Little Estero Lagoon North And South

Wildlife activity at Little Estero Lagoon was so interesting to me last week that I was compelled to return.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

These treks have been relatively unusual for me as I haven't made a diligent effort before now to see what might be happening at the critical wildlife area in the summer months.

Although I again observed the Least Tern in flight almost immediately having a very limited view of the beach, I chose to stay in the north lagoon itself adjacent to the Holiday Inn earlier in the week.

The wildlife photographer above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

My observations were therefore limited as to what might be happening at the shore line.

After my sighting of the terns in flight on the horizon, I had the opportunity to observe for a few moments the Tricolored Heron which can be counted on as a regular at the lagoon.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

I then focused my attention on a solitary Black Skimmer that made a few passes through the north lagoon.

It was a thrill to see the skimmer as I don't recall seeing it at this venue before while it was somewhat disappointing not to see it capture any fish which relentlessly pecked at me.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

The skimmer has otherwise been observed during virtually every visit I've made to Bunche Beach Preserve at any time of year, typically to the west from the parking area.

At the lagoon, a Willet flew in to stretch its wings as a Great Blue Heron walked by.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

I didn't see the white morph Great Blue Heron as I had a few days earlier although I wasn't in the exact same area it might have been again.

A pair of wading birds observed and often seen together when the Roseate Spoonbill is present included it and the Snowy Egret.

The Willet above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

My observations have me believe that the Snowy Egret is attracted to the foraging activity of the spoonbill which makes the egret's hunting for prey more successful.

A Reddish Egret shortly thereafter made its entrance to the lagoon and offered a great show in its feeding behavior through its magnificent dance.

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

Regrettably the light had waned to the point where my final shots were taken at 1/10th of a second which did not lend very well to an appealing image of it in action.

I need to remember to bring the flash under all circumstances which would certainly be useful in improving my photography.

The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

My second visit to Little Estero Lagoon this week had me favor a walk south from the Holiday Inn between the finger lagoon and Gulf of Mexico leading me nearly to Big Carlos Pass which separates Little Estero Island and Lovers Key State Park.

It was on this route that I spent much time observing while continuing my effort through photography to capture the feeding behavior of the Least Tern.

The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

The birds flew from their nesting area at me in waves of a half dozen or fewer and often flew out of sight to the north into the blinding sun on the horizon unless they captured a fish in front of me and immediately headed back to their mates and young.

A successful catch for the Least Tern after its hover and dive behavior I would place at one in three for an individual bird observed.

The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

Fisherman casting their bait along the beach were apparently only having luck with catfish at the time.

There were of course White Ibis with a pair of juveniles observed feeding in the surf.

The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

There was an exciting overflight of a Great Blue Heron which glided gracefully to the north.

At the Least Tern nesting area, the birds somewhat ignored me as the sun was about to set.

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

It was my hope to photograph the Least Tern juveniles in the last remaining sunlight of the day.

A couple of the juveniles observed took flight which indicates they are a few weeks old or more and upwards of eight weeks from inception.

The Least Tern juvenile above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

As I was looking through the viewfinder of the camera studying a juvenile, the Straightness of terns (as a group of terns is known), had a completely different atmosphere about it as the Least Tern's vocal calls changed dramatically.

I looked up to see dozens of the birds in flight over the nesting area while several were in close pursuit of a Black-crowned Night-Heron that was making a flyover from the south.

The Least Tern juvenile above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

The predatory heron left my view until I began the long walk back to the car.

A mere hundred yards up the beach, I observed that the Black-crowned Night-Heron had landed near a Great Blue Heron in the south lagoon as both species of heron were harassed by a persistent Least Tern.

The Black-crowned Night-Heron with Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

Though neither heron took flight, they did significantly flinch at each close dive bombing by the tern.

A little further on my walk I observed a trio of Roseate Spoonbill in the very last remaining light of the day.

The Black-crowned Night-Heron above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

Well published writer and photographer Ken Platt, in The Island Sand Paper (online subscription recommended), advised me this week that some wildlife observers apparently got too close to the spoonbills at the north lagoon while photographing them as he had not observed the birds for several days.

The more secluded area of the lagoon further to the south offers some bird species more than others a level of tranquility.

The Least Tern juvenile above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

A very favorable low tide of -0.4 was observed at Little Estero Lagoon on 10 June 2010.

The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron has been elusive during my recent visits to Little Estero Lagoon last observed here in cooler weather.

The sunset above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

Future returns to this very appealing wildlife venue are assured.

Surf And Turf

A look at a recent blog entry by bird enthusiast and insomniac, Tom Obrock, on his way to the Keys for sighting of another lifer, made note of his observations at Little Estero Lagoon this past week.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

Tom's report of fledglings of shorebirds seen led to my interest to document what might be happening at the Little Estero Critical Wildlife area this week.

Little Estero Lagoon is an unassuming beach venue that should not be overlooked when visiting the area.

The Great White Heron above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

I again took the longer walk around the lagoon to the beach from the Holiday Inn and was rewarded with the sighting of four Great White Herons with a Great Blue.

It was again good to see the the Snowy Egret and Willet that are regulars at the beach.

The Willet above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

While I encountered the Reddish Egret which seemed a great opportunity to observe in the waning light of the day, I chose to walk further south to see the shore birds that Tom had mentioned.

The Least Tern seemed to find me sooner than I did it and was pleased to see that this bunch was not as aggressive in its dive bombing behavior as I had experienced at Lovers Key State Park in 2008.

The Osprey above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

I was, however, strafed a couple of times and would be surprised if I hadn't been in continuing to learn the aggressive behavior of the species.

A lot of time was devoted in my attempt to get a shot of the terns striking a fish, but they are just too fast.

The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

If you'd like to test your skills at capturing birds in flight, the Least Tern is primarily seen in the months of May through July along the Gulf coast.

Numerous other shorebird favorites were observed before my walk back to the car where I was pleasantly surprised by the presence of a half dozen Roseate Spoonbills in the lagoon.

The Least Tern juvenile above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

My attempt to photograph the bird species I very rarely see was surely more fun than the results of shooting them under what at the time were very low light and slow shutter speed conditions.

I had astoundingly received a trespass warning after encroaching 15 feet onto the property of a highrise condo adjacent to the lagoon while attempting to photograph the spoonbills, so be sure to watch your step when you visit.

The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in June 2010.

Shortly after my experience with the agitated individual, I met Ken Platt who told me of his extraordinary observation of the recent launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis from 12 miles and also of his wife who composes locally appropriate music.

Earlier in the week I had stopped by Harns Marsh Preserve after a long absence.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in May 2010.

It was my hope to observe the Snail Kite and wasn't disappointed as both the male and female were seen almost immediately upon my arrival.

Harns Marsh is very reliable for the sighting of not only the kites, but Limpkin which are not readily seen at other surrounding venues around Fort Myers.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in May 2010.

It wasn't until close observation in looking at images on the computer that one of the Snail Kites was seen as having a band on each of its legs.

The Limkin was the first species observed as it was feeding along the water's edge immediately at the trail head and closer than I had seen it before.

The Limkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in May 2010.

The last of the fog was dissipating shortly after sunrise which was overshadowed by a plume of smoke coming from a fire pit that had evidently been used the night before.

I was able to extinguish the smoldering logs by filling an empty beer bottle found nearby with water from the marsh a dozen times or so.

The Limkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in May 2010.

The debris strewn along the shore of the marsh is definitely Harns Marsh Preserve's detraction.

Discounting the commercial and light aircraft that fly over the preserve with regularity, this is one of the most enjoyable venues to bird by ear I've found.

The alligator above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in May 2010.

The very distinctive calls of the Limpkin are always a treat which gives Harns Marsh a jungle appeal as I perceive it.

In addition to my most recent observations of the preserve's predictable residents, I was able to watch the interaction between a Little Blue Heron and a 1st spring LBH that at one point did a dance that I considered very unusual.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in May 2010.

The 1st spring Little Blue Heron, losing its white plumage, at one point gave great chase to the older heron in its more common slate blue color.

I also made a sighting of a six foot alligator in the marsh which I found quite alarming as I've waded in the water at this venue in the past, though never again.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in May 2010.

The alligator covered a lot of territory in my brief observation of it and at one point swam past the carcass of a Tricolored Heron still distinguishable in its plumage while others of its kind flew overhead.

One of the attractive characteristics of Harns Marsh is the abundance of insect life within it.

The Dragonflies on a Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in May 2010.

I devoted a little time and effort in an attempt to photograph dragonflies that at one point rested and mated on the carcass of the heron floating in the water.

Insect enthusiast, pbaser and resource for identifications, Brian Ahern, would certainly find interest in the observation.

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.