Lee County Bird Patrol

Thursday September 6th,

I do believe that about all of my local birding associates are active in the Lee County Bird Patrol.  They volunteer to conduct bird surveys at least monthly on Lee County preserved properties. 

Black-crowned Night-heron located by Dr Padilla-Lopez
 at 6-Mile Cypress Slough Preserve.

It was logical to join them as I am doing the work anyway. For now I will be added as one of the monitors at Harns Marsh, were it has been fairly quite these days. But as the rainy season soon subsides the bird population should grow. One interesting development is that an adjoining county preserve - West Marsh - has been found to have a breeding population of Bachman's Sparrows. A new county bird for me.  Bird Patrol members Dr Padilla-Lopez and Gayle Sheets had successfully confirmed their presence on their preliminary survey of the property.

 

The Bird Patrol monitors the bird life at most all of Lee County's parks and preserves such as Bunche Beach, Lakes Park, 6-Mile Cypress Slough and many other properties.

 

My being processed into the Bird Patrol was not hindered by our coordinator, Gayle Sheets, being on an extended vacation out West.  When asked about any interesting sitings, she responded with Elegant Trogon, Spotted Owl  and Violet-crowned Hummingbird in Arizona. Plus Grizzly Bear and Rocky Mountain Goat in Glacier National Park.  Someday, probably after retirement I will head out that way too. But for now its watching the happenings here in Lee County.  A great place to bird.  If you are unfamiliar with birding here, please check out the Lee County Bird Patrol website. Its very informative..

 

Gayles encounter with a Rocky Mountain Goat while on vacation in Montana

 

A Bird Walk on Bunche Beach

Wednesday, August 15th

An enthusiastic group of about 30 people assembled at Bunche Beach for a Bird Walk sponsored by the Lee County Bird Patrol.  The walk was lead by Walt Winton and Charlie Ewell and was indeed a success, despite the heat and threat of lightening.

Marbled Godwit

Many of out spring shorebird migrants were on hand. Best birds were found while sorting through the Sandwich Terns resting on the exposed sand bars were a Common Tern and a Gull-billed Tern were found. Unfortunately we were unable to find any black terns. They usually show-up at this location just before Labor Day. Other terns present included a lot of Black Skimmers, a few Royal Terns and about a dozen Least Terns. Laughing Gulls were the only expected gull species this time of year.

We did search for the long-billed curlew sometimes seen here. Dipped on it but did see Willets, a Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Short-billed Dowitchers, Black-bellied Plovers, a couple of Piping Plovers, several Semipalmated Plovers and a Wilson's Plover.  Western and Least Sandpipers, and Sanderlings were seen along with several Roseate Spoonbills and White Ibis.  Both a normal red Reddish Egret and a white-morphed Reddish Egret were seen. Barn Swallows are the most prevalently seen swallows these days and a couple made an appearance. So did a Belted Kingfisher. A juvenile Bald Eagle was spotted far off dining on the beach. Figure that it had hung around instead of wandering off as the eagle population will do after nesting is over.

Lots of Black Skimmers

We did miss a few interesting species like the curlew. we did not see any oystercatchers, spotted sandpipers or night-herons and the black terns didn't show either. A week ago Yellow Warblers, White-eyed Vireos, Prairie Warblers and the Long-billed Curlew were seen, but again, not today.

Blue-winged Teal at Bunche Beach

Sunday, August 28th



A banded Piping Plover














The Lee County Bird Patrol sponsored today's bird walk at Bunche Beach. Charlie Ewell and Vince McGrath lead the event and was joined by Gayle Schmidt, Bruce, Bob, myself and several other birders.

The walk was scheduled to start at 6pm, but for me I was scheduled for work at 8pm. So I arrived a half hour early as I would have to leave early. Found a great variety of birds on a falling tide. I had headed toward the west end and found many Laughing Gulls and Brown Pelicans.  Semipalmated, FOS Piping, Wilson's and Black-bellied Plovers were present.  One of the Piping Plovers is banded and still in breeding plumage. Willets, Marbled Godwits, Sanderlings, Short-billed Dowitchers, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers numbers grew as the tide continued falling, exposing the mud flats. Roseate Spoonbills, Little Blue Herons, a Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egrets and White Ibis were moving in as well. Vince helped me to sight the lone American Oystercatcher on hand.  But only a couple of the folks were successful in seeing the Snowy Plover. I missed the plover, but did see a Long-billed Curlew while I was scouting the beach before the walk started.  Sadly for the others it flew off out of sight.

Another good catch by Vince was a FOS Common Tern and a flock of FOS Blue-winged Teal flew over.  A few could be seen feeding in the exposed sea grasses further to the west. Other terns seen was a lone Least Tern, and a few Sandwich and Royal Terns. Plus about a hundred Black Skimmers flewing past. Only a couple of Ruddy Turnstones were seen, but it was a good walk.  As I was rushing home to prep for work I was able to add a Coopers Hawk which had landed in a tree along side US 41.

Spotted Sandpiper - A visit to Bunche Beach

Wednesday, January 26th

West Inlet at Bunche Beach

The night before this visit to Bunch Beach we had quite a storm and that can be a good time to get out and do some birding on the beach.  Arrived about eight, with a low tide and found the place to be birdy. Started with a pair of Bald Eagles dining on a dead fish at the tide line. They did not cooperate for a photo and flew off with their breakfast.

Spotted Sandpiper is best located near the west inlet at low tide

Located large numbers of Willets and Marbled Godwits. Least and Western Sandpipers were active and a Spotted Sandpiper was located at the west inlet. Was able to count six Piping Plovers, about a dozen Black-bellied Plovers, a couple of Wilson's Plover and dozens of Semipalmate Plovers.

Black-bellied Plover

Several Red-breasted Mergansers and a Common Loon were spotted in the bay along with Double-crested Cormorants. Looked through the Black Skimmers, Laughing Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls and Royal Terns  for any herring gulls. No herring gulls today.  Did have a lone American White Pelican amongst the Brown Pelicans.  A flight of white pelicans was also seen overhead.

Had large numbers of Dunlins and Sanderlings and a few Ruddy Turnstones, plus a long Short-billed Dowitcher.  Northern Cardinals, Palm Warblers and a House Wren were active back of the beach.



White Ibis



My List -(36)

Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, White Ibis, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Wilson's Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Royal Tern, Black Skimmer, Mourning Dove, Fish Crow, House Wren, Gray Catbird, Palm Warbler, Northern Cardinal

Bunche Beach is famed for its birding

Brown Pelican

Saturday January 29th

Returned to Bunch Beach on Saturday morning for the Lee County Bird Patrol walk.  Had about a dozen participants and was lead By Charlie Ewell and Walt Winton. The birding  Saturday was close to the experience on Wednesday, but we were able to add a resting Caspian Tern and about six Red Knots.

Charlie was able to photograph a banded Dunlin and a banded Red Knot. The following was a report Charlie recieved on the red knot's history since it was banded.  Thanks Charlie!!!

Captures:


1/1/2007 11:45:00 AM - Sanibel Island - Bowman's Beach to Blind Pass, Florida, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

Resightings:

1/6/2007 - Fort Myers Beach, Florida, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

1/7/2007 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

3/12/2007 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

3/13/2007 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

9/15/2007 - Bunche Beach, Florida, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

12/18/2007 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

5/23/2008 - Mispillion Harbor, Delaware, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

5/23/2008 - Mispillion Harbor - Back Beach, Delaware, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

5/23/2008 - Mispillion Harbor - Osprey Point, Delaware, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

10/20/2008 - Fort DeSoto, North Beach, Florida, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

10/27/2008 - Fort DeSoto, North Beach, Florida, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

10/26/2009 - Longboat Key - at Diplomat Resort, Florida, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

3/6/2010 - Sanibel Island- J.N Ding Darling NWR Wildlife Drive, Florida, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

4/14/2010 - Kiawah Island - West, South Carolina, United States - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN

1/29/2011 - - 1172-98035 FLKY4 REKN
Charlie Ewell

My List - (34)
Red-breasted Merganser, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, White Ibis, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Wilson's Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, Black Skimmer, Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Wren

Willets - Bunche Beach and 6-Mile Slough

Saturday - April 10th
Bunche Beach

Hooked-up with the Lee County Bird Patrol event this morning at Bunche Beach.  These walks are very informative and with Charlie Ewell leading the group you will learn your shorebirds.  I know that I did.

Beach at low tide

The tide was low and the air was a bit chilly. However, the bird density was very light for low tide.  Obviously much of our shore birds have headed north. We still had some variety though. A lone American White Pelican made a flow over as did a couple of Roseate Spoonbills. Dozens of Brown Pelican were in a feeding frenzy at the south end of the beach when we started out.  A few Double-crested Cormorants were busy diving for breakfast.  The loons and red-breasted mergansers were already gone for the season. A couple of spotted sandpipers of worked the sandy area at the north inlet. The usual waders were all present included White Ibis, Reddish Egrets, Great Egrets, etc.  Further north on the exposed mud flats were a good sized flock of Black Skimmers. A few Laughing Gulls and  lone Ring-billed Gull were flying as were three Least Terns, new arrivals for the season, plus a couple of Royal Terns and  a one Sandwich Tern. A few Black-bellied Plovers and Semipalmated Plovers were present.  Sanderlings were probably the most numerous shorebirds on hand.

Eastern or Western Willet ?

 But the time was spent concentrating on the Willets.  Both Eastern and Western Willets. Charlie enjoys teaching on the subject. This time of the year Eastern Willets are showing up as the Western Willets are moving on to their breeding grounds out west. So both breeds are present and can be confusing to separate, especially as they are in various stages of molt.



The following link is to a blog called SHOREBIRDER by Nick Bonomo, with his description on the difference between eastern and western willets. Western Willet vs. Eastern Willet

Six-Mile Cypress Slough
Sunday & Monday

Revisited the I-75 rest-stop to see if the Black-Necked Stilts were stll there

After work on Sunday headed over to Six-Mile Cypress to look for any migrants.  But first checked out the rest stop on daniels road and I-75 for Black-Necked Stilts any other waders. Did find a few a few stilts presents but no ther waders were there this morning.

The parking lot at  Six-Mile was empty of people and birds.  As for the weather we were in-between morning rain showers. The boardwalk had lots of Northern Cardinals and Gray Catbirds. A couple of Carolina Wrens were very vocal as was a busy Pileated Woodpecker. As for migrants I was lucky to get excellent looks at a male Black-Throated Blue Warbler and a very brief look at a Chestnut-sided Warbler. I have not really heard of chestnut-sided warblers traveling through here before, but I am pretty confident that it an accurate siting.

Gray Squirrels are very abundent

Came back on Monday to try and relocate the black-throated blue warbler and chestnut-sided warbler. Spent a couple of hours on the boardwalk, but the only warbler seen today was a sole Black-and-White Warbler. Other observations included the resident Red-shouldered Hawks seem to be nesting, lots of Gray Catbirds are still present and a Barred Owl became very vocal.