At The Beach

 Sunday May 19th

American Oystercatcher

Today, I dedicated some time to birdwatching on the beach, arriving just after dawn to sidestep the day's heat. My start at Bunche Beach was met with a less-than-ideal tide, already swallowing the mudflats. Despite this, a handful of birds were active: Sanderlings, a Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plovers, Western Sandpipers, a solitary Willet, and eight American Oystercatchers. The skies, though clear of clouds, were also devoid of birds, save for a few Laughing Gulls. 

Black-bellied Plover

Reddish Egret

Moved onto Sanibel Island and Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Drive. Best sighting here was a pair of Manatees. Again, it was not very birdy. A bathing Osprey, more Willets, Reddish Egret, a young, Yellow-crowned Night-heron. Was keen to spot a mangrove cuckoo.  Haven't seen or heard one for a very long time. Dipped on the cuckoo once again.

Seems this Manatee is taking a nap

A bathing Osprey

One last stop at Turner Beach on Captiva Island. The skies were still clear. Not much here. Royal Tern, Willet, Sanderling, Osprey, Fish Crow

Sanderling

Willet

Bunche Beach

 December 12th

Over this past weekend, I made my first visit to Bunche Beach since before Hurricane Ian. It's been over two months since the storm made landfall here and the beach still needs some clean-up.  No doubt this venue is not the highest priority for the available recovery resources. Yet I'd like to see some signage be restored, especially on the rule of No Dogs on the Beach. Encountered three different beach walkers accompanied by their dogs. Because this preserve is an important sanctuary for endangered shorebirds, like red knots & piping, wilson's and snowy plovers, dogs are not permitted.

Low Tide at Bunche Beach Looking Toward the Sanibel Bridge

Somebody has lost their boathouse

Arriving at a very low tide found the exposed pretty empty of birds. Pretty much devoid of terns, skimmers or gulls. Suspect that the water quality remains an issue.

There a were some shorebirds at the west end of the beach. Sanderlings, Black-bellied Plovers, Least Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plovers, Dunlins, Piping Plovers and a Ruddy Turnstone.

Dunlin

Least Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Giant Atlantic Cockle exposed at low tide

Southern Seaside Goldenrod in bloom at the beach

A Banded Piping Plover

Piping Plovers Have Returned

Friday August 4th

Piping Plover

Yesterday I headed out to Bunche Beach on a low tide to look for Piping Plovers. They should be returning here from there breeding grounds in the Mid-West. The plovers who winter in our area have been tracked from nesting areas around Lake Michigan and from along the Missouri River, leaving here in May and returning in early August.

Not a great many shore birds were present on the mud flats, but a nice variety. Did find my FOS Piping Plovers. 

Other Birds of the Day

Red Knot

Snowy Plover

Western Sandpiper

Wilson's Plover

Short-billed Dowitcher

Spotted Sandpiper

Spring Time at the Beach

Saturday March 25th

Sunrise at Bunche Beach

A sunrise visit to Bunche Beach today to see what's new. Noticing that the shore birds are beginning to molt into their spring-time colors. Mostly we see these winter visitors in there most mundane off-season coloration. They seem to be just getting started. But it won't be long till they reach there breeding molt and head for the arctic or sub-arctic nesting sites.

Black-bellied Plover

Black-bellied Plover

Black-bellied Plover migration map

Dunlin nest in the Canadian Arctic

Dunlin Migration

Willet

Spotted Sandpiper

Sanderlings still in their winter feathers

Sanderlings migration map

Red Knot

Red Knot Migration

Little Blue Heron

Northern Cardinal

Caspian Tern

Reddish Egerts at Bunche Beach

Saturday, March 11th

Reddish Egret - White Form

Stopped by at day break for a quite visit.  The tide was quit low and the beach was attracting a great many birding enthusiasts.  Lots of bins, scopes and cameras.

Reddish Egret

Note the tracking radio antenna attached to this birds back

Counted four Reddish Egrets today - two were the normal reddish phase and the others were the white phase included one toting a tracking radio.

Dunlin

Other shore birds present included lots of Sanderlings, Dunlin, Least and Western Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers and a few Piping Plovers.

Spotted Sandpiper

Not very many gulls or terns at the time. Mostly Laughing Gulls with a few Black Skimmers, Ring-billed Gulls and Royal Terns

Western Sandpiper

Sanderling

Additionally seen were a couple of Spotted Sandpipers and Yellow-crowned Night-herons

Black-bellied Plover

Semipalmated Plover