Brrr....the prospect of walking through muddy and wet salt flats in 45 degrees was daunting to say the least - I put my big girl pants on and off I went. I was in good company with Charlie Ewell, Karl Werner, Susan Cohen and Libby Wolfe - all excellent birders and I've learned something from each one of them. Thank you!
Our first sought after specie was a success....
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| A Saltmarsh Sparrow, check! We ended up spending about 2 hours there and saw a total of 37 species (see my E-Bird List) |
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| Off we went to the Causeway - looking for a Peregrine Falcon.... |
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| Check! We also scoped the area and were able to find Common Loons, Mergansers & Horned Grebes among 35 species (see my E-Bird List) |
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| Next on our list of places to be was Bunche Beach - we spent 3 hours there - our first sighting a Ruddy Turnstone. |
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| A very special sighting - one of many Marbled Godwit |
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| Black Skimmers with the Causeway in the background - leading to Sanibel Island. |
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| Piping Plovers wearing their bands and flags. |
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| They were much faster than I and their numbers eluded me. |
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| The Long-billed Curlew came to be counted too. |
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| He surely sparkles. |
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| A Wilson Plover enjoying a Mangrove Crab. |
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| The amusement of the day was to watch these sandpipers eating from a bowl size cavity in a mound of sand as if someone had put food there for them. |
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| Everyone is equal here and all are happy to be able to share a meal.... Sanderling, Least Sandpiper and Western Sandpipers. |
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| Short-billed Dowitcher came to investigate and share the bounty. |
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| A Great Blue Heron came to seal the day. Another list for this portion - 45 species in all (see my E-Bird List). A fantastic day was had by all, we put forth an effort and truly enjoyed the experience. |
I so do enjoy looking at your picture. You do take some great pictures
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