COMMON EIDER, Nov. 12, 2011, Field Trip on Indian River with Capt. Chop Lege

The Nov. 12 field trip yielded a rare sighting for participants, a Common Eider. Boat tour captain Chop Lege says the bird has been there for about 10 days and appears to be solo. Member Richard Lynch was able to get photographs that enabled experienced birders Dan Walma and Hart Rufe to verify the identification, though they debated whether the bird is a female (all brown) or a first-year male (white on flank appeared in one photo.) Rufe said in his 20 years of visiting area he had not seen one previously.

PURPLE SANDPIPER, Jan. 15, 2011, Fort Pierce Inlet State Park

The Beginners Birding Class Field trip found a Purple Sandpiper at the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park. All members of the class saw the bird and both experienced birders Sam Fried and Hart Rufe described the field marks for the class and tried to make them understand what a rare and unusual find this bird was for St Lucie County. The only previous one Hart has seen here was the one at the FPL plant pond on Hutchison Island eight or 10 years ago. There  was one at Sebastian Inlet all winter about two years ago, but those are the only ones he knows of in Florida. (Photo, for information only, was taken in middle of the Bay-Tunnel bridge over the Chesapeake in Virginia by Hart Rufe)

HERMIT THRUSH, Feb. 13, 2009,the Wilcox Natural Area, northern St. Lucie County

Surprised to see a Hermit Thrush this far south, Hart Rufe was able to photograph this bird Feb. 13 at the Wilcox Natural Area. He later discovered in Pranty's A Birder's Guide to Florida, p. 320, that they winter in Florida and can be found, though uncommon, anywhere in the state, but according to the National Geographic Guide, are very rare south of Lake Okeechobee. Thus he suspects it was at about the southern limit of their winter range. This is the first he has seen in Florida, although they are fairly common in winter in Pennsylvania.

LEAST FLYCATCHER, Jan. 9, 2008, western St. Lucie County

On January 9, Hart Rufe saw and photographed a Least Flycatcher west of Fort Pierce in St. Lucie County, while birding with friend Frank Haas of Pennsylvania. The bird was also seen Jan. 10 by Hank and Dotty Hull.

The flycatcher was last seen on Carlton Road south of SR. 70. From I-95 take SR 70 about 12 miles west to Carlton Road. Turn south on Carlton and go about 1 mile past the intersection with Germany Canal Road. After passing  Paleo Hammock on the right, watch for a "Pavement Ends" sign. The flycatcher was seen on the right side of the road about 100 feet past the sign. The bird responded to a brief playing of a prerecorded taped call.

Seen, identified and verified an unusual bird for St. Lucie County?
 Contact Ed Bowes eddie_ruth@msn.com

BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER. Fort DeSoto, Florida, Feb, 4, 2010.

Seen and photographed by Hart Rufe.