I'm from Wisconsin & a birder. When I was vacationing in Florida I was really hoping to see Florida Scrub Jays. Went to this one place that was known for them. Didn't see one darn Scrub Jay & was almost carried off by mosquitoes. It is still one of my bucket list birds.
I've been to a few places that were supposed to have them, only to find nothing and have a few locals tell me there haven't been any there for several years. The best place I've been for them is the last one in this video, the Cruikshank Sanctuary in Rockledge. There's a lot of scrub in the front of the park and that's where most of them are and they have no qualms about coming up right near you. In fact, I was standing right in front of one and before I could raise my camera he hopped off the scrub and right onto my head and sat there for a good minute.
Congrats on the scrub-jays! That was one of my main targets on my last trip to Florida and missed it unfortunately! I did see Red-cockaded Woodpecker though, which was pretty cool!
I usually don't make comments, but I just love your videos. Following the two of you along on your birding journey this year has been wonderful, as you both seem so knowledgeable as well as wholesome. Best of luck completing the challenge (which I know you will!) and thank you for all the work you do making these videos for us to enjoy.
Great shots of the scrub jay. I've seen scrub jays in Arizona -- I guess those are the California species. Seeing other jay species is always a revelation for a guy from Ontario, where blue jays are the only game in town.
Thanks 👍 Was pleased with how nice and sharp the close up shots were. Wait until our horrible winter. We will be pleased with seeing Blue Jays when there's snow everywhere lol...
Thank's for another great video. Every new bird to me is a favorite and I get so frustrated when I can't get the picture. I'm trying to get the Henslow Sparrow. I know where they are but they won't come out for there picture. They breed here so I'll try later in Aug. The Dicksiccle is the other. There is one bird I don't have to go to Florida to see. That is the Limpkin. There were several that visited Michigan last year and one stayed thru the fall it wasn't far from me so I had a lot of pick's. I probably won't have another chance to see the short eared owl like last year due are gov destroyed the habitat for solar panel's.😞 I did get the black billed Cuckoo and lot's of the Sedge Wren. Keep on birding! This is so fun😊
Hi Susan, thanks for the kind comment. A couple of those species, Henslow's Sparrow and Sedge Wren, would be lifers for us. Sedge Wren makes it to Ontario, but we just haven't managed to find one. Henslow's Sparrow is less plentiful here than where you are. But I think it's plentiful in Florida - unfortunately, spoiler alert, we didn't manage to find one. I hope you manage to see some Short-eared Owls sometime. We had a pretty magical experience finding almost two dozen of them hunting at dusk earlier this year. Thanks again for watching 😊
I used to have to fly to the States from the UK for business meetings in Melbourne (just down the coast from where you were); I use to try to squeeze in a little birding at the beginning or end of the day. A local birder tipped me off and I visited the Cruickshank Sanctuary for Florida Scrub Jay early one morning - amazed to see you visiting there too! I had a couple of great drives around R Grissom too. Happy memories - thanks!
Thanks. Glad you were able to recognise some spots. Pity that we didn't have slightly better weather when we were around that day, but yeah, great to get so close to the Jay.
Great video! I was really lucky to actually see a pair of Crested Caracara in Costa Rica outside San Jose They were from a moving vehicle, but still awesome! Happy birding!
Oh, that's an interesting call. It is "rare" and "unreported" on ebird for that location. But I don't know that it's heavily birded. The bird actually isn't hovering, just appears to be. It is flying away from the camera. I've submitted a still image to inat. The AI model leans towards accipiter, but it's a very low res, poorly angled image. www.inaturalist.ca/observations/222963960 Tail looks fairly good for SEO.
I think you are right about an owl but a different one. I set the highest resolution and then took a screenshot and got a closer crop for more detail. I think it is actually a Burrowing Owl. The SE Owl would appear longer winged in flight.
I'm from Wisconsin & a birder. When I was vacationing in Florida I was really hoping to see Florida Scrub Jays. Went to this one place that was known for them. Didn't see one darn Scrub Jay & was almost carried off by mosquitoes. It is still one of my bucket list birds.
Hey Kathy, I hope you get to revisit and find one sometime!
I've been to a few places that were supposed to have them, only to find nothing and have a few locals tell me there haven't been any there for several years. The best place I've been for them is the last one in this video, the Cruikshank Sanctuary in Rockledge. There's a lot of scrub in the front of the park and that's where most of them are and they have no qualms about coming up right near you. In fact, I was standing right in front of one and before I could raise my camera he hopped off the scrub and right onto my head and sat there for a good minute.
Intresting journey
Thanks!
Great looks of the Florida Scrub Jay! So cool
Thanks buddy 👍
Wow great footage of the Shrikes meal! And was that a ‘Will FerOwl’ at the beginning 😅beautiful footage x another great video
Yep, you knows it, your favourite Will FerOwl 😁
Congrats on the scrub-jays! That was one of my main targets on my last trip to Florida and missed it unfortunately! I did see Red-cockaded Woodpecker though, which was pretty cool!
Thanks 👍
We're in the opposite situation. Spoiler alert but despite looking for the Woodpecker a few times, we weren't able to find it.
I saw a northern bobwhite today. Congratulations on finding the Florida scrub jay!
It's a new nemesis! At the end of this video when we saw the Scrub Jay again, we heard a Bobwhite, but couldn't find it! Oh well! 😊
I usually don't make comments, but I just love your videos. Following the two of you along on your birding journey this year has been wonderful, as you both seem so knowledgeable as well as wholesome. Best of luck completing the challenge (which I know you will!) and thank you for all the work you do making these videos for us to enjoy.
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Shannon. This meant a lot to me.
Great shots of the scrub jay. I've seen scrub jays in Arizona -- I guess those are the California species. Seeing other jay species is always a revelation for a guy from Ontario, where blue jays are the only game in town.
Thanks 👍
Was pleased with how nice and sharp the close up shots were.
Wait until our horrible winter. We will be pleased with seeing Blue Jays when there's snow everywhere lol...
@@BritHikesOntario Yes -- nothing shabby about them at all
Thank's for another great video. Every new bird to me is a favorite and I get so frustrated when I can't get the picture. I'm trying to get the Henslow Sparrow. I know where they are but they won't come out for there picture. They breed here so I'll try later in Aug. The Dicksiccle is the other. There is one bird I don't have to go to Florida to see. That is the Limpkin. There were several that visited Michigan last year and one stayed thru the fall it wasn't far from me so I had a lot of pick's. I probably won't have another chance to see the short eared owl like last year due are gov destroyed the habitat for solar panel's.😞 I did get the black billed Cuckoo and lot's of the Sedge Wren. Keep on birding! This is so fun😊
Hi Susan, thanks for the kind comment. A couple of those species, Henslow's Sparrow and Sedge Wren, would be lifers for us. Sedge Wren makes it to Ontario, but we just haven't managed to find one. Henslow's Sparrow is less plentiful here than where you are. But I think it's plentiful in Florida - unfortunately, spoiler alert, we didn't manage to find one.
I hope you manage to see some Short-eared Owls sometime. We had a pretty magical experience finding almost two dozen of them hunting at dusk earlier this year.
Thanks again for watching 😊
I used to have to fly to the States from the UK for business meetings in Melbourne (just down the coast from where you were); I use to try to squeeze in a little birding at the beginning or end of the day. A local birder tipped me off and I visited the Cruickshank Sanctuary for Florida Scrub Jay early one morning - amazed to see you visiting there too! I had a couple of great drives around R Grissom too. Happy memories - thanks!
Thanks. Glad you were able to recognise some spots. Pity that we didn't have slightly better weather when we were around that day, but yeah, great to get so close to the Jay.
Epic footage of the Jay!
Thanks 😊
Great video! I was really lucky to actually see a pair of Crested Caracara in Costa Rica outside San Jose They were from a moving vehicle, but still awesome! Happy birding!
Such a cool bird. Have to admit, I was a bit grumpy not to get it on camera 😂 But at least I got to see it.
@@BritHikesOntario They can regularly be seen in Highlands county! On rte 66 west of rte 27! A pair flew down the street once! Am enjoying your trip.
These birds were all over Florida but I
have not seen one of these for 40 years.
A real shame
Thanks so much for sharing another wonderful video like always 🐦👍
Thank you!
Great vid. Congrats for the Florida Jay.... love it
Thanks Marcus 😊
Great videos as always ! Loved the scrub jay footage.
Thank you Marcus, appreciate it 👍
Omg this is blvery near me. I hope you enjoy it. Bring lots of water.
This was last year, but we had a great time, thanks!
05:52 this almost looks like a Short-eared Owl! Is that possible in Florida at your time of visit?
I'd agree that the overall shape is much more SEO-like than Kestrel, despite the hovering.
Oh, that's an interesting call. It is "rare" and "unreported" on ebird for that location. But I don't know that it's heavily birded.
The bird actually isn't hovering, just appears to be. It is flying away from the camera.
I've submitted a still image to inat. The AI model leans towards accipiter, but it's a very low res, poorly angled image.
www.inaturalist.ca/observations/222963960
Tail looks fairly good for SEO.
Looks like it might be but I don't think you can get an accurate ID with this footage...
I think you are right about an owl but a different one. I set the highest resolution and then took a screenshot and got a closer crop for more detail. I think it is actually a Burrowing Owl. The SE Owl would appear longer winged in flight.
Good shout. Expected in that area. Agree on the wings and profile in general.
😊💕🐦🐍👍
Do you use Ebird
We both do, yes.