On the heals of an unsuccessful July 2014 chase for the Siberian
Red-necked Stint near Key West, it was with equal excitement to hear of another Florida rarity in the Red-necked Phalarope observed at Siesta Key Beach.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
Brian Ahern has expressed his belief that this is the first Red-necked Phalarope documented in Sarasota County. An interesting event following Vince McGrath's first discovery of a Red-necked Phalarope for Lee County at
Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2010.
The Black Skimmer with juvenile above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The scene above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Western Sandpiper above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
Rick Greenspun was the first to identify the
RNPH at Siesta Key 10 September 2014 creating the buzz of activity exciting many including myself. With my ability to travel four days later I made the very much welcomed return trip to this
Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail venue.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
This was my second visit to Siesta Key Beach after a 64 month absence.
Tom Obrock provided an address for the location of the Red-necked Phalarope which allowed for a pre-sunrise arrival at the tidal pool which I would observe for nearly five hours.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Great Egret above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Snowy Plover above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Snowy Plover above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The raucous call of gulls was my first impression this day.
Reinhard Geisler from Seminole County was the first to identify the Red-necked Phalarope among many expert birders that would arrive to take a gander of the specialty. The phalarope on first sighting appeared unexpectedly small to me.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
Before I had my first view of the phalarope I was compelled to photograph anything that moved. At the outset, the low light conditions required a higher ISO setting placed at 1600 which is negatively evident in some of the images presented here.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Great Egret above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Willet above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Royal Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Sanderling above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
Well, there was a lot of movement and thus a lot of pictures were taken. Nearly 800 of them before my first documentation of the phalarope. There was a constant breeze from the south the entire visit which aside from offering comfort also positively influenced the flight of the birds.
The immature Snowy Egret above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Willet above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
After the Red-necked Phalarope entered the tidal pool it wasn't long before I got my feet wet doing the same.
The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
The unidentified birders above were photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2014.
Please also see
Red-necked Phalarope At Siesta Key: Part II
A fascinating tale of a twitch for a very cool bird, Bob. I have only Wilson's Phalarope on my life list and hope to better that over time.
ReplyDeleteIt was certainly fun to see this "lifer," Hemant. It was difficult to stay focused on the study the phalarope's behavior with all the other ave action around the pool. I noted that this RNPH did not have the penchant to spin like a Wilson's.
ReplyDelete