Razorbills Flock To Florida In Late 2012 Part II

After a very rewarding observation of Razorbill at Blind Pass on 20 December 2012, it was a treat to travel back to Sanibel Island to meet up with Hemant Kishan visiting from Michigan, with hopes of observing the species again on Christmas Day.

The White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in December 2012.

A plan was made to be at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge at dawn and then travel to the Sanibel Lighthouse adjacent to San Carlos Bay for a greater likelihood of observing the Razorbill. After passing through the Sanibel Causeway toll plaza I observed a lone Razorbill on the north side of the Causeway at Punta Rassa a few minutes before sunrise. There were very few birds seen along the Causeway otherwise which I considered unusual. Hemant had arrived at the Refuge before me and was parked at one of my favored stops along Wildlife Drive. The tide was still receding in the estuary and bird numbers were relatively low compared to what I have seen in the not too distant past.

The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in December 2012.

The White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in December 2012.

The White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in December 2012.

The White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in December 2012.

The White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in December 2012.

The White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in December 2012.

The White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in December 2012.

The Belted Kingfisher above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in December 2012.

The Ring-billed Gull with White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in December 2012.

The Razorbill above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Razorbill above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

Lone species of bird made flybys including a personally first seen Cooper's Hawk in the Refuge, certainly getting its fill of doves, in advance of the observation tower. At Hemant's suggestion to head to the Lighthouse, I was in a hurry to move on with White Pelicans beginning to fly onto the scene. We arrived at the Lighthouse before 0900 and were fortunate to see a Razorbill immediately off the Pier upon approach. The bird was not cooperative for photography after I entered the water for an eye to eye view of it. This may have been the same bird I had seen earlier in the morning as another Razorbill was not seen thereafter this day.

The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The banded Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The banded Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Peregrine Falcon above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Peregrine Falcon above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Peregrine Falcon above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Peregrine Falcon above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Peregrine Falcon above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Peregrine Falcon above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

Of the two Razorbill I was extremely fortunate to observe, it was very interesting to note that they were quite distinct in their behavior. The Razorbill at Blind Pass was mainly observed on the surface of the water diving for extended periods on an infrequent basis. The Razorbill at the Sanibel Pier preferred to do more diving and only gave me a few brief glimpses of it before it disappeared from view. Other interesting highlights of observation at the Pier this day included a Common Loon, two flocks of Red-breasted Merganser drifting in the bay northward, and a Peregrine Falcon looking for breakfast among the Sandwich Terns that were not very abundant this day.

The Peregrine Falcon above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Peregrine Falcon above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Royal Tern above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

Hemant Kishan above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Red-breasted Merganser above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Red-breasted Merganser above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Common Loon above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Common Loon above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The scene above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Tree Swallow above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The scene above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

There were perhaps 300 or more Tree Swallow that made there way over the bay eastward in a well dispersed fashion that gave me a chance to take a picture of one successfully. The loons were more abundant on the north side of the Causeway with more Red-breasted Mergansers in San Carlos Bay as I continued observations. It is my hope to see more Razorbills during this unprecedented event or further into the future which will offer interesting behavior of the entertaining species.

The Red-breasted Merganser above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Royal Tern above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse Pier in December 2012.

The Common Loon above was photographed at Sanibel Causeway in December 2012.

The Common Loon above was photographed at Sanibel Causeway in December 2012.

The Common Loon above was photographed at Sanibel Causeway in December 2012.

The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Sanibel Causeway in December 2012.

The Common Loon above was photographed at Sanibel Causeway in December 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Sanibel Causeway in December 2012.

The Spotted Sandpiper above was photographed at Sanibel Causeway in December 2012.

The Spotted Sandpiper above was photographed at Sanibel Causeway in December 2012.

The Common Loon above was photographed at Sanibel Causeway in December 2012.

Please see Razorbills Flock To Florida In Late 2012: Part I.