North Florida Winter Trip: Part I

With what was certainly a tremendous amount of effort, bud Tom Obrock created an itinerary for our annual North Florida birding trip that was almost as much fun to read as making the trip itself.

The Laughing Gull above (image 1) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

Tom and I met as scheduled at 5:30am to head north from Fort Myers on 1 February. Tom had recommended that we make seven stops on the first day of travel. The arrival at Hernando County's Bystre Lake, our first stop, was delayed by several hours due to a flat tire. A very brief visit at this beautiful venue unfortunately did not afford any photo-ops.

The scene above (image 2) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Osprey above (image 3) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Common Loon above (image 4) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The scene above (image 5) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

Our next stop was Bayport Park north of Tampa where the diminutive Weeki Wachee River spills into the Gulf of Mexico. Virtually all the birds seen at this venue were distant enough to require binoculars to get great views of them save a small number of Ring-billed Gulls that pursued one of their own with a fish. The action was too quick and close to photograph, but I tried.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 6) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Laughing Gull above (image 7) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Red-breasted Merganser above (image 8) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Ruddy Turnstone above (image 9) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The walk under the magnificent oak trees laden with Spanish Moss at Tuscawilla Preserve was a reminder of the deep old south. This venue looked ridiculously dry while considering the abundant rainfall which is attributed to the 2015 El Niño weather event. There was a lot of poison ivy seen here.

The Horned Grebe above (image 10) was photographed at Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Eastern Bluebird above (image 11) was photographed near Bayport Park in February 2016.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler above (image 12) was photographed at Tuscawilla Preserve in February 2016.

The American Goldfinch above (image 13) was photographed at Tuscawilla Preserve in February 2016.

In advance of a storm approaching the southeast, a first visit was made at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Gainesville, Florida. This magnificent place was previously known as the Paynes Prairie Sheet Flow Restoration Project. Tom and I explored a very small footprint of what can be seen along the 3.5 miles of boardwalk and trails available at this jewel.

The Blue-winged Teal above (image 14) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Sora above (image 15) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Wilson's Snipe above (image 16) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Limpkin with prey above (image 17) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

With daylight waning, we made our way toward the University of Florida where a potential life bird for the both of us had been seen reliably at Dauer Hall. It seemed we might miss this species similar to Chimney Swift as it didn't appear at the time when last reported.

The Blue-winged Teal above (image 18) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 19) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 20) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 21) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

My photos of the Vaux's Swifts at and after sunset were captured at double my normal maximum ISO setting of 1600 with a shutter speed of 1/200. It was remarkable nonetheless observing the Vaux's Swift enter the chimneys of the residence hall where they would roost overnight. It was a great end to the day while missing only two stops. No photo pun intended.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 22) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 23) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The American Coot above (image 24) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

The Common Gallinule above (image 25) was photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in February 2016.

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The Tufted Titmouse above (image 26) was photographed at the University of Florida (Dauer Hall) in February 2016.

The Vaux's Swift above (image 26) was photographed at the University of Florida (Dauer Hall) in February 2016.

Please also see North Florida Winter Trip: Part II

December Florida Panhandle Birding: Part II

Not sure of the time of day, Tom Obrock and I left the yurt at Torreya State Park for St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with the sky gloomy on the 8th day of December.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 1) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

It would remain heavily overcast virtually all day with occasional drizzle, but we made the best of it with our observations. Our first stop was the Visitor Center at St. Marks where I hoped to see Wood Ducks. Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and American Alligator were the only subjects present.

The American Alligator above (image 2) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 3) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 4) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Coot above (image 5) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Lesser Scaup above (image 6) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Lesser Scaup above (image 7) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Avocet above (image 8) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Northern Shoveler above (image 9) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

We made several stops on our way to the St. Marks lighthouse, Florida's second largest light. I made my first observation of American Wigeon on this day. Also ticked off as a lifer was a Nelson's Sparrow seen briefly along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline.

The Bufflehead above (image 10) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Great Blue Heron above (image 11) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Northern Mockingbird above (image 12) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Common Gallinule above (image 13) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Ring-necked Duck above (image 14) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Lesser Scaup above (image 15) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Bald Eagle above (image 16) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Redhead above (image 17) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

It is difficult to pick a favorite observation point along Lighthouse Drive. If I were forced to choose one it would be the beach at the lighthouse. The next favorite between the Lighthouse Pool and Headquarters Pond.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 18) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Great Egret above (image 19) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Pied-billed Grebe above (image 20) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Redhead above (image 21) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Northern Harrier above (image 22) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) above (image 23) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) above (image 24) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Wigeon above (image 25) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, encompassing 68,000 acres, is a birders paradise. You are strongly encouraged to read David Sibley's article about St. Marks at Bird Watching Daily. Although the article itself is getting dated, its content is not.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 26) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The St. Marks Lighthouse above (image 27) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Nelson's Sparrow above (image 28) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Nelson's Sparrow above (image 29) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 30) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Bufflehead with Ring-necked Duck above (image 31) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 32) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Northern Shoveler above (image 33) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

I learned in my research for this article that the Fresnel lens used in the St. Marks Lighthouse has been removed for cleaning under supervision of the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association. It was interesting to read that no keeper of the light documented any cleaning of the lens.

The American Coot above (image 34) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Ring-necked Duck above (image 35) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Wigeon with American Coot above (image 36) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Redhead with American Coot above (image 37) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Lesser Scaup above (image 38) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Horned Grebe above (image 39) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Bufflehead above (image 40) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Willet above (image 41) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

While Tom opted to take a walk along the dikes at Stone Bayou, I stayed at the entrance to especially enjoy observation of Wilson's Snipe and Red-breasted Merganser in flight. With the light fading we made our way back to Torreya State Park.

The Royal Tern above (image 42) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Ruddy Turnstone above (image 43) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Common Loon above (image 44) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Dunlin above (image 45) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 46) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The American Avocet above (image 47) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Red-breasted Merganser above (image 48) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Red-breasted Merganser above (image 49) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

St. Marks NWR is among my favorite Florida wildlife venues. It is unfortunate that it is so far away from home allowing only annual visits.

The Wilson's Snipe above (image 50) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Red-breasted Merganser above (image 51) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 52) was photographed at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in December 2014.

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