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.

Seductive Scarlet

Not too long ago (three years), I caught the birding bug which has evolved into an interest in observation and capturing imagery of avian wildlife in Florida where I live.

The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

I had first heard of a bird known as the Scarlet Ibis over a year ago which I believe I first saw at the website of fellow pbaser Bob Duckwall who has photographed it.

This bird species is not indigenous to the southwest Florida area, but considered an escapee from a zoo or private collection of birds after one of the hurricanes that has ravaged the southeastern United States over the years.

The Willet above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

According to Wikipedia, the species may also have been intentionally introduced to the area beyond its hybridization with the White Ibis in 1962.

"Scarlet," as I believe it to be affectionately known in my immediate area has been elusive to me although there is the very remote chance that it may have been seen last year at Lovers Key State Park as a bird I thought very unusual and possibly photographed by Alena King.

The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

With today my best opportunity to search for the Scarlet Ibis this past week, I made a journey to Estero Lagoon with hopes of catching sight of it at least.

The bird species was photographed at the lagoon on 10 February 2010 by BPN contributor Mike Landwehr of Waukee, Iowa.

The Northern Cardinal above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

On my way to Estero Lagoon which I believed to be an area the bird might be seen again, I drove behind the Church of the Ascension which offered a great opportunity for wildlife viewing.

This was the place that my acquaintance, Linda Grasp, at Harns Marsh Preserve offered through her contact John Dougherty of Morrisville, NY.

The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

I was not completely sure of this location as Linda had noted John's observations of the Scarlet Ibis well beyond the mainland of Fort Myers on Sanibel Island if not closer to Captiva Island.

My observations this week as I made my way to Estero Lagoon after viewing 11 White Ibis including two juveniles were muted by just a relaxing long overdue trip to the beach.

The White Ibis above was photographed near Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

I thought I had read weeks ago that the Estero Lagoon area had set up its bird nesting boundaries to protect its nesting birds including terns and plovers, but I saw no evidence of that as yet.

I don't know exactly where those prohibitions might be as I have not observed them in the past.

The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

As I normally do, I park at the accommodating shopping plaza just south of the Holiday Inn at the beach and walk to the lagoon area from there.

Most recently I walked north beyond the perimeter of the lagoon with the sound of music and DJ at the tiki hut.

The wildlife photographer above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

As I headed south I caught sight of the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron that I had not seen in a long while so I paused to experiment with my flash in photographing it.

This particular bird allowed be to get within the limits of my focusing range of it as it was very subdued.

The Snowy Egret above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

In this immediate area I was able to capture the Northern Cardinal and listen to its call from the mangroves it was well hidden in.

Slowly making my way further beyond the lagoon, I was captivated by a trey of Snowy Egret that were feeding in the surf of the Gulf of Mexico with one of the birds apparently injured in some way as it had a limp in its movement.

The wildlife photographer above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

Before I left this particular part of the beach, there were observations made of Willet, though not sure what type as Tom Obrock has recently noted.

Rounding the bend I encountered a family group that I would learn was also Iowan where I was asked to capture an image of the family with their camera (birding was not their thing, but is NASCAR and photography of it).

The family above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

Just before meeting these people, I observed an American Oystercatcher which was unmistakable in its flight south along the beach.

I wasn't able to catch up to it, but saw the other regulars that I had hoped to see that are missed when not having visited the beach in a long while.

The American Oystercatcher above was photographed at Lovers Key State Park in March 2009.

While primarily interested in photography of birds, there were a few photographers that were interestingly shooting directly into the light although it was subdued with heavy cloud cover.

I was compelled to photograph them as well with expectations to meet them all, but there wasn't the time and focused on the wildlife subjects at hand, one photographer simply inexplicably disappeared.

The Ruddy Turnstone above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

I was able to speak briefly with Alain visiting from France whom I recommended find the Burrowing Owls in Cape Coral which are especially photogenic this time of year.

Although the Scarlet Ibis was not observed this week, I will continue to search for this elusive and seductive creature.

The sunset above was photographed at Little Estero Lagoon in April 2010.

John Dougherty recommends the sighting of the Scarlet Ibis this time of year at Lakes Park.