Keith Laakkonen, Environmental Sciences Coordinator for the town of Fort Myers Beach, reported in mid-December 2013 that a Common Eider had been released from Sanibel Island's Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife.
The Common Loon above was photographed at Causeway Islands Park - Island B in December 2013.
Word quickly spread that the eider was lingering at Causeway Islands Park in Lee County. My first opportunity to attempt to observe the bird was the morning of 19 December. With the camera battery charged I was on my way. Driving through Island A I was keenly on the lookout for the bird. Not seeing it, I continued to Island B where the bird was first reported as I recall.
The Common Loon above was photographed at Causeway Islands Park - Island B in December 2013.
The Common Loon above was photographed at Causeway Islands Park - Island B in December 2013.
The Common Loon above was photographed at Causeway Islands Park - Island B in December 2013.
The Common Loon above was photographed at Causeway Islands Park - Island B in December 2013.
The Common Loon above was photographed at Causeway Islands Park - Island B in December 2013.
The Common Loon above was photographed at Causeway Islands Park - Island B in December 2013.
The Snowy Egret above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Snowy Egret above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
Looking toward the east and the rising sun, a reflection on the water's surface created a silhouette of what I was certain to be the eider. I parked the car and entered the water in an attempt to get between the sun and the bird. The water felt extremely cold which it was. The waves were a little higher than I would have liked as well which jostled the bird in the swells obscuring it from view occasionally.
The White Ibis above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Great Egret above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Great Egret above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The immature Bald Eagle above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The immature Bald Eagle above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
When I was closer to the bird and had better light I was able to determine that I was observing a Common Loon. I have observed the loon along the Sanibel Causeway at this time of year with a near guarantee of them to be seen. A personal observation of Common Loon was never as exciting as it was
here. After spending some time with the loon, I made my way back to the mainland without observing the Common Eider.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
It was my hope to find the eider on another visit to the
Causeway Islands Park. The following morning I was able to return to the park, but had no luck in finding the eider let alone another loon. I had passed a large flock of wading birds at the Great Calusa Blueway Marker 50 adjacent to the tollbooth en route to Sanibel Island, so I returned there to observe and photograph them so as not to completely waste the morning.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Turkey Vulture above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Brown Pelican above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Brown Pelican above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
I found most of the waders to be juveniles which were very skittish of my presence even though I gave them a very wide berth. Two highlights here were an Osprey that was chased by an immature Bald Eagle, and a short while later an Osprey that brought in a Blowfish from the bay. The Osprey gave up on its quarry as a pair of Turkey Vultures, a Black Vulture and several Ring-billed Gulls showed interest.
The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Brown Pelican above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Brown Pelican above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Blowfish above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Brown Pelican above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
Apparently once they all knew what type of fish it was, the Blowfish was allowed to live to see another day as the tide rose over it. As all the birds left my immediate area I returned to the car. It was there that I caught sight of an unfamiliar species virtually exactly where I had been. I return to the water in an attempt to capture its image to determine it to be a Black Scoter. This was my first sighting of the species making it the best highlight of observations at the marker.
The Brown Pelican above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Great Calusa Blueway marker above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Black Scoter above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Black Scoter above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Common Eider above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Common Eider above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Common Eider above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Common Eider above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
I was pleased to add this species to my list of species photographed now approaching half those that may be observed in Florida. Back home, in the late afternoon, I read a report from
France Paulsen advising of her observation of the Common Eider. My bud,
Tom Obrock was already there in search of the rarity. Tom advised me of the precise location of the bird, and I arrived with about five minutes of direct sunlight left in the day. I photographed the eider as long as was possible beyond that.
The Common Eider above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Common Eider above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Common Eider above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Common Eider above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Common Eider above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Common Eider above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
The Common Eider above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
It was very exciting for me to add two lifers in one day.
The Common Eider above was photographed near the Sanibel Island toll booth in December 2013.
I'm glad that you were able to find the Eider - what a sight, hey? Your photos are just beauuuutiful, I enjoy drooling over them. It is my hope to become almost as good when i grow up :)
ReplyDeleteGreat finds Bob! Terrific detail in the images; looking forward to your next installment!
ReplyDeleteHello Bob, Great pictures. The Common Loon pictures are very beautiful. In Stellendam in the Netherlands I saw a Arctic Loon and this bird came very close for a good picture. See my Blog http://benvandenbroek.blogspot.nl/
ReplyDeleteGreetings Ben
Your photographs are beautiful and amazing. Can I ask what kind of camera that you use?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kate, and all.
DeleteI am currently using the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV camera body. Additionally, I am using the Canon EF 600mm 1:4 L IS USM lens, with use of an Induro AT413 tripod. All are providing an adequate degree of satisfaction with my wildlife observations.
Bob
Your photographs are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteGreetings Maria