Ding Darling NWR And Bunche Beach Preserve

Although the tide was not ideal at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge at Sanibel Island for observations on 15 October, I made a follow-up trip the following day knowing well that the tide would be even higher and less favorable at dawn.

The Spotted Sandpiper above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

It is my belief, in how the waterflow at Ding Darling is managed, that it is critical to be aware of the tides for Ding and the area here in Southwest Florida when planning coastal wildlife observations. I use Saltwatertides.com; viewing Florida Gulf Sites, choose Estero Bay and then Matanzas Pass. The time frame of your choice is created at the bottom of the page. Having visited the beach venues in the area (see maps in the right margin) as often as I have, I have a very good feel for the tides away from the Pass. Well, observations at Ding on 16 October presented in this article were not disappointing in the least with unexpected surprises on Wildlife Drive. A trip was made to Bunche Beach Preserve at San Carlos Bay (Matanzas Pass) the following day when I met up with Tom Obrock who, with his invitation, got me off the computer which was a relief. Immediately walking onto the beach I met local wildlife observer Wes Dirks, and learned that he had already worked both ends of the Preserve. Wes informed me that he had recently returned from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We noticed Tom who was making observations a few hundred feet off the high tide line at the west channel. I met Tom about halfway and we proceeded to the east channel. It was there that Tom pointed out a banded Piping Plover. Tom continued on as I attempted to get a better identifiable shot of the diminutive bird. Return trips to this magnificent beach venue were immediately assured. This inaugural posting that offers images at their original resolution will require a lot of time to "fix" previous articles. You will need a lot of patience with me as I attempt to accomplish the task. The slideshow below the header will also be undergoing improvement going forward. A car manufacturing corporate leader and wildlife photographer, Hemant Kishan, has been busy with the creation of an awesome wildlife blog which I recommend you investigate. It's my very good fortune to see Hemant and learn more about wildlife from him when he makes his periodic trips the southwest Florida area. I heard from Alice Van Zoeren regarding my report of the banded Piping Plover. Alice told me that the plover is a research subject of Mary Brown. I have not heard from Mary advising of details of the banded plover as of the publication of this article.

The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Pileated Woodpecker above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Northern Cardinal above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Common Ground Dove above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Great Egret above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Belted Kingfisher above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover with Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Anhinga above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Spotted Sandpiper above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal with Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant with Blue-winged Teal above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

Tom Obrock above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The banded Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The banded Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The Reddish Egret with Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

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

The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The fishermen above were photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

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

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in October 2012.

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

Fort Myers Area Loses A Wildlife Observer

I was very saddened to recently hear of our loss of John A. Dougherty, with too many of us missing the privilege of meeting him.

The image above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse in October 2012.

It was with extreme regret that I learned the news of John Dougherty's passing while visiting with Stan Damon, Ruth Woodall, and Ken Hodgson this past week. Although I never met John, what I read of him in recent years highlighted attributes of human nature I strive to emulate. After a quick stop at Sanibel Lighthouse on 15 October I continued on to Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge with images taken on that day in memory of John. A friend of the Dougherty family, Jane Gieryic, informed me of some additional details about John that I did not know. John was a pharmacist and owned his own pharmacy in upstate (Morrisville) NY. He always had an interest in photography, but only in retirement had the time to devote to it. He was passionate about his hobby and concentrated on birds. John always had a stack of pictures that he freely circulated to whoever wanted one. He was a snowbird and lived on Fort Myers Beach, FL just a few blocks from the spot where people gathered nightly to witness the scarlet ibis leading a flock of white ibis to their roosting spot for the night. John also shared his pictures over the internet. He is greatly missed. Members of the local Caloosa Bird Club enjoyed his company and pictures. A small gathering of birders in central New York near Morrisville and Hamilton, NY purchased several bird books to be put in the Morrisville Public Library in his memory after he died.

The Osprey above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Wood Stork above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Osprey above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The juvenile White Ibis with Blue-winged Teal above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover with Blue-winged Teal above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal with Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Wood Stork above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Wood Stork above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Short-billed Dowitcher with Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Short-billed Dowitcher with Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Bald Eagle with Great Egret above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover with Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Belted Kingfisher above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Belted Kingfisher above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.