Summer Florida Birding Beach Tour: Part II

This second post in a multi-part series continues with an emphasis on Florida wildlife beach observations including a bonus species seen in Sarasota, Florida.

The Reddish Egret above (image 1) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

Tom Obrock joined me for a return trip to Sarasota on 27 June. We made an initial stop at Siesta Key Beach Access #5 arriving at sunrise. The water level of the tidal pool was dramatically lower from my visit a week earlier.

The Greater Yellowlegs above (image 2) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The juvenile Tricolored Heron above (image 3) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The juvenile Tricolored Heron above (image 4) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Great Egret above (image 5) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Great Egret above (image 6) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

With the tidal pool offering significantly less real estate, there were significantly fewer birds present within it. The White-rumped Sandpiper seen the previous week and last reported 26 June was absent on our visit suggesting that the sandpiper may have moved on.

The Mottled Duck above (image 7) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Semipalmated Plover above (image 8) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 9) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Laughing Gull above (image 10) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Mottled Duck above (image 11) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

A very good number of nesting Snowy Plovers were observed along the shoreline. A new nesting area north of the tidal pool was in the process of having its protective barrier constructed offering the possibility of very late Snowy Plover fledglings this year.

The Snowy Egret with prey above (image 12) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Mottled Duck above (image 13) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Mottled Duck above (image 14) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Mottled Duck above (image 15) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Brown Pelican above (image 16) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

Tom and I continued to St. Armands Circle west of downtown Sarasota where a Tropical Kingbird has possibly been nesting seasonally with a Gray Kingbird the past several years. We got a good view of the Tropical Kingbird on a wire, but it flew off before a photo opportunity.

The Reddish Egret above (image 17) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Sanderling above (image 18) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Reddish Egret above (image 19) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Black Skimmer above (image 20) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Royal Tern above (image 21) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

Our next stop was Lido Beach. I had not been to this beach before so was very excitedly surprised to see its beauty and abundant wildlife. Immediately off the parking area was a protected Black Skimmer nesting colony. Tom commented about the possibility of a Caspian Tern, but it was not to be this day.

The Western Sandpiper above (image 22) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Black-bellied Plover above (image 23) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Willet above (image 24) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Gray Kingbird above (image 25) was photographed at St. Armands Circle in June 2016.

The Gray Kingbird above (image 26) was photographed at St. Armands Circle in June 2016.

Walking the shoreline at Lido Beach offered skimmers and all the expected shorebirds. A small number of 1st year Common Terns were observed within two flocks of loafing birds. A Reddish Egret and a lone White Ibis were actively feeding along the shoreline as well.

The Magnificent Frigatebird above (image 27) was photographed at North Lido Beach in June 2016.

The Black Skimmer above (image 28) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Black Skimmer with chick above (image 29) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Black Skimmer with chick above (image 30) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Black Skimmer above (image 31) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

We next made a beeline back to St. Armands Circle with hopes of again observing the Tropical Kingbird. The first birds observed were House Finch. They put on a great show of interaction with one another much too fast for documentation with our cameras.

The Common Tern above (image 32) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The banded Common Tern above (image 33) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The juvenile Sandwich Tern above (image 34) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Black Skimmer above (image 35) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Sandwich Tern above (image 36) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

It wasn't too long before Tom made another sighting of the Tropical Kingbird on a wire. During this stop the kingbird was much more cooperative for observation. It favored the wires and a pair of Oak trees in the Southwest corner of the parking lot north of the circle.

The Royal Tern above (image 37) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The Common Tern above (image 38) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The White Ibis above (image 39) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The juvenile Black Skimmer above (image 40) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in June 2016.

The House Finch above (image 41) was photographed at St. Armands Circle in June 2016.

I was impressed with the action at Lido Beach. And as long as the Tropical Kingbird favors nesting only minutes from the Gulf, an effort should be made to see the specialty. The Tropical Kingbird at St. Armands Circle was initially found by Ruth Ellen Peipert on 3 May 2013.

The Tropical Kingbird above (image 42) was photographed at St. Armands Circle in June 2016.

The Tropical Kingbird above (image 43) was photographed at St. Armands Circle in June 2016.

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The Tropical Kingbird above (image 44) was photographed at St. Armands Circle in June 2016.

Please also see Summer Florida Birding Beach Tour: Part I

Northern Harrier Vs. White-tailed Kite

With an opportunity to make some early December wildlife observations in southwest Florida much further from home, I made a trip with Tom Obrock to Flamingo located at the terminus of Everglades National Park.

The bird food above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

Door to door, this trip was 17 hours and 512 miles. As I reflect on it, those numbers seem exaggerated, though they are not. The day went by too quickly with too much left unseen. The trip with Tom and his guidance offered a handful of lifer birds seen and photographed including Vermilion Flycatcher which I was not able to capture well for its brilliance.

The American Kestrel above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Sandhill Crane above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Vermilion Flycatcher above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Vermilion Flycatcher above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Killdeer above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The male Monarch Butterfly above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The male Monarch Butterfly above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Gray Catbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Gray Catbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Mockingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

Also personally observed for the first time was a Tropical Kingbird; a bird species that I need to leave for you to identify at the end of the article as I am not yet qualified to distinguish it from Western Kingbird. Seen for the first time as well was a White-tailed Kite which had a skirmish with a Northern Harrier northwest of Lucky Hammock. The stop at Flamingo offered an American Avocet. I think it was the first time Tom had personally seen the species at this venue.

The Eastern Phoebe above was photographed near Lucky Hammock in (C-111) December 2012.

The Hooded Merganser above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Eastern Phoebe above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Snowy Egret with juvenile above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Mockingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Purple Gallinule above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The Purple Gallinule above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The Yellow Rat Snake above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The Palm Warbler above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

We along the way in one direction or another saw a lot to entertain us. At Mrazek Pond we encountered an alligator that had evidently been struck by a passing vehicle. The beast was being made quick work of by the vultures, not soon enough to diminish the stench of decay. It was here that I had my first good view of Green-winged Teal showing signs of the breeding season. The unmistakable call of a Belted Kingfisher was heard before the bird was seen.

The alligator above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The Yellow Rat Snake above was photographed at Everglades National Park (Anhinga Trail) in December 2012.

The directory above was photographed Everglades National Park (Pine Glades Lake) in December 2012.

The Snail Kite above was photographed Everglades National Park in December 2012.

The Snail Kite above was photographed Everglades National Park in December 2012.

The American Crow above was photographed Everglades National Park in December 2012.

The Green-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Green-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal with Anhinga above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The American Coot with Common Gallinule and Green-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Black-crowned Night-Heron above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

At Flamingo and closer to Lucky Hammock, Tom made sighting of other species that would have been lifers for me as well. The threat of rain the day before had me question if it would be worthwhile to make the trip. We got caught briefly in conditions that were not favorable for taking pictures of the wildlife, but certainly not for making observations. I saw a crocodile for the first time at Flamingo.

The Blue-winged Teal with Pied-billed Grebe above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Green-winged Teal with Blue-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal above was photographed Everglades National Park (Mrazek Pond) in December 2012.

The Osprey above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

Tom Obrock above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

The American Avocet above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

The Caspian Tern above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

The Greater Yellowlegs above was photographed Everglades National Park (Flamingo) in December 2012.

The Monk Parakeet above was photographed in Homestead in December 2012.

A Yellow Rat Snake slithering on the boardwalk at Anhinga Trail was a highlight as well. Ending the day at Lucky Hammock with the light being lost quickly, 2011 Florida Big Year birder Jim Morris was present, with his friend Graham Williams arriving at an opportune time as well. We observed Lesser Nighthawk which for me was an interesting contrast to Antillian Nighthawk seen earlier in 2012 thanks to Tom.

The Western Kingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Western Kingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Western Kingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

2011 Florida Big Year Birder, James Morris, currently from Deltona, above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Northern Harrier with White-tailed Kite above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The kingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The kingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The kingbird above was photographed near Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

Aircraft were seen in the last light of the day and were identified for me as F-16 Fighting Falcon by Greg Clarkson. In the image presented below, Greg noted the extended cockpit/ canopy which is usually associated with training or special mission aircraft, and what may be an Electronic Counter-Measures Pod attached to the ventral side of the aircraft. The Fighting Falcon appeared to be making a landing approach to Homestead Air Reserve Base. Greg also advised me that the F-117 Stealth Fighter is referred to as Nighthawk.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon above was photographed at Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.

The Lesser Nighthawk above was photographed at Lucky Hammock (C-111) in December 2012.