The Witches Of Bunche Beach Preserve: Part I

The possibility of seeing Black Tern and Gull-billed Tern at Bunche Beach Preserve before the Labor Day holiday brought about visits to this wildlife venue in southwest Florida as often as I was able.


The Short-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.

Regular readers know that this is my favorite wildlife venue with a long overdue return made nearly two months since my last visit. Tom Obrock advised me that these uncommon birds would most likely be observed in the company of Sandwich Terns if in the area. The classic story Wonderful Wizard of Oz struck a chord as I pondered a theme for this series of articles. The evil witches in the story represent a number of unfavorable conditions for ideal wildlife observation and photography at Bunche Beach Preserve that I liken to their sorcery. The witch of a very high tide at Bunche should be avoided. This is the time when the birds that are cordoned into a relatively small area should be given the greatest amount of space. The witch of the winds is of interest with the aves flying at seemingly supernatural speed when the wind is from the south. This condition makes flight photography significantly more challenging. When photographing birds at Bunche Beach, remember that you should ideally have the wind at your back at sunrise and sunset.


The 1st year Least Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Short-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Short-billed Dowitcher with Western Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Osprey above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Semipalmated Plover with Sanderling above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The juvenile Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Osprey with Barn Swallow above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Osprey above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The 1st year Least Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The 1st year Least Tern with Short-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The 1st year Least Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The 1st year Least Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The 1st year Least Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.


The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2012.

Please see The Witches Of Bunche Beach Preserve: Part II.
Please see The Witches Of Bunche Beach Preserve: Part III.
Please see The Witches Of Bunche Beach Preserve: Part IV.

STA5 And The EAA: Late Summer 2012

When Tom Obrock advised me that Vince Lucas, Walt Winton and Dr. Jose Padilla planned to travel to STA5 and the Everglades Agricultural Area, I jumped at the chance to accompany them.


The sunrise above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.

As Tom couldn't make the trip himself, I traveled alone on the morning of 18 August 2012 to meet up with the others at STA5. I approached the man-made wildlife mecca a little early on the new Deer Fence Road access which was the inauguration of the trailhead. In the predawn light, hundreds of birds were on the move. I would capture most of my representative images of the area here. Following Dr. Jose, Vince and Walt, it was thereafter more a visual tour of the wildlife with it perhaps in its fewest numbers of species as the Fall migration begins to unfold. Margaret England, President of the Hendry-Glades Audubon Society, tallied 51 species on eBird which were noted by the 29 participants touring STA5 on this day. This trip to STA5 would perhaps be the last for Vince who co-compiled the bird checklist for STA5 with Margaret, and will be well remembered for this endeavor after his move to the state of Washington. Shortly before 11:00am, Dr. Jose would lead us (certainly with some direction from Vince) into the Everglades Agricultural Area for some further observations of the wildlife. Great numbers of shorebirds, waders and ducks were seen in fields adjacent to the sugar processing facility. After making observations of Uplands Sandpiper in the sod fields, we attempted to find a recently sighted Buff-breasted Sandpiper. It would remain elusive to us. If I could offer any advice to the engineers of Canon, Pentax, Nikon, Sony, and others, it would be to enhance the brightness of the viewfinder of cameras to the degree of a scope. This would make the photography experience more enjoyable and easier to capture a better image when using 2x extenders in particular.


The Cattle Egret above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The Black Vulture above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The Barn Swallow above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The juvenile Little Blue Heron above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The Black-crowned Night-Heron above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The Common Ground Dove above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The alligator above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The Purple Swamphen above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The Purple Swamphen above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The Glossy Ibis with unidentified species above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


Dr. Jose Padilla above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The Fulvous Whistling-Duck above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The primarily Blue-winged Teal above was photographed at STA5 in August 2012.


The scene above was photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2012.


Walt Winton and Vince Lucas l-r above were photographed at the Everglades Agricultural Area in August 2012.

Oystercatchers At Little Estero Lagoon: Part IV

After more than a month since visiting a wildlife venue other than Little Estero Lagoon, I discussed possibilities with Frank Constantin visiting from Québec.


The sunrise above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.

I've been really itchy to see what's happening at the many other impressive venues in the area. Though after considering the weather conditions primarily, we decided to visit the Lagoon where it typically offers a nice breeze and seemingly cooler conditions at the height of the summer season. This wasn't a disappointing move as the sky and sun afforded excellent light through the late morning with accommodating wildlife. The sunrise clouds offered what I thought a very appealing scene. The American Oystercatchers were seen in fewer numbers, but the pair that has appeared to stake claim to this territory made another mating attempt (lasting a few brief seconds). The oystercatchers stayed together for a while after initially observed and then separated until they appeared to meet up again. The Red Knot wasn't observed in as many numbers as seen previously either while Sandwich Tern were the most prolific shorebird observed. A Belted Kingfisher was heard this day. As is the norm, correction of any potential misinformation is very much welcomed.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Royal Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Willet above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Wilson's Plover above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Red Knot above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Red Knot above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Willet above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Red Knot above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The juvenile Royal Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Brown Pelican with Laughing Gull above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The juvenile Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The juvenile Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The juvenile Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern with juvenile above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The juvenile Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The juvenile Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The juvenile Royal Tern with Laughing Gull above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern with juvenile above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Royal Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Sandwich Tern with juvenile above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Willet above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.


Francois Constantin above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in August 2012.

Please see Oystercatchers At Little Estero Lagoon: Part I.
Please see Oystercatchers At Little Estero Lagoon: Part II.
Please see Oystercatchers At Little Estero Lagoon: Part III.