The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.This is not a reason to forgo a rewarding visit to this remarkable venue in Fort Myers, Florida. Naturalist Vince McGrath advised me that this water source for wildlife at the intersection of Six Mile Cypress Parkway and Metro Parkway is called Six Mile Lake by local birding enthusiasts. Vince noted a decline in the shorebirds he has seen at the lake in recent years due to motorized vehicles mud bogging. I have been attempting to advise Artie that he would find great rewards here though he doesn't appear convinced as yet. The opportunity for him to visit would be at the time of his annual President's Week Instructional Photo Tour sometime in February when the water level would certainly be much higher in the lake. Florida's dry season ends officially on May 31, so the parched conditions at the lake are becoming extremely noticeable giving it greater characteristics of a marsh at this time. This man-made venue is a magnet for wildlife and was noted by Gail Campbell as a good candidate for acquisition by Lee County's Conservation 20/20 program. This property is currently zoned for commercial use. I also met up with Bob Blanchard here this week who has otherwise been volunteering his time conducting photo workshops for Audubon fans. Bob advised me that he has been visiting (t)his venue for five years, with the lake known early on as Bob's Mud Hole. Early in the week Bob was hosting Melissa Groo and Cheryl Arena Molennor. It was my good fortune on my second visit to the lake this week to meet Melissa visiting from Ithica, New York. Bob and Melissa were photographing the wildlife with Fort Myers local Mary Goetzinger. Tampa area resident and Birdphotographers.net Florida Regional Moderator Marina Scarr was on hand as well. The wildlife observed at this venue thus far during my fourth through sixth visits (lacking a camera battery on the third) has allowed a stunning wildlife experience that I would only expect to be had in Florida. A glimpse of what I thought was a juvenile American White Pelican at one point turned out to be a mature bird covered in mud. Bob pointed out to me that the pelican was injured. The pelican's fate appeared grim with its consumption in the mud by vultures. The pelican was captured at sunset by a very brave soul risking a mortal injury by the bird herself who brought the pelican with an unquestionably severely broken wing to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel Island. With the bird thought to have been struck by a car and its condition unrecoverable, I was advised by Mary late in the week that the bird was put down. As with any wildlife observation we should be aware that nothing should be expected while everything is rewarded.
The American White Pelican above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Greater Yellowlegs above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-necked Stilt above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Glossy Ibis above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-necked Stilt above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Wood Stork above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-necked Stilt above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-necked Stilt with Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-necked Stilt above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-necked Stilt with Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-necked Stilt with Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-necked Stilt with Common Moorhen above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Blue-winged Teal above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Greater Yellowlegs above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Blue-winged Teal above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Blue-winged Teal above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-necked Stilt above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-necked Stilt with Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-necked Stilt above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-necked Stilt above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
Gail Campbell above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Killdeer above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Killdeer above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The White Ibis above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Glossy Ibis above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Mottled Duck above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Great Egret above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
The Black-crowned Night-Heron above was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.
Cheryl Arena Molennor, Bob Blanchard and Melissa Groo above were photographed at Six Mile Cypress Lake in May 2012.I had visited this venue with its name unknown on a pair of occasions which I mentioned in previous posts . . .
Feature: Six Mile Cypress Lake Article I
Feature: Six Mile Cypress Lake Article II
You are reading Six Mile Cypress Lake Article III.
Another nice post,Bob! you had some fantastic company there, you didn't need Artie.
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