiful songbirds.  In addition to nearly a dozen different species of warblers spotted out at the Park, other arrivals such as red and white-eyed vireos, gray cat birds, gray kingbirds, and little blue herons have also sent birders into a frenzy.

I’ve tried to diligently photograph as many of these small, vibrant, and (sometimes) shy birds as I can for you to enjoy, and I hope the following photos help some. Please note that dozens of other species are out at the Fort right now in addition to the photographs here. The shore birds are mostly the same as far as gulls, terns, pelicans, cormorants, and herons; feel free to scan my former entries for a list of shore birds.

Black-bellied plovers and a single piping plover (endangered species) were spotted last week on the tip of Bush Key, which makes having a decent spotting scope advantageous to your trip out here.

The warblers can be spotted anywhere from the campground (gnatcatchers, parulas, palms) to the sea grapes to the parade ground, although, the best passerine spotting is most definitely the bird fountain. Serious birders and warbler fans may want to dedicate 30 minutes to an hour sitting quietly at the bird fountain, where most of the warblers will come down to drink or bathe at least once while you’re sitting there so patiently.

I would also keep your eyes out for three different species of swallows: the most common are barn and northern-rough-winged, but several cave swallows have been sighted in the last week.

Close-up of a prairie warbler hanging out by the bird fountain

One of the dozens of palm warblers out at the Dry Tortugas.

Nice shot of a northern parula posing for the camera.

Here's a shot of the back of a northern parula, with the bright green between the wings clearly visible here.

Close-up of a curious male hooded warbler.

One of the only clear shots I was able to get of this stunning male common yellowthroat.

This cape may warbler stopped for a visit at the bird fountain. The red cheek patches are the defining characteristics for an accurate identification here.

Other warbler species sighted at the fort and not pictured here are yellow-throated, worm-eating, and yellow-rumped.

Profile of a blue-gray gnatcatcher; notice the very distinct white eye ring.

The first gray kingbird of the season at Fort Jeff. It can usually be spotted on one of the snags in the parade ground, much like the kestrel.

Enjoy and see you at the Dry Tortugas!

Happy birding.

–Chelsea B.

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Greetings Dry Tortugas birders!

A lot has happened out here in the last two weeks, so to do the birds justice, this will be the first of a two-part entry to catch you up. Here, I’d like to catch everyone up on what’s going on outside of the parade ground. I’ll let you know what’s going on coming into the park, on the surrounding islands, and on Garden Key.

For those of you coming out to the Tortugas for the four big breeding species, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. On the way into the park, the nesting masked booby colony is still clearly visible on Hospital Key, and we’ve even had some of the birds fly close to the boat for a better look.  Unfortunately, the brown boobies that are usually seen on the channel markers in the park have not been spotted in several weeks.

The magnificent frigatebirds are both a common and impressive constant sight out here, whether above their nesting colony on Long Key or soaring above Fort Jefferson like some ancient pterodactyl. Frequently, immature frigatebirds (white heads) can be seen flying overhead with nesting material in their bills, most likely emulating their parents for when they, too, reach breeding age.

Beautiful juvenile frigatebird "practicing" with nesting material.

Bush Key is certainly the life of the party these days. The island is literally alive with thousands of sooty terns and brown noddies. Many of the birds have chosen nesting sites, although thousands of them can still be seen swarming the island at any given time of day. The calls of the sooty terns can be heard constantly from any point inside Fort Jefferson. Keep an eye out for two or three large white shapes flying among the colony, however, as herring gulls constantly patrol Bush Key, looking for nests filled with eggs, or, better yet, young terns.

Bush Key teeming with terns. Note the lone cattle egret walking in front of the sign.

In the last two weeks, I’ve seen a brief visit by a yellow-crowned night heron, who did not stick around long enough for a photograph, as well as two great blue herons.  An adult and a juvenile great blue have stuck around the fort for the last week, possibly blown in from some recent strong winds.  The birds have been seen on the tip of Bush Key closest to the seaplane beach, on the actual seaplane beach, an on the north helicopter pad. The first few cattle egrets of the summer have made an appearance as well, as you could see from the above shot of Bush Key.

The young great blue heron on the seaplane beach.

Can you spot the great blue heron blending in with the ruined wall on the North beach?

The other species I’ve been keeping you informed are all still here, if in fewer numbers: laughing and herring gulls, royal and sandwich terns, black skimmers, double-crested cormorants, and ruddy turnstones. I’m still seeing the willet every day, although the other half of the duo (the lone whimbrel) is now only an occasional sighting.

And for your viewing pleasure, I thought I’d include some great action shots of pelicans working the North swim beach for lunch. The shots here are of an adult breeding pelican, hanging out on the north side of the moat wall with two juveniles.  The adult would very methodically fly off the wall, circle above the north side of the fort, then dive ten-twenty yards off the swim beach. A minute or two later, each of the juveniles would follow suit, clearly still learning the ropes of a successful dive. Though these birds may not be the most unique or coveted species for birders visiting the Dry Tortugas, they have an incredible natural history and beauty all their own.

The three musketeers on the north moat wall. This adult is schooling the two juveniles behind him on the right way to dive for fish!

The adult before stooping into a dive. He's spotted the fish he wants!

The first turn into the stoop...

Hurtling like a rocket towards the water!

We have contact!

Big splash..

Juvenile scouting the terrain.

The three musketeers looking for lunch.

Happy birding!

Part two (songbirds) coming soon!

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Hi there Tortugas birders! Sorry it’s been a couple of weeks since my last entry, we’ve just had a cold front move through the Keys and Tortugas for the last week, which caused the Yankee to cancel her trip more than once. Sea conditions were just not safe enough to venture all the way out to the park.  My last day out at the park was Monday, which I realize was four days ago, but I’d still like to let you know what’s been trending out there in the last two weeks.

The sooty terns and brown noddies are quite active right now, and many of both species have started landing on Garden Key at their carefully chosen nest sites. I’ve even had the pleasure of seeing brown noddies resting on both the South and North coaling dock pilings.

The first noddy I saw landed on a piling, at the South docks. What a beautiful bird!

I even believe a couple of passengers spotted a lone black noddy sitting on the beach of Garden Key with some brown noddies several days ago. I only heard of this report, and have been keeping an eye out for it since, but with the number of birds on the island, it’s a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Two brown noddies relaxing and preening on the North coaling dock ruins.

Last week, I did have an adult black-crowned night heron show up unexpectedly on the south pilings.  He only stayed for a short time, but that just goes to show that you should always be on the lookout for the unexpected visitor out there.

The visiting black-crowned night heron, perched on a lone piling at the south dock ruins.

Profile of the same BCNH. very nice contrast here with the water in the background.

Things are starting to get more exciting in the parade ground.  A pair of gray catbirds has been hanging around for the last week; they are usually seen chasing each other through the buttonwoods around the bird fountain. I have also seen quite a few northern parulas, both in the parade ground and around the camping area as well. On Monday, I did see an unidentified flycatcher near the bird fountain.  It stayed there for maybe five seconds then took off, but it appeared about the size of a least flycatcher but had much more yellow plumage than a least.

I had a birder report a sighting of a male indigo bunting in the parade ground, and although I did not see it personally, his photographs showed a mid-molt male indigo quite clearly.

There have also been between 4-6 barn swallows flitting around the moat and in the parade ground.  Their deeply forked tails, bluish backs and ruddy underbellies make them easy id’s even when they are zipping around at a hundred miles an hour.

The pilings on the south side are still reliable for sighting:

Brown pelicans, laughing gulls, herring gulls, royal terns, sandwich terns, black skimmers, and double-crested cormorants.

The willet and whimbrel are back at the south helipad, and don’t seem to be going anywhere, despite their several-day hiatus during my last entry.

For those of you coming out looking for life birds, the sooties and noddies are not difficult to hear or spot with the naked eye, but I wouldn’t come out here without a good pair of binocs or a nice scope to get a look at the timid masked boobies on Hospital Key.

Hope to see some of you out here this week, and fingers crossed for some new birds that came down with the cold front.  Happy birding!

–Chelsea

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Hi everyone, I hope those of you visiting in the Lower Keys this week are taking advantage of the warmer weather, and consequently, smoother days on the water.  The last week has given the Yankee Freedom II several very calm, clear days en route to the Dry Tortugas. Hopefully, we will start to see more and more of these days on a weekly basis.

Between the 17^th and 18^th of February, however, a slight front from the south moved across the Tortugas, slightly cooling the temperatures, and bringing with it some new avian visitors to Garden Key. I got a good look at a lone killdeer wading along the brick rubble on the eastern side of the Fort, and saw a pair of barn swallows flitting in front of the sally port for several minutes as well.  Neither species seemed to stay long, as I did not see them again over the next few days.

Lone killdeer seen on the eastern side of the Fort after the southern front. I only observed it for one day.

The sooty terns and brown noddies have now completely overtaken Bush Key, which gives some eager birders ample opportunities to check two unique species off their life lists.  Many of both species can now be seen settling on the island, courting and looking for potential nesting sites.  The sooties tend to nest in scrapes in the sand, whereas the noddies prefer to be slightly above the ground, making messy nests of sargassum and sea grass in the scrub a foot or two above the ground.

I’m seeing double-crested cormorants on an almost daily basis these days, usually sleeping or nesting on the south coaling dock ruins.

A double-crested cormorant winnowing on one of the south dock ruins. Winnowing is the process cormorants and anhingas use to dry their wings after a dive for fish, since they lack the well-developed preen gland to waterproof their feathers.

The south docks are also still reliable spots for sighting:

• Laughing gull
• Herring gull (1 or 2)
• Brown pelican
• Royal tern
• Sandwich tern
• Black skimmer

Unique shot showing the resting behavior of the black skimmer, whose large bill and head is easier to rest on the ground for long periods of time.

I’m sad to say I’ve only seen our friends the willet and whimbrel once in the last week. Perhaps they’ve moved from their usual haunt on the south helipad to another shore or island, or they have moved on to find their own breeding grounds. Either way, I would not consider either bird a sure thing in the coming days, but I will keep you posted.

The parade ground is still rather stark, but you’re likely to see:

• Eurasian collared dove
• Palm warbler
• American kestrel (1)

The magnificent frigatebirds are still carrying nesting material back to the nests on a daily basis.

Close-up of an adult male magnificent frigatebird carrying nesting material back to Long Key.

I’ve seen more than one brown pelican molting into breeding plumage, whereby the white feathers on the back of the neck are traded out for a black, then deep red color.

This is a brown pelican going through the molt transition of the solid white neck to what will soon be a rusty red color. The short, under feathers seen here are black.

More to come next week, but until then, happy birding!

–Chelsea B.

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The last week has been quite exciting as the sooty terns continue to swarm over Bush Key, in numbers now well into the thousands.  They have recently been joined by their less-vocal breeding ground neighbors, the brown noddies.  These elegant terns are covered in uniform chocolate-brown feathers, only interrupted by a small white “cap” on the tops of their heads. The noddies and sooties both nest on Bush Key during breeding season, so they aren’t always easy to tell apart at a distance, given their similar size and build.

Bush Key may be closed to visitors, but it's just opening for business for these guys!

Keep in mind that the noddy is more comfortable on the ground at this point than the sooty, either on the shoreline or in the vegetation; most of the sooties still spend the majority of the day vocalizing and flying over the island.  In flight, the sooty has a stark white underside that contrasts dramatically with its “sooty” back, making it easy to distinguish from the dark brown underbelly of the noddy.

A couple of interesting yet brief visitors to Fort Jefferson this week were a pair of northern rough-winged swallows that made one pass in front of the sally port and were not seen again; a belted kingfisher also flew by the dock just as the boat was heading back to Key West one afternoon as well.

The brown boobies are still very reliably perched on Iowa Rock (green channel marker #3) almost every morning and afternoon, and the masked boobies are in the full-swing of breeding season over on Hospital Key—two great lifers for many avid birders.

Several other species seen on an almost daily basis at Garden Key:

• Magnificent frigatebird
• Laughing gull
• Herring gull
• Royal tern
• Sandwich tern

I just liked the nice size comparison here of a sandwich tern (foreground) to the two behemoth royal terns in the background. The "mustard-dipped" tip of the sandwich's bill is nicely visible in this shot as well.

• Black skimmer
• Ruddy turnstone
• Willet
• Whimbrel
• Eurasian collared dove

Eurasian collared dove stopping for a drink at the bird fountain in the Parade Ground. These birds are much larger than their mourning dove cousins, and are actually an invasive species in the United States (hence the name).

• Palm warbler (winter phase)

Palm warbler in winter plumage showing distinctive yellow undertail coverts and white eye stripe. Keep an ear out for their chipping in the parade ground, and watch for the constant tail "bobbing."

• American kestrel

That’s all I’ve got for you this week. Hope to see you out at the Tortugas!

Happy birding.

–Chelsea B.

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I would like to take a minute with the first entry of the New Year to wish all you birders a very happy 2012. So far, the year is off to a great start at the Dry Tortugas, and since I’m meeting more and more fellow birders on board with each passing week, I’d also like to introduce myself: my name is Chelsea Barattini, and I’m just one of many great crew members aboard the Yankee Freedom II. However, the reason I’m writing you now is because one of my great passions is birding, and we’ve got some great ones out at the Tortugas.

I’ll try to outline the species seen out at the Jefferson Fort as frequently as I can for you, particularly if it will help any of you add new birds to your life lists. My aim is to make this blog as practical and helpful as possible.

The Sooty Terns have Re-terned:

Park rangers started reporting sooties calling at night out over Bush Key in mid-to-late January, although my first sooty sighting wasn’t until January 31st, when I heard and saw two birds calling as they flew over the north side of Garden Key, heading over to Bush Key. Over the next week, the birds started trickling in, and in the last few days hundreds of them have made their way across the ocean to the Dry Tortugas. They’ve only just started landing on the island, since most of them haven’t touched land since they fledged from the same island several years before! The distinctive “wide-a-wake!” call can be heard from the boat before even reaching Garden Key, and persists as cheery background noise throughout the afternoon, a sure sign that baby sooty terns will be here in a couple of months.

The sooties share Bush Key with another big nester, the brown noddy, although they probably won’t make an appearance for quite a few more weeks.

The magnificent frigatebirds are in full force out at the park, gearing up for another breeding season on Long Key. Both males and females can be seen flying over the fort, sometimes carrying nesting material back to the colony, and the occasional male may be seen with his red throat pouch inflated like a balloon in a very unique courtship display.

two juvenile magnificent frigatebirds "fighting" over a piece of nesting material

The Ride Out:
During the two and a half hour ride from Key West to the Park, a vigilant birder may observe from the outside decks several pelagic species. Brown pelicans, laughing gulls, black skimmers, and royal terns are common on the ride out as well as on Garden Key, where they are typically the most visible from the south helipad overlooking the South Coaling Dock Ruins.

Another beautiful bird to look out for is the Northern gannet, a large white diving bird that is known for its spectacular plunge-dives into the water after small fish and squid. I see a handful of gannets every morning this time of year, although they are easy to miss if you are not keeping a sharp eye out. Be careful to know your markings on this bird and not to confuse it with a masked booby, as the two species have similar body shapes and colorations (hint: the gannet’s black wing bars extend across the entire wing, while the masked booby’s wings have black only at the tips). The masked booby is another great bird to check off your lists at the Dry Tortugas, as they have a small nesting colony on Hospital Key, which can been seen from the boat on the way into the park. Have your binocs and scopes at the ready, as these shy birds tend to stay put on the island as the boat passes by.

Their smaller cousin, the brown booby, however, is not as bashful, and while they don’t nest in the park, they can be seen in small numbers at the park throughout most of the year, usually perching on the green channel markers inside the park boundaries.

two brown boobies loafing on a channel marker in the Park boundaries

The Coaling Dock Ruins:
The south coaling dock ruins have been the best place, in my opinion, for viewing birds like gulls and terns. For the last several weeks, the following species have been viewed here on a daily basis and in decent numbers: laughing gulls, royal terns, brown pelicans, and black skimmers. The sandwich terns made an appearance this week, as I counted several dozen of them on February 6th at the docks. A few herring gulls in various growth stages have been hanging around, as well as one or two double-crested cormorants.

flock of black skimmers hanging out on the south helipad

royal terns on the south helipad. the bird in the foreground is banded.

However, two of my favorite birds on the whole island like to hang out on the south beach helipad (concrete slab overlooking the south docks). There has been a single willet and single whimbrel living on Garden Key for several months. They both look healthy, and I never go more than a day or two without seeing either of them. The cool thing is that they are usually together, loafing within several feet of one another or perched on the same piling. Last week some unusually heavy rains brought in a small flock of black-bellied plovers that kept the two birds company for a few days.

The whimbrel (left) and willet (right) sunning themselves on the south helipad

two of the briefly-visiting black-bellied plovers

Upon arrival at Fort Jefferson, it is impossible to miss your welcoming committee of ruddy turnstones, as there are a few dozen that act like they own the island in the winter months; every so often they are joined by a small posse of sanderlings.

three ruddy turnstones who thought the boat was very interesting..

The Parade Ground:
The parade ground is, and has been since fall migration, a fairly quiet place. I can guarantee you will see at least one Eurasian collared dove on your way into the Fort, and once inside, you may see the winter resident American kestrel, who I’ve been keeping tabs on for a few months now. The abundance of anoles that live in the parade ground provides plenty of sustenance for the little raptor.
A small handful of warblers may be seen or heard chipping inside the Fort, mostly palm and prairie, from what I’ve been able to identify of the small songbirds that are neither in breeding plumes or singing this time of year.

I think that about does it for my first entry, and I’ll try to be a bit more succinct as the posts progress. I hope this helps, and I hope to see some of you out at the Tortugas soon!

–Chelsea B.

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By: Debra Hess
Yankee Freedom II Naturalist

This Brown Noddy built the largest nest I have ever seen with lots of seaweed and sticks	Masked Booby birds with eggs on Hospital Key

May Bird Blog

May is a month I normally spend in Alaska, but this summer I elected to stay on the Yankee Freedom II as a naturalist until Mid-July, returning in early September. I am excited to see the Masked Booby chicks grow and to see the Roseate and Bridled terns nest, but probably most excited to watch the Sooty terns prepare their chicks for departure to the waters off Africa where these young birds will live over the open ocean eating fish and drinking seawater for three to five years.

May is a transition month for bird watching. The last hard push of migrants head to the breeding grounds and the last stragglers struggle to make their way north. May brings some of the most beautiful warblers; Magnolia and Black throated Blue .

Black throated Blue Warbler

After birding in April, May is sort of a letdown. There are still awesome birds but in much fewer numbers. Bird watching now requires more searching but many good species are still found.

Week of May 3^rd

Yellow Billed Cuckoo

Many Yellow-billed Cuckoos’ are present. They can be flushed easily by walking through the paradeground. You can watch where the birds land and approach them again. Many of the Caribbean winter migrants are moving north now including the Black throated Blue and Blackpoll Warblers.

Blackpoll Warbler

Gray checked Thrush is common now instead of Swainson’s Thrush and an occasional Veery is sighted.

Grey cheeked Thrush

Dove’s; Mourning and Eurasian-collard are commonly seen. Redstarts are abundant all over Garden Key.

Week of May 10^th

Strong easterly winds prevail which always slows bird watching. Magnolia, Black throated Blue and Blackpoll Warblers are present. Redstarts are everywhere but mostly younger birds and very few males. Yellow-billed Cuckoos are still seen but in fewer numbers. Bobolinks head north now – look for them feeding in grasses on the drain field for the sewage treatment plant located in the paradeground. A few swallow still wander north as well including Barn Tree, Cliff and Northern Rough wing. A Merlin is in the Buttonwoods in the paradeground from time to time.

Merlin

Week of May 17^th

Black-necked Stilts

A pair of Black-necked Stilts were observed on the beach of Bush Key. They actually flew over Fort Jefferson where they were originally seen, landing later on Bush Key. Stilts and Avocets, seen rarely in the Tortugas, are always a stunning sight.

Bridled Terns are spotted from time to time in Rebecca Channel approaching and leaving Fort Jefferson.

Bridled terns will lay their egg under the coral where the young chicks can hide from predators and the sun

They are also spotted near man made coral huts on Long Key where they will be nesting in coming weeks.

Bridled tern guarding egg. The adults stand guard over the egg and later young chicks

Roseate terns are frequently observed feeding in groups of Brown Noddy terns. Unlike Sooty and Brown Noddy terns that pluck fish from the water’s surface, Roseates dive into the water to catch their fish. These terns appear to always be busy and active, dainty in flight and purposeful in feeding.

Roseate terns	Roseate tern – Bird on right has fish for chicks
Roseate terns – Note: Non-breeding birds have dark bill, Breeding birds have red bill

Sooty terns are lining their chicks up along the beaches and flying lessons are commencing.

Sooty tern chick newly hatched	Sooty tern chick several days old. Tern chicks hatch in early March and now in May, prepare to fly for 3 – 5 years
Sooty chick ready to fly

The chicks are fat. Wing-stretching and exercise with short flights will help strengthen their muscles for flight. It is amazing to watch the young chicks encouraged by their parents to flap and flap and suddenly realize they can fly. Flying lessons continue daily and eventually inside Fort Jefferson overhead you can hear parents and chicks discuss flying skills. Much effort is devoted to flying and learning feeding skills because by early to mid-July, the young chicks will head out to sea on their own, while the parents will leave for open ocean waters of the Bahamas and Caribbean. By late May on warm days, parents and chicks soar high on thermals in huge flocks preparing for life at sea. It is truly an amazing sight to see the birds soar effortlessly through the sky for hours at a time.

Sooty adults and chicks group on the beach for flying lessons

Week of May 24^th

Young pelicans use their mother’s backside to shade themselves from the hot sun

A trip over Bush Keys finds numerous young Pelicans have hatched. The young birds are quite a sight. Three eggs were laid per nest and all three chicks hatched but it appears all but one chick will die by several weeks old. The young Pelicans defend their nest area vigorously. Bridled terns have laid eggs and at least five nests have been identified. This is the newest bird species to nest in the Dry Tortugas and is exciting news for the park. Roseate terns have also laid eggs at the east end of Bush Key. The Roseates appear to have a very strong return this summer.

Several good friends from Alaska camped on Garden Key for several days in late May. Much time was devoted to birding and they were delighted to sight Warbling Vireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolinks, Merlin, Blackburian, Black-throated Blue, Blackpoll, Ovenbird and Magnolia Warblers.

Warbling Vireo

They also enjoyed kayaking over by Long Key to observe Frigatebirds, some fantastic snorkeling and fishing from Garden Key. The highlight of their trip was a kayak trip to Loggerhead Key to snorkeling in Little Africa – a reef on the west side of the island. Summer camping in the Dry Tortugas offers excellent opportunities for kayaking, snorkeling (both day and night) and star gazing.

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April birding is always a thrill in the Dry Tortugas and this April was no exception. Late March and early April were good, but the arrival of a large number of Merlins in early and mid April did result in death for many migrants. Late April was awesome – 92 species in 3 days (23 were warblers).

Week of March 22^nd

First adult Northern Gannets observed on ferry ride to Dry Tortugas heading north to the breeding grounds. Peregrine and Merlin are being seen in the paradeground. An Upland Sandpiper is feeding on the septic drainfield in the paradeground and joined later in the week by Pectoral Sandpipers.

Upland Sandpiper

The first Ruby throated Hummingbird of spring. Lots of LA Waterthrush, Black whiskered Vireo, Yellow throated Vireo and a few Parula Warblers. On March 24^th birding really picked up.

Yellow throated Vireo

Rain storms brought many birds including Wood Thrush, Gray Kingbird, Hooded, Black & White, Yellow throated, Prairie, Prothonatary , LA and Northern Waterthrush and Worm eating Warblers, lots of Hummingbirds – White eyed, Red eyed, Yellow throated & Black whiskered Vireos.

Prothonatary

Yellow crowned Night Herons – numerous in the paradeground and sleeping the Buttonwood trees. Purple Martins, Northern Rough Wing, Tree and Barn Swallows swoop thru the fort and occasionally rest. Mast Booby birds have chicks on Hospital Key. Week of March 29^th

Strong east winds lead to the departure of many migrants. Yellow throated Vireo are singing. Gray and Eastern Kingbird common.

Gray and Eastern Kingbird common

A Solitary Sandpiper was seen as well as a Blue Grosbeak and Blue winged Warbler. Late in the week serious watching for the Black Noddy begins with little success. On Saturday there was a Mockingbird, Cape May Warbler and Merlins (at least 12) as well as Peregrines and Cooper’s Hawk.

Cape May Warbler

Merlins

A new group of Sooty Tern seem to be arriving to nest at the east end of Bush Key. Week of April 5^th

East winds and Merlins continue to slow birding. Gray Kingbird common, Black & White Warblers abundant and first Tennessee Warblers. On March 10^th, the Florida Keys Audubon took place. Results will be in the next blog. New Warblers this week include Black throated Blue and Redstart. Spotted Sandpiper was seen on the beach. Summer Tanangers and Yellow billed Cuckoos arrive.

Week of April 12^th

Strong east winds continue and our Thursday trip was cancelled due to high wind gusts. Merlins continue to eat – almost all the Yellow rumped Warblers (fearless for months in the paradeground) are gone. A Wood Thrush hides near a thick limb in the Gumbo Limbo tree for hours. Even the bird fountain unsafe because of the agile fast Merlin. This week did bring Blue headed Vireo, a bird not seen frequently in the Tortugas.

Week of April 19^th

Weather has improved and many of the Merlins have finally traveled north. Roseate Terns are sighted on the Rebecca Channel marker, soon to begin nesting in the Tortugas and in Marathon atop the county office complex. Painted Buntings, lots of Indigo Buntings , Dicksissels and Bobolinks have arrived.

Indigo Buntings

Thrushes are quite common – Wood, Swainson’s, a few Gray Cheeked, and Veery. Both Summer and Scarlet Tanangers , Blue and Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Eastern and Gray Kingbird, Barn, Tree, Northern rough winged Sparrow are here.

Scarlet Tanangers

A Lincoln’s Sparrow was observed in the old foundation to the enlisted men’s barracks. Warblers include LA and Northern Waterthrush, Hooded , Black throated Blue, Cape May , Black & White, Worm eating, Ovenbird, Tennessee, Common Yellow throat, Prothonatary, Swainson’s Prairie, Palm and on Saturday a Blackburnian was seen in Searocket flowers along the beach, and also a Kentucky.

Hooded Warbler

Cape May Warbler

A Greater Yellowlegs was on top of the Fort Jefferson. A Chimney Swift was a new bird this week. Very abundant were Bobolink and Red-eyed Vireo . On April 21^st, a Black billed cuckoo slept in the Mahoe tree over the fountain all day – much to all the birders delight.

Red Eyed Vireo

Black Billed Cuckoo

A Wilson’s Phalarope was seen near the south coaling dock. Spotted, Least, and Semipalmated Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plovers were observed along Bush Key beaches. Week of April 26th

A weak cold front blew through the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas on Monday and the birding became excellent. Lots of Bobolinks and Dicksissels. New Warblers include Chestnut sided and Yellow and still more Tennessee. Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Scarlet and Summer Tanangers, Rose breasted Grosbeaks, Red-eyed and Black whiskered Vireos are fighting over the last berries in the Gumbo Limbo trees. A Western Kingbird joins the Eastern and Gray Kingbirds in treetops. On the beaches are Lesser Yellowlegs and Pectural Turnstones and Sanderlings. Bridled Terns are being seen almost daily in Rebecca Channel.

Bridled Tern

Warblers include Kentucky, Black & White, Blackpoll, Parula, Hooded, Palm, Yellow-rump, Prairie, LA and Northern Waterthrush, Worm Gating, Chestnut sided, Cape May, Redstart, Magnolia , Yellow, Black throated Blue, Black throated Green, Blackburnian, Prothonotury, Overnbird and Swainson’s.

Magnolia Warbler

A Cerulean Warbler was reported although I did not see the bird. Nighthawks sleep on many tree branches both common and Antillian. Catbirds have arrived in abundance and feast on Ranger Tree’s tomato plants. Veery and Gray checked Thrush now outnumber wood and Swainson’s, Yellow-billed Cuckoo’s are in almost every tree in the paradeground and campground.

Yellow Billed Cuckoo

Sitting by the bird fountain in the paradeground can be a thrilling experience, especially with a camera. A Pomarine Jaegar was sighted on our return trip to Key West on Wednesday.

This Bonapartes Gull was seen in the harbor along Yankee Freedom II on March 17^th.

Bonapartes Gull

April is just such an awesome month to schedule a day or camping trip to the Dry Tortugas for bird migration.  The weather is definitely a determining factor for fall outs.  Any rain event can result in new birds just as quickly as the sun shines.  Camping allows you the time to really enjoy your birding experience, especially for the photographers.  Renting a kayak will allow you closer access to the Frigatebird colony on Long Key and Bush Key with the nesting Sooty and Brown Noddy turns.  We welcome birders on the Yankee Freedom II.  Remember to request your captain to take you by Hospital Key to view the Masked Booby birds. They have young chicks in April.  Happy birding and we look forward to seeing you in the Yankee Freedon II.  Call our Reservations office at 800-634-0939 to secure your camping time and any kayak rental arrangements.

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