Nov 2009

November 16: Estero Lagoon

This morning I went with a friend to Little Estero Lagoon on Fort Myers Beach. We arrived there about 8:30, just as the sun started to show over the buildings. The tide was low. The last time I was there was in January, 2008. It seems like the Lagoon is now divided into two parts. The area where the pier is was over dry land.

We took photos in the area north of the pier, where birds such as Mottled Ducks, some Herons, and shorebirds were seen. We then crossed over to the Gulf side by the pier and walked out to the beach. There was a large flock of Gulls and Terns resting there until someone walked right through them. We did see a Marbled Godwit and Ruddy Turnstone there. We then walked back to the north end of the lagoon and then further north to the beach area in back of the Holiday Inn. There were a few sand sculptures still standing. After photographing a few birds in flight we decided to head home. Unfortunately there had been an accident about a mile beyond the bridge and traffic was at a standstill. We decided to have lunch at a local seafood restaurant. By the time we were finished, traffic was moving again and we continued our journey home.

Following is the data I reported to eBird.

Location:     Estero Lagoon

Observation date:     11/16/09

Number of species:     26

Mottled Duck     4			Ruddy Turnstone	   1

Brown Pelican     15			Sanderling     5

Double-crested Cormorant     1		Western Sandpiper     11

Great Blue Heron     2			Least Sandpiper     3

Great Egret     1			Dunlin     3

Snowy Egret     2			Short-billed Dowitcher     5

Little Blue Heron     1			Laughing Gull     100

Tricolored Heron     1			Ring-billed Gull     10

White Ibis     5			Royal Tern     5

Semipalmated Plover     4		Sandwich Tern     30

Killdeer     1				Blue Jay     2

Willet     4				Tree Swallow     3

Marbled Godwit     1			Palm Warbler     1

Following are a few images taken during our trip.  (For a larger view, double click on the desired image.)

November 27: Circle B Bar Reserve

This morning I went over to the Circle B Bar Reserve, arriving there about 7:15. Unfortunately, I apparently missed the takeoff of about 300 White Pelicans about 15 minutes earlier. I walked over to the marsh, then walked the Rabbit Marsh Trail that goes down the center of the marsh. As usual, many birds everywhere. I did notice a very high population of Cormorants and a few Anhingas that roosted in several dead trees in the marsh. There must have been several hundred of these birds on the trees.

Other highlights included seeing a pair of Harriers working the marsh. Also saw several Sandhill Cranes, many Woodstorks, and even an adult Purple Gallinule with several juveniles. I also saw a large Black and Gray feral hog. Yellow flowers were in bloom everywhere, making for quite a beautiful sight.

Following is my eBird report.

Location:     Circle B Bar Ranch

Observation date:     11/27/09

Number of species:     32

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck     X		Osprey     X

Mottled Duck     X				Bald Eagle     X

Ring-necked Duck     X				Northern Harrier     X

Pied-billed Grebe     X				Red-shouldered Hawk     X

Double-crested Cormorant     X			Purple Gallinule     X

Anhinga     X					Common Moorhen     X

Great Blue Heron     X				American Coot     X

Great Egret     X				Sandhill Crane     X

Snowy Egret     X				Killdeer     X

Little Blue Heron     X				Eastern Phoebe     X

Tricolored Heron     X				Fish Crow     X

Black-crowned Night-Heron     X			Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     X

White Ibis     X				Yellow-rumped Warbler     X

Glossy Ibis     X				Palm Warbler     X

Wood Stork     X				Northern Cardinal     X

Turkey Vulture     X				Red-winged Blackbird     X

Following are a few images taken during our trip. (For a larger view, double click on the desired image.)