As I had not heard of a Red-necked Phalarope in Lee County since Vince's report of the species at Bunche Beach in 2010 (missing the bird at that time), it was necessary to travel to Siesta Key Beach in mid September 2014 for what I believe to be Sarasota County's first documented RNPH with the species my first sighting as well.
So, I thought it quite remarkable this week that there would be a second sighting of a Red-necked Phalarope in such a short period of time. I even pondered the possibility that this could be the same bird migrating south. Between the two Red-necked Phalarope I devoted about five hours observing them.
It seemed clear to me that they were definitely not the same bird. The bird in Sarasota was very active, a distinctive characteristic of the species, while it took flight for short distances on many occasions. The Fort Myers Beach (Carlos Pointe) bird was not observed to fly at all.
Admittedly the tidal pool at Siesta Key Beach is significantly larger than the pool at Carlos Pointe which may have had an impact on the phalarope behavior in each pool. The Sarasota bird appeared to favor an injured leg. The Fort Myers Beach phalarope seemed in perfect health while feeding, and on the move incessantly.
The sunrise was very favorable for photography of the Fort Myers Beach phalarope initially, but high level clouds were disruptive for fast shutter speeds necessary to document the extremely active behavior of the bird effectively. This is in part what makes this hobby of wildlife photography so appealing to me. You must occasionally make decisions (hopefully the right ones) when using a DSLR camera.
While observing the Red-necked Phalarope in the Carlos Pointe tidal pool it was remarkable to see the phalarope take down a bee as the bird was hunting for aquatic prey. My reaction was nowhere near the speed required to get one of those "shots" of a lifetime with the potential certainly there. The phalarope had an apparent dislike for the bee, and dropped it into the water.
While the bee did not seem the better for its experience I was able to catch up with bud Tom Obrock, and acquaintances Janet and Aaron Kirk (Janet's personality was as effervescent as ever), and prolific reporter of wildlife in the area, France Paulsen. At one point Tom quipped that the phalarope might be a meal for a Peregrine Falcon which Vince had recently reported as having returned to the area.
Amazingly, after a very short while, a Peregrine Falcon made a flyby at high altitude (certainly benefiting the phalarope) from south to north. It was my hope to see one of Hemant's Great Black-backed Gulls which he has reported at this venue, but the species was absent the morning of my visit.
I noted that the water got deep very quickly when walking into Big Carlos Pass which I was compelled to do. Reminded that the current here is considered very dangerous, as at New Pass further south, I chose to keep an extremely firm footing (and be very nervous) while barely waste deep.
It is my hope for continued wildlife documentation as long as I am able, while also meeting the interesting people that are intrigued by nature at its best in southwest Florida.
