Friday, October 31, 2014

Natural Habitat Loss Near Harns Marsh Preserve

A mid October visit was made to the Red-headed Woodpecker colony east of Harns Marsh Preserve with hopes to learn more about the behavior of the species.


The Northern Flicker above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.

Bird song was my immediate enjoyment upon arriving at the site. However, bird movement was difficult to discern in the predawn light while I was setting up my gear.


The American Kestrel above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The American Kestrel above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Blue Jay above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.

Another near immediate observation was the unfortunate realization that the Red-headed Woodpeckers chose not to remain present as long as I would have hoped.


The Common Grackle with prey above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Common Grackle with prey above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Common Grackle with prey above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.

Although I don't know when the woodpeckers had established themselves on the Joel area property, they were likely not there for a very extended period of time.


The Common Grackle with prey above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Pileated Woodpecker above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Pileated Woodpecker above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.

The creation of such a favored habitat would seem to be a much longer process than the destruction of it observed at the time of my visit.


The Prairie Warbler above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Pine Warbler above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Northern Mockingbird above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.

On a previous visit here I had noted the Red-headed Woodpeckers to take up residence in no less than two cavities in the trees long deprived of greenery.


The White-winged Dove above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Gray Catbird above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Pileated Woodpecker above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.

Each visit to the woodpecker site has led to personal observation of bird species not previously seen there. The highlight of the day was an infrequently seen American Kestrel.


The scene above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The scene above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Northern Cardinal above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.

Destruction of the Red-headed Woodpecker habitat appeared to be conducted by a few Pileated Woodpecker in search of a meal. The RHWO had previously been observed with the same behavior.


The Palm Warbler above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Carolina Wren above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.

After what seemed like an overly extended period of silence a wave of warblers arrived from the north. Most remained high above me while a few dropped much nearer the ground.


The Northern Parula above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Halloween Pennant dragonfly above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.


The Halloween Pennant dragonfly above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.

Future trips to this venue are in order to see if the Red-headed Woodpeckers return.


The dragonfly above was photographed near Harns Marsh Preserve (Joel) in October 2014.

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.