International Gathering In Cape Coral

For the second consecutive year I visited Harns Marsh Preserve in Lehigh Acres on Christmas day to enjoy the wildlife there.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

It was unfortunately very overcast and I failed to take an image with little action going on as observed from the car.

Tom Obrock has been reporting American Wigeon there these past weeks with the species not yet personally observed.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

Ideally when the water level drops significantly at Harns I hope to meet up with Tom and Bob Blanchard.

I'm curious to know if Tom would be willing to enter the water at Harns for some closer views of the waterfowl and birds of prey in particular that are an impressive sight there in the winter months.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

My second day off this week offered an opportunity to meet up with Frank Constantin visiting from Quebec.

Frank notified me of his arrival the evening before our trip to photograph Florida Scrub-Jays in north Cape Coral.

Frank Constantin above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

We met at Publix shortly before sunrise and got a bag of peanuts for the birds before traveling to the Great Horned Owl site where the jays have been seen every visit I've made there.

I particularly had fun offering the birds the peanuts with a sense of trepidation initially.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

The Bakers, visiting the area from the United Kingdom a couple of months ago, were on my mind throughout the day with Rachael tolerating the jays pecking at her hand with a peanut inviting the species' attention.

Florida Scrub-Jays love peanuts and will occasionally battle over them with the birds observed to have what appears to be a dominance hierarchy in the family group.

The Northern Mockingbird above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

There was one jay so bold as to have caught me off guard on a few occasions while another appeared quite shy.

Peregrine Falcons were on the wires while Anhinga, Tree Swallow, Osprey, Eastern Meadowlark, Northern Mockingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Burrowing Owl, Great Egret, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, European Starling, Mourning Dove, Black Vulture, and a Great Horned Owl (in its nest) were additionally observed either on the ground or overhead near or at the site this day.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

The mate of the Great Horned Owl in the nest was unfortunately not seen or heard.

The sky was both heavily overcast and clear during the visit.

The Great Horned Owl above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

While I believe that Frank was getting some remarkable images with his Nikon flagship camera, I chose to attempt to photograph the jays occasionally in flight with preset manual focus and my 5dm2 guessing where the eye of the bird would be very unsuccessfully.

I'm still waiting on delivery of the battery charger from Abe's of Maine for my preferred camera with it now over two months since its order.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

I recommend not patronizing Abe's as the charger was ordered with it noted to be in stock at their website.

I was also billed at the time of the order with interest charges accruing.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

It was a treat to have Brazilian native and wildlife photographer Adams Serra arrive after a business trip in the area.

The action with the jays disappointingly went downhill from there while unsure why.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

I didn't note the gear Adams used though did find out that that thing that looked like a frisbie in images I've taken of him at Estero Lagoon was a ground pod.

Adams noted he wasn't completely satisfied with its design.

The Eastern Meadowlark above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

Adams told me he might be back for the Great Horned Owls which he noted he had never before seen in the wild.

I told him everything I have learned about them with hopes he would capture a remarkable image.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

There wasn't a Red-tailed Hawk seen which was disappointing as the species had been observed during preceding visits.

There's a patch of land adjacent to this site which appears to be good habitat for observing the above mentioned species and more.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

This relatively undisturbed land to the west of the GHOW nest I learned is dedicated to a school or other municipal use as opposed to its preservation in the future.

Perhaps there will be time to document what might be seen in that environment at the northwest corner of Kismet and Chiquita Boulevards which appears as a postage stamp with a satellite view.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

Tom is the most active birder in this area that I know of and missed his goal of observing 100 species of bird in Lee County in a day by one on 28 December 2011.

Imagine that while Adams noted he would try to return to the Cape Coral site later in the day.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

Frank and Adams are extremely critical of their photography and will only make the very best of it available for viewing.

I was pleased to see the grasses cut low around the Burrowing Owl nests.

The Florida Scrub-Jay above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

I'm most certain that Chris and Rachael Baker would have greatly enjoyed this day.

High Tide At Bunche Beach: West Channel

I have written of my wildlife experiences at Bunche Beach Preserve many times and occasionally observe the unexpected there.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

This beach venue just east of the Sanibel Lighthouse bordering San Carlos Bay and north of Fort Myers Beach has become my favorite location to observe shore and wading birds in the area.

Many observations at Bunche have offered lifetime memories.

The scene above above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

It was perhaps a year before visiting this venue after told about it for the first time.

Such was the case with my first visit to the inland Harns March Preserve in Lehigh Acres.

The shorebirds above were photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

I'm quite sure I won't be able to express my gratis to Tony Lau when I finally make a visit to Myakka River State Park (approaching three or four years since he told me of his trips to the Park) with images taken there and presented by blogger Julie G earlier this month.

Tony's photography has impressed me immensely as he hones his skills with the craft successfully in the Chicago area.

The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

I am still very much a fan of a very low tide at Bunche which allows one to walk great distances on the flats of the bay.

Under those circumstances the birds will be very dispersed though the likelihood of an unexpected visitor is perhaps more probable without disturbance from the casual visitor walking the beach.

The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

From a photography standpoint there is what may be considered a sweet spot where the birds are all there but not at an immeasurable distance from you.

The visit to the Preserve this week was at a tide higher than I believe I have observed at Bunche before.

The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

The tide was still rising and would peak at +2.1 feet just before my departure after sunset.

With nearly two miles of beach front to walk at Bunche, I'm not sure why someone would choose to walk into the bay directly through a flock of birds resting which was the case this day.

The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

At an earlier time I had made a few trips to the Preserve without checking the tide tables and considered the water too high for observation and failed to walk beyond the parking area.

I've since learned better and was sure that the birds would congregate near the west channel with the flats covered by the Gulf waters.

The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

After arriving close to the west channel, the birds were in a number fewer than a hundred along a finger spit perpendicular to the beach.

The species seen were respectable considering the limited real estate available to them.

The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

If you're not up to speed with tide tables, they may be viewed here with Matanzas Pass my location of choice for the area.

The waves were of concern for comfort immediately upon entering the water of the bay.

The Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

They were not forgiving lapping at my back, rolling in from the southwest, with the wind unusually westerly forcing the birds to land toward me in very favorable light with the setting sun in front of them.

The next couple of hours became uncomfortably cold with the ambient temperature still in the 70's while losing my core temperature fast due to the cooler water conditions.

The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

I made a few moves from my initial observation point with an attempt to improve my angle on the birds as I learned their flight pattern as they arrived with greater frequency as the sun began to set.

Most people passing by were respectful of the birds with it evident the birds have become conditioned to pedestrians at close range.

The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

After getting a report from Tom Obrock with his observation of Common Loon and Horned Grebe at Bunche after my initial trip to Bunche this week, my original plans to make a long overdue visit to Harns Marsh Preserve this week as well were postponed.

Investigating wetsuits that I thought would keep me more comfortable in the water led to a visit to Sports Authority on Six Mile Cypress Parkway to get one.

The Royal Tern banded on its right leg above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

The level of customer service at this retailer was excellent throughout while directly assisted by Richard Short who expressed an interest in wildlife photography.

From there I again arrived at Bunche Beach while finally remembering to remove the extender from the camera with thought of Frank Constantin whom has told me of images he has failed to capture because of the accessory.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

I arrived at the beach at about 12:30 and missed the grebe and loon in the bay throughout my stay after sunset.

The tide was favorable upon my arrival with surprisingly few birds present leading me to believe that they had been disturbed by more people at the beach this time of year.

The scene above above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

The wind direction had shifted easterly compared to my previous visit which would make flight photography much more challenging late in the day.

Whether natural or not, each visit to Bunche Beach Preserve offers a unique experience with this day no exception.

The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

Ring-billed Gull have become commonly seen in much greater numbers than Laughing Gulls.

Upwards of five dozen birds including skimmers, godwits and peeps were directly in front of me when visitors to the Preserve walked the shoreline with an unleashed dog which was in the mood to play with the birds.

The scene above above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

The birds obviously considered the dog a threat and took flight with very few of them I was observing to return.

The visitor to the Preserve in the image directly above had asked me if I had seen Bald Eagles which I had not though by her tone she was more fortunate.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

Dogs are not permitted at Bunche Beach Preserve and the owner obviously missed the sign indicating the restriction.

When advised of the rule by another visitor, the dog owner became extremely combative.

The Western Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

Osprey were present in very good numbers that I normally observe at Lovers Key State Park.

I continued to fail to capture one of the Osprey's many dives for prey successfully which I consider a great challenge.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

Black Skimmers were abundant on both visits with it always a challenge to get a good photograph of them as well.

The skimmers interestingly displace most other bird species loafing as the skimmer makes repeated landings and takeoffs before they settle down on occasion.

The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

I had the good fortune of meeting Mike Kentz at the Preserve visiting from New York City.

He noted that he had seen American Avocet earlier in the day and told of a Bald Eagle seen that caused an Osprey to drop its prey at the Preserve which he showed me in his camera's monitor.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

Mike told me that he had been a professional photographer for 30 plus years before digital photography ruined the profession.

He now makes a living as a residential contractor I believe he told me.

The scene above above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

In the last light of the day a pair of Piping Plover stood their ground and were occasionally mobile in their attempt to capture flies that were only observed when the birds went after them.

Considering the less than favorable conditions, the observations at Bunche this week were very rewarding.

The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

I found the wetsuit a little uncomfortable for mobility and will be cutting the sleeves at the shoulder.

The Butterfly Effect: Part II

After a couple of hours of observation of the Bald Eagles, there was an apparent changing of the guard in the nest as the bird landing in it offered a view of the band on its leg.

The Red-tailed Hawk above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

I have only been able to confirm one of these birds to have an identification band with it meant to offer insight into the eagle upon the discovery of its death.

It was on this day that I discovered a truly stunning fault in my photographic technique.

The Loggerhead Shrike above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

It has been my style to lay my arm over the barrel of the lens and determined that I may may be counteracting the autofocus of the camera as I capture an image.

I immediately thought with appreciation the time and effort Chris Baker had made in attempting to improve my imagery.

The Great Horned Owl above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

Chris gave me the tip of testing the camera's micro-adjustment with my camera's setting previously at neutral and likely a contributing cause for soft images over the years.

Conducting a test virtually as Chris instructed, I was able to determine a +8 setting of this feature to offer the greatest sharpness for the primary lens I use.

The Great Horned Owl above was photographed in near complete darkness in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

Nine test images were taken with micro-adjustment settings from -8, -6, -4, -2, 0, +2 and so on.

Although this test was made with a book on the bumper of my car, renowned Florida wildlife photographer Artie Morris has a more sophisticated approach which he has written about here.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2011.

Hopefully an improvement in image quality will be noticeable going forward.

Of course an opportunity to revisit the beach could not be resisted with the chance.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2011.

My favorite beach venue at present is Bunche Beach Preserve where wildlife can be appreciated at virtually any time.

While observing the birds working San Carlos Bay at a rising tide, I again attempted to benefit from the rocks near the west channel while resting the lens on one allowing me a very low point of view.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park at Big Carlos Pass in December 2011.

I used my shirt to protect me from the very sharp shells to discover a towel much more suitable to avoid lacerations and improve comfort which I'll have to try to remember on future visits.

It was my pleasure to again see Birdpatrol volunteer and photographer Gail Campbell making good use of her photography gear.

The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

She was using the Nikon D7000 this day and was keen on utilizing the camera's video function.

I met for the first time John Van de Graaf, visiting from Massachusetts, whom was using the Canon 1dm3 and told me of a website previously unknown where he posts a photo a day.

Gail Campbell above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

What I found most interesting is that John actually captures his images the day he uploads them.

John has been doing this religiously at Blipfoto.com since 2 February 2010.

John Van de Graaff above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

We both had the very fortuitous opportunity to photograph an exchange between Willets fighting over a marine creature.

This event occurred mere minutes before the sun went behind the clouds of an approaching cold front from the north and west which allowed us the use of acceptably fast shutter speeds.

The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

With a followup visit made to Bunche for my last wildlife observations of the week, I was entertained by the cloud cover in the sky appearing almost exactly inverse of what was seen the day before.

The cause of the hundreds of the smaller shorebirds to simultaneously take flight on the first day was caused by American Kestrel while on day two a Red-shouldered Hawk did the same.

The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

This event is often unexplained as the birds will all take flight for no reason or a predator causing the event was too quick or far away to be seen.

I couldn't wait for the sun to reach closer to the horizon this day to provide some much needed warmth.

The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

I was in the water for merely an hour before I began to shiver uncontrollably.

Not a good thing you want to have happen when you are shooting in fairly low light and at slower shutter speeds.

The Western Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

The wildlife activity made it all worthwhile with the birds so much closer than can be seen at Ding Darling NWR.

It was stunning to see another food fight ensue after the quarry was again initially pulled up by a Willet.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

The crab was ultimately had by a Ring-billed Gull that was unfortunately for the Willets in the vicinity unlike the day before.

There were again countless birds observed on the beach and flats of San Carlos Bay this day.

The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

It was in fact difficult to stay focused on one subject.

The clear sky on the horizon had me in the right place at the right time to attempt to photograph Willet against a reflection of the setting sun which I never had the chance before.

The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

All of the immense enjoyment I had brings me comfort over the introduction to The Butterfly Effect: Part I.

Back in the north Cape earlier in the week I had a wildlife experience I certainly expect to never pall in comparison to future wildlife observations in my lifetime.

The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

It occurred during an early morning followup trip made to observe Burrowing Owls in north Cape Coral otherwise not seen since 22 May 2010 closer to the library off of Mohawk Parkway.

One of the newly discovered Burrowing Owls, with it making flight from one of its burrows to another, was taken down by a Cooper's Hawk which I have since dreamed about on a couple of occasions.

The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

The hawk came out of nowhere and may have been stalking its prey.

I believe that the grass and weeds around all known Burrowing Owl burrows should be maintained low to the ground to allow the owls the upper hand over Cooper's Hawk.

The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

There is a belief that the higher vegetation offers the owls a degree of protection from other predators however.

I cannot help but think that this event would not have happened in my absence.

The sunset above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2011.

The Burrowing Owl appears to be a resilient and adaptive species.

They are known to be very protective of their progeny and for that reason will likely continue to increase in numbers.

The Cooper's Hawk above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

It was fitting that the surviving Burrowing Owl repeatedly and inexplicably looked into the sky like I had not observed the species to do after nearly 50 hours of study.

Will the demise of the north Cape owl result in an alteration of our future I wonder?

The surviving Burrowing Owl above was photographed in rural Cape Coral in December 2011.

Certainly a more significant event than the fluttering of a butterfly's wings.

The Butterfly Effect: Part I