Celery Fields And A Mountain Bluebird

On 15 November Brian Ahern submitted observations to eBird tallying an astounding 63 species of birds at Celery Fields in Sarasota.

The Osprey above (image 1) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

Earlier in the week I had committed to a trip to this awesome venue with Tom Obrock on the 17th which we made. There were absolutely no regrets of doing so even as another mega rarity for Florida had been reported along the Tamiami Trail halfway between Naples and Miami.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 2) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Marsh Wren above (image 3) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Palm Warbler above (image 4) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 5) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Marsh Wren above (image 6) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Marsh Wren above (image 7) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Purple Gallinule above (image 8) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

Brian had made a full tour of the preserve with five miles of travel. Tom and I were less mobile though walked a rewarding section of the south cell. Brian's overcast conditions during his visit may have been the impetus for the significantly improved number of birds seen between the two tours.

The Green Heron above (image 9) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Purple Gallinule above (image 10) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 11) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 12) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 13) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Nanday Parakeet above (image 14) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 15) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

Well, the highlight of the day was certainly the observation of a Mountain Bluebird at the Oasis Visitor Center at Big Cypress National Preserve. The drive from Fort Myers to Celery Fields and back to the target bird and then home was ridiculously long, but worth it.

The Boat-tailed Grackle above (image 16) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Anhinga above (image 17) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Limpkin above (image 18) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Loggerhead Shrike above (image 19) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 20) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The White Peacock Butterfly above (image 21) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Limpkin above (image 22) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

There is a report that this was the third Florida record of a Mountain Bluebird observed in the state, but I am otherwise only aware of details from the December 2002 Everglades National Park sighting.

The Wood Stork above (image 23) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 24) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above (image 25) was photographed at Palmer Lake in November 2015.

The Forster's Tern above (image 26) was photographed at Palmer Lake in November 2015.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 27) was photographed at Palmer Lake in November 2015.

The Northern Mockingbird above (image 28) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The Mountain Bluebird with prey above (image 29) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The behavior of the Mountain Bluebird was observed to favor flying into the wind when attempting to catch its prey as was noted in a report of a Mountain Bluebird observed in New York years ago. At the Oasis Visitor Center the bluebird was also observed to be harassed by a Northern Mockingbird while the Mountain Bluebird disappeared at the onset of a brief rain shower.

The Mountain Bluebird above (image 30) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The Mountain Bluebird above (image 31) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The Mountain Bluebird above (image 32) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The Palm Warbler above (image 33) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The Mountain Bluebird above (image 34) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The Mountain Bluebird was present at Big Cypress National Preserve for at least ten days with the rarity last reported at eBird on 19 November.

The Mountain Bluebird above (image 35) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

Bald Eagles Reunite

A mere snapshot of time in observation of Bald Eagles that inhabit the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam (SWFEC) Site in North Fort Myers, Florida, has offered an extraordinary tale in the lives of four Bald Eagles.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) with Pileated Woodpecker above (image 1) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The latest observations took place from 6-10 October, 2015, with selected images presented here from sunrise visits at the nest site on those days. One of the eagles named Ozzie had passed away a week earlier with necropsy results still not released.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 2) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 3) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 4) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 5) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 6) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 7) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 8) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The European Starling above (image 9) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

Prior to the reappearance of Ozzie after an absence of six months, his longtime mate Harriet had taken interest in an eagle ultimately named M15 which appeared more than willing to be a surrogate father toward the end of the 2014-2015 nesting season.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 10) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 11) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 12) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 13) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 14) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Northern Mockingbird above (image 15) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Loggerhead Shrike with prey above (image 16) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 17) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

There were certainly some including myself that thought M15 had met his end with interaction with Ozzie. However, after a two week absence M15 made an unexpected reappearance on 8 October. The fourth eagle in this story was named Slim.

The juvenile Northern Harrier above (image 18) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 19) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 20) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 21) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 22) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 23) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 24) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 25) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

With the return of M15, Slim has been completely absent. Slim was the eagle that had replaced M15 almost immediately after he disappeared from the scene. This was an especially interesting time when Harriet would show reluctance in accepting a new mate for the apparent third time.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 26) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Pileated Woodpecker above (image 27) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Pileated Woodpecker above (image 28) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 29) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 30) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Cattle Egret above (image 31) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Anhinga above (image 32) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker above (image 33) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

There were a good compliment of hawks that made appearances primarily through flybys, even offering a landing in the nest tree by a Red-tailed Hawk on one occasion. It will not be until the hatching of eaglets that major contention between bird species gets underway.

The Bald Eagle (M15 with Harriet) above (image 34) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15 with Harriet) above (image 35) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 36) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Turkey Vulture above (image 37) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Black Vulture above (image 38) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 39) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 40) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Great Blue Heron above (image 41) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

My observations of the Bald Eagles at the SWFEC site from 22 August 2015 through 10 October 2015 offered many different species of birds seen. 43 species were personally photographed including the Bald Eagle.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 42) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 43) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 44) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 45) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 46) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 47) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Wood Stork above (image 48) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 49) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

As of the time of this publication, Harriet and M15 have reunited with M15's two week absence a forgotten memory. While these majestic birds carry on with their lives, I ponder where Slim may be.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 50) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Northern Harrier above (image 51) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The immature Bald Eagle above (image 52) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The immature Bald Eagle above (image 53) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 54) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 55) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The feral Muscovy Duck above (image 56) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Great Blue Heron above (image 57) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Great Blue Heron above (image 58) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

Additional information about the four eagles and more through prior observations may be found here.

The Great Blue Heron above (image 59) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.