This article highlights the latter part of the day on 1 April when I traveled with Tom Obrock to Tampa Bay's Fort De Soto Park which offered two life birds for me.
The Black-and-white Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
Earlier in the day Bunche Beach was good with thought of
Mangrove Cuckoo but missed it as expected. Mergansers were unexpectedly seen not too far from the beach and won't hesitate to get in the water where they were for better observation in the future.
The Black-and-white Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Northern Parula above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Worm-eating Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Yellow-throated Vireo above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Yellow-throated Vireo above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The arrival at Fort De Soto occurred not too late in the day with time to traverse virtually the entire park. My favored stop on this visit was the East Beach Woods. It was here that Hooded Warbler was in very good numbers and active allowing my first observation of the species.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The White-eyed Vireo above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The White-eyed Vireo above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The White-eyed Vireo above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Prothonotary Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The White-eyed Vireo above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Prothonotary Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Gulf Pier offered a small flock of foraging Red Knot. A few of the birds were banded with one (9KX) having inexplicably lost a foot since its previous sighting according to Ron Smith. A pair of Black Scoter were observed here as well with Tom describing them as very late.
The Prothonotary Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Red Knot above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Black Scoter above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Great Horned Owl above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Great Horned Owl above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The juvenile Great Horned Owl above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Great Horned Owl above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The next stop was the North Beach with a quick drive made through the Arrowhead Picnic Area. Shore and wading birds were very few and far between at the lagoons although the tide appeared favorably low. An unruly kid observed chasing a Wood Stork may have had something to do with the conditions.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
At the East Beach Woods Tom and I observed the Great Horned Owls with both juveniles very active though no flight was observed. Tom quickly identified the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that was silently working the cypress trees for insects.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
And finally we returned to the East Beach Woods for better observation of the warblers. Tom's report from this trip may be
seen here.
The Hooded Warbler above was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in April 2014.
Please also see:
San Carlos Bay To Tampa Bay: Part I
