SOUTHERN ATLANTIC 
rather than 47, as printed. [N.B.: This error 
was not the fault of the Regional Editor but 
rather the Editor, who apologizes! — Ed.] 
Contributors: David E Abbott, Teresa Adkins, 
Elizabeth Anderegg, J. Tye Anderson, Alan 
Ashley, Sue Aughey Sandy Beasley, Annette 
Bittaker, Ken Blankenship, Brenda Brannen, 
Edward S. Brinkley (ESB), Patrick Brisse, 
Steve Calver, Rachel Cass, Walt Chambers, 
Ken Cheeks, Ron Clark (RoC), Randy Climp- 
son (RCl), Sam Cooper (SCo), Ricky Davis, 
Eric Dean, Doug & Pam DeNeve (D&PD), 
Nathan Dias, Phil Dickinson, Jack Eckstine, 
Frank Enders, Nathan Farnau, Jack Fennell 
OFe), Jim Flynn 0^1). John Fussell, Hugh 
Garrett, Tom Giduz, Diane Girardeau, Gilbert 
Grant, Dan Haas, Phil Hardy, Theresa Hartz, 
Pierre Howard (PHo), Ty Ivey, Ali lyoob, Jer- 
ry Kerschner, Tim Keyes, Rick Knight, Greg 
Kratzig, Carol Lambert, Gabe Leidy, Jeff 
Lemons OLe), Jeff Lewis, Ritch Lilly, Patty & 
Steve Livingston, Bill Lotz, Sarah Lucas, Mer- 
rill Lynch, Larry Lynch, Dwayne Martin, 
Melissa Martin, Brady Mattsson (BMa), Bob 
Maxwell, Mary McDavit (MMc), Ross McGre- 
gor, Max Medley (MMe), Darlene Moore 
(DMo), Neal Moore, Lauren Morgens, Charlie 
Muise, Mike Nelson, Bill & Karla O’Grady, 
Brian Patteson, Inc. (BPI), Jack Peachey, Tay- 
lor Piephoff, Will Post, Clive Rainey, Tim 
Rose, Tom Sanders, Georgann Schmalz, Paul 
Serridge (PSe), Marcus B. Simpson, Jr. (MBS), 
Lois Stacey, Paul Super, Wayne Schaffner, Jeff 
Sewell, Connie Shertz, Wayne Skelton (WSk), 
Regi Sonnen, Curtis Smalling (CSm), Yvonne 
Stimson, Tom Striker, Paul W. Sykes, Jr. 
(PWS), Deanna Taylor, Eugenia Thompson, 
David Trently (DTr), Mike Turner, Linda & 
Skip Ward, Marilyn Westphaul, Gene Wilkin- 
son, Sheila Willis, Brad Winn, David & Mar- 
cia Wright, Susse Wright (SWr), Lee Yoder. © 
Ken Blankenship, 3774 Tulip Tree Road 
Marietta, Georgia 30066, (kenhblankenship@comcast.net) 
Florida I 
DryToftvgasNPm 
Bruce H. Anderson 
Andy Bankert 
W ith near-normal rainfall amounts 
and temperatures, the summer 
weather was unremarkable. The 
absence of tropical weather systems, as well 
as widespread policing of colonies, resulted 
in increased success rates of coastal beach- 
nesting species such as Snowy Plovers and 
Least Terns. Two species and one subspecies 
were verified breeding in the state for the first 
time, and another species not previously 
known to breed in Florida was suspected of 
nesting, as was a very casual breeder. During 
the late spring and early summer, singing 
Horned Larks were located in the panhan- 
dle’s Jackson County, where breeding has 
been suspected but not yet verified. At St. 
Marks National Wildlife Refuge, 
Wakulla County, in the big bend, 
the state’s first nesting of south- 
western Cave Swallows was re- 
portedly documented. In central 
Florida, Dickcissels lingered at 
Lake Apopka Restoration Area, 
Orange County, where they were 
verified breeding in two years 
since 1999 but not this season. 
At Dania Beach, Palm Beach 
County, breeding was verified for 
the first time for Bronzed Cow- 
bird, and at Everglades National 
Park, Miami-Dade County, a pair 
of breeding Western Spindalis 
was not only a first for Florida 
but for the continental United 
States as well. 
For at least 12 years. Purple Swamphens 
have been breeding in Florida; the Florida 
Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission 
attempted to exterminate this Asian exotic 
from Florida but recently announced that as 
of March 2009 it has no future plans to con- 
tinue that project (fide Bill Pranty). It is likely 
that within the next three years, this species 
will be the next established exotic to be added 
to the official Florida list. 
Abbreviations/definitions: big bend (Apala- 
chicola R. e. to Jefferson); L. Apopka (L. Apop- 
ka Restoration Area, Orange unless otherwise 
stated); panhandle (Apalachicola R. west to 
Escambia); Paynes Prairie (Paynes Prairie Pre- 
serve S.P., Alachua); record (only those reports 
verifiable from photograph, videotape, or 
specimen evidence); report (any observation); 
S.T.A. (Stormwater Treatment Area). 
WATERFOWL THROUGH HAWKS 
Unusual were 2 Fulvous Whistling-Ducks n. 
at Paynes Prairie 3-6 Jun (Lloyd Davis et al.). 
Late ducks included: single Blue-winged Teal 
at Roosevelt Wetlands, Pinellas 1 Jun (RoS), 
L. Apopka through 14 Jun (HR), and Ft. Wal- 
ton Beach Spray Fields, Okaloosa 28 Jul (Don 
Ware); a Ring-necked Duck at Lake City, Co- 
lumbia through 2 Jun; and single Lesser Scaup 
at Holiday, Pasco through 16 Jun (DG), Palm 
Harbor, Pinellas 19 Jun (RoS, DG), and Viera, 
Brevard throughout the season (DF). Surf has 
been the usual scoter to remain in Florida in 
summer, and this season was no exception. 
Up to 14 were at Bald Point S.P., Eranklin 
throughout the summer MF); 3 were at 
Cedar Key, Levy 19 Jun (DH); and singles lin- 
gered at Ormond Beach, Volusia through 12 
Jun (MBr, Jim Swarr) and Eagle Crest Lake, 
Pinellas through 8 Jun (Greg Brecht, RoS et 
al.). A single Black Scoter joined the Surfs at 
Bald Point S.P. 15 Jun (MF). Only occasional 
in summer, 3 male Ruddy Ducks were at 
S.T.A.-5, Hendry 11 Jul (KW et al). 
Five Common Loons at Deer Lake S.P., 
Walton 20 Jul (DaS) were early. Fourteen 
American Flamingos at S.T.A. -2, Palm Beach 
24-27 Jun {fide Mike Baranski) and one at 
S.T.A. -5 on 11 Jul (Margaret England) were of 
unknown provenance, while 2 at Snake Bight, 
Everglades N.P, Monroe 19 Jul were likely 
wild (BRo). Rare in the Gulf, a Sooty Shear- 
water was found moribund off Palm Harbor 
12 Jun (fide Scott Patterson); an Audubon’s 
Shearwater was seen from shore off Walton 30 
Jul (DaS); and duos of Wilson’s and Leach's 
Storm-Petrels were photographed off Clear- 
water Beach, Pinellas 6 & 30 Jun, respectively 
(SC). The only Band-rumped Storm-Petrel re- 
VOLUME 63 (2009) - NUMBER 4 
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