Fort Myers Beach

Sunday August 14th

Recently stopped by Bowditch Point Park on Fort Myers Beach. Not many pelicans, gulls or terns were present.  Had heard from Dave McQuade about a recent pelagic trip out into the Gulf where they had found absolutely zero pelagic birds, aside from frigatebirds. May mean that their food source has become scarce. 

Semipalmated Plover

Did find lots of Sanderlings and a few Semipalmated Plovers, Western Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Spotted Sandpipers. 

Reddish Egret

Ruddy Turnstone

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Western Sandpipers

Spotted this lone Short-billed Dowitcher

Counted four Spotted Sandpipers who had probably just arrived from up north

Lots of sanderlings and turnstones

Laughing Gull

USCG Crocodile 

Bunche Beach

 Saturday July 23rd

Haven't been out to Bunche Beach for a couple of months. Primarily because the better tides needed to observe the birds have been occurring very late in the day, which usually when the thunderstorms roll in. Prefer to visit when the tides are low in the early morning, to avoid the worst temperatures of the day and to avoid crowds. Plus, the current issues with fuel prices have been keeping me a home. 

Young Little Blue Heron

Juvenal Yellow-crowned Night-heron

Laughing Gull

Short-billed Dowitcher

Black Skimmer

Ruddy Turnstone

Western Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Dune Marsh-Elder

Black Mangrove

Black Mangrove

But yesterday I did venture out in the afternoon after the rain had passed through. Saw a nice variety of the expected birdlife. Most common on the day were Short-billed Dowitchers. Plus, Sanderlings, Western and Lesser Sandpiper, a Spotted Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstones, a few Willets, Marbled Godwits, American Oyster Catchers, Laughing Gulls, Black Skimmers, Least, Sandwich and Royal Terns, Brown Pelicans, Fish Crows, Northern Cardinals, Rosette Spoonbills, Reddish Egret, Little Blue Herons, Great and Snowy Egrets, White Ibis, Black-bellied and Semi-palmate Plovers and Yellow-crowned Night-herons.

Down on the Beach

 Wednesday, February 24th

Just a few birds recently seen down by the beach

Reddish Egret at Ding Darling NWR, Sanibel Island

Common Loan at Lovers Key State Park

Snowy Plover at Fort Myers Beach

Wilson's Plover on East Beach at Fort Desoto Park

Least Sandpiper on East Beach at Fort Desoto Park

Whimbrel at Fort Desoto Park

Laughing Gulls at Fort Desoto

Redheads ducks on East Beach at Fort Desoto Park

Down to the Beach

 Wednesday November 11th

Haven't done very much birding lately, being stuck at home. Mostly just keeping an eye on the yard.  But with Tropical Storm Eta, or sometimes as a Hurricane Eta, lingering in the Gulf of Mexico there maybe an opportunity to encounter some pelagic birds being blown toward shore. 

An Aberrant Laughing Gull

Ended up checking on the action on the Sanibel Causeway Islands. While still under a Tropical Storm Warming, a Tornado watch and a Storm Surge watch, expected to find sea birds sheltering on the bay side of the islands, because the high winds and a high surf were crashing the gulf side.  

Lots' of Laughing Gulls, Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, some Common Terns, Ruddy Turnstones, Willets, Sanderlings, Brown Pelicans, Cormorants, plus Semipalmated Sandpipers, a Black Skimmer, a FOS Dunlin, Black bellied Plover  and a Snowy Plover. The only pelagic was a single Magnificent Frigatebird.

Snowy Plover

Black-bellied Plover

Willet

Royal Terns

Common Tern

Saw Some Common Terns

Tuesday May 19th

Brown Pelican at the Big Carlos Pass Draw Bridge

Black Skimmer at Carlos Point

Headed out to the beach a couple of times this month, now that the government says its okay.  A couple of weeks ago headed over to Carlos Point on Fort Myers Beach to see about the seabird nesting colonies.

Had to of been at least two hundred Least Terns on hand. Too early for any hatchlings yet, but the adults were certainly acting territorial to anyone getting to close to the nesting area. Black Skimmers will start nesting here soon as well and about sixty were also resting on the beach.  Wilson's Plovers and Snowy Plovers nest here as well. Sometimes we'll have American Oystercatchers nest here, but I personally haven't seen any of them yet this year.  

Least Tern at Carlos Point colony

He's trying, but she doesn't seem impressed

Sanderling

Ruddy Turnstone

Common Tern seen at Carlos Point.  Note the Leg Irons. Can't make out the data though

Today I checked out Bunch Beach and Bowditch Point Preserve looking for interesting birds.  Arrived at Bunche at day break. Had a rising tide with strong winds pushing the water up the beach as well.  So, not too many birds. Had my first of the season Marbled Godwit, plus a few Willets and Dunlins in their breeding colors. Across the bay at Bowditch Point, I started with Magnificent Frigatebirds and Brown Pelicans soaring overhead. On the beach a large number of Sanderlings, Royal Terns, plus a few Sandwich Terns and a nice surprise 

Dunlin at Bunche Beach

Laughing Gull

in finding a trio of Common Terns resting on the beach.  A pair of nesting Wilson's Plovers were very obvious, as volunteers had marked off their location to try and keep folks from walking on them. 

Herring Gull at Bowditch Point