The Least Tern chick above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.There are few better places I know of than Little Estero Lagoon for fuzzball observation in the summer months as shorebirds in particular gravitate to protected dunes along this long stretch of beach. You may also wish to investigate Artie Morris' observations at Nickerson Beach located east of Brooklyn, New York. I've never been there myself, but with Artie's magnificent imagery and narrative you can't help but think you had been anywhere else at the moment.
The Least Tern chick above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern chick above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern chick above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Wilson's Plover above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Snowy Plover above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Snowy Plover above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Snowy Plover above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The scene above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.Images presented in this article were captured on 22 May 2013. I must admit that it was good to be making observations on solid ground again, and at one of my favored beach venues a bonus. Reports of a Black Tern seen in the immediate area was a primary interest of mine as I rarely see the species and have only seen it at the Everglades Agricultural Area and Cockroach Bay Preserve in my observation of birds to this point.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Red Knot above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Osprey above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern with Osprey above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Sanderling above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.As I began to create this article on 23 May 2013, Tom Obrock texted me to advise that he had just observed a Black Tern south of the larger Lagoon while closer to Big Carlos Pass. I did not see Black Tern the previous day. A steward of Least Terns watching them with great interest informed me that there had been a loss of a Least Tern chick in this young nesting season. That was of no surprise to me as you can see the potential evidence of the event in the last image.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The White Ibis with juvenile above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.This is my sixth year observing Least Terns and have found their behavior usually predictable. They are very protective of their nesting areas and will strafe you without hesitation. The best thing to do is to keep a reasonable distance from the subjects you are observing and stay as low to the ground as you can to have the birds consider you less of a threat. The Least Terns will attack virtually everything that flies over their nest site as is evidenced by a chase of an Osprey with a fish in its talons.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Wilson's Plover above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Wilson's Plover chick above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Wood Stork above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.As Least Tern were the most prolific species seen from four stationary positions in my near three hours of observation, I couldn't help but take the lion's share of images of them. Of course, whenever another opportunity arose I attempted to take advantage of it. A nice surprise was flyby of a Red Knot. I had my attention focused on a very small footprint of the Lagoon (so to speak) and was thus rewarded with what happened there.
The banded Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Wood Stork above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.
The Wood Stork above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.As of this writing I have not heard back from Dr. Jerry Lorenz, Director of Research, Audubon of Florida, Tavernier Science Center, with further details of the banded Roseate Spoonbill observed.
The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in May 2013.Please see: Fuzzballs At Little Estero Lagoon Part II
