Came Back to the Beach

June 7th

Ghost Crab a Carlos Point

This distressed Black Skimmer had been entangled

in string. After being freed it recovered and flew off

Headed back Carlos Point on Fort Myers Beach to see how the nesting seabirds colony was progressing. On my last visit, three weeks ago, hundreds of Black Skimmers and Least Terns had assembled. Numbers of Sandwich Terns, Royal Terns, a few juvie Common Terns  and Whimbrels were also seen. One skimmer had managed to get entangled it the string used to established the demarcation line used to keep humans from tramping through the nest sites. Did manage to free the bird.

Least Tern

Least Tern Chick

Least Tern Chick

Today, the Least Terns have scores of chicks wondering the beach, with the parents defending there broods well beyond the established nest sites. But no baby Black Skimmers yet. Wilson's and Snowy Plovers nest on these beaches too, and several Wilson's chicks were on hand under the watchful eye of their parents. Didn't notice any snowy chicks today.

Black-bellied Plover

Common Tern

A Wilson's Plover chick

Concentrations of Royal, Sandwich and Common Terns and few Laughing Gulls were also seen today. These gulls and Fish Crows, as well as, any beach walkers, were mobbed ceaselessly by the Least Tern parents. Both will prey on chicks. Last year, I had witnessed a gull killing and eating a baby skimmer. Other dangers to these colonies include night-herons, raccoons, dogs, cats, indifferent humans and adverse weather.

Being June, not many shore birds were around as most have left to migrate to there breeding grounds in Canada.  There were a few Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings, Semipalmated Plovers and Black-bellied Plovers. Added Magnificent Frigatebirds, Reddish Egrets and a pair of Caspian Terns.

Black-bellied Plover

Common Terns

Reddish Egret

Wilson's Plovers

Wilson's Plover

Wilson's Plover Chick

Inkberry in bloom at the beach

Inkberry in bloom at the beach