A Week In Siesta Key Overlooking Sarasota Bay

"Siesta Casa Coram Deo" was the home rented for a vacation with family this past week in Siesta Key, Florida.

The scene above (image 1) was photographed at Siesta Key in September 2016.

The house had great accommodations with stunning views of Sarasota Bay and downtown Sarasota. Observed over the bay throughout the week were countless Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Laughing Gull, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, White Ibis, Mourning Dove, a dozen or so unidentified crow species, a few Anhinga, a few Osprey, a few Little Blue Heron, four Black Skimmer, a pair of Great Blue Heron, a Tricolored Heron, and a Pied-billed Grebe. Incidentally observed in the trees were Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Tufted Titmouse, and a Yellow Warbler seen early and late in the week. Nanday Parakeet were heard on one occasion. Late in the week a Red-shouldered Hawk briefly landed on one of the boat pilings. A pair of Bald Eagle were also observed overhead on another day. Siesta Key Beach and Lido Beach offered good numbers of the expected shore and wading birds as well. A round at the highly recommended Buffalo Creek Golf Course in Palmetto added a Wood Stork, dozens of Black Vultures and notably more Nanday Parakeets. All this was without being preoccupied with birding with the exception of confirming the Yellow Warblers with binoculars.

The scene above (image 2) was photographed at Siesta Key in September 2016.

Please be sure to be reminded about this weekly Southwest Florida Wildlife Blog with the email gadget located at the top of the page.