December Sparrows At Bunche Beach Salt Flats

The beginning of Winter brings the thought of sparrows at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats.

France Paulsen from Sanibel Island and Libby Wolfe visiting from Kentucky above (image 1) were photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

In very early December I inquired of master southwest Florida birder Vince McGrath if he had observed Saltmarsh Sparrow at Bunche. With a mutual opportunity Vince and I met on 5 December at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats at the Publix to search for sparrows.

The immature Reddish Egret above (image 2) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 3) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats by Vince McGrath in December 2014.

The Saltmarsh Sparrow above (image 4) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Saltmarsh Sparrow above (image 5) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

Sanibel Island wildlife blogger France Paulsen was already on the scene with her friend Libby Wolf visiting from Kentucky. France had already observed a Nelson's Sparrow before we caught up with her.

The Greater Yellowlegs above (image 6) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Killdeer above (image 7) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Semipalmated Plover with Least Sandpiper above (image 8) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The White Ibis above (image 9) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

It was tremendous fun to make the walk along the flats exploring the relatively new territory. With my failure to see the movement of our first sparrow seen this day I insisted Vince get the shot of the bird.

The Merlin above (image 10) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Merlin above (image 11) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Merlin above (image 12) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Merlin above (image 13) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

It was with Vince's guidance that a Saltmarsh Sparrow was also readily observed. He was feverish in recording in a journal all the birds seen. Vince told me he was doing a survey.

The Merlin above (image 14) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Merlin above (image 15) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Dunlin above (image 16) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Palm Warbler above (image 17) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

After parting ways with Vince I shortened my distance from the Merlin that he had earlier identified. Watching the bird for a few moments it began to bob its head up and down and from side to side before it flew toward me to conclude my visit to the flats this day.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 18) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 19) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Swamp Sparrow above (image 20) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Osprey with nesting material above (image 21) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

For the second consecutive year I met on the morning of 25 December wildlife blogger Hemant Kishan visiting from Michigan. Last year we missed photographing the sparrows, but had a little better luck this year. Documentation here from this day begins with image 16.

The Osprey with nesting material above (image 22) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Osprey with nesting material above (image 23) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Osprey with nesting material above (image 24) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Saltmarsh Sparrow above (image 25) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

Hemant would miss photographing the Saltmarsh Sparrow this day, but told me he got it and Nelson's Sparrow during a follow-up visit. Be sure to routinely visit Hemant's rewarding blog.

The Greater Yellowlegs above (image 26) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 27) was photographed at the Bunche Beach Preserve Salt Flats in December 2014.

The Bald Eagle above (image 28) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

The Bald Eagle above (image 29) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in December 2014.

From the Salt Flats Hemant and I made a quick visit to the east channel at Bunche Beach Preserve. A Bald Eagle was active there with prey. Fellow visitors to the beach noted that the eagle had engaged in copulation.

The Mottled Duck above (image 30) was photographed at the Powell Creek Preserve in December 2014.

The Anhinga above (image 31) was photographed at the Powell Creek Preserve in December 2014.

Later in the day I was able to make a visit to Powell Creek Preserve in North Fort Myers which was recommended by Ron Bishop for Wood Duck. It was an enjoyable walk at this venue while no Wood Ducks were observed this Christmas Day.

The Pied-billed Grebe above (image 32) was photographed at the Powell Creek Preserve in December 2014.

Birds And Bees At Fort Myers Beach

On 8 October 2014 I received an email from Hemant Kishan advising me of Vince McGrath's notification of the discovery of a Red-necked Phalarope south of Little Estero Lagoon Critical Wildlife Area by Lee County Bird Patrol volunteer Marie Di Rosa.

The scene above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

As I had not heard of a Red-necked Phalarope in Lee County since Vince's report of the species at Bunche Beach in 2010 (missing the bird at that time), it was necessary to travel to Siesta Key Beach in mid September 2014 for what I believe to be Sarasota County's first documented RNPH with the species my first sighting as well.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

So, I thought it quite remarkable this week that there would be a second sighting of a Red-necked Phalarope in such a short period of time. I even pondered the possibility that this could be the same bird migrating south. Between the two Red-necked Phalarope I devoted about five hours observing them.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

It seemed clear to me that they were definitely not the same bird. The bird in Sarasota was very active, a distinctive characteristic of the species, while it took flight for short distances on many occasions. The Fort Myers Beach (Carlos Pointe) bird was not observed to fly at all.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

Admittedly the tidal pool at Siesta Key Beach is significantly larger than the pool at Carlos Pointe which may have had an impact on the phalarope behavior in each pool. The Sarasota bird appeared to favor an injured leg. The Fort Myers Beach phalarope seemed in perfect health while feeding, and on the move incessantly.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

The sunrise was very favorable for photography of the Fort Myers Beach phalarope initially, but high level clouds were disruptive for fast shutter speeds necessary to document the extremely active behavior of the bird effectively. This is in part what makes this hobby of wildlife photography so appealing to me. You must occasionally make decisions (hopefully the right ones) when using a DSLR camera.

The Red-necked Phalarope pursuing prey above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

While observing the Red-necked Phalarope in the Carlos Pointe tidal pool it was remarkable to see the phalarope take down a bee as the bird was hunting for aquatic prey. My reaction was nowhere near the speed required to get one of those "shots" of a lifetime with the potential certainly there. The phalarope had an apparent dislike for the bee, and dropped it into the water.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

While the bee did not seem the better for its experience I was able to catch up with bud Tom Obrock, and acquaintances Janet and Aaron Kirk (Janet's personality was as effervescent as ever), and prolific reporter of wildlife in the area, France Paulsen. At one point Tom quipped that the phalarope might be a meal for a Peregrine Falcon which Vince had recently reported as having returned to the area.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope with prey above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

Amazingly, after a very short while, a Peregrine Falcon made a flyby at high altitude (certainly benefiting the phalarope) from south to north. It was my hope to see one of Hemant's Great Black-backed Gulls which he has reported at this venue, but the species was absent the morning of my visit.

The Red-necked Phalarope with prey above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

The Red-necked Phalarope above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

I noted that the water got deep very quickly when walking into Big Carlos Pass which I was compelled to do. Reminded that the current here is considered very dangerous, as at New Pass further south, I chose to keep an extremely firm footing (and be very nervous) while barely waste deep.

The juvenile Snowy Egret above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

The fisherman above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.

It is my hope for continued wildlife documentation as long as I am able, while also meeting the interesting people that are intrigued by nature at its best in southwest Florida.

The Peregrine Falcon above was photographed at Fort Myers Beach in October 2014.