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Southwestern Florida in Winter - 2010
An exploratory Nature Trip to the Tampa Bay
Area, Lee County and Corkscrew Sanctuary
Jan. 27 - February 2, 2010
The El Nino conditions affecting the western
states has also brought unusually wet and
cool conditions extending all across the
southern U.S. even to Florida. Ducks love it!
Area, Lee County and Corkscrew Sanctuary
Jan. 27 - February 2, 2010
The El Nino conditions affecting the western
states has also brought unusually wet and
cool conditions extending all across the
southern U.S. even to Florida. Ducks love it!
1st stop: Ft. DeSoto State Park
- a spot famous for migrating
songbirds - ponds along the
isthmus drive were loaded with
divers. Mostly Redheads but
also Scaup, Ring-necks,
Ruddys and a few Mallards.
Common Moorhen were
common, perhaps more so than
Coots.
Ain't Redheads handsome?
- a spot famous for migrating
songbirds - ponds along the
isthmus drive were loaded with
divers. Mostly Redheads but
also Scaup, Ring-necks,
Ruddys and a few Mallards.
Common Moorhen were
common, perhaps more so than
Coots.
Ain't Redheads handsome?
This locally well known
Bald Eagle nest site (very
close to the main park
road) was being closely
monitored by one of the
pair.
The dramatic freeze that
most of Florida experienced
in early January caused a
massive fish kill - along with
thousands of smaller fish
lying along the beaches we
also came upon several
huge Grouper that had
succumbed to the unusually
cold waters in the Gulf
Bald Eagle nest site (very
close to the main park
road) was being closely
monitored by one of the
pair.
The dramatic freeze that
most of Florida experienced
in early January caused a
massive fish kill - along with
thousands of smaller fish
lying along the beaches we
also came upon several
huge Grouper that had
succumbed to the unusually
cold waters in the Gulf
One species hardship can
be anothers opportunity:
Turkey and Black Vultures
amassed by the thousands
and Wood Storks
(federally listed as
endangered in 1984)
appeared to be having
their best season in years
- most we have ever seen
in a visit here in Florida
anyway.
Florida State Parks are
consistently rated "the best" in
the nation and they deserve it!
Not only are they fantastic
settings, but super clean, great
access and most of them, like
Ft. DeSoto are free.
We had a blast visiting family
including our 18 month old niece
and her parents. Friendly folks
down there and a few crabs.
consistently rated "the best" in
the nation and they deserve it!
Not only are they fantastic
settings, but super clean, great
access and most of them, like
Ft. DeSoto are free.
We had a blast visiting family
including our 18 month old niece
and her parents. Friendly folks
down there and a few crabs.
Osprey are super abundant throughout
Florida these days. Without really looking
too hard, our Osprey count was well over
300 for the short week.
Florida these days. Without really looking
too hard, our Osprey count was well over
300 for the short week.
Jan. 28 - Located inland near Lake Wales,
Bok Tower Gardens was a great day trip!
Philanthropist, author, editor and all around
Renaissance-like dude, Edward Bok
commissioned this park which is now a
National Historical Landmark. The tower
itself is one of the worlds finest carillon bell
towers and the 60 bells are still playing
concerts today. The very birdy gardens were
designed by Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. in
the 1920s. Definitely worth a visit!
Bok Tower Gardens was a great day trip!
Philanthropist, author, editor and all around
Renaissance-like dude, Edward Bok
commissioned this park which is now a
National Historical Landmark. The tower
itself is one of the worlds finest carillon bell
towers and the 60 bells are still playing
concerts today. The very birdy gardens were
designed by Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. in
the 1920s. Definitely worth a visit!
Not native but
fun to watch,
Black-hooded
Parakeets were
already
checking out
nest candidates
during our visit
to Ft. DeSoto
fun to watch,
Black-hooded
Parakeets were
already
checking out
nest candidates
during our visit
to Ft. DeSoto
By adding its 205 feet, Bok Tower is
the highest point in the State of Florida
- the natural highest point is Britton Hill
in Orlando at a whopping 345 feet
above sea level!
Amongst many human made ornaments
at Bok Tower Gardens were living
ornaments like this Sandhill Crane
the highest point in the State of Florida
- the natural highest point is Britton Hill
in Orlando at a whopping 345 feet
above sea level!
Amongst many human made ornaments
at Bok Tower Gardens were living
ornaments like this Sandhill Crane
On our way down to Ft. Myers we
stopped at Heritage Village and
The Florida Botanical Gardens in Pinellas
County.
The gardens showed a lot of freeze
damage but were still quite lovely
stopped at Heritage Village and
The Florida Botanical Gardens in Pinellas
County.
The gardens showed a lot of freeze
damage but were still quite lovely
When in SW Florida, a trip to Ding Darling is
always in order.
The preserve was busy with both snow birds
and real birds too but there are plenty of
viewing opportunities
A fantastic mix of waders and other water
birds entertained us on this visit - too early for
Cuckoos though
always in order.
The preserve was busy with both snow birds
and real birds too but there are plenty of
viewing opportunities
A fantastic mix of waders and other water
birds entertained us on this visit - too early for
Cuckoos though
Many of the developments in the Ft. Myers area
include lakes, stands of pine and oak, greenways
and planted palms are everywhere
Wildlife oozes from those seams - waterbirds and
raptors are often seen moving between them
While studying this Tri-colored Heron, it suddenly
became alarmed and looked up - and there was
an adult Bald Eagle looking down at us
include lakes, stands of pine and oak, greenways
and planted palms are everywhere
Wildlife oozes from those seams - waterbirds and
raptors are often seen moving between them
While studying this Tri-colored Heron, it suddenly
became alarmed and looked up - and there was
an adult Bald Eagle looking down at us
An experienced Floridian
birder shared this about
Eurasian Collared Doves:
Introduced to the Bahamas in
1952 (others say 1970s) they
(probably) self migrated to
Florida shortly thereafter and
now have spread across the
southern U.S. - they are now
common in San Francisco
birder shared this about
Eurasian Collared Doves:
Introduced to the Bahamas in
1952 (others say 1970s) they
(probably) self migrated to
Florida shortly thereafter and
now have spread across the
southern U.S. - they are now
common in San Francisco
Try to leave time to visit the
east end of the island - The
Sanibel Lighthouse area -
where you can see a nice
array of gulls and terns.
The shorebirds are
somewhat acclimated to
people but you'll need to
walk well down the beach
to see Snowy Plovers and
Lesser Black-backed Gulls
who are present in the
winter. We didn't leave
enough time on this visit.
east end of the island - The
Sanibel Lighthouse area -
where you can see a nice
array of gulls and terns.
The shorebirds are
somewhat acclimated to
people but you'll need to
walk well down the beach
to see Snowy Plovers and
Lesser Black-backed Gulls
who are present in the
winter. We didn't leave
enough time on this visit.
On January 31st we looked for some new
territory to explore and came up with two
more great places to bird in the Ft. Myers
area - In the morning on an incoming tide
we visited Bunche Beach preserve and the
shorebirding was great! Especially happy to
see four Piping Plovers. All the expected
shorebirds were there, even a Red Knot
territory to explore and came up with two
more great places to bird in the Ft. Myers
area - In the morning on an incoming tide
we visited Bunche Beach preserve and the
shorebirding was great! Especially happy to
see four Piping Plovers. All the expected
shorebirds were there, even a Red Knot
A flock of about 150 Black Skimmers swirled offshore while the uplands buzzed with Blue-gray
Gnatcatchers, White-eyed Vireos and Palm Warblers. Red-shouldered Hawks called incessantly.
Gnatcatchers, White-eyed Vireos and Palm Warblers. Red-shouldered Hawks called incessantly.
We found many Horseshoe
Crab skeletons on the
beaches - unsure if this was
an abnormally high
occurence due to the
weather or not....
In the afternoon we drove
out to another place new to
us: Harns Marsh, a 578 acre
preserve set aside as a
storm water retention area
near Lehigh Acres.
We were hoping for Snail
Kite and Limpkin - well one
out of two ain't bad
Crab skeletons on the
beaches - unsure if this was
an abnormally high
occurence due to the
weather or not....
In the afternoon we drove
out to another place new to
us: Harns Marsh, a 578 acre
preserve set aside as a
storm water retention area
near Lehigh Acres.
We were hoping for Snail
Kite and Limpkin - well one
out of two ain't bad
The place was pretty awesome and hardly anyone around. We saw two Limpkin right away and
got to experience a lot of their behavior and calls - definitely Crane-like. And their cousins the
Sandhills were making a big racket soemwhere out on the lake but we couldn't see them. The sky
was too dark to shoot anything distant so I decided to grow a beard.
We walked part of the way around the lake (4 miles!) but the trail went under water after about a
mile and a half. Very few song birds but then we ran into a big mixed warbler flocks that included
Orange-crowned, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped, Pine, Prairie, Palm, Black-throated Green,
Black & White Warblers as well as Blue-headed & White-eyed Vireo. All the fresh water marsh
waders were there, a few nervous Florida Mottled Ducks and Blue-winged Teal and we heard
Sora. There were over 1,000 Tree Swallows! Tons of huge empty Apple Snail shells but missed
the Kites.
got to experience a lot of their behavior and calls - definitely Crane-like. And their cousins the
Sandhills were making a big racket soemwhere out on the lake but we couldn't see them. The sky
was too dark to shoot anything distant so I decided to grow a beard.
We walked part of the way around the lake (4 miles!) but the trail went under water after about a
mile and a half. Very few song birds but then we ran into a big mixed warbler flocks that included
Orange-crowned, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped, Pine, Prairie, Palm, Black-throated Green,
Black & White Warblers as well as Blue-headed & White-eyed Vireo. All the fresh water marsh
waders were there, a few nervous Florida Mottled Ducks and Blue-winged Teal and we heard
Sora. There were over 1,000 Tree Swallows! Tons of huge empty Apple Snail shells but missed
the Kites.
Feb. 1
Our visit to the Audubon
Corkscrew Sanctuary was
rainy with low light which
pretty much nixed the wildlife
photography but brought an
unanticipated benefit -
peaceful quiet.
Typically a very busy place
during "the season", we had
the place almost to ourselves
and spent some very relaxing
time hanging out in the
numerous rain shelters along
the boardwalk.
Our visit to the Audubon
Corkscrew Sanctuary was
rainy with low light which
pretty much nixed the wildlife
photography but brought an
unanticipated benefit -
peaceful quiet.
Typically a very busy place
during "the season", we had
the place almost to ourselves
and spent some very relaxing
time hanging out in the
numerous rain shelters along
the boardwalk.
While the bird activity was
subdued we had many great
sightings including some
new species for the trip:
Pileated Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Great-crested Flycatcher
Ovenbird
Painted Bunting
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Red-eyed Vireo
Ended the trip with 122 Bird
species sighted, one "Lifer"
on our last day....
subdued we had many great
sightings including some
new species for the trip:
Pileated Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Great-crested Flycatcher
Ovenbird
Painted Bunting
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Red-eyed Vireo
Ended the trip with 122 Bird
species sighted, one "Lifer"
on our last day....
Feb 2: Off and on showers this morning in Ft. Myers and we have a plane to catch in Tampa
mid-afternoon. Still time to look for a species that had somehow eluded me on all of our Florida
visits so we headed to Oscar Scherer State Park just south of Sarasota where they manage
habitat specifically for the Sunshine State's only endemic bird, the Florida Scrub-Jay. Luckily the
steady drizzle tapered off shortly after we arrived at the Nature Center and the friendly docent
suggested a couple of trails for us to try. We walked for about a half-mile on the "blue trail"
raising only a couple of House Wrens, Robins and a Fish Crow or three. We could hear jays in
the disance but not well enough to rule out the ever common Blue Jay. Just as we began the
return loop we spotted a wet Scrub-jay perched up about 50 yards into the scrub, then another
and then another. Pretty soon they flew one by one right over to the trail we were on and
proceeded to preen and feed only yards away from us. Clearly used to people. All but one was
banded for an ongoing study at this preserve. In appearance and by voice they are extremely
similar to our familiar Western Scrub-Jay but as we studied them subtle differences in
morphology and voice became apparent. We noticed the time and had to get a quick move on.
We found three more Scrub-Jays on our way back to the Nature Center and naturally had to stop
to admire a Nine-banded Armadillo who was grubbing in the wet scrub - won't be seeing those
back in San Francisco either!
mid-afternoon. Still time to look for a species that had somehow eluded me on all of our Florida
visits so we headed to Oscar Scherer State Park just south of Sarasota where they manage
habitat specifically for the Sunshine State's only endemic bird, the Florida Scrub-Jay. Luckily the
steady drizzle tapered off shortly after we arrived at the Nature Center and the friendly docent
suggested a couple of trails for us to try. We walked for about a half-mile on the "blue trail"
raising only a couple of House Wrens, Robins and a Fish Crow or three. We could hear jays in
the disance but not well enough to rule out the ever common Blue Jay. Just as we began the
return loop we spotted a wet Scrub-jay perched up about 50 yards into the scrub, then another
and then another. Pretty soon they flew one by one right over to the trail we were on and
proceeded to preen and feed only yards away from us. Clearly used to people. All but one was
banded for an ongoing study at this preserve. In appearance and by voice they are extremely
similar to our familiar Western Scrub-Jay but as we studied them subtle differences in
morphology and voice became apparent. We noticed the time and had to get a quick move on.
We found three more Scrub-Jays on our way back to the Nature Center and naturally had to stop
to admire a Nine-banded Armadillo who was grubbing in the wet scrub - won't be seeing those
back in San Francisco either!
Home again, home again back in the rainbow City by the Bay