Reports have been trickling in that migratory bird species are returning to the southwest Florida area.
The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
A Black-bellied Plover in breeding or at least alternate plumage was hoped to be seen this week, but I had no such luck in observing the species at all during a sunrise visit to Bunche Beach Preserve on 14 July 2014.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The Western Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The Short-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
It was coincidentally fourteen weeks since my last visit to this venue. A lack of opportunities to visit Bunche at other times had ideal winds from the east or west often coinciding with the tide and sun offering great photography conditions.
The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The Least Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
This visit to unquestionably one of the best wildlife habitats in Florida occurred on a day when I had to work so the visit was comparatively brief lasting less than a couple of hours.
The Wilson's Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The Fiddler Crab above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The Fiddler Crab above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
There was barely a whisper of a breeze on the unplanned day of my visit though I enjoyed the time immensely as always. In very low light, a Roseate Spoonbill made a pass ahead of the Bald Eagle seen.
The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
Initially, a small flock of what I believe to have been Mottled Duck which are becoming more frequently seen here made a flight path across San Carlos Bay toward Bowditch Point.
The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The immature Little Blue Heron with adult above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The immature Little Blue Heron with adult above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The interaction between an immature Little Blue Heron and an apparent intolerant adult occurred ideally directly in front of me. The adult heron did not appear until the juvenile had successfully captured prey.
The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The immature Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The Western Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
It was on this visit to Bunche Beach that I had a revelation.
Frank Constantin had questioned me the size difference of two shorebirds that we were observing last year. Although I told him that both birds were Willets, I believe the explanation is that some were eastern and others western though I didn't pay close enough attention to them on this most recent trip to the beach.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The Boat-tailed Grackle above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
The highlight of the visit was seeing Wes Dirks who was making his routine observations walking the miles long length of the beach.
The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2014.
Nice sightings for July. I had planned to go on Bunche on the 14th and instead bypassed it and headed to CWA instead. Nice varieties either directions.
ReplyDeleteSorry to have missed you, France. Little Estero Lagoon CWA is definitely an alternative for similar observations with less a concern of the tide table.
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