Bunche Beach with Lee County Bird Patrol

Lee County Bird Patrol provides a walking tour at Lakes Park in Fort Myers on the first Saturday of every month and a bird walk at Bunche Beach mid month for most of the year (no tours in June and July). This month's walk took place late afternoon toward early evening because of the tide condition. It was breezy and overcast, at times it was raining - the birds didn't mind one bit.

I arrived early and went to the East to check and see what was wading.

Ooooh, what have we got here! Dunlins in their breeding plumage - fantastic! Since I'm new in the birding community, there are a lot of 'first' taking place for me and this was one of them.

Several groups of Dowitchers were seen too and one in the group was sporting his summer feathers.

Dunlins with a Willet and a Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Three Snowy Egrets and one Little Blue Heron

At the turn around point is where I saw the Fiddler Crabs - in a small inlet where the water was flowing out into the sand flats.

As I look back toward the causeway - it looked as if the weather was going to take a turn for a downpour.

Fort Myers Beach on the other hand was looking clear and calmer.

One of those extremely difficult peep to identify - I want to say it's a Western ??

A Juvenile Little Blue Heron.

A Sanderling in breeding plumage.

A Reddish Egret - doing its famous dance moves.

Little Blue Heron in his grown up attire.

The sky is clearing - the tide keeps on going out.

A Reddish Egret in the White form.

Beautiful closing act to a great day. Thanks to Charlie and the gals of Lee County Bird Patrol for leading the trip and for sharing your knowledge of the shorebirds, you are appreciated. My E-Bird List http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18408362