Fort Myers Beach - Caloosa Bird Club

It's Caloosa Bird Club day, Elaine and I set out for Fort Myers Beach.

First a quick stop at Bowditch Point before meeting up with the gang.

We caught this Loggerhead Shrike singing - it seemed to agree that it was going to be a great day!

We spotted A Common Ground Dove before leaving, it seemed to feel comfortable with very little distance between us. My E-Bird List for Bowditch Point.

We met up with the group - I counted 24 happily birding folks.

A Semi-palmated Plover eyed us down or should I say "up" - either way he kept his distance.

Others were just chillin - a Willet with a Snowy Egret.

A beautiful adult Brown Pelican

A pair of Florida chickens - they are lovingly named this way because there are so many of them - seriously though, these are White Ibis.

A beautiful beach with lots of room to spread out.

A bunch of resting Willets.

A very busy Belted Kingfisher - dashing here, dashing there while belting out his clattering rattle.

A Wilson Plover - check that bill out.....

in comparison to the Piping Plover.

A nice group of Ruddy Turnstone sporting their adult nonbreeding plumage.

A Great Blue Heron - what a statement he makes.

A Wood Stork waved us on as we headed to our lunch location. My E-Bird List for this beach.

After we finished our lunches while enjoying the shade by the Mound House, our leader - Vince McGraph - started the bird list and had us all standing up when he pointed out the Great Horned Owl that was snoozing above our heads while we ate.

We all Hooted for joy at the beautiful sight.

This bird won the award for "Bird of the day". My E-Bird List for the Mound House.

Oh - BTW - a few of us ended up extending the trip to Bonita with the hopes of finding a Franklin Gull that had been reported earlier this morning. Ummm....looks like quite a few birds to go through while looking for our goto bird.

In the meantime - we were glad to see a 5 month old Herring Gull.

The Marbled Godwits always brings a smile.

A nice group of Dunlins with a Willet.

A Black Skimmer coming in for a landing...

easy does it....

save for the photo bomb.

Well, we gave it a good try but no Franklin were to be found this trip - better luck next time. My E-Bird List for Bonita Beach.

Wood Storks at the Pond Apple

I spent quite a bit of time this morning along the Shipley Trail and the Pond Apple Trail, the special occurrence that took place today was the return of the Wood Storks along the retention ponds area - it was super fun to watch them .... the photos will speak for themselves.

 It was quite entertaining to watch and especially to listen to their bill clapping. Once in a while they would separate and go their own way and then before you knew it - they repeated the whole process all over again. Folks, there is no better way to spend a morning! Go Birding, it's fun!

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.