Friday, January 2, 2015

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.

8 comments:

  1. Loved #15 Bob! Early this morning I got over to Church Rd...and got pictures of a cara cara, western kingbird and a red shouldered hawk! Thank you for your advice on where to go to get a picture of a cara cara, Bob !!
    Adele !

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    1. Thank you, Adele. Image #15 was cropped, of course, while that Merlin memorably came alarmingly close to me. I'm glad you made another attempt to see the caracara at Church Road and found it. If you saw the kingbird, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was present as well. The latter especially likes the wires and fence posts several power poles west of Gate 2 at mid morning and later. Also look for them in the field, and on the tops of the trees to the south of that observation point (binoculars or a scope immeasurably helpful) as well.

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  2. Hi Bob

    We love your blog and have been following for a few years now.
    We are coming over from England, to Fort Myers 1st Feb are there any places you can recommend for us to visit? we have been before and been to Bunce and Ding Darling - we don't mind travelling around
    Any info would be greatly received.
    Regards
    Nicky

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    1. Thank you, Nicky. The tides favor morning visits to Ding Darling the first days of your arrival. Bunche will be best in the late afternoon from 2-5 February. Definitely visit Harns Marsh Preserve any early morning (stay several hours). Look for the Florida Scrub Jay at Festival Park in Cape Coral, and Burrowing Owls in the area immediately south of Mohawk Parkway between Skyline and Chiquita Boulevards in the Cape. Also go for all the recently mentioned species at Church Road (I'll have a map available in the sidebar soon). STA5 birding trips are available 14-16 February (contact Margaret England at www.hendrygladesaudubon.org). And also be sure to visit Celery Fields, Little Estero Lagoon, and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

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    2. thanks Bob - we thought you might not had enough rain this year for Corkscrew Swamp as 2013 it was very dry and not a lot about. Harns Marsh will be a new site for us and after seeing your blog we are very keen to go. Not heard about the Celery Fields are they easy to find? We are also going to Blue Cypress for a couple of days - so will try to fit a trip to the Virea Wetlands in as well

      Really appreciate your advice as local knowledge is always the best!
      Nicky - Dreaming of seeing a Scrub Jay!

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    3. You're welcome, Nicky. Hemant Kishan has been reporting favorable conditions at Corkscrew. If you wouldn't mind the long drive, I also recommend a visit to Wakodahatchee Wetlands and Green Cay Wetlands on the east coast (very far south of Viera Wetlands). I will create a map for the Celery Fields as well, and you can find out more about it via the link below.
      http://floridabirdingtrail.com/index.php/trip/trail/Green_Cay_Wetlands_Nature_Center/

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  3. Excellent documentation as always Bob -- loved the Saltmarsh and Merlin images!

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    1. Thank you, Hemant. I'll never forget the first Merlin I observed which happened to be at Bunche Beach Preserve. That is one fast and intimidating bird. It's too bad we missed the Mangrove Cuckoo.

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