Florida Beach Bird Photography: Part I

Make no mistake about it, observation and photography of birds found in woodland habitats is greatly enjoyable and rewarding having devoted a lot of time to the pastime these past weeks during the Fall 2013 season.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

There is, however, greater personal enjoyment in making observation of shore and wading birds at the beaches in southwest Florida with virtually no concern of the time of year. The images presented in this article were photographed on 9 October 2013 at Bunche Beach Preserve in Lee County.

The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Short-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

I was in touch this past month with Mitchell Harris reporting from Brevard County who gave some great insight into pelagic birds he's seen near Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. His initial late summer 2013 report included "roughly" 700 Red-necked Phalarope among a handful of Pomarine Jaegers. Mitchell's observations were made at Canaveral National Seashore's Playalinda Beach. At this time, Mitchell's Seawatch images cannot be viewed readily. Snow Bunting has been reported at Playalinda Beach in November and December in recent years.

The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Snowy Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

Reports of boobies continue on the west coast of Florida with irregularity in 2013. My recent trip to Bunche Beach was made with the company of Frank Constantin. We each chose our observation points to document the wildlife. It was my great fortune on this day to capture a personal best image of all wildlife I've photographed these past six years.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Black Skimmer with juvenile above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

My favorite wildlife photograph thus far captured, which will not be included in my pbase favorite's gallery (poorly maintained), is the only image readily available for your personal enjoyment with printing and framing in mind. Contact me at swflorida.birder@gmail.com to discuss its details (please use "skimmer" in the subject line). No beach home or another should be without it.

The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

A repeated visit to your favorite wildlife venue could offer more than the expected. If taking photographs, be sure to attempt to improve upon your previous effort no matter the conditions and subjects.

The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Western Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

A request was made of me this week for an image of a Wilson's Plover chick, apparently on behalf of Margo Zdravkovic. Too bad her email address provided didn't work for potential international conservation interest of the species.

The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

I again filled the hard drive on the computer this past week and had to transfer older files to an external hard drive.

The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2013.

Please see: Florida Beach Bird Photography: Article II