The Salt Marsh

Plans sometimes are meant to be broken - Libby and I left this morning with the intention of visiting Bunche Beach because the tides were right for the venue, however on our way there it started raining and I suggested that we spent a bit of time at the Salt Marsh while the rain storm passed through. Turns out we spent a good 3 hours at that location with much to feast our eyes on in spite of the weather.

One of the first Sparrow to see - our first guess had been Saltmarsh but after further study and some discussion, it was deemed to be a Wilson's Sparrow.

Several Yellowlegs were seen - Lesser and Greater.

Then a Saltmarsh Sparrow - very sweet!

A House Wren drew a lot of attention.

Semipalmated Plovers and Least Sandpipers - resting/sleeping.

A Killdeer all fluffed up and resting too.

Bob Pelky - a blogger and photographer - was seen heading further unto the salt marsh with the hopes of getting a closer look of the Merlin.

More resting birds.

And off they went! We watched and stood still as they swirled around us, letting us feel their wind and hear their wing beats....wow....it always amaze me and takes me to a higher plane.

Soon they came back and rested again. We looked for that Merlin and figured that it might have moved from its perch and was probably the cause of disturbance.

Least Sandpipers

As we headed back to Sanibel, we cruised the Causeway and observed some Ruddy Turnstones and Willets. A Great Blue Heron was a nice surprise around the corner - check it out.

Check those plumes and blue lores - mother nature is perfect just the way it comes.

What a nice way to end the day.

As I dropped Libby off - we took a quick look at the Gulf to see if the Scoters were still there and sure enough there they were. We are still debating whether they are Black Scoters or White Winged Scoter.