Wednesday, February 17, 2016

J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge

After our two hours of paid parking at Sanibel Island's Lighthouse parking was up (parking there is $4 an hour), we headed to the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge's Wildlife Drive. The birding got better as the tide dropped throughout the day.
White Ibis is perhaps the easiest bird to photograph in Florida.  They're plentiful, fairly tame, and can be found near almost any body of water.  I only photograph them now when they're doing intertesting things, like holding a strange fish....

Or fighting... I assume these are two males.  I've never had the pleasure to photograph this behavior before.  These two engaged in mid-air combat for about a minute, with the bird on the left eventually chasing the other individual off.

Piping plover?  Semi-palmated plover?  

Pied-billed Grebes are frequent in most still water bodies in southwest Florida.

This was just one slice of a massive bird panorama.  I estimate there were over 1000 white ibis, herons, egrets, and roseate spoonbills.  Truly a magnificent sight.

Willets are another bird that I have photographed quite a bit, so I turn my camera to them in situations where they're showing interesting behaviors, like eating a small horseshoe crab.

Short-billed Dowitcher?  I'm going solely on Sibley's advice that they occur mostly on tidal flats, as opposed to the Long-billed Dowitcher preference for freshwater ponds. 

Surprise!  This large, awake American Alligator was being guarded by a refuge volunteer.  He didn't want anyone going too close.


Sunday, February 14, 2016

Red Knot TU3




Meet Red Knot TU3, which I photographed on the shores of Sanibel Island. Flagged with a readily identifiable marker, I submitted this observation to the Shorebird Banding Project website. 

And look what I found.  This bird is nine years old, and has been spotted many times since being captured, banded, and flagged over nine years ago.  What an amazing life, just hanging out at the beach (in between long distance migrations- the ultimate snow bird). The links below work, so be sure to click and see all the various photographs of TU3 over the years.

-Tom

Captures:
1/1/2007 11:45:00 AM - Sanibel Island - Bowman's Beach to Blind Pass, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
Resightings:
1/7/2007 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
3/12/2007 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
3/29/2007 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
12/18/2007 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
12/20/2007 - North Captiva Island, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
3/8/2008 - Sanibel Island- lighthouse vicinity, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
3/15/2008 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
3/16/2008 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
11/24/2009 - Bunche Beach, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
11/29/2009 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
11/30/2009 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
2/1/2010 - Sanibel Island - Sandpiper Beach vicinity, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
2/2/2010 - Sanibel Island - Sandpiper Beach vicinity, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
2/2/2010 - Sanibel Island - Sandpiper Beach vicinity, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
2/9/2010 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
2/24/2010 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
2/25/2010 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
3/8/2010 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
3/9/2010 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
3/15/2010 - Sanibel Island- lighthouse vicinity, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
3/15/2010 - Sanibel Island - Sandpiper Beach vicinity, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
3/20/2010 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
10/15/2010 - Belleair Beach, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
12/11/2010 - Sanibel Island - Bowman's Beach to Blind Pass, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
3/11/2011 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
11/22/2011 - Sanibel Island - Bowman's Beach to Blind Pass, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
2/2/2012 - Knight Island, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN  Click here to see a picture
5/15/2013 - Ossabaw Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
5/17/2013 - Ossabaw Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
5/20/2013 - Ossabaw Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
5/22/2013 - Ogeechee Bar, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
5/25/2013 - Ogeechee Bar, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
10/1/2013 - Caladesi Island State Park - north, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN  Click here to see a picture
2/10/2015 - Sanibel Island - Bowman's Beach to Blind Pass, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN  Click here to see a picture
4/6/2015 - Cabretta Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
4/15/2015 - Cabretta Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
4/15/2015 - Cabretta Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
4/17/2015 - Cabretta Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
4/21/2015 - Cabretta Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
4/21/2015 - Cabretta Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
4/23/2015 - Cabretta Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
4/23/2015 - Cabretta Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
5/5/2015 - Ogeechee Bar, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
5/7/2015 - Cabretta Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
5/7/2015 - Cabretta Island, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
5/21/2015 - Pelican Spit, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
5/24/2015 - Little Egg Bar, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
5/24/2015 - Little Egg Bar, Georgia, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN
12/10/2015 - Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN  Click here to see a picture
12/12/2015 - Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN  Click here to see a picture
12/13/2015 - Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN  Click here to see a picture
1/30/2016 - Sanibel Island- lighthouse vicinity, Florida, United States - 1172-98221 FELGTU3 REKN  Click here to see a picture

Friday, February 12, 2016

Birds on the Beach- Sanibel Island Lighthouse Park

Ruddy Turnstone

Snowy Plover

Snowy Plover

Great Black-backed Gull
Red Knot

A bonanza of sea life washed onto the Sanibel beaches after gale force winds and multiple days of rain.

-Tom


Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Sanibel Island Lighthouse and Point Ybel

After two days of constant rain, which some some parts of southwest Florida receive nearly four inches of rain, and then a day of cloudy and cold conditions, my last day on Sanibel proved to be perfect weather.  My Mom and I left Bonita Springs, where her and I my dad are renting a place for a few months, at 6:15, driving across the Sanibel causeway just as the sun was rising.  What a spectacular drive it was!  Our first stop on the island was Lighthouse Park, where I gladly put eight dollars into the parking ticket machine in return two hours of shelling, birding and photography.






There are very few views like this in southwest Florida.  Sanibel is a throwback to simpler times, for sure.

-Tom

Tuesday, February 09, 2016

A few more things from Days 1-4



I left out a few things from days 1-4 that I wanted to share, and then I'll get to Sanibel, which was like a different world, simply because it wasn't cloudy or raining.

Here's one I missed posting yesterday taken at Lovers Key State Park- a Wilson's Plover, which was a first sighting for me.  There intermediate in size between the much smaller piping and snowy plovers (they're coming) and the Black-bellied Plover, which is giant.  I observed three of these birds on the sandflat.  They pretty much either stood or ran.  I didn't observe them eating, unlike the nearby Least Sandpipers, which never stopped foraging. 

Here's proof that not every gray and yellow warbler is a Palm Warbler.  This Yellow-rumped Warbler was quite curious of my presence at the Rookery Swamp boardwalk. 

Photographing Bald Eagles is nice in Ohio, but there's something special when one is perched in a tree full of Tillandsia bromeliads. Can't get that shot in the Buckeye State.

When I visited Florida in late January, 2015, the television weather people were lamenting the lack of rain.  Not this year.  El Nino typically means cold, gray, and wet winter weather for Florida.  While I was there, the local airport beat its previous record for most January rain, topping somewhere over 10".  An inch or so for the month is typical.  Luckily, I rented a compact SUV that had no problems going through the "roads" that had become rivers.

The Everglades are a giant river, flowing roughly, from North to South.  The many roads across the system act as endless low head dams.  Yes, there are culverts under the road, but when there is too much water, the roads flood.  Take a look at the video below- the water couldn't wait to get past this road.

-Tom






Monday, February 08, 2016

Southwest Florida Bird Highlights - The First Four Days

With the crazy El Nino weather, my time in Florida, five days including travel days, all three of my full days had rain, clouds, and seasonably cool temperatures.  But I can't complain.  Yes, I wasn't prepared for ankle to knee high water on several of the trails I visited, but that didn't stop me from exploring.

The focus of this trip was to expand my knowledge of the birds of this part of the country. Last year, I photographed many of the tame, common birds around the lagoons and drainage ditches.  This year, I set out to see and photograph a wider array of species, and here are some of my highlights.  I'm saving the last day of the trip, day five, a very beautiful day on Sanibel Island, for tomorrow.


Roseate Spoonbills - I saw more than ever.  This one was flying across a tidal flat at Lovers Key State Park

The Reddish Egret is the athlete of the wading bird world.  It actively chases its prey, running through the water, with the ability to change direction in the blink of an eye.

The Black Skimmers on the beach at Lovers Key were quite tame. At my favorite place to see them in South Carolina, I can't get within 30 feet of them before they become agitated and I back off.  In Florida, the birds, in general, are amazingly tame.

This American Flamingo has been hanging out on the tidal flats at Bunche Beach, on the mainland near Sanibel, for nearly a month. I'm a skeptic with this bird, since they are so common in captivity.  Who knows- it could have flown here from the Caribbean. The bird does not contain any bands, which would denote it was an escaped captive. 

If you want to photograph Ospreys, Lovers Key State Park is an excellent spot.  This bird was either carrying nesting material, or, it captured this stuff in its talons when diving for a fish and hasn't been able to remove it. 

I captured my best-ever but still not great photos of a Glossy Ibis.  I find this species much more wary than its white-feathered cousin. 

I watched this rather strange encounter with a young Red-shoulder Hawk and a pair of Mottled Ducks.  The hawk had come to bathe, and I'm not sure what the ducks thought of that.  The hawk eventually left, frightening the you know what out of the ducks.

This Red-shouldered Hawk at Bird Rookery Swamp exhibits the very light facial coloration that typifies these birds in Florida. 

I hit the jackpot with my rainy day visit to Bird Rookery Swamp as I watched two Short-tailed Hawks glide above during breaks in the rain.  According to the Sibley Guide, there are less than 300 pairs of this species in the U.S.

On day four of the trip, it stopped raining, but my trek to Shark Valley was met with cold temperatures and gray skies.  This Limpkin didn't seem to mind. 

I believe this is a fairly bad photo of the Orange-crowned Warbler, a species which was new to me.  Warblers are fast moving birds.  It was quite a challenge to make any sharp images of them on this gray day. I'm fairly certain this matches up with orange-crowned.  I'd love to hear your opinion.

This Northern Parula was a treat.  It gleaned for 10 minutes or so along the Shark Valley road.  

There are ALMOST as many Palm Warblers in Southwest Florida as there are people over 70.  Almost.  Seriously, if you see a warbler like bird, anywhere, it's most likely to be a Palm.

As I was leaving Shark Valley, I watched a Double-crested Cormorant nearby.  I've got plenty of close-up images of this species, so I just happily watched it swimming and diving.  And then all of the sudden the bird came up with this.  It's actually an Oscar, a non-native fish introduced to Florida from the aquarium trade.  I had one in high school.  This cormorant had NO PROBLEM downing this massive fish.

And finally, the sublimely beautiful Common Ground Dove, a bird that I found quite hard to photograph.  This was at the end of the day of my venture to the Everglades at Fakahatchee Strand State Park.


 And there are fifteen highlights from the first four days of the trip.  Tomorrow?  Sanibel Island and the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

-Tom



Monday, February 01, 2016

I'm Back from Rainy Florida

Tamiami Trail, near Copeland, Florida

I spent five days last week exploring southwest Florida. Unlike most Florida January weeks, I experienced quite the deluge, with over four inches of rain in a 48 a period.  I managed to make most of my time that it wasn't raining, photographing many species of birds.  Highlights included closeup encounters with a short-tailed hawk, reddish egret, an American flamingo, and several species of shorebirds.  I'll be sharing my images of the trip over the foreseeable future.  I photographed many species of birds, and saw many others.  Southwest Florida gives me a jolt of energy just when I need it through the long, gray, Ohio winters.

-Tom