Yesterday we eventually made our way down to Bill Baggs Park on Key Biscayne just south of Miami. The key is accessed off the the main Iinterstate 95 main road and then across the causeway. We traveled above crystal clear water with the vista of Miami skyscrapers as a backdrop. Once down on to Key Biscayne it became even more beautiful and the park really lived up to expectations, one of the best places for birds that I have been to this year.  It was alive with small birds, mostly small warblers which are very lovely and to me, especially interesting. Amongst the spectacular sightings was this beautiful, exotic, stunning, vibrant, Black Throated Blue Warbler…………… is this the most beautiful bird I have seen? Arguably it probably is.

 

The male was feeding on tiny red berries, you can se them in the pictures. They were particularly interesting, not only to these Black Throated Blues but also Blackpoll Warblers were eating them as well.

I have seen, almost daily, common Yellow Throat, a warbler species that is a South Florida resident. 

Yesterday they we very, very common. I had glimpses of them every few feet. Up until yesterday my photos of this species had been poor because of their habit of skulking low down in the undergrowth and scrub. But they were so common at Bill Baggs that it was only a matter of time before I got a god picture opportunity, and here it is…………… at last and not before time.

This is a male, females are not as is usually the case, nearly as dramatically marked and are very subdued. I had walked along a track and seen birds bathing in a nearby muddy puddle. I moved very slowly towards it and was rewarded with some amazing photo opportunities. Firstly, a female Yellowthroat was so engrossed in her ablutions that I got within 6 or 7 feet of her and took a fe amazing shots.

Next up was a Northern Parula, I have seen them regularly on this trip but could never tire of them, another amazing and pretty species. This one was a bit special.

 Next up came another Blackpoll Warbler. They just kept coming, it was a little bit like living in an aviary.

 

Also seen at Bill Bags was. Red Eyed Vireo, Grey Kingbird and Common Ground Dove.

Red-Eyed Vireo

Ground Dove