Salt Meadow Birding

What is certainly notable in this post is that my intent to highlight Connecticut's Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge Salt Meadow Unit did not pan out as I had hoped.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 1) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

This presentation in part offers a chased after White-face Ibis from Hammonasset Beach State Park in April which was of course reported as a rare bird for its location and resulted in a life bird for me. This species can reliably be seen along the Texas Gulf Coast with it personally sought after unsuccessfully in the Florida Panhandle in past years. The WFIB lingered in the immediate area for weeks.

The White-faced Ibis above (image 2) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Brant above (image 3) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

Several birding trips were made to offer fodder for your reading interest. It was much fun watching the Brant in the heavy surf as seen in the image above. The tides at Hammonasset Beach State Park have been significantly different on all of my visits to this magnificent wildlife venue.

The Sanderling above (image 4) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 5) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 6) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Bobcat above (image 7) was photographed at Casa Almeida in April 2018.

The Bobcat above at a private residence in Killingworth was remarkable to see. Only outdone by a Red Fox that was observed carrying off an Eastern Gray Squirrel from the bird sanctuary.

The Golden-crowned Kinglet above (image 8) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Golden-crowned Kinglet above (image 9) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Northern Cardinal above (image 10) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Golden-crowned Kinglet above (image 11) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Golden-crowned Kinglet offered great photo opportunity and interest at Hammonasset Beach State Park. It slightly compares to the Golden-crowned Warbler reported in the American Birding Association blog as an extremely rare bird seen of late in Colorado, not to mention the ABA area itself.

The Chipping Sparrow above (image 12) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Red-breasted Merganser above (image 13) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Purple Martin above (image 14) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Osprey above (image 15) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Snowy Egret above (image 16) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Light at Falkner Island above (image 17) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Greater Scaup above (image 18) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Killdeer above (image 19) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Northern Harrier above (image 20) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Tree Swallow above (image 21) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet above (image 22) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

Bird species like Yellow-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglet among warblers are most likely seen at Hammonasset at their appropriate migration periods.

The Greater Yellowlegs above (image 23) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Surf Scoter above (image 24) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 25) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The American Black Duck above (image 26) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

There was enjoyable interest in a band on one of the American Black Duck that lingered at the park at the time of my April visit. I was able to determine that the band was translucent which makes it especially unusual.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 27) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in April 2018.

The Chipping Sparrow above (image 28) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The mainly scenic images offered from the Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit were made with my phone. Bird activity was much more abundant on my first visit to the refuge.

The Eastern Towhee above (image 29) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The scene above (image 30) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The scene above (image 31) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The scene above (image 32) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The scene above (image 33) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The trails at the Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit should not be missed. It was interesting to meet a hiker from Westbrook outside of the venue that noted Chatfield Hollow Sate Park as preferred hiking grounds while unaware the sweet place in her relative backyard.

The scene above (image 34) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The scene above (image 35) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The scene above (image 36) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

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The scene above (image 37) was photographed at Stewart B. McKinney NWR Salt Meadow Unit in April 2018.

The bonus image immediately below is of a Red-bellied Woodpecker that struck a window of the house on Christmas Eve. It was stunned, but survived.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker above (image 38) was photographed at Casa Almeida in December 2017.

December Florida Panhandle Birding: Part I

It had been 21 months before a return trip to the Florida Panhandle for wildlife observation with bud Tom Obrock in early December 2014.

The juvenile Red-tailed Hawk above (image 1) was photographed near Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

This latest journey allowed a bit more time to investigate the area. We left Fort Myers in time to arrive at our first destination to find that Florida Caverns State Park was in the Central Time Zone and was not to open for another hour.

The Vesper Sparrow above (image 2) was photographed near Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 3) was photographed near Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

Tom advised that we travel to look for Horned Lark observed in the area which we unfortunately missed. There were fortunately abundant sparrows and other species that captivated our attention. As always, I invite correction of any misidentified species.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 4) was photographed near Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler above (image 5) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

When we returned to our initial destination, it was fun to get familiar with the surroundings. It was impressive to see the "high water" marker of 1975 that showed the Chipola River about 15 feet above the river's elevation at the time of our visit.

The Winter Wren above (image 6) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

The Winter Wren above (image 7) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

On the south side of Fish Hatchery Road, Tom chose the west side of the river while I investigated the east. After what seemed a half hour I was certain that I was on the wrong side of the Chipola River.

The Hermit Thrush above (image 8) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

The Hermit Thrush above (image 9) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

Catching up with Tom on the west side, he was excited to point out observation of a target species. The Winter Wren seen was a lifer for us both. At this same spot, we observed other activity that included two more lifers for me which were Golden-crowned Kinglet and Hermit Thrush.

The Golden-crowned Kinglet above (image 10) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

The Golden-crowned Kinglet above (image 11) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

The light was challenging for photography at this location. Nonetheless an ideal spot to patiently wait for species moving through. I caught a glimpse of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, but it will remain uncounted on my list as I did not photograph it.

The Downy Woodpecker above (image 12) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

The Eastern Bluebird above (image 13) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

Tom and I made our way to the Blue Hole Spring at Florida Caverns State Park. It was a treat to photograph the birds that were very numerous and active here. I failed to see Tom's Pine Siskins and Chipping Sparrow at this gorgeous spot.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler above (image 14) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

The Cedar Waxwing above (image 15) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

Onward to Torreya State Park where we would stay and camp in relative luxury. It turned out to be a very long day but was very rewarding.

The Eastern Bluebird above (image 16) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler above (image 17) was photographed at Florida Caverns State Park in December 2014.

Please also see December Florida Panhandle Birding: Part II
Please also see December Florida Panhandle Birding: Part III