Long-billed Curlew

I had the great opportunity today to go birding the Bunche Beach area with a friend visiting Sanibel (Hi Lisa!). There were two bird walks taking place this morning, one with the Lee Co Bird Patrol

 and the other with the San-Cap Audubon group.

The tide is super low, the sun is shining, there is a gentle breeze and we are surrounded by birds and knowledgeable people - it doesn't get much better than that.

I have to admit that the conversations were lively and the company was entertaining - hence the reason for the lack of photos - however the "star" of the day is being featured....so, folks, say hello to:

Long-billed Curlew.

Even though this is not something that you would expect to see around here - this particular bird has adopted our area and can be seen on a regular basis at Bunche Beach.....we can't blame him for that choice now, can we.

He sports beautiful cinnamon-brown color above and is buff below, with a very long, strongly down-curved bill.

And just for comparison purposes - I've included a photo (below) of a Whimbrel that I took last Summer at CWA.

The Whimbrel is a smaller bird by 5" and has a dark eye line extending through the lores - also, I notice that there is no pink hues on his lower bill.

Soon, the Curlew decided to move on....

And so did we. A great way to end, don't you think?

 

My E-Bird List for today

 

Christmas Bird Count with the Caloosa Bird Club

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....

A Saltmarsh Sparrow, check! We ended up spending about 2 hours there and saw a total of 37 species (see my E-Bird List)

Off we went to the Causeway - looking for a Peregrine Falcon....

Check! We also scoped the area and were able to find Common Loons, Mergansers & Horned Grebes among 35 species (see my E-Bird List)

Next on our list of places to be was Bunche Beach - we spent 3 hours there - our first sighting a Ruddy Turnstone.

A very special sighting - one of many Marbled Godwit

Black Skimmers with the Causeway in the background - leading to Sanibel Island.

Piping Plovers wearing their bands and flags.

They were much faster than I and their numbers eluded me.

The Long-billed Curlew came to be counted too.

He surely sparkles.

A Wilson Plover enjoying a Mangrove Crab.

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.

Everyone is equal here and all are happy to be able to share a meal.... Sanderling, Least Sandpiper and Western Sandpipers.

Short-billed Dowitcher came to investigate and share the bounty.

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.

Curlew at Bunche Beach with Lee Co Bird Patrol

Awwww....finally our Florida type weather has returned and we are off to the flats on Bunche Beach. It is low tide and the Lee Co Bird Patrol is having their monthly walk - let's go!

A nice group gathered up by the picnic tables and we headed to the East side of the beach in search of the Curlew that has been sighted lately - apparently a regular that spends its winters here - sweet!

There were several groups of shorebirds and we spent some time observing as well as listening to Charlie & Walt as they gave us a few tips for identification. A Short-billed Dowitcher is pictured here - numerous black spots on sides, whitish belly, also a white stripe up the back which is visible while in flight. Notice too the long, straight bill which is used for feeding in mud or shallow water - they probe with a rapid jabbing motion.

A Semi-palmated Plover - the dark back of this plover distinguishes this species from Piping and Snowy. This Plover always has a complete breast band - a good tip to remember.

A Marbled Godwit - A tawny brown molted with black sandpiper, a long upturned bill with hues of bright pink. The legs are black - a great hint when its head is tucked in because they look so similar to the Long-billed Curlew which has grayer legs.

The White-morph of the Reddish Egret. It resembles immature Little Blue Heron or Snowy Egret but note the larger size, longer bill and dark legs and feet - also, the tell tale is its behavior while feeding.

An adult Little Blue Heron (a juvenile would be all white), on the prowl for some food - it has very deliberate slow feeding behavior.

The star of the day - A Long Billed Curlew.

Notice how similar the plumage coloring is and how the grey leg color differs from the Marbled Godwit.

The Long-billed Curlew's bill length varies greatly and I would have had a great deal of difficulty making the identification if I had been alone because to me it looked like a Whimbrel- I am grateful for our leaders today and for pointing out the clues that leads to proper i.d.

 

One of those tricky sandpiper to identify - a Western Sandpiper?

The Curlew works really hard to feed itself - the size of its food is minuscule - can you see it in its bill?

And look how deep some of it is, not an easy job.

At the tip - Willets, Dowitchers, White-morphed Reddish Egret, and more. Fort Myers Beach can be seen from this location as well as the boats heading out to the Gulf.

Short-billed Dowitchers with Marbled Godwits.

The White morph of the Reddish Egret doing its famous dance.

More Dowitchers and Godwits.

And the sweet Piping Plover - Very pale above with orange legs. Thicker black bill during the winter, during breeding period the bill is orange and black.

 One thing is certain, birding with shorebirds is not as clear as black and white - there is much more for me to learn and that, my friends, is one of the fun parts of birding.

My E-Bird List for today http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20633384