Friday, January 31, 2014

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers In Hendry County

Great fortune was had this week as an email from Tom Obrock advised of Thomas Wymelenberg's report of Western Kingbirds in Hendry County.


The White-winged Dove above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

Tom made a trip to Church Road off SR82 to see Thomas's reported kingbirds on the morning of 25 January, while I made a trip to the venue in the afternoon the same day. After Tom inquired how things were going, he was able to stop by the hot spot for a few minutes.


The Mourning Dove above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

This was my first visit to Church Road, so I made a very leisurely drive over some productive miles of roadway traversing orange groves, pasture, and prolific wildlife. It was a very rewarding five hours of observation.


The American Kestrel above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

For part one of this article, images are included up to and including the first few selected photos I managed to process of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher which Tom had noted in his report. A first brief stop offered my first successful photography of White-winged Dove.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

As I captured an image of the dove, I added it as a lifer. Tom had pointed out the species to me on a trip through the Florida Keys last year, but failed to get a photograph of the dove at the time. I do not count observations of species unless I photograph them.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

A quick stop was next made along Church Road to observe the first of many Red-shouldered Hawks that may be seen here. I had brought along the 1.4x converter for the camera lens in anticipation that the wildlife might be seen at a great distance, and attached it at this point.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

I next arrived at the canal. This is what was certainly the hot spot and where I devoted four plus hours to observation. The Western Kingbirds were on the wires when I parked the car. With the time devoted to observation, kingbird pics became numerous.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

As auto focus on the subjects was difficult with the overcast conditions, it wasn't long before I chose to ditch the converter. Approaching sunset, the clouds dissipated offering a much improved opportunity to photograph what was seen.


The Turkey Vulture above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The kingbirds were actively feeding throughout the afternoon. On a couple of occasions a bird on the wire was observed to capture an insect flying by it in the westerly wind with a very brief flight from its perch.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

Approaching the end of the day I was compelled to play the call of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher as it had not been personally observed. Within seconds a flycatcher of the species appeared on the wires. Then immediately two more. And then two more.


The Killdeer above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Cattle Egret above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

Quite a stunning sight it was to see these beautiful birds of obviously different ages and sexes. The birds allowed my approach below them within a hundred feet before they took flight to the north disappearing from view.


The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Scissore-tails were not far, however, with one almost immediately viewed atop a Brazilian Pepper shrub. Within minutes, a Western Kingbird chased the flycatcher back to the wire. All of the flycatchers flew to the south a short while later.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Palm Warbler above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Palm Warbler above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

I'm getting ahead of myself here, but will add that the day was not yet done, and as of this writing two more visits to this remarkable venue would follow without disappointment.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Cattle Egret above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

While observations are reported here as I am able, Church Road is one of those places offering some of the best of Florida's specialties with rewards I advise you to discover on your own.


The Tree Swallow above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Western Kingbird above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

Additionally, I was intrigued this past week by France Paulsen's report of a new venue I have yet to visit called Smokehouse Bay Preserve. Studying the Lee County park on Google maps well after midnight was not helpful to make a sunrise arrival the same morning. The website for the preserve notes public restriction of access, so will request permission to visit at some point in the future. And if you're not following wildlife blogger, Hemant Kishan, you must investigate his incredibly insightful work.


The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.


The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

Church Road observations from Hendry County will continue in next week's article with special thanks to Thomas A. Wymelenberg for his initial report on 24 January 2014 that can be read at the American Birding Association's Birding News, and then through the Florida Southwest link.


The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Southwest Florida Winter Wildlife: Part II

A highlight of the trip to Celery Fields in Sarasota on 8 January 2014 was of course the battle for an American Coot by two Bald Eagles.


The Bald Eagle with immature eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.

The coot was initially taken from the marsh by the adult eagle. It was a mere 29 seconds before control of the coot went to the immature eagle in flight.


The Bald Eagle with immature eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Bald Eagle with immature eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Bald Eagle with immature eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The immature eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.

Although the adult Bald Eagle made a quick maneuver to be the pursuer, it would ultimately fail to regain control of its prospective meal.


The immature Bald Eagle with adult eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The immature eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The immature eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The immature eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.

This behavior between the eagles lasted about 75 seconds in all. The adult Bald Eagle returned from my distant view after it disturbed many Glossy Ibis.


The immature eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The immature eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The immature eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The immature Bald Eagle with adult eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.

With the conditions to take a wildlife image as bad as they could be, a distant subject, low light, and looking into the light, a flock of Nanday Parakeets made an appearance.


The immature Bald Eagle with adult eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The immature Bald Eagle with adult eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The immature Bald Eagle with adult eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The immature Bald Eagle with adult eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.

Seeing parakeets so infrequently, I had misidentified completely. I have otherwise been referring to this species as Black-hooded Parakeet, while Nanday seems the preferred name.


The immature Bald Eagle with adult eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The immature Bald Eagle with adult eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Glossy Ibis with immature Bald Eagle and adult eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.

Frank Constantin and I left Celery Fields on the chilly morning shortly before ten en route to Myakka River State Park making unexpected stops along the way.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Brown Pelican with Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.

The GPS recommended traveling along Palmer Boulevard which was fortuitous. Frank and I were intrigued with a feral Mute Swan feeding in a fairly large pond.


The Nanday Parakeet above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Osprey above was photographed at Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Northern Shoveler above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.

Although mainly gulls were among the swan, Northern Shovelers were on the scene as well with an overflight of a juvenile Bald Eagle from the west.


The Mute Swan above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Mute Swan above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Northern Shoveler above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Mute Swan above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.

We next made a very brief unproductive stop at Rothenbach Park. Viewing it with a satellite map clearly indicates where one needs to be at this venue.


The Mute Swan above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Mute Swan above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.


The juvenile Bald Eagle above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Mute Swan above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.

Our arrival at Myakka River State Park was not until after 11:00am. It was still overcast and cold though had warmed up slightly to aid comfort.


The Mute Swan above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Mute Swan above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Mute Swan above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Mute Swan above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.

I was quite surprised by the hundreds of Sandhill Cranes observed. A Northern Harrier was seen flying close to the shore of Lake Myakka.


The Mute Swan above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Mute Swan above was photographed near Celery Fields in January 2014.


The Sandhill Crane above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.


The Black-necked Stilt above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.

Shorebirds were seen from the "Birdwalk" among my possibly earliest seasonally observed Black-necked Stilt. Another early sighting of stilt was made at Harns Marsh Preserve in the past.


The Killdeer with Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.


The Sandhill Crane above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.


The Sandhill Crane above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.


The Sandhill Crane above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.

While walking in the tall grass at Myakka River State Park I encountered a very large black snake which I hope was merely a Black Racer. I retreated with caution.


The Wild Turkey above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.


The Northern Harrier above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.


The Northern Harrier above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.


The Northern Harrier above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.

Myakka River State Park deserves a full day of one's time for exploration of its full expanse. The trails were reluctantly left unexplored on my first visit.


The Northern Harrier above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.


The Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.

Though not the best of weather to capture wildlife images this day, it was much fun to make observations.


The Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Myakka River State Park in January 2014.

Please see: Southwest Florida Winter Wildlife: Article I