Report from the Dry Tortugas Trip April 14-18, 2007
5-14: After a long flight delay and an extra layover, 11 travelers arrived in Key West in time to have dinner at Red Fish, Blue Fish.We got our fill of the local protected Roosters, Chickens and chicks. A few joined us for dinner! We then traveled to Stock Island to meet our boat.
5-15: At 5 a.m. our boat (The Playmate) headed for the Dry Tortugas Islands. We had a storm moving in and we dealt with strong winds and 8 ft. waves.
We arrived right 8 hours later, right before the storm hit and we ate a hearty meal on the boat and went to shore to bird. The sunset over the island, especially with the fort in view, was spectacular. Seas were still rough and we were rocked to sleep in our small cabins.
5:16: Pre-breakfast at 6 a.m. Boat docked on the Dry Tortugas Island (only able to dock big boat 2 hrs. a day), we had two hours of great birding that started with the spotting of a Short-eared owl (West Indies species) right in the middle of the fort in the top of a tree.
Met for breakfast at 8 a.m. and back to the island for more birding. Record cold at 61 degrees and 40 m.p.h. winds. Everyone dressed in sweatshirts and pants, and of course, binoculars. Excellent birding day with warblers landing in grape trees right in front of our eyes. Other highlights were the Wimbrel, the Merlin, the Peregrin Falcon, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern and Gray Kingbirds,Short-billed Dowicher, Bank and Barn Swallows, Purple Martins, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a Sora (right inside of the fort.) A Yellow-billed Cuckoo,Orchard and Baltimore Oriole, Summer and Scarlet Tanager, an Indigo Bunting,a Lincolns Sparrow, a Willet, a Black-bellied Plover, Laughing Gulls, Herring Gulls, Brown Pelicans, Northern Mockingbirds, Gray Catbirds, White-eyed vireos and more. AND the warblers!!!!: Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Cape-May Warbler, Hooded, Worm Eating Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm and Prairie Warblers, American Redstart, Prothonotary Warbler. There were all so close and by the end of the day we were saying, just another warbler? Also another favorite was the Blue Grosbeak that seams to stay in the same spot for all to see.
Because of the rough seas, we didn't get to snorkel, but the ferries and sea planes couldn't come in and we had the island all to ourselves.
The sea calmed by the end of the day and groups were taken in a skiff to see the nesting Brown Noddies and Magnificent Frigate Birds. Also spotted were the Royal, the Sandwich and the Roseate Turn. There was also a 5-6 ft. American Crocodile on the island. Everyone got a good look.
Dinner (another culinary delight) was full of laughter and fun and followed by everyone filling out there trip bird lists. What a happy birding group!!!
5-17-07: Last morning on the island for birding. Lots of favorites seen again! We headed back for Key West as the first Sea Plane was coming into the island.
The seas were calm and blue and the temperature quickly came back to the normal 75-80.
We saw mating Loggerhead Turtles, Dolphins playing, more turns, Ruddy Turnstones and Brown Noddies, Egrets, Frigate Birds and much more.
We arrived back at the boat dock at 3:30 and our shuttle took us to our hotel in Key West.
We met for the sunset party and then spend the evening on our own (most had dinner and went to bed).
5-18-07: Many walked to the beach, or downtown Key West and we spotted more Hooded and Yellow Warblers by our pool. We also got our Mourning Dove, Eurasian Collar Dove, Hummingbirds and more.
We ended our trip at 10 a.m. at Key West airport for our return flight. It was the most beautiful weather day, of course!!!



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