Birds, Beaches, And A Tropical Storm

As a weather system in the Gulf of Mexico became named Tropical Storm Debby, setting a record for the number of named tropical storms in the Atlantic basin before the end of June, I heard from Tom Obrock.


The Herring Gull above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.

Tom was at Bunche Beach counting Magnificent Frigatebirds in large numbers that I had never encountered before. He noted over thirty before advising me he was on his way south to check out the possibilities at Fort Myers Beach and Bowditch Point. I met up with Tom at the Sanibel Lighthouse after counting nineteen frigatebirds along the causeway. This compared to the two or at most three that I had previously seen at one time. There was little wildlife activity at the lighthouse as the waves and winds caused part of the road accessing the lighthouse by car to be washed away. We traveled from there to Bowman's Beach as the winds appeared even stronger from the south. With a game of flag football in progress in the calmer conditions offshore, we continued toward Captiva where we stopped at Blind Pass. It was here that I got my first sighting of Chimney Swifts. They were darting over the tree tops creating a great challenge in photographing them. A juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker was seen for the first time here. After a short while observing a Sandwich Tern work the Pass where the Gulf waters enter Pine Island Sound at high tide, we headed back to where Tom thought he had seen a Herring Gull along the causeway. The bird was still there at a short distance from Causeway Islands Park. It is unusual to see this species of gull in the area at this time of year. A remaining few frigatebirds were again observed riding the winds. Ospreys were present as a lone Roseate Spoonbill juvenile flew toward the east. After Tom had to move on, I devoted time to observation of a pair of Brown Pelicans that were actively feeding. A Mottled Duck was observed making its way over San Carlos Bay in the direction of the lighthouse. I then made a stop at Bunche Beach to observe a higher tide than I have ever observed there before. Expected heavy rains were fortunately absent this day, while a state of emergency would ultimately be declared by Florida's Governor this week. This season's nesting of Loggerhead Turtles along Florida's Gulf Coast was reported to have had significant losses.


The Herring Gull above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Magnificent Frigatebird above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Magnificent Frigatebird above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Magnificent Frigatebird above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Osprey above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Boat-tailed Grackle above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Chimney Swift above was photographed at Blind Pass in June 2012.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Blind Pass in June 2012.


The Mourning Dove above was photographed at Blind Pass in June 2012.


The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Magnificent Frigatebird above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Osprey above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The scene above was photographed at the Sanibel Causeway in June 2012.


The scene above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in June 2012.


The scene above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in June 2012.


The scene above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in June 2012.


The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in June 2012.


The Brown Pelican with Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in June 2012.


The Osprey, headed toward Bowditch Point, above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in June 2012.

50 At Captiva Island

A drop in temperature and humidity this week was refreshingly comfortable.

Jim above was photographed at Captiva Island in October 2011.

This couldn't have happened at a better time as I welcomed family visiting for my sister Karen's 50th birthday.

In all, they would arrive on Captiva Island from South Carolina, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

The musician at Keylime Bistro above was photographed at Captiva Island in October 2011.

A home rented at Andy Rosse and Binder where we spent the week offered a stunning view of Pine Island Sound with the beach on the Gulf of Mexico a short walk away.

Exploring the house upon our arrival led me to one of the decks on the upper floor that allowed a view of two hawks that flew directly at me.

The sunset above was photographed at Captiva Island in October 2011.

I didn't have the camera at the time that would have allowed the opportunity to help identify them.

They were stunning and evidently in transitional plumage.

Jim above was photographed at Captiva Island in October 2011.

Bald Eagles and Osprey also put on a show highlighting their intolerance of each other.

The docks and boat lifts were a commonly used perch for Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull, Royal Tern, Osprey and Sandwich Tern.

The Bald Eagle with Osprey above was photographed at Captiva Island in October 2011.

At one point the occasionally seen Belted Kingfisher made a low flyover of a couple dozen Royal Tern causing them all to take flight unexpectedly.

One particular morning was devoted to a trip to Bowman's Beach for some shell collecting.

The lawn ornament above was photographed at Captiva Island in October 2011.

I learned a lot about this endeavor reading one of the island brochures that indicated that shelling is best done under strict conditions including a low tide, a full or new moon, and a northerly wind direction.

It was also noted that shells will be buried under the sand making this a serious business (which it is) for those in the know.

Karen above was photographed at Captiva Island in October 2011.

At this particular beach were hordes of gulls, terns and Sanderling among a few Black-bellied Plover.

On another day with anticipation of the sunset on Captiva Beach, Mom joined us to partake in a puff or two from one of the celebratory cigars brother Jim brought with him from New England.

The shorebirds at Bowman's Beach above were photographed at Sanibel Island in October 2011.

Beautiful sunrises and sunsets were common fare with one of the latter accommodating a beach wedding.

Sister Nancy and her husband Jack had celebrated their second wedding anniversary a few days earlier.

Marie above was photographed at Captiva Island in October 2011.

We made an afternoon trip to Ding Darling where masses of birds with a greater diversity had yet to arrive.

One of the closest birds to Wildlife Drive seen was a double banded Roseate Spoonbill.

The Roseate Spoonbill at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge above was photographed at Sanibel Island in October 2011.

Great work has been made at the Shell Mound Trail with a particular interest of mine the recreation of the archeological "dig" of the site going back many hundreds of years.

It's understandable why wildlife find the Sanibel and Captiva Islands so attractive along their journey with the area surrounded by water and subtropical vegetation.

Jack and Nan above were photographed at Captiva Island in October 2011.

Tob Obrock had texted me earlier in the week to advise me of his observation of a rarely seen Canada Warbler.

On one of the trips to the Publix on the mainland I caught sight of my first of season American Kestrel on a wire in front of the Mobil station with the species also seen flying over the front yard of the house on the last day of our stay on Captiva.

Glenn and Karen above were photographed at Captiva Island in October 2011.

Karen's husband Glenn told me that he had again seen the hawk over the sound (with fish in talons) offering further insight into behavior.

A very brief visit to the Sanibel Lighthouse was made where the funneling of hawks on their migratory trek south should be rewarding in the weeks ahead.

The sunset with Bottlenose Dolphin above was photographed at Captiva Island in October 2011.

Bunche Beach East

Until this past week, it had been a very long while since I visited the east channel that cuts its way from San Carlos Bay into the estuary at Bunche Beach Preserve.

The Reddish Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

I was well aware that my early morning visit, when I had the chance this week, would be at a very high tide which would make passing the channel impossible on foot as I was.

Even at a very low tide, the east channel is nearly chest deep in places if you choose to cross it, though gets shallower the further you go out into the bay.

The Willet above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

The approach to the channel was met with very still air and little bird activity.

The biting insects were at their worst after exiting the car a mile back and not bad compared to how they can be after sunset under certain conditions at the preserve.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

The water of San Carlos Bay was closer to the grass along the dune than I ever recall seeing it before.

Once at the channel, a Reddish Egret was seen in the company of a Willet feeding close to shore as the tide peaked when I took my first shots with the water three feet above mean sea level.

The Cattle Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

I had been forewarned by a weather forecast on the radio that this would be the hottest day of the 2010 summer.

There had been many other days already that were more uncomfortable due to higher humidity conditions while my morning through early afternoon visit to the preserve was comparably very pleasant.

The Snowy Egret with Reddish Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

A goal was to ensure that the shots I would take were level, without a need to rotate any shots in post processing, which was made possible by a bubble level in my tripod.

I initially made a great effort with this in mind by kicking the sand along the shore to a depth of a few inches where I was able to set one of the tripod's legs where it allowed me as low to the ground as possible without having to hold the camera.

The White Ibis above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

The water of the bay actually felt surprisingly cool as I entered it while planting myself down where I remained within a small radius for the next four and a half hours.

Photographs of birds, if they're not in flight typically, I find most appealing in an image from a low perspective while as close to their height as possible.

The Little Blue Heron juvenile above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

At about the time I saw evidence of clouds around 9:00am was when a strong and welcome breeze picked up from the east.

With the sun at my back, I simply waited for the action to happen.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

I have to admit that I would not have considered making this trip under the conditions of such a high tide if there wasn't the possibility of seeing the Black-necked Stilt for the first time.

Tom Obrock had told me that the species had been seen at the preserve about a month ago while he has noted seeing it more recently at the I-75 rest stop near the Fort Myers airport.

The Snowy Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

The stilt regrettably remains elusive to me after my most recent visit to Bunche Beach Preserve.

I did, however, see some surprisingly enjoyable action that I would never have expected.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

The conditions turned out to offer some of the most enjoyable and prolific wildlife observation I had yet to encounter in one day.

Shortly after a few wading species passed overhead, I decided to change my strategy and primarily focus my efforts on photographing birds in flight which I continue to struggle with successfully.

The Brown Pelican above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

I adjusted the camera's settings many dozens of times to compensate for the different species and the perspectives I had of them.

It was a treat of course to see species I hadn't observed in a long while and to photograph juveniles which should be expected this time of year.

The Snowy Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

This visit to the preserve was an opportunity for me to acquire a much better appreciation for the differences in shorebirds and improved identification of them.

Sandpipers, plovers and terns were abundant as the tide waned and the bay's flats were exposed offering the birds a resting and feeding opportunity.

The Great Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

My first few shots of the day were taken into the light.

I don't like shooting under those conditions as the results are often unreliable for an appealing image unless compensation is made diligently in the camera's settings or through flash which I chose not to use.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

In this most recent visit to Bunche Beach Preserve, I made my typical adjustments I do with the camera's exposure bias which was determined by the subjects that I thought warranted it.

The lower settings were used for the most part when I was photographing the Snowy Egret and other species seen in the surf with significant white in their appearance.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

The higher settings were used when I was photographing many birds in flight in the bright sky.

I've never trusted the camera to take an image with automatic settings and most often choose to make any inferior images with full accountability to myself.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

There were a few disputes of territory between a pair of Snowy Egrets and a pair of Tricolored Herons which occupied some of my observation time.

At one point I was surprised by a juvenile Snowy Egret having apparent dominance over an adult.

The "Great Getaway" above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

The Tricolored Heron juvenile was harassed by its elder when the younger bird got too close.

It was interesting to see the successful feeding by the birds with the Snowy Egret in particular making numerous stabs into the water which brought two fish at a time.

The Laughing Gull above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

It was on this trip that I made an observation, with the most confidence I've yet to have, of the Western Sandpiper.

I continue to struggle with the identification of these birds with subtle differences in their appearance.

The Snowy Egret above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

I consider the highlight of the trip my sighting of the Bald Eagle which I observed at the preserve for the first time.

A fellow visitor of the preserve told me of a visit he made to Bowman's Beach on Sanibel Island in June of this year.

The Least Tern juvenile above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

He commented on his observation of Snowy Plover juveniles that ran into his shadow to escape the heat of the sun.

I also heard this week from American Birding Association member, Hemant Kishan, who told me of his "spectacular" observations last month at Estero Lagoon which included the sighting of a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron "hunting plover chicks as if they were crustaceans."

The Western Sandpiper above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

Thanks for that report, Hemant.

I also had an interesting visitor to my Pbase site that commented on images cryptically over a half dozen images which when strung together read . . . IN SEARCH OF PEACE AND LOVE, I AM EXPANDED TO PROTECT MY WORLD. PLEASE COME AND JOIN WITH ME, LET US TOUCH THE SKY & REACH THE HIGH. FLY BEYOND THE BONDAGE, FOR FOOD TO MY SOIL MOTHER, I MUST RETURN TO YOUR PLACID BREAST.

The Short-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

Although I missed photographing a flyover of a juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron as I wasn't prepared for it, I fortunately observed another of the species on the roadside while leaving the preserve which made up for the earlier loss.

I certainly won't consider a high tide visit to Bunche Beach Preserve any less than very favorable again.

The Osprey above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.

And I have to add that I'm very much looking forward to frequent trips to Bowman's Beach during the 2011 breeding season.

The inclination of Bowman's Beach appears very favorable for great light during morning or afternoon visits as is Bunche Beach.

The Black-crowned Night-Heron juvenile above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunche Beach Preserve in July 2010.