Six Mile Cypress Slough: Last Days Of Summer

Six Mile Cypress Cypress Slough Preserve has the potential to offer an extremely rewarding wildlife experience.

The Tufted Titmouse above (image 1) was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in September 2015.

It all depends on some important factors including a lot of luck in the timing of your visit. I made two sunrise visits to the slough this week in hopes of observing warblers passing through.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher above (image 2) was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in September 2015.

The Black-and-white Warbler above (image 3) was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in September 2015.

The Black-and-white Warbler above (image 4) was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in September 2015.

The day before my efforts, local birder and photographer Meg Rousher tallied an astounding 41 species of birds in the parking lot and along the boardwalk at the preserve. Some of the best birders in southwest Florida would be seen making observations along the boardwalk in the ensuing days.

The Black-and-white Warbler above (image 5) was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in September 2015.

The White-eyed Vireo above (image 6) was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in September 2015.

The White-eyed Vireo above (image 7) was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in September 2015.

While my observations at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve were limited, highlights included a Bald Eagle in close pursuit of a White Ibis flying over the tree canopy at Otter Pond as well as a glimpse of a Blue-winged Warbler high in the canopy at Pop Ash Pond.

The Black-and-white Warbler above (image 8) was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in September 2015.

The Black-and-white Warbler above (image 9) was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in September 2015.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 10) was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in September 2015.

It was a challenge to capture most of the images presented in this post. The birds were simply not cooperative for a photo-op.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 11) was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in September 2015.

The Anhinga above (image 12) was photographed at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in September 2015.

Location of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve: 26.570567, -81.827562

September Birding: Siesta Key And Fort De Soto

Good warbler action at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, as reported this mid September, led to an unplanned trip as far as Fort De Soto Park to find additional suspects.

Tom Obrock above (image 1) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

Tom Obrock and I met up for the birding journey north which with good fortune included a sunrise stop at the north Siesta Key Beach tidal pool to find a Wilson's Phalarope that was reported the day before.

The Wilson's Phalarope above (image 2) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Wilson's Phalarope above (image 3) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The preening Wilson's Phalarope above (image 4) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Western Sandpiper with Least Sandpiper above (image 5) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Least Sandpiper above (image 6) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Wilson's Phalarope above (image 7) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Red-necked Phalarope had flown the coop, though the Wilson's Phalarope was able to be observed at extremely close range. Inexplicably the Wilson's Phalarope flew to the northern area of the tidal pool after feeding successfully for more than 15 minutes.

The Wilson's Phalarope above (image 8) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Semipalmated Plover above (image 9) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Piping Plover above (image 10) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The immature Sandwich Tern above (image 11) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Sandwich Tern with prey above (image 12) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Sandwich Tern above (image 13) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The tide at Siesta Key was low and offered a good concentration of shore birds. Tom pointed out a pair of Rock Doves that seemed to me oddly out of place on the beach. Stunningly, a treasure hunter with a metal detector walked immediately through their space as I was capturing images of them.

The Brown Pelican above (image 14) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Sandwich Tern above (image 15) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Sandwich Tern above (image 16) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Black-bellied Plover above (image 17) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Royal Tern with prey above (image 18) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Royal Tern with prey above (image 19) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

With the overcast conditions, I could have stayed for hours observing the action at Siesta Key. Instead we made our way to Fort De Soto with a first stop at the East Beach turnaround where kiteboarders were making good use of the wind while flushing the shorebirds.

The Royal Tern with prey above (image 20) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Royal Tern with prey above (image 21) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Snowy Plover above (image 22) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Ruddy Turnstone above (image 23) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Willet above (image 24) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Rock Dove above (image 25) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The northern lagoons of Fort De Soto Park offered good numbers of shorebirds. The birds were for the most part loafing at midday, while those at the North Beach Lagoon adjacent to the concession stands were interestingly skittish with every overflight by an Osprey.

The Laughing Gull with prey above (image 26) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Laughing Gull with prey above (image 27) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The Laughing Gull with prey above (image 28) was photographed at Siesta Key Beach in September 2015.

The scene above (image 29) was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in September 2015.

The Least Sandpiper above (image 30) was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in September 2015.

The Great Blue Heron above (image 31) was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in September 2015.

It was good to hear the call of a Great Horned Owl at East Beach. Warblers were expected to be seen in abundance at the water fountain, but were surprisingly absent save a pair. A Cooper's Hawk made a very low flyover of the fountain during our second stop of the day there.

The Forster's Tern with mixed shorebirds above (image 32) was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in September 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 33) was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in September 2015.

The Forster's Tern with Black Skimmer above (image 34) was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in September 2015.

The Black Skimmer with mixed shorebirds above (image 35) was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in September 2015.

The Sandwich Tern above (image 36) was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in September 2015.

All in all it was an enjoyable trip with the Wilson's Phalarope at Siesta Key Beach a highlight for me.

The Sandwich Tern above (image 37) was photographed at Fort De Soto Park in September 2015.

In Search Of Erwin At Bunche Beach: Pt. II

With luck I have been in the right place at the right time to observe Erwin the Piping Plover at Bunche Beach Preserve.

The Bald Eagle above (image 1) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

As a relative youngster, Erwin had arrived at San Carlos Bay from its nesting area at a lake shore housing development near North Bend, Dodge County, Nebraska when I would photograph her on 7 January 2012.

The Fish Crow above (image 2) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Roseate Spoonbill with Snowy Egret above (image 3) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Great Egret with Snowy Egret above (image 4) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Short-billed Dowitcher above (image 5) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 6) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The following "season" I again photographed Erwin on 17 October 2012 and 25 January 2013. I missed Erwin in 2014, but again am focused on her in 2015. Although much earlier than previously observed, it would seem likely that Erwin might have arrived at Bunche by now.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 7) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The fisherman above (image 8) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 9) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The white morph Reddish Egret with Snowy Egret above (image 10) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Great Egret above (image 11) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

My first effort to find Erwin of late was unsuccessful on 29 August. A follow-up visit to Bunche Beach Preserve on 1 September is represented in this post. As all the expected waders were present, a wave in excess of 80 Fish Crow would make flyovers from west to east by mid morning.

The Forster's Tern above (image 12) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Snowy Plover above (image 13) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Snowy Plover above (image 14) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Piping Plover above (image 15) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Sandwich Tern above (image 16) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

Shorebirds appeared to be in lower numbers than the visit a few days earlier. Tom Obrock had reported his observation of Black and Common Tern at Bunche on 31 August which I didn't see the following morning.

The juvenile Sandwich Tern above (image 17) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Laughing Gull above (image 18) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The juvenile Sandwich Tern above (image 19) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Sandwich Tern with juvenile above (image 20) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Sandwich Tern with juvenile above (image 21) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

My first of season Forster's Tern was observed among a couple of dozen Sandwich Tern. Many trips to Bunche have offered audible memories of the calls of two species in particular. The two recent visits to find Erwin have offered the Sandwich Tern drowning out the solitude while occasionally Willets are most vocal.

The Sandwich Tern above (image 22) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Little Blue Heron with prey above (image 23) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Little Blue Heron with prey above (image 24) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Roseate Spoonbill with White Ibis above (image 25) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Bald Eagle above (image 26) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

It was an unexpected surprise to meet up with wildlife photographer and Constable Robert Doiron visiting from New Brunswick. At one point we began to part ways as I looked at the large expanse of flats before me where I expected Erwin might be. A moment later Robert called to me to advise that Erwin was between us.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 27) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The white morph Reddish Egret above (image 28) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The white morph Reddish Egret above (image 29) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The white morph Reddish Egret above (image 30) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

Constable Robert Doiron above (image 30) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

Gail Campbell and Tom arrived soon thereafter. Though it was still early I had warmed up quickly and was beginning to get very dehydrated. I have ordered a possible remedy for this problem occurring in the summer months, and will advise of its success or failure hopefully soon.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 31) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

Erwin the Piping Plover above (image 32) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

The Snowy Plover above (image 33) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

Meryl Friedrich with the Virginia Tech Shorebird Program has advised me that the Piping Plover with the green flag "PEV" with the blue band on its upper right leg was banded as an adult on the coast of Rhode Island on 14 May 2015.

The banded Piping Plover above (image 34) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

Robert would make a late afternoon visit to Little Estero Lagoon this day to find an American Flamingo which he photographed in flight exceptionally well.

The banded Piping Plover above (image 35) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

After observing Erwin so early in the overwintering season this year, it is my expectation to see her many more times before her return to Nebraska to produce another generation in 2016.

Erwin the Piping Plover above (image 36) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2015.

Please also see In Search Of Erwin At Bunche Beach: Pt. I