Audubon Of SW Florida Hawk Watch

The 12th Annual Southwest Florida Audubon Hawk Watch, led by Vince McGrath, took place this year on 11 October. I made the commute to the Sanibel Lighthouse at Point Ybel with birder/ blogger, Tom Obrock.

The Peregrine Falcon above (image 1) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

Since living in the Fort Myers area I have very much looked forward to this event with this year's event offering me the second opportunity to attend. I was pleased to see new friends and wildlife observers/ photographers, Donna McMurrer, David Mintz, and Robert Kimbrell make the trip.

The Black-and-white Warbler above (image 2) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

The Laughing Gull above (image 3) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 4) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

It was also again good to see Fort Myers Birding Commandos, Vince McGrath and Stan Damon, "Nature News" author, Ed Combs, wildlife photographer, France Paulsen, and finally meet adventurer, David McQuade. It was difficult to stay focused on the sky with so many interesting people to talk to.

The Palm Warbler above (image 5) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

The Osprey above (image 6) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

The Northern Rough-winged Swallow above (image 7) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

While there were no hawks seen at the Lighthouse this day, at least in part due to unfavorable wind conditions, it was quite extraordinary to read that things were very active for the Florida Keys Hawkwatch folks making their observations at Curry Hammock State Park the same day.

The Scarlet Tanager above (image 8) was photographed at the Sanibel Lighthouse- Point Ybel in October 2015.

The juvenile Little Blue Heron above (image 9) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Bailey Tract in October 2015.

The Marsh Rabbit above (image 10) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Bailey Tract in October 2015.

After a few hours of observation at the Lighthouse, Tom and I made a drive to Ding Darling's Bailey Tract. We didn't walk all of the trails, but saw a representation of what might be expected at the time. Tom's report from the day may be seen here.

The Northern Mockingbird above (image 11) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Bailey Tract in October 2015.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above (image 12) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Bailey Tract in October 2015.

I'm already looking forward to the 13th Annual Audubon of SW Florida Hawk Watch in 2016.

The Eastern Phoebe above (image 13) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Bailey Tract in October 2015.

Blind Pass In Mid Winter: Captiva Side

An early February visit to Blind Pass was with the hope of observing Northern Gannets as reported by Lillian Stokes the previous week.

The sunrise above (image 1) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

While waiting for them unsuccessfully I was entertained by the other wildlife that was active in the noticeable wind from the east northeast. The best bird of the morning at the pass was a Bonaparte's Gull.

The Ruddy Turnstone with prey above (image 2) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ruddy Turnstone above (image 3) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 4) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 5) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 6) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 7) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Bonaparte's Gull above (image 8) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

When I was reviewing its images for this post, I was unsure of what it was and requested the advice of master birder, Vince McGrath. Asking Vince if this might be a Ross's Gull, he informed me otherwise noting it as a Bonaparte's Gull highlighting the bill and tail feathers as telltale characteristics.

The Bonaparte's Gull above (image 9) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 10) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Great Black-backed Gull (3rd winter) above (image 11) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Great Black-backed Gull (3rd winter) above (image 12) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Great Black-backed Gull (3rd winter) above (image 13) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Great Black-backed Gull (3rd winter) above (image 14) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 15) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

I had previously only seen a Bonaparte's Gull on one other occasion while birding Bald Point State Park in February 2013 with Tom Obrock. The butt shot image of the gull on that trip has finally been improved upon.

The Royal Tern above (image 16) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 17) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 18) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 19) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Black Skimmer above (image 20) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 21) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 22) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

As a coincidence, I had the good fortune of observing a Great Black-backed Gull for the second time as well with its previous sighting at Lovers Key State Park in either 2007 or 2008.

The Great Black-backed Gull (3rd winter) above (image 23) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Royal Tern above (image 24) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Great Black-backed Gull (3rd winter) above (image 25) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

I left Blind Pass reluctantly with my next destination Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 26) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

The Herring Gull above (image 27) was photographed at Blind Pass in February 2015.

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.