Obsessive Compulsive Birding, LLC

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

22/11/2023

Had the pleasure of guiding Lee and Juliann Truppi from New Jersey on Sunday 11/19/23. We visited Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island NWR in Titusville, FL. Also Canaveral NS for the Florida Scrub-Jay (saw 2) at Vista #1 on the beach road and a private residence for Painted Buntings (no show).
https://ebird.org/checklist/S154764133

https://ebird.org/checklist/S154770081

03/11/2023

Had the pleasure of guiding Dave Reid and his wife Marianne on 10/26/23 on a tour of Brevard County, FL. We started at South Beach Community Park for the 3rd Brevard County record of a Fork-tailed Flycatcher and a bonus Western Kingbird. Crested Caracara at Leroy Wright Park and Florida Scrub-Jay at Cruickshank Sanctuary. See individual photos for descriptions. Also birded Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island NWR in Titusville, FL.

30/06/2023

Had the pleasure of guiding Boomer Hensley from Alaska Thursday 6/29/23. We visited St Sebastian River Preserve SP and TM Goodwin WMA in Fellsmere, FL. We were able to get a few life birds for Boomer. The biggest sighting was the Code 5 mega-rarity Large-billed Tern. The bird was not located in its customary location on the north side of the Broadmoor Unit. Thanks to updates from Tim Towles, Guillar Mina and David Simpson we relocated the tern on the S end of the big parking lot (Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area) in the Stick Marsh. It was observed out by the fenced in Indian mound area maybe 1/2 mile out. We observed it diving but never entered the water. If the tern stays in this area birders can observe it any day of the week.

22/04/2023

Had the pleasure of guiding Eileen from Ohio this morning at Orlando Wetlands Park. With the addition of the new 2,200' boardwalk folks can get up close to the colonial wading bird breeding colony consisting of Roseate Spoonbills, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets and Wood Storks (pictured). The wintering ducks have hightailed back north to breed. Other photos: Adult Sandhill Crane, Purple Gallinule and Tricolored Heron with a snack.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S134469356

05/01/2023

Had the pleasure of guiding Todd Harvey from Alabama, yesterday. We hit the Osceola County, Florida areas visiting Three Lakes WMA Hunter's Campground, Prairie Lakes Unit and Lake Jackson. Also visited Lake Marian Marina, Lake Marian Boat Ramp, Joe Overstreet Road and Landing. Finished the day off relocating a Yellow-headed Blackbird on Cross Prairie Pkwy. On Joe Overstreet Road (S side of rd) we got scope looks at the Whooping Crane being reported although it was 1/4-1/3 of a mile off the road among a large flock of Sandhill Cranes. The heat shimmer was so bad that I was unable to estimate how many Sandhill Cranes there were out there. We ended the day with 75 species and Snail Kite (M&F) as a life bird for Todd.

20/09/2022

I had the pleasure of guiding Lynn Zechriedrich, from Texas, on 9/14/22. We visited Three Lakes WMA Hunter's Camp, Prairie Lakes Unit and Lake Jackson. Also, Lake Marian Boat Ramp and Joe Overstreet Road and Landing in Osceola County, Florida. See individual photos for description and locatio

28/03/2022

Had the pleasure of guiding Cheryl Siefert from Colorado yesterday. We started the day at St Sebastian River Preserve SP (SSRPSP). Able to score the trifecta of life birds for Cheryl. Red-cockaded Woodpecker (pictured), Bachman's Sparrows and Brown-headed Nuthatch. Also heard only Great Crested Flycatcher and Eastern Whip-poor-will (typical whip-poor-will, whip-poor-will) vocalization). Next stop was Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary in Rockledge where Cheryl found a new friend (pictured). Florida's only endemic bird the Florida Scrub-Jay. Stopped by Mrs Apple's Crab Shack, in Merritt Island, for the Black-headed Gull. Seen out in water and on channel markers so no photos. Then off to a private residence for Painted Bunting and Ruby-throated Hummingbird (pictured). Finally ended the day on Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island NWR. A delightful day with an equally delightful lady.

15/03/2022

Had the pleasure of guiding Yong Hahn from New York. We visited Three Lakes WMA (Hunter Campground, Prairie Lakes Unit & Lake Jackson). Joe Overstreet Road and Landing as well as Brownie Wise Pk in Osceola County, FL. See individual photos for descriptions.