Bowmans Beach

It had been a couple of months since my last visit to Bowman's Beach and since my friend Libby is in town I thought it would be nice to re-visit.

Our Florida weather has been overcast lately but considering the alternatives, I'm not about to complain.

But seeing Red Knots along the shore lightened up the beach.

A Black-bellied Plover manages to stay warm by tucking its leg in and energy is restored by resting.

A Short-billed Dowitcher is following suit.

Notice how this Red Knot is tagged with a green band "XX4", I took this info to Florida Banded Bird Resighting FB page and they directed me to Bandedbirds.org where i was able to report and map this particular bird. Turns out this REKN was first banded in 1/1/07 and has been reported in N.J., S.Carolina, Ontario, Georgia, New Smyrna Beach and twice in Sanibel - previously reported in 11/23/13.

And this little fellow has "6C9" - it was first banded in 1/18/11 in Harbor Island and has since been reported in Kice Island, Fl, Ft.Myers, Georgia, N.J. Keewaydin Island, Florida and Little Estero. This was its first Sanibel report.

It is pretty darn amazing that these little fellows can put so many miles - talk about working overtime!

We saw several groups of Sanderlings - all resting and gathering some energy.

One of the Wilson Plover we saw.

A Great Blue Heron preening.

A Forster Tern with a Laughing Gull.

A Lesser Black-backed Gull in front of a Herring Gull.

Bowman's Beach is known for its shelling properties - a bonus today was a Blue Crab and a bone from a sea turtle's carapace - if you'd like to find out more about a Sea Turtle Skeleton, I found an interesting read at www.marinelife.org

Talking about crabs....I heard that a visitor on Sanibel was inquiring where she could find a beach without so many shells.....

perhaps it provided too much stimulation on her feet....

to me, there's no place like home.