100 Species or Bust: May-October

My goal of seeing 100 species had become much more attainable after the influx of sightings in south Texas. Now, with only 12 to go, I had spring in Iowa to look forward to! In the first three weeks of May I had the fortune to see three new species of wood warbler, Cape May, Mourning, and the very hard to find Connecticut warbler. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/27513224Soon after I stumbled across an American bittern at a local park in Iowa city, a bird I had been trying to find for years! https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/27513210A singing Eastern Whip-poor-will and a Black-billed Cuckoo in June were nice additions, although both avoided photos! In August a Yellow-billed Loon was found in central Iowa, a bird that should be in northern Alaska! https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31096797Only 4 to go! Later that week I found a Plains Leopard frog in my own backyard to make it 97. A surprise trip to Florida to visit friends was planned for the end of August, and #100 was in my sights. On Sanibel Island the first day on the beach yielded Boat-tailed Grackle, Limpkin,https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32030673 and then with 100 in sight, A Gray kingbird on Captiva Island became the magic 100th species! https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32030672Not missing a beat I upped my goal to 125 and explored more of the parks in the area. In Naples I saw Gopher Tortoiseshttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32030670, And on a short boat trip in the mangroves of Cape Coral, we saw West Indian Manateehttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32030669 and a flock of over 100 Magnificent Frigatebirds! https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32030674At our friend’s apartments, invasive species like the Cuban tree frog and Tropical House Gecko https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32030667hunted by porch-light. Florida softshell turtle, Red-bellied Cooter, Oscar Tilapia, and Peninsular Cooter were seen in 6-mile Cypress slough. On the last day, I spied a Short-tailed Hawk while enjoying the pool, and a pair of Snail kites hunting on the way back to the airport to return to Iowa. I left Florida with 112 species for the year, with plenty of time to add a few more!
Back home in Iowa I got to explore a bit with some herping buddies and turned up my first Boreal chorus frog, and the state endangered Blue-spotted Salamander, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33352568these guys were a real treat to see! My final species of 2019 as of Oct. 29th was a lone Sabine’s gull that appeared at a nearby lake, this arctic gull is certainly enjoying the early snow this week as winter rolls back into the Midwest. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34723780Today I sit at 115 species for 2019, I better save a few for 2020!

Posted on October 31, 2019 02:25 AM by ossifrage94 ossifrage94

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)

Observer

ossifrage94

Date

May 3, 2019 03:17 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)

Observer

ossifrage94

Date

May 7, 2019 03:19 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii)

Observer

ossifrage94

Date

August 18, 2019 04:10 AM EDT

Description

6th state record Yellow-billed Loon. Long-staying rarity.

Photos / Sounds

What

Tropical House Gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia)

Observer

ossifrage94

Date

August 28, 2019 09:56 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus ssp. latirostris)

Observer

ossifrage94

Date

August 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)

Observer

ossifrage94

Date

August 2019

Photos / Sounds

What

Grey Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis)

Observer

ossifrage94

Date

September 1, 2019 04:46 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)

Observer

ossifrage94

Date

August 29, 2019 01:00 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)

Observer

ossifrage94

Date

August 29, 2019 05:21 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)

Observer

ossifrage94

Place

Private

Photos / Sounds

What

Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)

Observer

ossifrage94

Date

October 20, 2019 11:14 AM EDT

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