December Sparrows At Bunche Beach Salt Flats

The beginning of Winter brings the thought of sparrows at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats.

France Paulsen from Sanibel Island and Libby Wolfe visiting from Kentucky above (image 1) were photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

In very early December I inquired of master southwest Florida birder Vince McGrath if he had observed Saltmarsh Sparrow at Bunche. With a mutual opportunity Vince and I met on 5 December at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats at the Publix to search for sparrows.

The immature Reddish Egret above (image 2) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 3) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats by Vince McGrath in December 2014.

The Saltmarsh Sparrow above (image 4) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Saltmarsh Sparrow above (image 5) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

Sanibel Island wildlife blogger France Paulsen was already on the scene with her friend Libby Wolf visiting from Kentucky. France had already observed a Nelson's Sparrow before we caught up with her.

The Greater Yellowlegs above (image 6) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Killdeer above (image 7) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Semipalmated Plover with Least Sandpiper above (image 8) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The White Ibis above (image 9) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

It was tremendous fun to make the walk along the flats exploring the relatively new territory. With my failure to see the movement of our first sparrow seen this day I insisted Vince get the shot of the bird.

The Merlin above (image 10) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Merlin above (image 11) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Merlin above (image 12) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Merlin above (image 13) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

It was with Vince's guidance that a Saltmarsh Sparrow was also readily observed. He was feverish in recording in a journal all the birds seen. Vince told me he was doing a survey.

The Merlin above (image 14) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Merlin above (image 15) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Dunlin above (image 16) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Palm Warbler above (image 17) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

After parting ways with Vince I shortened my distance from the Merlin that he had earlier identified. Watching the bird for a few moments it began to bob its head up and down and from side to side before it flew toward me to conclude my visit to the flats this day.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 18) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 19) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 20) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Osprey with nesting material above (image 21) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

For the second consecutive year I met on the morning of 25 December wildlife blogger Hemant Kishan visiting from Michigan. Last year we missed photographing the sparrows, but had a little better luck this year. Documentation here from this day begins with image 16.

The Osprey with nesting material above (image 22) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Osprey with nesting material above (image 23) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Osprey with nesting material above (image 24) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Saltmarsh Sparrow above (image 25) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

Hemant would miss photographing the Saltmarsh Sparrow this day, but told me he got it and Nelson's Sparrow during a follow-up visit. Be sure to routinely visit Hemant's rewarding blog.

The Greater Yellowlegs above (image 26) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 27) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Bald Eagle above (image 28) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Bald Eagle above (image 29) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

From the Salt Flats Hemant and I made a quick visit to the east channel at Bunche Beach Preserve. A Bald Eagle was active there with prey. Fellow visitors to the beach noted that the eagle had engaged in copulation.

The Mottled Duck above (image 30) was photographed at the Powell Creek Preserve in December 2014.

The Anhinga above (image 31) was photographed at the Powell Creek Preserve in December 2014.

Later in the day I was able to make a visit to Powell Creek Preserve in North Fort Myers which was recommended by Ron Bishop for Wood Duck. It was an enjoyable walk at this venue while no Wood Ducks were observed this Christmas Day.

The Pied-billed Grebe above (image 32) was photographed at the Powell Creek Preserve in December 2014.