Friday, October 24, 2014

Siesta Key Flats Favored Over Tidal Pool

A return trip to Siesta Key Beach was made on 10 October to observe wildlife conditions.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.

It was very interesting to see that the tidal pool at the north end of the beach that had contained the Red-necked Phalarope and hundreds of shore and wading birds on my preceding visit was completely devoid of birds.


The Sanderling above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Great Egret above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Short-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Royal Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Great Egret above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.

The tide was very favorable before my predawn arrival allowing hundreds of shore and wading birds to congregate on flats immediately adjacent to the tidal pool.


The fishermen above were photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Semipalmated Sandpiper above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Semipalmated Sandpiper above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Willet above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.

However, the tide was rising so observations were limited to less than 90 minutes. The lack of a breeze led to haphazard and unpredictable flight of the birds.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Snowy Plover with a deformity above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Brown Pelican with Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.

There was a very good representation of species that should be expected in the shore habitat. A flyby of four ducks at what seemed was their maximum speed was impressive. They were most likely Mottled Duck.


The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Ruddy Turnstone with Willet above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The immature Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Willet with prey above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Sanderling above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.

While there were no specialty species observed at Siesta Key Beach this day, it was a lot of fun to photograph the action. It was regretful to see a Snowy Plover with its right foot missing.


The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The scene above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.


The scene above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.

Siesta Key Beach, not too distant from Fort Myers, will hopefully be a periodic destination for thorough enjoyment of Florida's Gulf Coast wildlife.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in October 2014.

4 comments:

  1. Beautiful captures en Birds in flight! The photo's a very nice, but my favorite is photo 9!
    Thanks for sharing and have a nice weekend!
    Maria

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Maria. That egret was actually quite special. While virtually every other bird on the flats was mobile, coming and going, the egret stayed within ten feet of me for the entire observation period.

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    2. great! That make it special!

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    3. The bird had stealthily flown in behind me, and I was startled when I saw it for the first time. It probably thought I was fishing and would provide it a free meal.

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