Bunche Beach

After several days of morning rain, it was nice to see the sun this morning with a low tide - time to visit Bunche Beach and see who is feeding.

 

Several Semi-palmated Plovers were foraging....

as well as Short-billed Dowitchers.

Short-billed Dowitcher

Semi-Palmated Plover

Roseate Spoonbills were feeding too.

And the Least Sandpipers are back!

And so are the Spotted Sandpipers.

The Green Heron checking it twice....wondering who that is in the neighborhood.

On your mark, get set.....

GO!

The Marbled Godwits were in good numbers - one of my favorite.

The Least Sandpiper - the smallest of them all.

The Marbled Godwit with a Willet - a fine pair they make.

What's not to love at Bunche Beach!

Short-billed Dowitchers.

Same specie - different age and plumage.

A Tricolored Heron - beautiful!

And the one that steals the show - the white morph of the Reddish Egret

Enjoying his ballyhoo catch.

Yum....that was good!

Fluff, fluff....shake, shake, shake....

get ready....

and start the whole process of feeding all over again....

As we neared the exit toward the parking lot - a Calico Crab grabbed our attention...

as well as some Oyster clusters - looking like a foot print in the sand....though, you wouldn't want to step on that.

And folks, the Calico Crab has a message for you....listen up.....

Great message, don't you think? This sign should be at the entrance of every single public beaches - it carries an important message. (My E-bird List for today.)

Ding Darling with the Caloosa Bird Club

It's Monday and it's Bird Club Day!

We kept our fingers crossed that they rain would stay away and it worked for the most part. The tide was low and it provided some good views along the Wildlife Drive of Ding Darling.

The White Pelicans are back in good numbers and it's lovely to watch them again.

One of those fellow was tagged with a green marker and banded on its left leg. It was originally thought that it was banded at Great Salt Lake but now there is talk that it might have been tagged in Dakota.

This Snowy Egret was quite comfortable at our feet - he paid us no attention and kept its focus on the fish.

A Green Heron was watching intently and probably wondered why there was so many people on a Monday morning.

A Group of Short-billed Dowitcher probing the ground for tasty morsels.

A Little Blue Heron shortly after eating his catch - if you ask me, it looks like he swallowed a Canary.

Back for more.

Very important discussions take place during the bird walks....it's all for the birds....literally.

"Yes, it's all about me".

After our tour of Ding Darling - we drove to the Shipley Trail to do our E-Bird List and savor our lunch. We sealed the day by taking a little walk along the retention pond by the Pond Apple Trail where we enjoyed watching a few Wood Storks....another great day of birding! Folks...go outdoors, it's worth it.