ML118866131

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Initially found feeding on the ground at 8:38 am. It was partly hidden, but I knew instantly that it was a European Robin, with its orange colored breast and face, gray bordered breast, and upright stance (I'm very familiar with this species from my years in Ireland). It then flew to a nearby Grape tree and was observed to fly up to a leaf for a prey item. It then landed on a branch for a short time before flying back into the vegetation. I didn't want to press the bird, knowing how rare it was and that it would most likely just fly deeper into the vegetation. So I opted to wait for it to re-appear while hurriedly making phone calls to get the news out. Unfortunately it was not relocated in a subsequent 4hr search doing circuits of the trail loop, but I suspect it is almost certainly still present. The high heat probably did not help. Early morning or later in the day would probably be best. Directions: Found on the east side of the nature trail where the trail opens up, with a lone Gumbo Limbo tree and stump on either side of the trail. This spot is also now marked by a pink ribbon. The nature trail is accessed from north end of the first parking lot on the right after you enter the park. Follow the trail clockwise following the outer loop north. It will then turn east and then back south. Continue south until you reach the second open area where the bird was found. Note that the park opens at 8am and is strictly enforced. Please stay on the trails and do not use tapes. Provenance: Who knows, this location is both a known migrant trap and is right beside Port Everglades. October is the prime month for Robin migration in the Western Palearctic. It seems plausible that ship-assisted vagrancy could be involved to some extent or another, or it could already have been in North America and migrated south. Note that there were no recent cruise ship relocations from the Med - these occur later in Oct/Nov. The least likely possibility would be an escaped cage-bird (plumage and bare part condition don’t support this). Coincidentally it should be noted that this was a good weekend for migrants in South Florida with a significant arrival of Swainson’s Thrush and Gray Catbird, and other less frequently encountered species.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF400mm f/5.6L USM

ISO

1250

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/125 sec

Dimensions

2135 pixels x 1317 pixels

Original file size

435.01 KB