For the past few years, Joe Swingle and I have led a field trip for “beginners” at Brevard County’s lovely Enchanted Forest Sanctuary, where Joe is a naturalist. This year we led two. Bill Thompson from Bird Watcher’s Digest came along on one to help. Between field trips, I went back to Merritt Island briefly, where I saw the male hummer who’s been visiting the feeders at the visitor center.

New birds, bringing my total to 167:

1. Eastern Screech-Owl (I heard it make the whinny call twice. Archimedes has been calling lately, and my missing him is probably why my ears picked it out.)
2. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
3. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
4. Orange-crowned Warbler

Led a field trip to the Moore Cultural Center. People there are interested in making the grounds into a welcoming bit of habitat. After the field trip and a bit of lunch, I went to Merritt Island, to the Visitor Center, along the Wildlife Drive, and to the Scrub-Jay area. Brought my total to 163 with these new species:

1. Eurasian Wigeon
2. American Wigeon
3. Northern Pintail
4. American Avocet
5. Greater Yellowlegs
6. Lesser Yellowlegs