The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.The lark in the image above was severely out of focus, but salvaged for presentation here with significant post processing sharpening. I easily caught the bug of aves observation in 1997 with my first serious digital camera (a Nikon D80, with the D800 recommended in 2012 and beyond) while observing wildlife in the state of Florida that has never failed to offer entrancement. It has taken me these five years to encounter an extraordinary find in the Horned Lark with its observation at Fort De Soto Park. The lark has become what I believe to be my 193rd bird species clearly observed and 191st documented in Florida through an endeavor to photograph all the birds that either live in or migrate throughout the state. My observations are predominantly made in southwest Florida. I try to avoid thinking of observing all 510 bird species currently believed to be seen in Florida by the American Ornithologists' Union as an impossibility.
The Egmont Key lighthouse above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Willet above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Loggerhead Shrike above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
Bev Hansen from Hernando County above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.This was the first occasion in which I have sought after a species of bird, with it brought to my attention by Tom Obrock. Outside of the Horned Lark at Fort De Soto, Tom had previously advised me about a rarely seen Snow Bunting in Palm Coast, Florida, in December 2010, which I was unable to pursue while he was successful in finding it. I have told Tom on at least a few occasions that I don't read Birdbrains for the lack of time. Without question, failure to do so is now perceived as valued time lost. With my ability on this occasion to observe the lark, I jumped at the chance. The Horned Lark was initially observed in Pinellas County's Fort De Soto Park by local birder Robert Qually on 9 June 2012. The Birdbrains website has it noted that the Horned Lark may have been previously observed in Pinellas County for the first time in 1956, while the species wasn't confirmed through photography understandably.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The scene above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park (selected as America's Best family beach by Dr. Beach in 2005) in June 2012.
The Horned Lark eating an insect with a sand spur on its tail feathers above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.Upon my arrival at the Park on 11 June 2012, a slight easterly wind was indicated by the United States flag at the Park Headquarters. There were high clouds on the eastern horizon that impacted early morning light briefly. Mosquitoes were not the nuisance expected, especially considering the rains that have been falling in Florida early this year. I began to note the birds seen and heard as I entered the Park, but all were forgotten as I got my first glimpse of the Horned Lark with excellent guidance from postings on Birdbrains. I was able to find the lark easily with it contrasted against the white sand. A nest of biting ants and painful sand spurs were found as well. When encountering ants with use of a tripod, always be sure to thoroughly inspect your gear to avoid further surprises. The lark was very mobile in its sunrise hunt for food. It never seemed phased by direct exposure to the sun in my observations while the bird did take frequent rests either on the dune or on seaweed close to the shoreline. At one point the lark was observed to fly approximately 150 feet and at another was nearly run over by a park ranger driving a Land Rover.
The Osprey above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The scene above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.In my observations of the Horned Lark, it clearly favored its right leg. A study of images taken of the lark offers possible evidence that it may be reaching the final stages of its life with long nails on its toes and potential disease on its right tarsus. Other images taken of the bird show what may be first signs of the affliction on the left tarsus as well. The bird was observed consuming a grasshopper and other creatures with ease. Fellow early arrivals to observe the lark at Fort De Soto Park included Bev and Al Hansen introducing themselves from Hernando County. I felt compelled to say I was from Lee County as opposed to the town I live in for the first time. The Hansen's observed the Horned Lark with me for a short while before they moved on. Bev, a tour leader with the Hernado Audubon Society, was very kind to leave a Hernando County bird site brochure on the windshield of my car which I consider a compliment to my Great Florida Birding Trail guides.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The scene above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Magnificent Frigatebird above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Royal Tern above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The White Ibis (never having observed this playful undulating behavior before) above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark in mid air above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.Ann, visiting from Lakeland, arrived shortly thereafter with hopes of observing the Horned Lark as well which she noted reading about on Birdbrains. We were far south from where I had last seen the bird, and after Ann inquired about it we walked north rediscovering it for further study. Bev advised me earlier that she thought the Horned Lark would unlikely return to its breeding grounds. My hope is that the bird garners its strength and can make the trip from its temporary refuge to meet up with more of its kind. Other bird species seen at the Park, but not photographed, include Great Egret, Northern Cardinal, Common Ground Dove, Mourning Dove, Great Blue Heron, Red-breasted Merganser, Red Knot, Least Tern, and an undetermined species which I believe may have been Bronzed Cowbird.
The Ghost crab above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The aviation enthusiast above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
Ann, from Polk County, above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.I expected a gull to harass the interesting Ghost crab seen as a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron walked behind me unexpectedly. The crab remained mainly underground with an apparent effort to recover from the previous high tide as it brought sand from its lair to the beach surface. I was tempted to explore the Hansen's home county after devoting my typical five hours exposure in the field though succumbed to exhaustion due to some awesome Florida sunshine and warm weather which is best suited for other activities this time of year. There were the "usual suspects" observed at Fort De Soto as well which I'm entertained by Tom calling them in his wildlife reports. The AC cranked in the car immediately after exploring the North Beach Lagoon and campground very briefly finding little to keep me in the sun any longer. All species of bird photographed at the Park on my visit, walking the beach minimally, are highlighted in this article.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Mottled Duck above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.
The Horned Lark above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in June 2012.A Canon camera was used to capture the images presented here with a very respectful distance from the lark. Where it appears I may have been too close, a heavy crop of the image taken of the bird was made. All images presented in this article were captured on the morning of 11 June 2012 while I left the Park very reluctantly before noon. Images presented here are best seen in a slideshow by pressing one of them which significantly improves their quality. If you are not already so, please consider becoming a member of your local Audubon Chapter.
Feature: Fort De Soto Park Part I
Feature: Fort De Soto Park Part II
Feature: Fort De Soto Park Part III
Your photography skills amazes me, Bob. Stunning captures here, thanks for sharing these awesome birds.
ReplyDeletecheers
Hey Bob, great series from Ft. deSoto, especially the horned lark! What a find, & what a bitter-sweet story about that beautiful, sweet little bird. You got some great images of the lark, a special time no doubt.
ReplyDeleteBeth