Sanibel Raptors

Red-shouldered Hawk, juvenile

Osprey female on nest

Dune Sunflower

There are lots of raptors on Sanibel. Nesting Ospreys are abundant with well over 100 nests this year. The female Osprey remains at the nest during most of breeding, with the male bringing in food - the fish he captures. I love the sound of her constant calling.

Another common raptor is the Red-shouldered Hawk, which you can see circling overhead and giving it's wild sounding calls. In the above photo you can clearly see the wing crescents as the sun shines through the wings, one of this bird's ID clues.

Dune Sunflowers scamper over the beach areas and remind me of summer up north. I photographed this one near the lighthouse, where the Osprey nest was.