My wildlife buds
Tom Obrock and
Hemant Kishan have had success in finding Whimbrel in preceding weeks at Little Estero Lagoon.
The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
While I thought I might travel down to that great wildlife venue for the opportunity to see Whimbrel, I was compelled to re-visit Bunche Beach Preserve which remains my favorite venue.
The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The late afternoon trip to the beach offered a change in the weather with the wind from the north. This allowed a disruption in the thunderstorms that have otherwise been observed at any time of day this past summer.
Weatherspark can be a resource to see when a storm has taken place with a related drop in temperature in the Fort Myers area.
The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
A Lehigh Acres resident's life was ended last month with his failure to take shelter from a lightning storm at Fort Myers Beach. Tom has reminded me of these conditions and eventualities a few times in the past. Good advice is that if you can hear thunder be sure to take shelter.
The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
More than five weeks had passed since my last visit to Bunche while missing the nesting activity this season at Little Estero and Tigertail Beach Lagoon, the latter two known well for such favorable conditions.
The Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
Wilson's Plover nest at Bunche Beach, but are far and well protected from the parking areas during their nesting season. I don't think I included the image captured of Loggerhead Turtle observed on my last visit to Bunche due to its poor quality. There is too much foot traffic with a shallow shoreline at times for viable turtle nesting conditions, not to mention a low dune.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
After settling down I was torn between observing an American Oystercatcher that is not always observed at Bunche that went into a feeding mode after watching it for a short while, and a flock of Roseate Spoonbill that are not always so accommodating either.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The wildlife photographer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
As is typical, the birds at Bunche appeared almost completely unaware of my presence and approached closely. A fellow wildlife photographer expressed the complete joy of the experience before us.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
I ultimately chose to stay with the spoonbills as they would not require me to move from my stationary position. This flock of birds primarily consisted of immature birds which were occasionally giving me the eye with a skittish hurried nature.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The number of birds observed at the favorably low tide was impressively large with a good representation of all the birds species that should be expected. I kept a keen lookout for American Avocet which is a possibility at Bunche as well.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The chorus of calls from the juvenile Royal Terns was almost hypnotic as I waited for additional wildlife to arrive on the scene.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in August 2014.
