It was with amazement to me that two great Florida wildlife rarities were occurring within days of one another in southwest Florida in the Fall of 2013.
The Northern Mockingbird above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
Monica Higgins made a report of her observation of a Sulpher-bellied Flycatcher at Sugden Regional Park in Naples, Florida, on 1 November 2013. The bird unfortunately was not re-sighted.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire with 1st winter Yellow-rumped Warbler above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire with 1st winter Yellow-rumped Warbler above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire with 1st winter Yellow-rumped Warbler above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
A Townsend's Solitaire was observed by Charlie Fisher, Dave Gagne, Tim Kalbach, and Ed Kwater at Honeymoon Island State Park on 3 November 2013 (Day One). With Ed's positive identification of the species, the bird became the second record of the species in the state of Florida. The solitaire would fortunately linger to the delight of many.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Red-winged Blackbird above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
I was compelled to attempt to observe and photograph the species on Day Two when I had the chance. The wind was wicked from the ENE and got more intense later in the morning. The sky was briefly clear at the time the Townsend's Solitaire made its appearance shortly before 9:00am, and then remained mainly overcast. The solitaire was observed to feast on berries several times.
The Eastern Phoebe above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Northern Mockingbird above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Yellow-rumped Warbler above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
Andy Wraithmell would apparently be one of the last to observe the Townsend's Solitaire on 7 November 2013 (Day Five). Vince McGrath noted the Townsend's Solitaire as under pressure from predators and observers, with the bird appearing "lost and confused- on every predators' recipe."
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
Before I left the park I attempted to photograph dragonflies (manual focus) that hovered erratically over a small pool of water while they fought the wind.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Townsend's Solitaire above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Eastern Phoebe above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Eastern Phoebe above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
Hemant Kishan and I made an unsuccessful trip to the Bunche Beach salt flats Thanksgiving morning with hopes of observing the Nelson's Sparrow and Saltmarsh Sparrow which Vince had reported a month ago.
The Eastern Phoebe above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Common Green Darner dragonfly above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
The Common Green Darner dragonfly above was photographed at Honeymoon Island State Park in November 2013.
