There were a number of highlights in the visits to surf and turf wildlife venues this past week.
The Rock Dove above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2010.I made a trip to Harns Marsh Preserve where the experience was, well, extraordinary as best I would describe it.
My hope was to observe and photograph the Snail Kite foremost.
The Rock Dove above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2010.My first view of a floating snail shell in the water seemed so enticing for a predator of it, yet remained untouched in my observation.
Ultimately, a shot of the Snail Kite was not taken as the species wasn't accommodating as in the past, but it was observed into the rising sun behind me.
The Rock Dove above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2010.As I waited for the kites the enter the scene, I was given an auditory thrill with an overflight of a large number of birds that I didn't see coming.
Virtually every wading or shore bird that I typically observe makes no detectable noise in flight unless it's really close.
The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2010.What was most astounding beyond hearing the unusual was the large numbers of the birds seen in the flock.
I wasn't able to determine that the birds were doves until they, with my great fortune, made another pass.
The Spotted Sandpiper above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2010.And then I wasn't able to determine that they were Rock Doves until I looked at their images after uploading them to the computer.
After doing so, I reflected on my contact with
Gayle Schmidt last year whom I advised of my sighting of the Rock Dove which was added to the bird list for Harns Marsh Preserve.
The Spotted Sandpiper above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2010.With a photograph of the entire flock in the frame, it revealed 122 birds after three counts, with a white, black, and variations of the species in the group.
Nearly minutes after this event, I had the great fortune to meet
Bob Blanchard, a talented wildlife photographer, who advised me of his recent sighting of a Bald Eagle at Harns Marsh.
The Sanderling above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.The Bald Eagle, America's national bird, made its way from the Cypress canopy early in the morning not too long after Bob moved on to conduct his business.
I believe that I read once that George Washington wanted the Wild Turkey to be the national bird, but that's another story.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.The eagle circled overhead for several passes while continually gaining altitude, and then disappeared from view toward the northeast.
The
Bald Eagle is a rare site within the wildlife venues I frequent in the area, though has been photographed at several favorite places which I recommend you visit when possible.
The Osprey juvenile above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.The wildlife action at Harns Marsh was also particularly exciting as a rarely seen Spotted Sandpiper made a few close flybys at the weir.
With little other action happening at Harns Marsh aside from the rare sightings of Belted Kingfisher and Pileated Woodpecker at this venue, I moved on to visit Bunche Beach Preserve later in the day.
The Whimbrel above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.Upon my arrival at Bunche Beach Preserve, I was surprised to see a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron skulking at the picnic benches at the end of John Morris Road and the bay which is an uncommon sight.
I can't recall if I've seen the species so easily accessible at Bunche Beach before, though the heron is much more likely to be seen in more secluded areas of the preserve.
The Reddish Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.My experience at Bunche Beach is that the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is most often seen to the east from the parking area (in the morning) while the Black-crowned Night-Heron is seen to the west (in the evening).
During this week's visit to Bunche Beach, I was rewarded with great views of shore and wading birds including recent migrant arrivals with the light for photography ideal as the waning sun was approaching the horizon.
The Snowy Egret with juvenile above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.A remarkable observation experienced was a territorial dispute between Marbled Godwit and Long-billed Curlew where the godwit was seen to have dominance.
I couldn't help but be entertained by the successful feeding behavior of a solitary Reddish Egret which made quick work of its prey.
The Marbled Godwit with Long-billed Curlew above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.I also observed a bird which I think might possibly be a juvenile Würdemann's Heron (intermediate morph of Great Blue Heron) as indicated by the gray on the neck of the bird.
As the sun set, I attempted to photograph for the most part unsuccessfully, many common species of bird as they made their way back from the gulf to the flats further inland.
The Reddish Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.The news of the containment of significant oil seeping into the Gulf of Mexico is welcome with no evidence of oil anywhere in the area.
With a remarkably clear summer sky in the late afternoon and early evening I'm making final edits to this post with it extremely difficult not to make a beeline to the beach for further observations.
The Reddish Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.I very much regret the unlikely event, due to time constraints, of coincidentally meeting up with wildlife photographer,
Frank Constantin, visiting from Canada this week, as I have a couple of times in the past since first meeting him at Estero Lagoon.
Always be prepared for the unexpected and have great enjoyment of your observations of wildlife in southwest Florida and elsewhere.
The Great Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.
