Enigmatic Eagles

The first months of the year and time when I was able in 2010 were significantly devoted to the study of Florida Burrowing Owls.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park in February 2011.

A late start for observation of Bald Eagles in 2011 I suspect will again be disruptive to observation of other bird species that I hope to photograph when possible.

I'm quite positive that the eagle nest I've been watching has only one Bald Eagle juvenile in it after about 20 hours of observation.

The Raccoon carcass above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.

Bald Eagles will typically produce a pair of young with as many as three while there were two observed in a nearby nest in the 2009 season south of Fort Myers Beach.

This year's offering is a disappointment that there is only one progeny in the nest, but certainly better than none.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.

I don't know how to explain all the expired mammals I've seen in my few visits around the nest this year.

They led to my research of the wildlife efforts of Charles Broley documented in The Wilson Bulletin.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.

In the late 1930's to mid 1940's there was banding of the Bald Eagle species in Florida with a record of their sightings through 1946.

What I found interesting was that the eagles were not thought to migrate at the time, but were later observed including as far as southwest of The Great Lakes in 1945 which was explained by unusual weather conditions at the time.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.

I've not encountered Bald Eagles as a very common sight in southwest Florida.

They have been reported to be very skittish when an attempted close observation of them is made.

The Bald Eagle juvenile above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.

The first of two observations near their nest this week offered an observation of one of the adults at guard as expected.

At an early point during the afternoon visit, one of the adult eagles flew into the nest.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.

A follow-up afternoon visit to the eagle nest offered a view of one of the adults again supervising the area.

After several hours passed without observation of the juvenile in the nest, I had become concerned.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.

While attempting to photograph a Gray Catbird which had not been seen in quite some time, the juvenile eagle caught my eye.

It was a relief as I was worried the nest was empty.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.

There had been what appeared to be too many Turkey Vultures in the area while at one point the adult eagle drove a circling vulture away from the area.

The juvenile Bald Eagle in the nest would remain for the most part well hidden dodging my efforts to get a decent shot of it.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.

The solitary adult eagle I observed near the nest disappeared from view on a couple of other occasions with my expectation that it would immediately return with food for the fledgling which it did not.

The tide was relatively high at the time and may have been the reason.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.

It was interesting to see a Red-shouldered Hawk perched much closer to the nest than I would have thought allowed.

Mourning Doves were again active in the area and were perched closer to the nest than observed before.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.

The juvenile Bald Eagle would again offer the observation that it has been well fed.

It was not until after sunset that the adult eagles returned into view while not offering the opportunity to photograph them in the nest.

The Bald Eagle juvenile above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in February 2011.

All appears well.

Random Thoughts III

What might be an unexpectedly alluring place to view wildlife is the Southwest Florida International Airport. Driving in and around this place, I have seen an abundance of bird activity.

The Osprey above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2009.

This is not meant to alarm anyone whom may be flying in or out of the airport.

This past week I observed a very photogenic Red-shouldered Hawk at rest on a dead pine tree. There were also a large number of Great Egrets which very reliably can be observed at the airport. There were also a pair of Black Vultures that were circling the taxi area near one of the terminals.

The Northern Cardinal above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2009.

In reviewing some photographs taken at Bunche Beach Preserve this past month, I was at a loss to to readily identify a black bird species which my pbase friend, Rodrigo Mendoza, has convinced me is a grackle. I'm not sure of what kind of grackle at this point.

I need to hit the books to study the grackle's characteristics, particularly with regard for the size of the bird which I can compare to a Roseate Spoonbill which it was immediately adjacent to. I failed to get a shot of the grackle in flight.

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2009.

It was thoroughly drenched which made the bird appear especially black with a very subtle brown. Even with close study of the photographs taken of the bird, I was not able to detect any irredescence.

I've given thought to an idea this past week which I would like you to anticipate with earnest.

The Snowy Plover above was photographed at Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area in October 2009.

It is my hope to randomly have a series of posts where I interview specialists in the field of earth sciences and also present to you individuals whom are passionate about the observation and documentation of wildlife.

I'm very optimistic of their cooperation.

Harns Marsh Preserve IV and V

It was a treat to make my fourth and fifth trips to Harns Marsh Preserve this past week.

The fisherman above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

On my fourth visit to the preserve, there seemed a relative absence of wildlife. I didn't see the handful of waders that I had been accustomed to seeing on previous visits. As I approached the weir, a Tricolored Heron made flight across the expanse of water to my right and then things became exhilarating as hoped.

With regret for not making much closer diligent observation, I inadvertently flushed a female Snail Kite from its perch in a pine tree as I walked under it. I can only imagine all the birding opportunities I've missed due to my inexperience and virtually all birds I've observed having the ability of being extremely well camouflaged.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

I had the Harns Hawk on my mind after speaking to my friend Suzanne on the way to the preserve. She told me the preserve was named after it. This bird must be known by another name as I did not find it in my Sibley Guide to Birds upon my return home.

In all, I made the walk nearly exactly as I had upon my first visit to the preserve three weeks ago.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

The Limpkin was not to be seen closely in the trees, but more closely on the ground as seems more typical for this species. Its calls were again distinctive, but did not carry across the marsh from any perspective I've experienced on preceding visits to the preserve.

On the way back to the weir, after observing the birds typically seen, I heard the call of a Limpkin relatively strongly from the north and a reply much closer to me from a stand of pines. It caused a Snail Kite within them to take flight and exit the area. I was never able to catch sight of the closer Limpkin as it was extremely well hidden.

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

My first sighting of the Pileated Woodpecker at the preserve was made on my fourth visit. I saw it upon my entry and was excited to still see it where I had left it upon my return from what I would describe as an ideal vantage point at the preserve where there is some welcome shade.

After a twenty minute observation of the woodpecker diligently attempt to find some insects under some tree bark, I watched it settle for the consumption of some berries high above the ground when it ultimately made its distinctive flight well out of range.

The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker was in the immediate company of the pileated. Also with the two woodpeckers in the cypress strand was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. I was not able to get a photograph of the latter, but very much enjoyed its call which is my favorite.

A female Snail Kite made a snatch of its quarry from the south marsh which I've observed on most of my visits to the preserve. This observation was preceded by photographing the male which was on the tree typically populated by vultures.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

The male kite was in somewhat good light for a shot when he was about to consume the snail, and then changed his perch. I moved on after light conditions were abysmal with the bird in the shade.

I had walked to the area I have seen the Glossy Ibis which I don't recall observing on my fourth trip to the preserve at all.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

Media Coordinator, for BirdPatrol.org, Gayle Schmidt, has confirmed my Rock Dove sighting on 8 September 2009 as the 120th bird species to be documented at the preserve. The pigeons had a great variety of plumage, which for me, made the sighting especially extraordinary.

On my last three visits to Harns Marsh Preserve, I've had the opportunity to photograph a duck flying low at me from the north, but haven't been able to react quickly enough to get the shot.

The Great Egret above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

My fifth visit to the preserve was very interesting as I observed the Red-shouldered Hawk consuming a Little Blue Heron. After I inadvertently caused the hawk to leave its quarry (with great effort on its part to take flight with the remains of the heron), I continued to observe the scene for about thirty minutes. The hawk didn't return to the massacre though stayed close enough for me to be aware of its presence and have regret for disturbing its meal.

The Turkey and Black Vultures apparently became aware of the carcass as they circled the area for quite a while before I chose to give the hawk some peace.

The Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

My visit to the preserve was not planned before getting there. I was content to hang around the area I'd become so familiar with, but chose, after getting the inspiration from a fisherman, to walk around the preserve's boundary.

As I was nearly out of earshot from him, he asked me if I was afraid of snakes. I could only reply that I believed the cottonmouth to be observed here. Since looking at Gayle's checklist for the preserve, I'm much more cautious when walking in the grass.

The Queen Butterfly above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

The trip around the preserve was much longer than I had anticipated and at one point I might be described as delirious as I'd swear that the horizon was in motion when I stopped to take a photograph.

It was a very rewarding experience nonetheless as I observed the Sandhill Crane for the first time. I regret that I flushed a pair while unaware of their presence and was only able to get a parting few shots of them.

The Mottled Duck above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

I also saw numerous Snail Kite and Limpkin, as well as the Mottled Duck fairly closely (which I believe to be the ducks I've seen flying toward me on previous visits to the preserve). The Great Egret was in abundance as well in the company of the Pied-billed Grebe that I hadn't seen in a long while.

I didn't see the Glossy Ibis again today, which was disappointing, but saw four Belted Kingfisher in the oaks and over the marsh to the north of the trail head.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

There are prolific smaller creatures here including butterflies which may suite your interest as well. The butterflies I've observed at the preserve thus far (late summer) have been quite worn showing significant damage to their wings.

Though I was very fortunate not to observe the fire ant on previous visits, today was not the case. While attempting to photograph a butterfly, I realized I was in trouble after a sting from one of the ants on my hand. I immediately looked down to see one of my tripod legs completely covered by the ants. I spent upwards of ten minutes removing them from the gear before I continued on.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

I hadn't experienced this pest as a nuisance near the trail head, but it will easily be found on your walk around the preserve. Be very careful to avoid these ants which are extremely aggressive.

Cooler weather will certainly bring an abundance of additional wildlife and more visitors to this magnificent place.

The Pileated Woodpecker above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2009.

A two to four hour walk should be expected to see Harns Marsh Preserve in its entirety.