Florida^ 
Bruce H. Anderson 
Andy Bankert 
T he season was one of unusual storms 
and local record rainfall. In late March 
and April, a shift in the jet stream pro- 
duced several surface and upper-level areas of 
low pressure across the lower southeastern 
United States and Gulf coast. Rainfall at Gulf 
Breeze, Santa Rosa County, totaled 21 cm or 
more in about seven days. Strong easterly and 
southeasterly winds sometimes in excess of 
20 knots, in combination with late cold 
fronts, brought squalls across the northern 
and central peninsula and diverted rather 
large numbers of Blackpoll and Cape May 
Warblers to the Gulf coast, where they are 
usually uncommon. However, no fallouts 
were detected in the panhandle. Smaller 
numbers of seabirds were affected; most no- 
table were several Sooty Shearwaters and 
Florida’s fourth, fifth, and sixth Northern 
Fulmars on or near shore. Then, on 17 and 18 
May, a late cold front stalled across the cen- 
tral peninsula, where a strong low-pressure 
system formed over the Gulf of Mexico, 
bringing rain to most of the peninsula. The 
low stalled, and from 19 through 23 May, the 
peninsular coast, from Brevard County north 
to the Florida/Georgia line, was pummeled by 
the low's counterclockwise winds of up to 52 
knots, and record seasonal rainfall amounts 
in excess of 50 cm in Volusia and Flagler 
Counties caused local flooding. Again, un- 
usual numbers of Sooty Shearwaters were 
drawn in close to shore, along with numerous 
Wilson’s and Leach’s Storm-Petrels. On 23 
May, Ron Smith drove up the coast from Vo- 
lusia County to Nassau County and reported 
that he had Leach’s Storm-Petrels in the surf 
“at every stop along U.S. AlA.” A few Arctic 
Terns were reported along the beaches, but 
notably absent from this non- 
tropical storm were large num- 
bers of Sooty or Bridled Terns or 
other pelagic seabirds typical of 
tropical storms. 
The stellar vagrant of the sea- 
son was North America’s second 
(and Florida’s first) Greater Sand- 
Plover in the northern peninsula. 
Another first for Florida was a 
White-throated Swift in the pan- 
handle. Other rarities included a 
Say’s Phoebe, Tropical Kingbird, 
and Harris’s Sparrow that re- 
mained from winter; a Kirtland’s 
Warbler and South Polar Skua; 
and from the Bahamas and An- 
tilles, La Sagra’s Flycatcher, Log- 
gerhead Kingbird, Thick-billed 
Vireo, Bahama Mockingbird, Western Spin- 
dalis, Yellow-faced Grassquit, and Shiny 
Cowbird. 
Abbreviations/definitions: FO.S.R.C. (Florida 
Ornithological Society Records Committee); 
L. Apopka (L. Apopka Restoration Area, Or- 
ange unless otherwise stated); Paynes Prairie 
(Paynes Prairie Preserve S.P., Alachua); record 
(only those reports verifiable 
from photograph, videotape, 
or specimen evidence); report 
(any observation); S.T.A. 
(Stormwater Treatment Area); 
UCF (University of Central 
Florida, Orlando); UF (Florida 
Museum of Natural History, 
Gainesville). 
WATERFOWL 
THROUGH HAWKS 
Five Black-bellied Whistling- 
Ducks in Walton 23 May (Geri 
Bucheitet) were w. of their ex- 
panding range. Lingering 
geese included a Greater 
White-fronted Goose at S.T.A. 
IW, Palm Beach 22 Mar (E. 
Gehring); 7 Snow Geese in 
Levy 1 Mar (Frances Seiler), 
and singles in Pinellas 19 Mar 
(DM) and Charlotte 1 Mar 
(Bill & Eleanor Marr); 2 Ross’s Geese at 
Gainesville, Alachua 1 Mar (Cecelia Lock- 
wood); and a probable Lesser Canada Goose 
at Stock 1., Monroe until 17 Apr (CrG). Stock 
1. also hosted 3 Wood Ducks in late Apr 
(CrG), well s. of their peninsular range. Al- 
though their appearance coincided with 
strong southeasterly winds, 2 White-cheeked 
Pintails at Belle Glade, Palm Beach 25 May 
(BrH) were considered to be of unknown 
provenance. Late waterfowl included a Gad- 
wall at L. Apopka 31 May (HR), an American 
Wigeon in Miami-Dacle 7 May (RoT), a 
Northern Shoveler and a Green-winged Teal 
in Orange 23 May (HR), a Greater Scaup at 
Tallahassee, Leon 23 May (GM), and a Long- 
tailed Duck at Cape Canaveral, Brevard 
through 26 Mar Oim Eager). All three scoter 
species remained at Alligator Point, Franklin 
until mid-Apr, with 10 Surf, one White- 
winged, and 20 Black 19 Apr (DaS, AB). A 
well-photographed female Common Mer- 
ganser on the Gulf Harbors G.C., New Port 
Richey, Pasco 3-5 Apr and 6 May furnished 
the state’s 4th record (ph. KT, m.ob.). Head- 
ing eastward, presumably from the Gulf, 575 
of 711 Common Loons counted over inland 
Alachua were seen 20-27 Mar (AK, Rex 
Rowan et al.); a single Red-throated Loon was 
observed there by Rowan 15 Mar. 
The Marine Science Center at Ponce Inlet, 
Volusiti received 3 locally stranded Northern 
Eulmars 22-24 Mar; the lone survivor was re- 
leased in the Atlantic 24 May (MBr, *UP, 
*UCP). Another fulmar flew past Ormond- 
By-The-Sea, Volusia 26 Apr (MBr). These 
bring the number of fulmar reports for Elori- 
da to seven. Warm Gulf Stream waters in the 
This female Common Merganser at New Port Richey, Pasco County 3-5 (here 4) April 
and 6 May 2009 furnished Florida's fourth record. Photograph by Andy Bankert. 
Atlantic continue to hold the only reliable 
Black-capped Petrels, where 3 were 92-130 
km off Ponce de Leon Inlet, Volusia 24 May 
(MBr et al.). Wind-driven pelagics seen from 
land on the Atlantic 19-27 May included one 
Cory’s and 6 Greater Shearwaters in Brevard 
(DP); 11 Sooty Shearwaters and 20-i- Wilson’s, 
130+ Leach’s, and at least 5 Band-rumped 
Storm-Petrels from Duval to Brevard (m.ob.); 
a White-tailed Tropicbird in Flagler 27 May 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 3 
413 
