The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.Traveling west by foot from the parking area along San Carlos Bay, the first west channel is the largest of the three. This channel should be crossed with great care, especially at a high tide. If you get caught across this channel at a high tide, you may cross it at a shallower depth the further you walk into the bay. Proceed with extreme caution under those circumstances. The second channel is the smallest which appears, from a satellite view, to allow access to a small lake or pond within the mangrove estuary. I have ventured a couple hundred feet along this channel a few times before which allows a great appreciation for the tropical ecosystem found here. This channel is surprisingly deep considering its width. The third west channel is quite a distance further, but worth the reward upon arrival. This area is similar to the first channel offering exposed sand flats at low tide. It however offers an opportunity to observe the wildlife that is significantly less disturbed than at the first channel. It was a treat here this week to encounter paddle board surfing enthusiasts that were having an incredibly fun time. Sunbathers that had arrived via a small boat regrettably disturbed about half the birds I was observing into flight which I am quite sure included the Long-billed Curlew that has been observed at Bunche since the beginning of the year. A Red-breasted Merganser was very accommodating for a photo-op. No where else have I observed a greater concentration of Willet. The third channel as well appears to offer access to the inland pond that will be personally explored at some point in the future. The birds either migrating through or having settled down in the area are showing good signs of their transition to breeding plumage. On the morning of my visit to Bunche this week, Frank Constantin and I were attempting to capture the incredibly fast Tree Swallows at the first west channel that were making their way through. It was Frank's last opportunity to observe the wildlife before his return home to Quebec.
The Herring Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Red-breasted Merganser above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Western Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Tree Swallow above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Ring-billed Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Little Blue Heron juvenile above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Little Blue Heron juvenile above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
Sanibel Lighthouse above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The primarily Willet above were photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The primarily Dunlin above were photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Great Egret above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Forster's Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The aviation enthusiast above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Wilson's Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Sanderling with Wilson's Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Red-breasted Merganser above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Willet with Short-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Red-breasted Merganser above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Willet with Short-billed Dowitcher above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Red-breasted Merganser above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
The Willet above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
Laura Staley, Stephanie Jackson, Wendy Bourn and Kim Petcock above were photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in March 2012.
