Celery Fields And A Mountain Bluebird

On 15 November Brian Ahern submitted observations to eBird tallying an astounding 63 species of birds at Celery Fields in Sarasota.

The Osprey above (image 1) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

Earlier in the week I had committed to a trip to this awesome venue with Tom Obrock on the 17th which we made. There were absolutely no regrets of doing so even as another mega rarity for Florida had been reported along the Tamiami Trail halfway between Naples and Miami.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 2) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Marsh Wren above (image 3) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Palm Warbler above (image 4) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 5) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Marsh Wren above (image 6) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Marsh Wren above (image 7) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Purple Gallinule above (image 8) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

Brian had made a full tour of the preserve with five miles of travel. Tom and I were less mobile though walked a rewarding section of the south cell. Brian's overcast conditions during his visit may have been the impetus for the significantly improved number of birds seen between the two tours.

The Green Heron above (image 9) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Purple Gallinule above (image 10) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 11) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 12) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 13) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Nanday Parakeet above (image 14) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 15) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

Well, the highlight of the day was certainly the observation of a Mountain Bluebird at the Oasis Visitor Center at Big Cypress National Preserve. The drive from Fort Myers to Celery Fields and back to the target bird and then home was ridiculously long, but worth it.

The Boat-tailed Grackle above (image 16) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Anhinga above (image 17) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Limpkin above (image 18) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Loggerhead Shrike above (image 19) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck above (image 20) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The White Peacock Butterfly above (image 21) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Limpkin above (image 22) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

There is a report that this was the third Florida record of a Mountain Bluebird observed in the state, but I am otherwise only aware of details from the December 2002 Everglades National Park sighting.

The Wood Stork above (image 23) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 24) was photographed at Celery Fields in November 2015.

The Lesser Yellowlegs above (image 25) was photographed at Palmer Lake in November 2015.

The Forster's Tern above (image 26) was photographed at Palmer Lake in November 2015.

The Glossy Ibis above (image 27) was photographed at Palmer Lake in November 2015.

The Northern Mockingbird above (image 28) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The Mountain Bluebird with prey above (image 29) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The behavior of the Mountain Bluebird was observed to favor flying into the wind when attempting to catch its prey as was noted in a report of a Mountain Bluebird observed in New York years ago. At the Oasis Visitor Center the bluebird was also observed to be harassed by a Northern Mockingbird while the Mountain Bluebird disappeared at the onset of a brief rain shower.

The Mountain Bluebird above (image 30) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The Mountain Bluebird above (image 31) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The Mountain Bluebird above (image 32) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The Palm Warbler above (image 33) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The Mountain Bluebird above (image 34) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

The Mountain Bluebird was present at Big Cypress National Preserve for at least ten days with the rarity last reported at eBird on 19 November.

The Mountain Bluebird above (image 35) was photographed at Big Cypress National Preserve--Oasis Visitor Center in November 2015.

Church Road And Harns Marsh Preserve

Ron Bishop was the first I am aware of to report the return of Felda, Florida, Church Road specialties Western Kingbird and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on 1 November.

The sunrise above (image 1) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

A couple of days later I met up with wildlife photographer Donna McMurrer for an enjoyable morning of observations at Church Road. A single Western Kingbird was seen among a pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers at my observation point. I'm looking forward to a few more returns to this venue this 2016 season for photo opportunities.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 2) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Eastern Towhee above (image 3) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Eastern Towhee above (image 4) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 5) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Great Blue Heron with Little Blue Heron above (image 6) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Tree Swallow above (image 7) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Turkey Vulture above (image 8) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Northern Cardinal above (image 9) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The House Wren above (image 10) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

It was also good to make a visit to Harns Marsh Preserve on 11 November which I had not been to in a very long while as well. The sunrise visit was rewarding with signature species of the preserve seen including Snail Kite, Limpkin, and American Bittern. Both Ed Combs and Meg Rousher were met north of the parking area.

The Downy Woodpecker above (image 11) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 12) was photographed at Church Road in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 13) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Blue-winged Teal above (image 14) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Cattle Egret above (image 15) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 16) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Ring-necked Duck above (image 17) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The American Coot above (image 18) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Ring-necked Duck above (image 19) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

I first met Ed at National Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, Florida, where he was volunteering as a guide with frequency. Discussing that time with Ed it was learned that he had traveled 40,000 miles commuting during his years of service there. Certainly not appreciated enough without your awareness.

The Limpkin above (image 20) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Limpkin above (image 21) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 22) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 23) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 24) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 25) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 26) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 27) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 28) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

Attempting to get to know Ed even better, it was learned that his wife shares a birthday with Hillary Clinton with his shared with Abraham Lincoln. Quite an extreme difference of historical characters I would say.

The Cattle Egret with prey above (image 29) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 30) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite above (image 31) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Snail Kite with prey above (image 32) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Pied-billed Grebe above (image 33) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 34) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The American Coot above (image 35) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Cattle Egret above (image 36) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 37) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

As Ed approached my observation point at Harns Marsh, an American Bittern made an appearance with its flight seen from south to north. It was with great fortune to fire off eleven shots with the camera in the few seconds the bird was visible.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 38) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 39) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 40) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 41) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 42) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The American Coot above (image 43) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The American Bittern above (image 44) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Wilson's Snipe above (image 45) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Anhinga above (image 46) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

There was a dominant American Coot offering expected action from other birds that entered its territory. Additionally, it was particularly enjoyable to observe the behavior of a Tricolored Heron that favored the perimeter of the marsh.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 47) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Boat-tailed Grackle above (image 48) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 49) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.

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The juvenile Tricolored Heron above (image 50) was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2015.