The Makeup Of Bands

I was fascinated to learn more this week about a Piping Plover observed on 6 August 2010 than I would have ever imagined.

The Piping Plover above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.

The plover most recently observed at Bunche Beach Preserve had four bands and a flag on its legs.

The reporting of this bird that Tom Obrock had observed five days later we believe to represent the same bird with his documentation seen here.

The Piping Plover above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.

An email reply to Tom's report sent to him and myself follows . . .

Thank you for the report and photograph. The green flag on the upper left leg is a regional marker for piping plovers banded on the Missouri River below Gavins Point Dam. Gavins Point Dam is located on the northeast Nebraska - southeast South Dakota about 5 miles upriver from Yankton SD. The plover was banded by researchers from Virginia Tech who are studying piping plover use of sandbars constructed by the Corps of Engineers to provide nesting habitat for piping plovers and least terns on the Missouri. I will forward your report to the VPI researchers and they should be able to provide you with additional information as to when and where the plover was banded. Thanks again. It is nice to know that one of our plovers has already made it back to the wintering grounds.

Greg Pavelka
Wildlife Biologist
US Army Corps of Engineers

Another exciting observation of a banded Piping Plover again made at Bunche Beach Preserve, 5 November 2008, led to my discovery that the bird had been flagged in Argentina and was handled and banded in Chile, Mexico, Venezuela, Suriname, and possibly in the United States.

This plover also had a metal band placed on the upper right leg which remains a mystery without closer observation and better understanding of it.

A great resource for a basic understanding of bands and flags and what they represent may be seen here.

Be sure to report your finding of banded birds.

Please don't hesitate to recommend your favorite website resource to do this.

Feature: Babcock/Webb WMA

If you're looking for a very rewarding wildlife experience away from the beaches in southwest Florida, the 80,335-acre Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area, a stop along the Great Florida Birding Trail, is a must see venue.

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker above was photographed at Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA in August 2010.

I made my mid-August 2010 and first arrival at the Red-cockaded Woodpecker colony on "north" Oilwell Grade at sunrise as recommended by my friend, Tom Obrock.

The colony's site and others within the BWWMA are easily identified by "RCW" signs along the roads and by white paint around the pines the woodpeckers nest in.

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker above was photographed at Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA in August 2010.

It was hoped to observe and photograph the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker whose range once extended into the states of New Jersey, Maryland, and Missouri, but no longer, with the woodpecker's population estimated to be a mere one percent of its original size.

I was rewarded with the sighting of several of the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, though was only able to photograph the closest, which allowed a view of its banding as it made the interesting behavior of leaving its nest cavity to peck at an adjacent pine tree very briefly before moving on.

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker above was photographed at Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA in August 2010.

At this spot I would observe in the next couple of hours four species of bird I had never seen before including Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Meadowlark, and Eastern Towhee.

Also seen were Loggerhead Shrike, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and an overflight of Sandhill Crane with the bird checklist for this venue viewable here.

The Loggerhead Shrike above was photographed at Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA in August 2010.

In addition, I heard a yet to be seen Northern Bobwhite which there were two of or a solitary bird that made its way south by a couple hundred yards on the west side of Oilwell Grade.

I would spend the next two and a half hours exploring other areas of the Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA while driving along Tram Grade and a side spur where I observed Northern Cardinal, Pine Warbler and an unidentified species of bird.

The Northern Flicker above was photographed at Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA in August 2010.

"South" Oilwell Grade offered another unidentified species of bird that was in the middle of the road on my approach to its dead end and then in the same spot upon my return to Tucker Grade and then Webb Lake Road.

Webb Lake Road offers a wonderfully scenic view of Webb Lake with interpretive signs that highlight the WMA.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker above was photographed at Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA in August 2010.

At the end of Webb Lake Road I am quite confident I observed briefly, while regrettably wasn't able to photograph, an Orchard Oriole seen for the first time (chestnut belly, black head, back and tail feathers and appropriately sized for the species) as it worked its way north within the shrubbery at the edge of the lake, with this migratory species not on the WMA's bird checklist.

Also along Webb Lake Road I observed an Osprey and Great Blue Heron, both noticeably larger than any I've seen at beach venues.

The Eastern Towhee (Red-eyed) juvenile above was photographed at Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA in August 2010.

Other species of bird observed at the lake included Tricolored Heron as well as an adult Little Blue Heron with juvenile.

There weren't any waterfowl observed on the lake that has possibilities of a dozen known species during this initial visit to BWWMA.

The Eastern Meadowlark above was photographed at Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA in August 2010.

Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area permits periodic hunts and therefore should be investigated in advance here to ensure the area is avoided if visiting for other purposes.

There are other recreational opportunities including fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, and camping.

The Brown-headed Nuthatch above was photographed at Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMA in August 2010.

A guided tram tour of portions of the wildlife area is also available at certain times.

Reddish, White And Blue

There were a number of highlights in the visits to surf and turf wildlife venues this past week.

The Rock Dove above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2010.

I made a trip to Harns Marsh Preserve where the experience was, well, extraordinary as best I would describe it.

My hope was to observe and photograph the Snail Kite foremost.

The Rock Dove above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2010.

My first view of a floating snail shell in the water seemed so enticing for a predator of it, yet remained untouched in my observation.

Ultimately, a shot of the Snail Kite was not taken as the species wasn't accommodating as in the past, but it was observed into the rising sun behind me.

The Rock Dove above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2010.

As I waited for the kites the enter the scene, I was given an auditory thrill with an overflight of a large number of birds that I didn't see coming.

Virtually every wading or shore bird that I typically observe makes no detectable noise in flight unless it's really close.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2010.

What was most astounding beyond hearing the unusual was the large numbers of the birds seen in the flock.

I wasn't able to determine that the birds were doves until they, with my great fortune, made another pass.

The Spotted Sandpiper above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2010.

And then I wasn't able to determine that they were Rock Doves until I looked at their images after uploading them to the computer.

After doing so, I reflected on my contact with Gayle Schmidt last year whom I advised of my sighting of the Rock Dove which was added to the bird list for Harns Marsh Preserve.

The Spotted Sandpiper above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in August 2010.

With a photograph of the entire flock in the frame, it revealed 122 birds after three counts, with a white, black, and variations of the species in the group.

Nearly minutes after this event, I had the great fortune to meet Bob Blanchard, a talented wildlife photographer, who advised me of his recent sighting of a Bald Eagle at Harns Marsh.

The Sanderling above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.

The Bald Eagle, America's national bird, made its way from the Cypress canopy early in the morning not too long after Bob moved on to conduct his business.

I believe that I read once that George Washington wanted the Wild Turkey to be the national bird, but that's another story.

The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.

The eagle circled overhead for several passes while continually gaining altitude, and then disappeared from view toward the northeast.

The Bald Eagle is a rare site within the wildlife venues I frequent in the area, though has been photographed at several favorite places which I recommend you visit when possible.

The Osprey juvenile above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.

The wildlife action at Harns Marsh was also particularly exciting as a rarely seen Spotted Sandpiper made a few close flybys at the weir.

With little other action happening at Harns Marsh aside from the rare sightings of Belted Kingfisher and Pileated Woodpecker at this venue, I moved on to visit Bunche Beach Preserve later in the day.

The Whimbrel above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.

Upon my arrival at Bunche Beach Preserve, I was surprised to see a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron skulking at the picnic benches at the end of John Morris Road and the bay which is an uncommon sight.

I can't recall if I've seen the species so easily accessible at Bunche Beach before, though the heron is much more likely to be seen in more secluded areas of the preserve.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.

My experience at Bunche Beach is that the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is most often seen to the east from the parking area (in the morning) while the Black-crowned Night-Heron is seen to the west (in the evening).

During this week's visit to Bunche Beach, I was rewarded with great views of shore and wading birds including recent migrant arrivals with the light for photography ideal as the waning sun was approaching the horizon.

The Snowy Egret with juvenile above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.

A remarkable observation experienced was a territorial dispute between Marbled Godwit and Long-billed Curlew where the godwit was seen to have dominance.

I couldn't help but be entertained by the successful feeding behavior of a solitary Reddish Egret which made quick work of its prey.

The Marbled Godwit with Long-billed Curlew above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.

I also observed a bird which I think might possibly be a juvenile Würdemann's Heron (intermediate morph of Great Blue Heron) as indicated by the gray on the neck of the bird.

As the sun set, I attempted to photograph for the most part unsuccessfully, many common species of bird as they made their way back from the gulf to the flats further inland.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.

The news of the containment of significant oil seeping into the Gulf of Mexico is welcome with no evidence of oil anywhere in the area.

With a remarkably clear summer sky in the late afternoon and early evening I'm making final edits to this post with it extremely difficult not to make a beeline to the beach for further observations.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.

I very much regret the unlikely event, due to time constraints, of coincidentally meeting up with wildlife photographer, Frank Constantin, visiting from Canada this week, as I have a couple of times in the past since first meeting him at Estero Lagoon.

Always be prepared for the unexpected and have great enjoyment of your observations of wildlife in southwest Florida and elsewhere.

The Great Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2010.

75 Years And Counting

A trip to New England this past week led me to meet up for some great food, family, and a little wildlife observation outside of the state of Florida.



Though it was great to see all, most importantly was in mom, Marie, celebrating her 75th birthday August 14th, 2010.

My sister Nancy spent dozens of hours researching rental properties on Cape Cod with the help of my sister-in-law, Maria, and niece, Krisztina (labor possibly induced this coming week).



The property chosen in East Sandwich was pulled off the rental market at the last minute and a beautiful alternative was found in New Seabury on Cape Cod.

Uncle Mike arrived on the scene with a pair of feathers in his hat.



He described his stop at an Osprey nest on the way in which explained one of the feathers, but it was undecided which species the other had come from.

When I told him of my personally exciting sighting of Wild Turkeys recently made, he pulled out his camera and showed me the same species that he had photographed the day before.



Nancy and her husband Jack told of their experience of observing a bird eating a rabbit on their way in.

An Osprey was heard and seen every day at the property while a Great Blue Heron made its way overhead on a few occasions.



The first day was the most active for birding by ear with a lot of action though it became quieter thereafter.

Brothers Jim and Jack were at the helm of a day trip to the east while a stop was made at a few points of interest.



Jim brought to my attention a bird collection at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History.

Nancy had made her way to the marsh there overlooking Wing's Island Conservation Area and advised me of an Osprey nest she had seen.



The historic Lighthouse Inn, approaching its 73rd year, overlooking Nantucket Sound at West Dennis Beach, offered Double-crested Cormorant that shared a jetty with Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, and gulls.

In addition, a solitary Least Tern working the surf over several hundred yards showed evidence of its bill turning black as the breeding season ends.



On 13 April 2010, a Piping Plover egg was observed on a private beach in Hyannis Port which was the earliest seen plover egg by four days in Massachusetts.

A bumper sticker at a local t-shirt shop noted that Piping Plover tastes like chicken, in reference to disruptive beach closures, while none of the stickers were observed on any vehicles in the area.



My nephew, Larry, and his wife and children had made a trip to South Cape Beach State Park early in the week to amazingly observe a small plane crash in the water which is still under investigation as to the cause as of this writing.

On the final morning of the trip, I observed a Carolina Chickadee at close range at the rental house which I remember mom favored in her porcelain work with the delicately painted birds perched on Dogwood.



The flight home offered a great view of Fort Myers Beach, Estero Lagoon and Lovers Key State Park on the plane's final approach to the airport.

The camera was stowed away as I had used up all the memory on the 2GB card.


Happy 75th Birthday Mom!