Feature: Fort De Soto Park - Part I

I first visited Fort De Soto Park in the mid 1980's when living in Tampa at the time.

The Willet above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

I didn't have the slightest interest in wildlife observation then, but I recall the Laughing Gull as a species seen.

Fort De Soto Park is comprised of five interconnected islands south of Tierra Verde, Florida.

The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

It is ripe with a multitude of activities that can be engaged in including sun bathing, swimming, shelling, boating, paddling, camping, bicycling, fishing, also offering self guided tours of the historical fort (closed for rehabilitation on this trip).

Fort De Soto was inhabited by Tocobaga Indians at the time of Spanish exploration of the area in the early 1500's.

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

My three day trip to the park granted by my immediate supervisor, Mark Tvaroha, would initially offer the Laughing Gull as the most abundant species seen in the park.

Mark is always entertaining to talk to with the wealth of experience he's had "in the woods."

The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

He most recently spoke of his inability to get lost in them even while once attempting to do so.

While I had planned to arrive at Fort De Soto at dawn, I chose to get a good night's rest instead of the two hours I would have otherwise had.

The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

My first stop was the East Beach Turnaround where I was able to observe sandpipers, plovers, egrets, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, a few Brown Pelican, and terns including a pair of Least Tern seen for the first time this season while hearing them on April 11 in Fort Myers.

This is the first season I feel comfortable identifying the sandpipers in particular which were very difficult for me to distinguish in the infancy of my observation of birds a few years ago.

The fisherman above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

As I've observed many times before, a bird with a fresh catch will often flaunt its quarry in the presence of other species which has consequences that are often extremely interesting to watch.

A gull that had flown in with a fish may have been the same one that was offering the catch as a gesture for the right to mate less than ten minutes later.

The Short-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

Fellow visitors with their dogs put a damper on the ability to observe wildlife further at the East Beach turnaround.

I made a stop at the administrative building and spoke briefly with Mr. Dan to get permission to enter the Primitive Camping Area the next morning.

The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

Mr. Dan told me of the changes to the park due to tidal activity and storms over the years.

He also pointed out the stuffed Roseate Spoonbill that regrettably met its end by getting hit by a car.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

I continued on to North Beach and luckily found a parking space adjacent to the northernmost lagoon.

The Cypress trees there offered no evidence of the anticipated migrant bird species, but I did immediately notice a pair of Mourning Doves seemingly taking refuge from the heavy foot traffic within the park.

The Mourning Dove above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

Red-winged Blackbirds were extremely prolific throughout the park in my initial observations as well.

As I waded my way through the lagoon, I observed four Mallard Ducks flying to the south showing the last evidence of breeding colors in the adult male.

The Red-winged Blackbird above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

The gulls were in great numbers here as well with many of them engaging in their reproductive rituals.

They would be very aggressive toward the half dozen feeding White Ibis as sunset approached.

The Mallard above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

I was compelled to explore this area thoroughly as I had not visited it before.

My approach was to stay close to the mangrove lined edge of the lagoon in hopes of seeing or at least hearing new species of bird not observed before.

The Short-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

A Magnificent Frigatebird was seen at its predictably high altitude.

At the northwest end of the lagoon I saw man-made evidence of the breeding season with a nest protected by stakes and tape.

The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

This protected area seemed to at the time benefit Wilson's Plover with a pair of them seen adjacent to it.

The plovers were seen very briefly before I started wading back through the lagoon.

The scene above above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

A few photographers were seen in the distance to the east observing a pair of American Oystercatcher.

Black Skimmers appeared much later at the lagoon and made their trademark flyby while skimming the water as they headed in the direction of the gulf.

The Wilson's Plover above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

Most other commonly seen wading and shore birds were observed at least briefly in and around the lagoon.

Although it wasn't planned, it was my great fortune to have a late day low tide that allowed me to observe the wildlife from within the north lagoon as birds were attracted to the ideal feeding conditions.

The scene above above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

As I was photographing the birds as low to the water's surface as was comfortable while remaining mobile, the crabs often found me and nipped at my legs causing occasional distractions.

There were numerous passers by whom often wielded cameras that would document their wildlife sightings.

The scene above above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

While the light of the day seemed to be rapidly diminishing, I made my way to my next vantage point which was just north of the Gulf Pier.

I was immediately captivated by a photographer in really good late day light though looking into it.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

My study of her and her subject lasted for a half dozen images with a favorite created among them in all the photographs that I've ever taken.

In the next seconds I would take an image of a couple when the man approached me to mention his disdain and that I should have asked his permission to photograph him.

The scene above above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

He would introduce himself as Lee Hawkins and questioned me if I knew the name Ansel Adams while his wife Deb was capturing a video of the sunset.

The charitable endeavors of the Hawkins' were discussed briefly though certainly a major accomplishment for them.

The scene above above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

Lee and Deb told me of one of their friends photographing scenery and wildlife in Alaska at the time of the 9-11 terrorist event and I immediately thought of my friend Tim Rucci whom was there at the time as well.

The full moon rising was quite impressive to observe after the sunset minutes before.

The sunset above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2011.

Feature: Fort De Soto Park Part II
Feature: Fort De Soto Park Part III