Bayport, June Challenge Begins - June 1, 2016

Every June, some of the local Florida birders enter into a competition to find the most birds in a county (preferably your home county) during the month of June.  This is the second year I have participated and it is off to a great start!

Today I took the day off from work and birded Hernando county.  First stop was Bayport park at 7:00AM.  I was surprised to find two winter birds still here: Common Loon and 3 Horned Grebe in partial breeding plumage.  I heard a rail, which sounded to me like a king rail instead of the much more common clapper rail (neither of which I have seen in Florida yet).  Couldn't find him though!

Also found this huge stingray just swimming by.  If you look closely in front of the reeds, you can see two wing tips. There was a manatee here as well, but no good photos.

horned grebe (above) and common loon (below)