Go Fly A Kite At Harns Marsh

While I was very tempted to take up Fabs Forns' "Project July: Interaction" Sticky at Birdphotographers.net, with a goal of photographing birds and their offspring this week, I decided instead to return inland to Harns Marsh Preserve knowing it unlikely to see fledgling birds.

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

If you have yet to visit BPN, I strongly encourage you to do so.

There is some extraordinary and world class wildlife photography there with a great community of members and educational opportunities.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

I have lately been getting an earful of the fledgling activity of the Common and Boat-tailed Grackles at my front door as there are a few nests in the Sabal Palms unfortunately without an ability to photograph them.

The adult birds have been observed bringing insects to the young and removing their droppings from the nest.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

I haven't been able to get out of my mind the comment made to me by American Birding Association member, Hemant Kishan, who told me of his disappointment of his experience at Harns Marsh Preserve in April of this year.

Upon each of my visits there, I've considered the wildlife experience very rewarding.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

This week I arrived at the preserve and saw two Limpkins and a Snail Kite before I parked the car.

In my few hours observing the activity at the preserve this week, I didn't see as many smaller birds as I have in the past, but certainly to be expected in mid-summer.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

The vocal calls of birds at the preserve were abundant while a few were even recognizable.

I like to think that I'm getting better at my ability to bird by ear.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

I just wish that the shore and wading birds weren't so typically silent in my observations of them as I need repetition for identification.

The intent of my visit to Harns Marsh Preserve this week was to observe and photograph the Snail Kite which can be expected to be seen at any time of year.

The Little Blue Heron (1st year) above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

On this latest visit, I walked south to the treeline and waited for the action to come to me while taking a mere few shots at the parking area.

I have been expecting the kites to become more prevalent as snails become so as well.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

Egg casings of the snails were observed in abundance to later this summer and fall benefit the kites and other bird species.

On a previous visit to Harns Marsh, I've observed the Limpkin to favor the snails as the bird species worked the shoreline.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

Although I wasn't counting, there were at last at least five unique sightings of the Snail Kite.

I was able to observe both sexes of the kite which are very distinctive from one another and what appeared to be a 1st year juvenile as well.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

It would be quite a thrill to observe the White-tailed and Mississippi Kites at this venue which have yet to be documented, while the range of these species makes it a possibility with the greatest of fortune.

On a couple of occasions, the Snail Kite flew so close to me that I wasn't able to keep the bird in the viewfinder of the camera.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

The alligator I observed on my last visit to the preserve was not seen.

Although the Limpkin could be heard at one point or another from every direction, it was especially active when a Snail Kite flew low over its breeding colony far to the north from where I was.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

When the kite was feeding up close at one point, I was able to observe that it is very selective in the part of the snail that it eats.

After the snail is pulled from its shell, the darker parts of it are discarded by the kite before the off-white snail itself is consumed in small bits.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

I noted that the sign at the parking area with its certain prohibitions at the preserve was missing.

One of the rules I recall were that no boats were permitted in the water.

The Mottled Duck above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

With the sign gone, it seemed appropriate to see a boat, with fishing enthusiasts, in the water for the first time.

Fellow wildlife enthusiast, Tom Obrock, occasionally reports about his experiences at this venue as well.

The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2010.

Needless to say, it was another enjoyable wildlife experience at Harns Marsh Preserve.

I hope Hemant gives it another chance to impress him.

Ding Darling NWR and Artie Morris in 2010

In the summer of 2009, I read in premier wildlife photographer Artie Morris' Bulletins and Notes Archive that he would not be visiting Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge (DDNWR) for the first time in 11 years during his President's Week Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) of southwest Florida.

The master wildlife photographer, Artie Morris, above was photographed at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2010.

The reason for this Artie described as a decline in the wildlife photo opportunities observed over the past decade at the refuge.

In the most recent musings in his blog, Artie mentions getting himself and his gear crapped on by some birds observed. He is really serious in his work to do that for sure.

The Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT) crew above was photographed at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2010.

I have made several trips to DDNWR in the last couple of years and had always been impressed by the diversity of wildlife seen at different times of the day and tidal situations.

Mr. Morris told me that his 11 February 2010 visit to the Ding Darling Refuge was unplanned while the weather here in Florida was too cold to take his clientele into the water at another planned venue at the time of his IPT.

The Great Egret above was photographed at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2010.

The unusually cold weather here in Florida this winter has been persistent to say the least. My last few beach trips have had me head to the car after my wildlife observations shivering uncontrollably.

There was relative seclusion from the northerly winds on the day of Artie's visit as the refuge is more of a see it from the road (Wildlife Drive) experience.

The Snowy Egret juvenile above was photographed at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2010.

Upon my arrival to the refuge, the IPT had already made a complete trip through the drive and had established itself at a great photographic location just beyond the entrance gate on its second trip through.

Co-leader of the IPT, Fabiola Forns, had told me that there was little opportunity upon the first trek through the sanctuary.

The White Ibis above was photographed at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2010.

When I had the opportunity to take my first photographs of Mr. Morris and others with him, I was surprised by the stance of the photographers. Comfortably on two feet they were, but certainly having taken a risk with their photo gear to get closer to the water's edge.

I would have been in the mud to document the Snowy Egret periodically dancing over the water in its search of food with numerous photo opportunities at hand.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2010.

This was an extraordinary experience I have observed at this place before. The situation should only be expected again in early morning light with a very low tide.

At one point, I recall Artie hollering the correct exposure to be using under the circumstances. I was way off. I was significantly overexposing my images of the birds.

The Wood Stork above was photographed at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2010.

It was my great pleasure to meet the down to earth co-leaders as well of the 2010 SWF IPT, Fabs and Arthur Forns. They were unpretentious and more than willing to share their expertise and have me meet everyone present affiliated with Bird Photographers Network.

There was a new word with seemingly great meaning added to the BPN lexicon while in the company of these fun people. Artie had called that a "wiggle" was needed. After clarification, the word summoned his group together for a trip down the road with a stop for lunch . . . I think.