Audubon Of SW Florida Hawk Watch

The 12th Annual Southwest Florida Audubon Hawk Watch, led by Vince McGrath, took place this year on 11 October. I made the commute to the Sanibel Lighthouse at Point Ybel with birder/ blogger, Tom Obrock.

The Peregrine Falcon above (image 1) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

Since living in the Fort Myers area I have very much looked forward to this event with this year's event offering me the second opportunity to attend. I was pleased to see new friends and wildlife observers/ photographers, Donna McMurrer, David Mintz, and Robert Kimbrell make the trip.

The Black-and-white Warbler above (image 2) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

The Laughing Gull above (image 3) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 4) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

It was also again good to see Fort Myers Birding Commandos, Vince McGrath and Stan Damon, "Nature News" author, Ed Combs, wildlife photographer, France Paulsen, and finally meet adventurer, David McQuade. It was difficult to stay focused on the sky with so many interesting people to talk to.

The Palm Warbler above (image 5) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

The Osprey above (image 6) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

The Northern Rough-winged Swallow above (image 7) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

While there were no hawks seen at the Lighthouse this day, at least in part due to unfavorable wind conditions, it was quite extraordinary to read that things were very active for the Florida Keys Hawkwatch folks making their observations at Curry Hammock State Park the same day.

The Scarlet Tanager above (image 8) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

The juvenile Little Blue Heron above (image 9) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Bailey Tract in October 2015.

The Marsh Rabbit above (image 10) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Bailey Tract in October 2015.

After a few hours of observation at the Lighthouse, Tom and I made a drive to Ding Darling's Bailey Tract. We didn't walk all of the trails, but saw a representation of what might be expected at the time. Tom's report from the day may be seen here.

The Northern Mockingbird above (image 11) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Bailey Tract in October 2015.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 12) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Bailey Tract in October 2015.

I'm already looking forward to the 13th Annual Audubon of SW Florida Hawk Watch in 2016.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 13) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Bailey Tract in October 2015.

Bald Eagles Reunite

A mere snapshot of time in observation of Bald Eagles that inhabit the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam (SWFEC) Site in North Fort Myers, Florida, has offered an extraordinary tale in the lives of four Bald Eagles.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) with Pileated Woodpecker above (image 1) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The latest observations took place from 6-10 October, 2015, with selected images presented here from sunrise visits at the nest site on those days. One of the eagles named Ozzie had passed away a week earlier with necropsy results still not released.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 2) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 3) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 4) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 5) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 6) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 7) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 8) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The European Starling above (image 9) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

Prior to the reappearance of Ozzie after an absence of six months, his longtime mate Harriet had taken interest in an eagle ultimately named M15 which appeared more than willing to be a surrogate father toward the end of the 2014-2015 nesting season.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 10) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 11) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 12) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 13) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 14) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Northern Mockingbird above (image 15) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Loggerhead Shrike with prey above (image 16) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 17) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

There were certainly some including myself that thought M15 had met his end with interaction with Ozzie. However, after a two week absence M15 made an unexpected reappearance on 8 October. The fourth eagle in this story was named Slim.

The juvenile Northern Harrier above (image 18) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Slim) above (image 19) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 20) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 21) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 22) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 23) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 24) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 25) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

With the return of M15, Slim has been completely absent. Slim was the eagle that had replaced M15 almost immediately after he disappeared from the scene. This was an especially interesting time when Harriet would show reluctance in accepting a new mate for the apparent third time.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 26) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Pileated Woodpecker above (image 27) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Pileated Woodpecker above (image 28) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 29) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 30) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Cattle Egret above (image 31) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Anhinga above (image 32) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker above (image 33) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

There were a good compliment of hawks that made appearances primarily through flybys, even offering a landing in the nest tree by a Red-tailed Hawk on one occasion. It will not be until the hatching of eaglets that major contention between bird species gets underway.

The Bald Eagle (M15 with Harriet) above (image 34) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15 with Harriet) above (image 35) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 36) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Turkey Vulture above (image 37) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Black Vulture above (image 38) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 39) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 40) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Great Blue Heron above (image 41) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

My observations of the Bald Eagles at the SWFEC site from 22 August 2015 through 10 October 2015 offered many different species of birds seen. 43 species were personally photographed including the Bald Eagle.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 42) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 43) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 44) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 45) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Red-tailed Hawk above (image 46) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 47) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Wood Stork above (image 48) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 49) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

As of the time of this publication, Harriet and M15 have reunited with M15's two week absence a forgotten memory. While these majestic birds carry on with their lives, I ponder where Slim may be.

The Bald Eagle (Harriet) above (image 50) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Northern Harrier above (image 51) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The immature Bald Eagle above (image 52) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The immature Bald Eagle above (image 53) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 54) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Bald Eagle (M15) above (image 55) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The feral Muscovy Duck above (image 56) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Great Blue Heron above (image 57) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

The Great Blue Heron above (image 58) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.

Additional information about the four eagles and more through prior observations may be found here.

The Great Blue Heron above (image 59) was photographed at the Pritchett Eagle Cam Site in October 2015.