Tropical Storm Debbie
Herring Gull in transition to Second-cycle molt in comparison to a Laughing Gull Photo is courtesy of Bob Pelkey |
Reports have been coming in
from the Atlantic side of Florida
off pelagic species being observed on-shore due to prevailing winds. Well, even
though we see far fewer pelagic species, the potential for finding pelagic
species on-shore on the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida
are increased due the presence of Tropical Storm Debbie sitting off-shore. We
have experienced lots of rain, heavy winds, flooding and beach erosion due to
T. S. Debbie and a few scattered reports of pelagic have been coming in. Primarily
north of us. Reported were jaegers, a brown noddy and several sooty terns.
So on Sunday I headed out in the rain for Bunche
Beach . Arriving about 9:30 the rains had subsided for now, but the
winds and waves were still quite high. Not much beach was visible and only a
few shore birds were present including a Willet, a Black-bellied
Plover, a couple of Ruddy Turnstones, a pair of Least
Terns, a very wet Red-shouldered Hawk and a Laughing
Gull. Then waves of Magnificent Frigatebirds appeared
from the north and very slowly floating on the winds along the shore, heading southerly.
Had several soaring, almost hovering on the winds just three feet above my
head. Alas my camera is broken so I missed on some great photo opportunities. I
had counted thirty-three plus Frigatebirds and after an hour and a half I left
to met up with Bob Pelkey on Sanible Island .
Before Going to Sanible I stopped at Bowditch
Point Park on Ft Myers Beach, were I found a trio of Red Knots, Black
Skimmers, Wilson's Plovers, Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy
Turnstone, Willets, Pelicans, Least Terns, Laughing Gulls, Sandwich Terns,
Royal Terns, Sanderlings and a Gray Kingbird laying
low from the winds.
We made stops at Sanible Lighthouse and Bowman's
Beach were all we could really see were heavy surfs and few birds. At Blind
Pass the best birds were a Sandwich
Tern, a trio of Chimney Swifts and a family of Red-bellied
Woodpeckers. We dipped on any real pelagics. One interesting
observation were some para-sailing adventurers at Blind Pass, who, I my mind,
were risking serious harm in such powerful surf and winds, Several times we
noticed the para-sailors totally lifted off the surf by five to ten feet, very
close to a rock jetty.
On the Sanibel Causeway we encountered more
Frigatebirds, more laughing Gulls and an out-of-place Herring Gull.
Tuesday June 26th
Sea Watch Part 2
I had not planned on doing any birding today, but
late on this Tuesday afternoon I had dropped my daughter off in Bonita
Springs , but did bird nearby Ft
Myers Beach. Radio news reports had described severe damage on Ft Myers Beach
due to T. S. Debbie including Little Estero Island were the Least Tern colony
was nesting. So as an after thought I did drive over and found that much of the
nesting colony site at the south end of the beach was flooded. No doubt the
storm conditions would have been detrimental to any eggs or young of the least
terns, snowy plovers or wilson 's
plovers still nesting here. Did see many more Magnificent Frigatebirds
including a female who was harassing the gulls and terns laying-low on the
sands. Other birds seen included Least Terns, Royal Terns, Laughing
Gulls, Black Skimmers, an American Oystercatcher, Wilson 's
Plovers and Ruddy Turnstones.
Next I rechecked Bowditch
Point Park
at the other end of the Ft Myers Beach. Even with the winds still blowing hard
there was a seaside wedding taking place on the beach. Other sightings here
were a lone Snowy Plover, several Wilson's Plovers,
several Laughing Gulls, Black Skimmers, Royal Terns, Least
Terns, Sandwich Terns, a lone Common Tern, a lone Forster's
Tern, and a very out-of-place Ring-billed Gull.
On these two days I didn't find any pelagic species, but
did have some good birds just the same.
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