Wow, now that was a first, and I hope a last! 11 cars from The Village Birders and 16 cars from the Citrus County Audubon Society. I thought it was rush hour in Detroit. However, it was still a great day of birding at Emeralda with 55 species accounted for. How about those Painted Buntings!

Birds Seen Today:
Mallard, Blue-Winged Teal, Ring-Necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Pied-Billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Double-Crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, N. Harrier, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Red-Tailed Hawk, Purple Gallinule, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Ring-Billed Gull, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, E. Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Tree Swallow, Carolina Wren, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, N. Mockingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, N. Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Red-Winged Blackbird And Boat-Tailed Grackle.

Birds Heard Today:
Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, White-Eyed Vireo, Tufted Titmouse And Brown Thrasher

Next Up:
Friday, March 2, Howtoon Island State Park (a new venue for the club), meet in Belk's parking lot 7:15 AM. The drive to Howtoon is a little over an hour, restroom facilities and snack bar are on the Island