Tropical Storm Hermine At Bunche Beach: Pt. II

With less than favorable conditions for photography of the wildlife at Bunche Beach, it seemed obvious that the birds were not airborne unless disturbed.

The Short-billed Dowitcher above (image 1) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

I opted to remain at one observation point about a quarter mile east of the parking area where a good sized flock of shorebirds were actively feeding. The mangrove trees offered protection from the wind gusts, and surprisingly lacked sand gnats, yet a persistent biting fly found me.

The Forster's Tern above (image 2) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Forster's Tern above (image 3) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Semipalmated Plover with Piping Plover above (image 4) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Piping Plover with Semipalmated Plover above (image 5) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Western Sandpiper above (image 6) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

It was a treat to see a flyby of an American Oystercatcher about 70 feet offshore. A white morph Reddish Egret with an antenna tracking device made a flyby in the opposite direction. I missed the Magnificent Frigatebird that was reported at Bunche this day.

The Marbled Godwit above (image 7) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Brown Pelican above (image 8) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Barn Swallow above (image 9) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Black-bellied Plover above (image 10) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 11) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

It was unfortunate that a beachcomber making several back and forth trips along the shoreline had a total disregard for the wildlife during my stay. Within a couple of hours, virtually all the shorebirds had disappeared from view.

The Black-bellied Plover above (image 12) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Willet above (image 13) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Black-bellied Plover above (image 14) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Black-bellied Plover above (image 15) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The juvenile Black Skimmer above (image 16) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

As I was patiently waiting for additional flybys I had the good fortune of again meeting wildlife enthusiasts Janet and Aaron Kirk. As we were chatting, a Belted Kingfisher flew toward us from the west.

The Short-billed Dowitcher above (image 17) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Wilson's Plover with Willet above (image 18) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The juvenile Snowy Egret above (image 19) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Mangrove Skipper on a Railroad Vine flower above (image 20) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

The Willet above (image 21) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

By mid-afternoon Tropical Storm Hermine was upgraded to Hurricane status when it achieved sustained winds of 75 miles per hour. Hermine made landfall just east of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in the early morning of 2 September which was the beginning of the hurricane's weakening.

The Belted Kingfisher above (image 22) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

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The Belted Kingfisher above (image 23) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in September 2016.

Please also see Tropical Storm Hermine At Bunche Beach: Part I