One Lifer Missed, Another Found At Ding

Southwest Florida local wildlife observer Tom Obrock contacted me to advise that a Common Merganser had reportedly been seen at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge 23 November 2012; a very uncommon sighting.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

With a fortunate day off from work the following day, I met up with Lehigh Acres birder Tom, master birder Vince McGrath, Dr. Jose Padilla, Stan Damon (conducts walks for the Bird Patrol at Harns Marsh Preserve), and Ruth Woodall (conducts walks for the Bird Patrol at Bunche Beach). The observation and documentation of the Common Merganser was made digiscoping by Kimberly Ramos, biology intern, at Ding Darling NWR.

The American White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Black-crowned Night-Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The American White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Belted Kingfisher above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Mottled Duck above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The American White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The American White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

Kim's photography of the bird is especially interesting with its presentation in an otherworldly appeal. I arrived a little early at a time that I wouldn't have considered visiting the Refuge due to a higher than preferred tide level at dawn. The biting insects were a major annoyance as usual at this venue in the early morning. The morning was otherwise very enjoyable with great company. Although the water level was already rising on my arrival, there were good numbers of birds seen. We proceeded toward the area where the merganser was reportedly seen.

The American White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant with Great Blue Heronabove was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

(l-r) Dr. Jose Padilla, Tom Obrock and Vince McGrath above were photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The immature female Redhead above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The immature female Redhead above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The immature female Redhead above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The immature female Redhead above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

Among White Pelican that interested me most, Vince was commenting about the Northern Pintail further out (please see addendum). The bird was facing and swimming toward us. For no apparent reason, the bird took flight directly at us. My first sighting of Northern Pintail would allow photography of the species as the bird, initially at a great distance, literally flew right over us. I unfortunately lost track of it in the frame of the camera as the bird was still quite distant. Stan, however, got the bird with his camera as the pintail was so close, he clipped its wings. A brief trip was made to the beach and ultimately a new venue for me that Tom calls The Ponds at Domestic Avenue. Unfortunately the merganser would remain elusive.

The 1st winter Ring-billed Gull above was photographed at Bowman's Beach in November 2012.

The Royal Tern above was photographed at Bowman's Beach in November 2012.

The Red Knot above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Dunlin above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Dunlin above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Greater Yellowlegs above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed at Bowman's Beach in November 2012.

The American White Pelican above was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in November 2012.

The Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and American Coot above were photographed at Domestic Avenue Ponds in November 2012.

Addendum: My thanks to Robert Doiron for assisting in the identification of the immature female Redhead originally noted as Northern Pintail. My communication with Vince McGrath has him concur. In the field, we were evidently observing two different birds among many at a great distance. The Redhead has thus been correctly noted while I will not count the pintail among my observations thus far as I did not photograph it. The Northern Pintail has been reported at STA5 with regularity.