13th Annual Sanibel Lighthouse Hawk Watch

The Sanibel Lighthouse Hawk Watch with Vince McGrath has been an anticipated event for a number of years prior to leaving the state of Florida for what you might not believe a move of mine to the great white north.

The Osprey above (image 1) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

As crazy as it may sound I have become acclimated to observing birds again in a northern clime where I would have to travel many miles in Florida to see these species, if at all.

The Northern Rough-winged Swallow above (image 2) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

The American Kestrel above (image 3) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

Vince's Hawk Watch was a few days later this year than last with weather conditions that appeared favorable for observations. The wind was from the northeast as I recall with it ideally from the northwest to funnel the raptors over Sanibel.

The Sharp-shinned Hawk above (image 4) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

The Sharp-shinned Hawk above (image 5) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

A Merlin was an early raptor seen during the 16 Oct 2016 Hawk Watch. It was much too quick for me to photograph as it flew from the west and over San Carlos Bay. Swallows were present as well throughout the morning, but did not appear to outnumber those seen last year.

The juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker above (image 6) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

The American Kestrel above (image 7) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

While the 2016 Hawk Watch was in conflict with the Ding Darling Nation Wildlife Refuge's annual Ding Darling Days, there was still good participation at the hawk event where I met with friends and acquaintances for hopefully not the last time.

The American Kestrel above (image 8) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

The dog above (image 9) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

A highlight for most at the Lighthouse was the observation of an immature Red-headed Woodpecker. Vince noted this species' presence on nearby Cape Coral with it a very rare sighting on Sanibel.

The Peregrine Falcon above (image 10) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

The Peregrine Falcon above (image 11) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

The appearance of a Sharp-shinned Hawk, with the male of the species typically the smallest hawk seen in the United States, was the highlight for me while observing and photographing the species for the first time.

The Cliff Swallow above (image 12) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

The Chimney Swift above (image 13) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

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The Gopher Tortoise above (image 14) was photographed at the Sanibel Island Lighthouse in October 2016.

August Avian Migrants At The EAA: Part II

After a very rewarding stop at one of Florida's Everglades Agricultural Area flooded fields on the west side of U.S. Highway 27, Tom Obrock and I continued our travel south toward the King Ranch sod fields.

The American White Pelican above (image 1) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.

A good view of several bird species was possible at a much closer range than that seen earlier in the day after an overshoot of the ranch as we went as far south as the towers.

The Green Heron above (image 2) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.

The Black-necked Stilt above (image 3) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 4) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 5) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 6) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.

Our arrival at King Ranch offered a similar impression I have had on my previous visits to this venue. I was challenged greatly to get even a diagnostic shot of the wildlife.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 7) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above (image 8) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.

The Black-necked Stilt above (image 9) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (U.S. Highway 27) in August 2015.

The Gull-billed Tern above (image 10) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.

The Gull-billed Tern above (image 11) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.

After a brief stop at King Ranch we continued on toward Brown's Farm Road. More flooded fields south of County Road 880 about halfway toward Six Mile Bend from Belle Glade were enticing to investigate along the way.

The Cliff Swallow above (image 12) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.

The Black Tern above (image 13) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.

The Stilt Sandpiper above (image 14) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.

The Black Tern above (image 15) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.

The Black Tern above (image 16) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (County Road 880) in August 2015.

It was in this area southeast of Belle Glade that I was sure we would see at least one Wilson's Phalarope. With the absence of the bird, Tom noted that Vince McGrath would have put us onto the phalarope, among others.

The Semipalmated Sandpiper above (image 17) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Common Nighthawk above (image 18) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The primarily Glossy Ibis above (image 19) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 20) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The mixed shorebirds above (image 21) were photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

Our final stop of the day along Brown's Farm Road was particularly rewarding with thousands of birds in an area more than a square mile divided by accommodating intersecting roads.

The Boat-tailed Grackle above (image 22) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Pectoral Sandpiper above (image 23) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Green Heron above (image 24) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Boat-tailed Grackle above (image 25) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Short-billed Dowitcher above (image 26) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

Although the venues along Brown's Farm Road are typically the furthest visited on this trip, I would favor arrival to them at sunrise with perhaps more birds to see that otherwise will have moved on in the late morning hours.

The American Avocet above (image 27) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The American Avocet above (image 28) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The American Avocet above (image 29) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The 4 August EAA trip this year was a little early for Upland Sandpiper which Tom advised me was reported on 16 August.

The Solitary Sandpiper above (image 30) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

The Wood Stork above (image 31) was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area (Brown's Farm Road) in August 2015.

Please also see August Avian Migrants At The EAA: Part I
Please also see Cooper's Hawk vs. Swallow-tailed Kite

Harns Marsh Late Summer 2013: Part II

Fourteen more pics are included here from my 28 August visit to Harns Marsh Preserve with the majority of the remaining images from the 1 September trip, and the last five images from the brief visit to Harns on 2 September.

The Osprey above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

Limpkin is a signature species at Harns Marsh Preserve. It was most visible during the middle visit to Harns while I missed an extraordinary series of photographs of a pair of Limpkin (with most images out of focus) that were involved in what appeared a territorial dispute.

The Barn Swallow above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

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

The Green Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

The Cliff Swallow above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

The Cliff Swallow above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

There were fewer birds seen overall during my 1 September trip to Harns, but with equal action. My arrival at that time was again pre-sunrise with observations made until 0920 unfortunately leaving the Preserve nearly two hours earlier than I normally would on a wildlife observation trip like this.

The Osprey above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

The Green Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

The Green Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

The Green Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

The Green Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

I was foremost interested in observing the Crested Caracara again. They did not disappoint as they caught my attention with their flight at 0724, with observation of the three birds on 28 August at 0742.

The Cliff Swallow above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

The Sandhill Crane above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

The juvenile Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2013.

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

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

It was my pleasure to meet up with wildlife blogger Hemant Kishan before sunrise on 2 September with the prospect of seeing the caracara which I considered predictable after their previous sightings.

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

On the walk to the area I thought best suited to observe the caracara after their liftoff, Hemant was paying more attention to the path ahead of us advising me of the snake directly before me. I researched the identity of the species at Florida Backyard Snakes to find that we observed a Red Rat Snake, also known as a Corn Snake.

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Common Ground Dove above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Crested Caracara appeared at 0733 headed nearly directly at us from the ESE. Two of the three birds previously observed made a flyby of us at a greater distance than I had hoped, but were in favorable light.

The Common Ground Dove above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Killdeer above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Killdeer above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Red-winged Blackbird above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Red-winged Blackbird above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

What seemed like an eternity had passed as I pondered why the third caracara was not seen. I began to comment to Hemant my concern for the bird and attempt to provide a possible explanation for its absence. At that instant, the third caracara appeared headed our way.

The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Purple Martin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Barn Swallow above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The third caracara was making a track that would, with Hemant's and my efforts to photograph the bird, take it silhouetted by the bright light of the rising sun. It was a thrill, however, to see all three birds again.

The Green Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Green Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Caspian Tern above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Belted Kingfisher above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

With a little time left before we met our obligations in the day, Hemant and I headed south on Sunshine Boulevard to attempt to find the male Snail Kite that was seen earlier in the morning as reported by a fellow observer at Harns. While the male was missed, a female was observed perched on a wire.

The Belted Kingfisher above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Roseate Skimmer above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Mottled Duck above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The Red Rat Snake or Corn Snake above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

The sunrise above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in September 2013.

I was intrigued with the habitat around the intersection of Highway 82 (Immokalee Road) and Sunshine not previously explored which would seem to offer very good observation opportunity during migration. Look for Snail Kites here year-round for sure.

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

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

Tom Obrock will be reporting his observation of Bobolink making their migration through Harns Marsh Preserve with the bird's semi-annual arrival soon.

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

Please see: Harns Marsh Late Summer 2013 Article I