Obsessive Compulsive Birding, LLC

13/01/2025

Had the pleasure of guided Jeff Smith from Maryland on a repeat visit on 12/28/24. He was last here in 2022. We visited Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area for great looks at the Vermilion Flycatcher and Tropical Kingbird. Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary for the Florida Scrub-Jay. Northwest Haulover Road for an American Flamingo. Merritt Island NWR Visitors Center for a Painted Bunting. Last stop was Black Point Wildlife Drive where we saw 34 species. Unfortunately only 1 photo a Reddish Egret right at the entrance to BPWD among many colonial wading birds species..

13/01/2025

Had the pleasure of guiding Frank & Amy Connolly from Michigan to various spots around Brevard County, FL.on 12/12/24. We visited TM Goodwin WMA looking for the Large-billed Tern that David Simpson refound. But was not refound this day. We did however get good looks at a Ruff in the Broadmoor Unit. Circled in blue in upper left of photo. Photo courtesy of David Simpson.

08/12/2024

Had the pleasure of guiding Max Stafford (L) and Jake Toohey (R) with Emergent Productions out of California today 12/7/24. They are visiting several Florida sites featuring wildlife for Visit Florida. It is a production utilizing still and video photography for Visit Florida to promote the nature aspect around Florida. First place we visited was the Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary, in Rockledge, for the beautiful Florida Scrub-Jay. Max and Jake with new friends. Then off the Merritt Island NWR in Titusville. We drove Black Point Wildlife Drive and Max and Jake were really excited at the amount of birds on the drive. Several stops we had mega wading birds with Snowy Egret the most abundant. I estimated around 50. Many White and Glossy Ibis as well as Great Egrets. They were also treated to several Reddish Egrets doing their running around actively foraging and a squadron of 14 American White Pelicans flying over.

06/12/2024

Had the pleasure of guiding Ann Larson from Colorado for the 2nd time in 2024 on 11/24/24. We visited Three Lakes WMA in Osceola Cty, FL and was able to get her Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pine Warbler and Limpkin for life birds (photos courtesy of Ann Larson). Visited Parrish Park in Titusville, FL . and photographed this very cooperative female Bufflehead right up near the sea wall (photographed by Jim Eager)

08/10/2024

Had the pleasure of guiding David Bernstein from New Jersey October 5-6, 2024. He gave me a list of 6 life birds: Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman's Sparrow, Short-tailed Hawk, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Florida Scrub-Jay and Snail Kite. We were able to nab 4 of them. He got Snail Kite on his own and we missed Short-tailed Hawk by a few minutes. We visited a few Osceola County sites and the same in Brevard County as well as Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. Pictured is David with a newly acquired friend.

01/08/2024

This is just hilarious!!!

06/03/2024

Had the pleasure of guiding Gerry & Eileen Manley from PA. We birded MINWR and were able to see 54 species. Not sure how many were life birds for them but I know there were several.

17/02/2024

On 2/16/24 Audrey Whitlock and I decided to try a Brevard County, FL Big Day. We knew we would not break the record which is in the 150s. We started the morning at 0600 with an Eastern Screech-Owl and then we were off. Picked up Red-cockaded Woodpecker (pictured), Bachman's Sparrow, Brown-headed Nuthatch and Pine Warbler at St Sebastian River Preserve SP. Drove across the road to Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area and picked up the rarities Vermilion Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird as well as Limpkin, Roseate Spoonbill and Snail Kite and some of the common birds. Dipped on Hairy Woodpecker at Micco Scrub and heard 2 White-winged Doves call in a nearby subdivision. Picked a rare winter visitor Scissor-tailed Flycatcher that was a long scope view down into private property. Headed to a neighborhood in Melbourne for 2 Western Kingbirds. Stopped by Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary for Florida Scrub-Jay and Brown Thrasher. Off to Jetty Park in Port Canaveral for the Purple Sandpiper but dipped. On our way to Merritt Island NWR we stopped by a small park in Titusville for Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks. Had 49 species on Black Point Wildlife Drive. Various duck species (drake Northern Pintail pictured), most of all the colonial wading birds and 11 species of shorebirds. We ended Black Point with a good looking Merlin (pictured) along the exit road. Off to NW Haulover Road for the 4 American Flamingos. We ended the day with a Barred Owl, at 7:00pm, in a park on N Merritt Island. We ended up with 107 species. Audrey predicted 100 species and me 75 species. 14 eBird checklists were submitted. Big misses were no Tree Swallows, Eastern Bluebird, Sandhill Crane and Green Heron. With almost a flyby seat of our pants trip we didn't go for Painted Bunting.

11/02/2024

I was interviewed about the American Flamingos that are currently at NW Haulover Canal kayak launch site at Merritt Island NWR by Orlando Fox 35 on Tuesday February 6, 2024. I have included the link to the interview.

A rare bird is now calling the Space Coast home.

10/02/2024

Had the pleasure of guiding Marian Sole from New York February 9, 2024. She had 4 target species and we were successful in seeing all 4 of them. They were Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch at Three Lakes WMA Hunter Campground, Snail Kite at Lake Jackson and a singing Bachman's Sparrow at the Prairie Lakes Unit of Three Lakes WMA. Drove down Joe Overstreet Rd to the Landing. Saw Red-headed Woodpecker (pictured) and along the way we counted, by ones, many Sandhill Cranes. My good friend David Goodwin and I have a high count of 250 cranes while leading the various trips for the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival over the years. Marian and I shattered that record with 388 yesterday. At the Landing we got a great look at a male Snail Kite (pictured) and Limpkin (pictured). Headed back east and went to Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area/Stick Marsh Recreation Area. We were successful in locating and photographing the Tropical Kingbird and the Vermilion Flycatcher.

10/02/2024

Had the pleasure of guiding Wayne Pierantoni, from Michigan, on February 8, 2024. He had a list of 8 target species. We were able to see 7 species. Also saw this opossum that just stood there frozen at St Sebastian River Preserve SP in Brevard County, FL. Then the opossum laid down. I said to Wayne I wonder if it is sick. He said maybe it's playing possum. Got my daily chuckle with that comment as I hadn't thought about the possum comment. We saw Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Brown-headed Nuthatch. I saw 2 Bachman's Sparrows but Wayne only got a fleeting glimpse so not well enough for his life bird. We also visited Turkey Creek Sanctuary for the reported Short-tailed Hawk but dipped. Then went to the Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary in Rockledge for the Florida Scrub-Jay. See Wayne's new found friend. Then to Woodlake Pond, in Cocoa, for Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and Egyptian Goose. Headed off to Merritt Island NWR for Painted Bunting but dipped and finished the trip with the American Flamingos at NW Haulover Canal kayak launch.

03/02/2024

Head the pleasure of guiding Ephraim Rosen and his wife on 1/23/2024. We visited the 4 American flamingos at NW Haulover Road, MINWR Visitor Center for Painted Buntings and Black Point Wildlife Drive for wading birds and a small number of ducks. Also Vista #1 at Canaveral NS for Florida Scrub-Jays.

19/01/2024

Had the pleasure of guiding Brittany Luby from Canada 1/18/24. We visited Merritt Island NWR in Titusville, FL and Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary in Rockledge, FL. See individual photos for descriptions.

11/01/2024

Had the pleasure of guiding Frank & Kathy Guadagnini from California on 1/9/24. Had a very enjoyable day and I was able to show them quite a few life birds. First off we were able to relocate 3 American Flamingos on Bird Island off of Bair's Cove kayak launch.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S158504798

https://ebird.org/checklist/S158521142