The Chase!

I was in a Las Vegas taxi heading for the big PMA photo trade show when I got the call. "Jeff are you home?... I'm on my way to Key West and I'll pick you up on the way by..." A mega-rarity had been identified in Fort Zachary Taylor Park in Key West, the first documented record of a Loggerhead Kingbird in the US! Later that day two individuals stopped me on the show floor, "Did you hear what you're missing in Florida?" One even showed me the image that had been posted.

US first Loggerhead Kingbird! digiscoped by Austin Bouton, Key West, FL 3/11/07

I was scheduled to catch a red-eye out of Vegas at 1 AM that night (or the following morning depending on your point of view) which would get me back home near mid-day Friday. Saturday morning I had to head 3 hours in the opposite direction for an all day optics event near Orlando. I arrived home late Saturday. I had a long time think about the distant flycatcher in Key West as I drove home. It would require 13 hours of travel to get to the western most point in the Florida Keys and back unless I flew or took a boat. It sounded like a lot of time and effort. None-the-less I checked for interest when I got home Saturday night. When my 8 year-old son stated plainly, "Dad , this is a once and a lifetime chance... we HAVE to go see this bird!", the decision had been made!

female Chuck-will's-widow, digiscoped through Leica spotting scope 3/11/07

An Eastern Screech-Owl called in the backyard as I packed the car Sunday morning. A good start to the day even if I was already an hour behind and had been robbed of precious sleep due to daylight savings time. We were soon racing across the Everglades on Alligator Alley as the first rays of light showed. In the dimly lit dawn, Ospreys and Cormorants sat silhouetted on dead snags lining the road. We saw our first Chuck-will's-widows shooting low over the highway as they moved from hammock to hammock (the female above was digiscoped at Fort Zachary Taylor later that day). As the light increased Herons, Egrets, and Ibis (oh my) began to fly from roost to feeding grounds in loose flocks.

It seemed we reached the keys in no time. Unfortunately, the first 2/3rds of the distance we 'd covered represented less than half of our drive time en route. Even under the best traffic conditions, covering the last 100 miles to Key West would take a minimum of 3 hours! Fortunately it was a beautiful day and we were able to bird and enjoy the scenic keys as we drove: Magnificent Frigatebirds, "Great White" Herons, Reddish Egrets, Black-hooded Parakeets, and White-crowned Pigeons were some of the many highlights.

distant immature light morph Short-tailed Hawk, hunts over Fort Zach 3/11/07

About an hour out from Key West, I started feeling a bit apprehensive and decided it was time to call the pros for an update. As suspected professional Miami area bird guide, Larry Manfredi, was there already. "Yeah it's here" he assured, "I probably won't still be here when you arrive... Mark's here though!" Less than 20 minutes out I called Key West bird guide, Mark Hedden. "We're searching the hammock for other migrants right now... There is a Short-tailed Hawk hunting over the hammock..." I shuttered as I envisioned this deft bird-eater swooping down and snatching my would be prize moments before my arrival!..... (think happy thoughts, happy thoughts!)

US 1st Loggerhead Kingbird, digiscoped Key West, FL 3/11/07 Jeff Bouton

After the longest 15 minutes of my life we finally reached Fort Zachary Taylor Park at the western most point of Key West. I drove to the far end of the hammock and parked where Larry had seen the bird earlier in the AM. It was a bit past noon and as hot as blazes. Many other birders had come and gone, and there were now two immature Short-tailed Hawks hanging above the parking lot (one light, one dark). I called Mark as I set up my scope eyeing the hawks carefully.

"...haven't seen it in about 1/2 an hour... looking at a Black-whiskered Vireo right now... try walking the ridge trail back towards the hammock..." Another couple walked by and mentioned they hadn't seen it in about 20 minutes either. Once again a nightmarish scenario flashed through my head! I shook it off and headed for the ridge trail.

We'd walked the ridge trail only 20 feet, when the large, gray-backed flycatcher flashed across the trail in front of us perching 30 feet away! Nothing like tapping in to the home court advantage that the local pros can offer. Thanks guys!

We spent two and a half hours soaking up the Kingbird, enjoying the history of the fort, the sculptures, and other migrants including Black-whiskered Vireo before reluctantly heading back to the car for the return trip. Anxious anticipation had carried us here, sheer elation would get us back home!