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.