I saw a Red-breasted Merganser at Fort De Soto Park this morning and two others at the Tierra Verde duck pond. Hopefully, they'll stick around so I can count one of them for the June Challenge. The one at right was photographed at Fred Howard Park this week by Tom Mast.And speaking of the June Challenge... It's less than two weeks away. A few of you have expressed interest in teaming up with another birder. That's fine. That's even encouraged, but remember if you're a member of a "team" than you won't be considered for the individual champion- ship. You're either part of a team or birding as an indivi- dual. Team members do not have to bird together the en- tire month, but the total number of species they see can be included together for their team total.What that could mean (and there is a rumor out there) is if Lee Swallowtail, last year's champion, decides to play team ball, he could not defend his 2012 individual championship. That opens the door for Bobby O'Link, the 2010 and 2011 champion and the always competitive Dick Cissel, who this year swears he's going to win it all.
A newcomer to this year's June Challenge is Pipin Plover, right, who will be teaming up with her grandmother, Anne Hinga, for this year's compe- tition. Their team name? The Wandering Tattlers.Anne says they chose the name because they could show up anywhere at anytime. Their bird dog is in the background.
