Harns Marsh Preserve: Late Fall Part I

Visits to Harns Marsh Preserve on the 11th, 12th and 17th of November 2013 offered an abundance of birds and action which will require a multi-part series to present to you.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

Wildlife images in Part I of this article are from 11 November 2013. My pre-dawn arrival to Harns Marsh preserve this day was actually a scouting trip to determine whether it would be worthwhile for Chris Baker to make a trip here while visiting from England.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

Part II of this article will conclude highlights from 11 my November visit to Harns Marsh. Part III will place emphasis on what was observed on my 12 November visit to the preserve when meeting up with Chris, Rachael, and Paul Baker, as well as note observations made at the venue on 17 November.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

On all of these visits to Harns Marsh Preserve I would meet wildlife enthusiast Ron Bishop who is certainly making extensive observations at the marsh in his recent retirement. Ron would advise of the precise location of an American Bittern on the 12th that offered the most extraordinary view I have had of the species. Thanks again, Ron.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

Back to the observations at hand, the action on the morning of the 11th was extremely thrilling. While walking north from the parking area, the silhouette of a bird was unusual, catching my eye, and stopping me in my tracts.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

I was stunned when looking through the camera's viewfinder to see a banded male Everglades Snail Kite perched not too far off shore. This may be the same bird that I observed a few years ago at Harns Marsh, but unfortunately don't have the time to research my past photos of the other banded kite to make a comparison.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

I made an email request of Bird Patrol coordinator Gayle Sheets inquiring of an organization she might know of to report banded Snail Kites. My hope was to learn of another agency other than the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

While Gayle responded to me almost immediately as she always does (even when traveling overseas), she forwarded my request to Charlie Ewell who as of this writing has not replied offering another agency that accepts reports of banded kites.

The immature Bald Eagle above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The immature Bald Eagle above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The immature Bald Eagle above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Pied-billed Grebe above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

In my approach of the Snail Kite as close as I dared, which was approximately 120 feet to observe and capture images, the bird of prey was docile for only a short while before it flew from its perch to snatch a meal from the water below it. The shell size did not seem to indicate Apple Snail.

The Pied-billed Grebe above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara with Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The kite's feeding behavior was observed on one more occasion before it was spooked by a Bald Eagle, and flew out of range. In my further study of the Snail Kite I learned that the invasive Apple Snails the kite sometimes feed on will be caught as the snails rise to the water's surface to breathe.

The Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara with Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara with Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara with Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

It was rewarding as well to finally see a Crested Caracara on the trees directly west of the parking area where I had suspected the species had been roosting overnight the last few months. Hemant Kishan and I had observed the northwestern movement of the birds near sunrise earlier in the Fall.

The Crested Caracara with Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara with Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara with Black Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

Although only one Crested Caracara was observed, it would be the bird that would steal the show this day. The caracara seemed intent on having the Cypress stand all to itself as it displaced every Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture in sight.

The Crested Caracara with Black Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara with Black Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

After the caracara had the trees to itself, it inexplicably took flight. It was almost immediately noted to be in chase of a juvenile Northern Harrier that appeared to get too close to the caracara. While in awe, the action unfolded swiftly with the behavior fun to photograph.

The Crested Caracara with Peregrine Falcon above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara with juvenile Northern Harrier above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara with juvenile Northern Harrier above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Crested Caracara with juvenile Northern Harrier above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

It wasn't but a mere moment or less before the tables were turned on the caracara to have the harrier in pursuit of its attacker. This was remarkable behavior to observe and consider myself very fortunate to have been at the right place at the right time.

The juvenile Northern Harrier with Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The juvenile Northern Harrier with Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The juvenile Northern Harrier with Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The juvenile Northern Harrier with Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The Northern Harrier would take control of the skies very briefly before it was driven away by an agitated Boat-tailed Grackle. A few passes of Tree Swallow were observed at about this time which were considered a distraction.

The juvenile Northern Harrier with Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The juvenile Northern Harrier with Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The juvenile Northern Harrier with Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The juvenile Northern Harrier with Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

If you refer back to the initial images presented in this article you may see the tremendous difference a little sunlight can make. While I don't dislike the subdued images, the more colorful ones are certainly preferred.

The juvenile Northern Harrier with Crested Caracara above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The juvenile Northern Harrier above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The juvenile Northern Harrier with Boat-tailed Grackle above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

Harns Marsh Preserve has often been described to me as difficult to find. Please see the map link provided for this wildlife venue and others in the right sidebar of the blog. Remember as well the value of a pre-sunrise arrival at the marsh.

The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The presence of an adult and immature Bald Eagle were of course of great interest to me. They were very active to say the least.

The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


Please see: Harns Marsh Preserve Late Fall: Article II
Please see: Harns Marsh Preserve Late Fall: Article III