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Hello birders - On Saturday we made made a trip to the Gulf Stream approx 40 miles east of Ponce Inlet. There was not a good edge or weedline to work, and fish were scattered, and no birds anywhere. At about noon we had trolled east into the stream in 220' of water, in an area known as the Steeples, deep water peaks that create upwellings at the surface. In this area there were many flying fish, mostly small 3-4" "grasshoppers". Here we caught our best dolphin (mahi-mahi) of the day (about 30 lbs) but the real treat was an adult RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD, a new state bird for me. I have seen White-tailed Tropicbirds fairly regularly in the Gulf Stream, and this bird appeared larger, heavier and more deliberate in its flight than the rapid wingbeats and direct, straight-line flight of the White-tailed. It had adult plumage but no tail streamers. The black primary markings and the gray striation on the back were clearly visible, and we watched the bird feed for probably 10 minutes as it tracked near the boat. The only other birds seen all day were 2 Bridled Terns. Though fishing was good with consistent action most of the day, it was surprising we saw no other terns, storm petrels or shearwaters. Bob Wallace Alachua _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com ________________________________________________________________ FloridaBirds-L website: http://www.javaswift.com/floridabirds/ For list policy: http://www.javaswift.com/floridabirds/policy.html For archives: http://www.lists.ufl.edu/archives/floridabirds-l.html To set nomail: Mailto:[log in to unmask] Set floridabirds-l nomail Listowner: Click on: Mailto:[log in to unmask]