A fifth trip to Little Estero Lagoon was not a disappointment on Thursday.
The Bottlenose Dolphin above was photographed at Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area in December 2009.I arrived before sunrise with the tide reaching its low 30 minutes later when the water would continue to rise although not reach a peak all day. A single tide in a day is a rare occurrence.
The lagoon was absent of the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron for the first time in all my visits. The Belted Kingfisher, Mottled Duck and Killdeer were immediately observed, however.
The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area after getting bumped by a Bottlenose Dolphin in December 2009.I was compelled to make my way to the beach with no other action in the lagoon. I walked around the lagoon although I could have easily walked through it.
Initially, waves on the Gulf of Mexico were absent. I wouldn't encounter them with concern until later in the morning when I waded out in an attempt to get better light.
The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area in December 2009.Brown Pelicans made frequent passes by me from the north.
I met some interesting travelers as usual. One of them had told me of the observation of the Long-billed Curlew and Black-necked Stilt the day before. They were not seen on my most recent visit.
The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area in December 2009.I observed the Ruddy Turnstone consuming mollusc attached to vegetation along the shore line. Typically the behavior of the species would involve it merely flipping shells, sea grass, or small twigs on the beach. Setting up in position for the shots was a very risky endeavor.
The Sandwich and Forster's Terns were actively feeding all morning. I made a great effort to take images of them as they just broke the water's surface. They are much too small and fast for me to track effectively.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area in December 2009.I'm still struggling to do the same with the much larger Brown Pelican.
It was at this point that I waded about 30 feet into the Gulf to get the sun behind me. As the wind picked up a little, the swells were not predictable. I was compelled to lift the photo gear out of the water a couple of times to avoid damage to it.
The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area in December 2009.As I made my way further south along the beach, the numbers of birds and activity increased.
At one point I observed a large group of Pelicans at rest. What I thought was a call from one of them I've concluded to have been from a Double-crested Cormorant among them noted in a photograph of them later.
The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area in December 2009.I had immediately thought of the Limpkin or at least Harnes Marsh Preserve with the call seemingly appropriate for a jungle like environment.
Both the pelican and cormorant are considered to be silent outside of their nesting areas.
The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area in December 2009.The southern lagoon I found to be much too muddy to walk in after an initial attempt. I wasn't willing to lose my shoes in an effort to get a better perspective on an early Little Blue Heron juvenile.
The experience of the day was much more impressive than can be described here.
The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area in December 2009.A future trip to Little Estero Lagoon Critical Wildlife Area is assured.
