March 10, 2013 - Special Florida Sightings

In the eastern United States, the overwhelming majority of hummingbirds are Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. The western United States, however, has about a dozen species that are seen in the summer. Most of these hummingbirds go south for the winter, but a few go a different direction and end up in Florida. This is a Broad-billed Hummingbird; it was visiting a home in Tallahassee.

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Broad-billed Hummingbirds are usually only seen in southeastern Arizona so this is a very rare sighting. This photo shows the broad, flat base of the bill which inspired the name of this species.

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Another unusual sighting was this Calliope Hummingbird, seen at a home in Apalachicola, Florida. At only 3¼ inches, it’s one of the smallest hummingbirds. In summer, Calliope Hummingbirds are found in the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada.

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This juvenile male Orchard Oriole was found at the same home as the Calliope Hummingbird. It’s an unusual sighting only because it is back from the tropics so early. There must be something special about this home because they also had a Buff-bellied Hummingbird earlier in the winter.

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Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are year-round residents in the Apalachicola National Forest where these photos were taken. They are an endangered species, so many of them have been banded. I managed to get clear photos of the bands on both legs of this one, and submitted the photos to the Fish and Wildlife Service. They told me it was banded in 2010 about 10 miles from where I photographed it.

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In summer, Vermillion Flycatchers are found in the southwestern United States as far east as Texas. During the winter, they usually go south into Mexico, but this one decided to come to Carrabelle, Florida, instead. This is the second winter that a male Vermillion Flycatcher has been seen in the same area so it’s a good bet that this is the same individual. He’s really gorgeous!

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The last unusual sighting is this white squirrel, one of several that live in Ochlocknee River State Park, about 35 miles south of Tallahassee. It is a Gray Squirrel but has all white fur. It doesn’t have red eyes so it’s not an albino.

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