Day Tripping At Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is a regional wildlife venue in south Florida I would choose to visit more often if not for the long drive from Fort Myers.

The Merlin above (image 1) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

It is a hurried four hour drive from home to Flamingo, the terminus of Main Park Road within the park as a day trip. This park is unquestionably best visited with much time on your hands with camping a recommended option to explore at a leisurely pace.

The Merlin above (image 2) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Killdeer above (image 3) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 4) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

On this particular journey, I was disappointed that White-tailed Kite was not observed at the Sparrow Fields where the kite is commonly seen. Tom Obrock traveling with me on this trip was keen to observe other specialties that were missed.

The Great Southern White Butterfly above (image 5) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Green-winged Teal above (image 6) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Green-winged Teal above (image 7) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

Tom forwarded me a 21 February report from the L31 W Canal by Big Year birder, Corey Callaghan. Tom and I had made our day trip to Everglades National Park on 3 February as reported here which includes what I believe were observations north of Corey's.

The Green-winged Teal above (image 8) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Green-winged Teal above (image 9) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Green-winged Teal above (image 10) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The L31 W Canal forms the eastern boundary of Everglades National Park in Homestead while also forming the western boundary of Frog Pond WMA (Lucky Hammock), and Southern Glades WEA (the Annex), as noted by Florida wildlife author, Brian Rapoza.

The Green-winged Teal above (image 11) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Green-winged Teal above (image 12) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Green-winged Teal above (image 13) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

Corey is a Palm Beach County birder who's Big Year was most recently undertaken in 2014 with the remarkable observation of a Western Spindalis made on 3 May 2014 at Seacrest Scrub Natural Area in Boynton Beach. Wow, I regret not chasing that bird!

The Green-winged Teal above (image 14) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Green-winged Teal above (image 15) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Pied-billed Grebe above (image 16) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The kite was for me the target species of the day, and with good fortune was seen, but not photographed in the area of the Annex at Luck Hammock. The day was getting quite long at this point and the journey home was unfortunately imminent.

The Great Southern White Butterfly above (image 17) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 18) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 19) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

The Sparrow Fields is certainly a venue I plan to explore further.

The Spotted Sandpiper above (image 20) was photographed at Everglades National Park in February 2015.

Harns Marsh Preserve Double Play

A visit to Harns Marsh Preserve was made on 15 December and 17 December with selected images presented here.

The Sandhill Crane above (image 1) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

On the first visit I was in the good company of Frank Constantin visiting from Quebec, and the latter visit to Harns with Hemant Kishan visiting from Michigan.

The Sandhill Crane above (image 2) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Northern Harrier above (image 3) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Snail Kite above (image 4) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The number of species seen were greater on the visit to the preserve with Frank as we had arrived at sunrise.

The Snail Kite above (image 5) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Snail Kite above (image 6) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Ring-necked Duck above (image 7) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

Highlights from that morning included observation of a Snail Kite which is a signature species at Harns Marsh.

The Wood Stork above (image 8) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Tree Swallow above (image 9) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Tree Swallow above (image 10) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

There were also a pair of Northern Harrier which are always a thrill to watch as they hunt over the marsh.

The American Bittern above (image 11) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The American Bittern above (image 12) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Sora above (image 13) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

We met Donna McMurrer for the first time who was very gracious in pointing out an American Bittern that she had been observing.

The Common Gallinule above (image 14) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Least Bittern above (image 15) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Least Bittern above (image 16) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

After watching the American Bittern for some time another flew by as a Sora gave us a good show with its skulking and feeding behavior.

The Least Bittern above (image 17) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Wilson's Snipe above (image 18) was photographed at my residence in December 2014.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 19) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

A Least Bittern was sighted by Ron Bishop further down the road allowing us very good looks of its feeding behavior, while the Wilson's Snipe was waiting for me at my residence.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 20) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 21) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Black Vulture above (image 22) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The visit to Harns Marsh Preserve with Hemant was a later arrival in the morning as we had made Church Road our first stop.

The Black Vulture above (image 23) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 24) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 25) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

It was especially fun to attempt to identify the swallows that were taking haven in the grass that had been freshly cut on my preceding visit.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 26) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 27) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

The American Coot above (image 28) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

While thorough enjoyment is had in all my visits to Harns Marsh Preserve, these were especially fun in the company of great people.

The Palm Warbler above (image 29) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in December 2014.

Mid-December Wildlife Photography in SW Florida

Bunche Beach Preserve might be a contender for one of your favorite wildlife venues if you ever happen to visit.

The Black Skimmer above (image 1) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

This is the case for me with a trip on 14 December particularly enjoyable after not visiting for a while with the first species sighted at the preserve a pair of Bufflehead directly off the parking area in pre-dawn light. The birds were drifting to the east at a considerable speed.

The Black Skimmer above (image 2) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Royal Tern above (image 3) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Royal Tern above (image 4) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Snowy Egret above (image 5) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Laughing Gull above (image 6) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 7) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 8) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

Since I was early in meeting up with Frank Constantin visiting from Quebec this day, I debated "chasing" those birds to the east channel, and regrettably made the decision not to walk the quarter to half mile necessary to get ahead of the birds.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 9) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Laughing Gull above (image 10) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Laughing Gull above (image 11) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 12) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Reddish Egret above (image 13) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Royal Tern above (image 14) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Forster's Tern above (image 15) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

It would have additionally required wading in the water at more than waist depth with hopes of at least halving the distance to them from shore for a decent pic in better light. After meeting up with Frank, we went to the west channel where a greater number of birds had congregated.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 16) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 17) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Willet above (image 18) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 19) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 20) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Short-billed Dowitcher above (image 21) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Short-billed Dowitcher with Dunlin above (image 22) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2015.

It was rewarding to have the very good light of the morning at this time of year which is hit and miss. A few places were chosen for observation with the main focus a hope for overflights and flybys of waders. Neither were overly impressive unfortunately.

The Little Blue Heron with prey and Great Blue Heron above (image 23) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Little Blue Heron with prey above (image 24) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Little Blue Heron with prey above (image 25) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Black-bellied Plover above (image 26) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Piping Plover above (image 27) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

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

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

It was rewarding to see the large numbers of birds loafing and doing their thing, take flight as one inexplicably, and return to the near same place they were on a few occasions. My favorite species of the day photographed was Forster's Tern. It stands out like a sore thumb amongst the other terns.

The Black Skimmer above (image 30) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Black Skimmer above (image 31) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Forster's Tern above (image 32) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Sandwich Tern with Forster's Tern above (image 33) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Short-billed Dowitcher above (image 34) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Short-billed Dowitcher above (image 35) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Dunlin above (image 36) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

It was also interesting to observe a Great Blue Heron stalk a Little Blue Heron with prey. After reading reports of a Great Blue consuming ducks at the seasonal Oil Well Road Duck Pond, it seems anything is possible with the wild ones.

The Ring-billed Gull with Royal Tern above (image 37) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Black-bellied Plover above (image 38) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

With this late report, I am already approaching another need to visit Bunche.

The Least Sandpiper above (image 39) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.