Reddish Egret, the rarest wading bird in North America!

Reddish Egret, J.N. Ding Darling NWR, Sanibel, FL recently, doing it's typical "drunken sailor" hunting behavior to catch fish. This is the rarest wading bird in the country according to authorities, with populations dropping. Research (by the Avian Research and Conservation Institute) on these birds is going on at J. N. Ding Darling NWR, with some (not this one) being fitted with satellite transmitters so more can be learned about its movements, habitat and feeding needs. Reddish Egrets need a relatively rare foraging habitat: just the right depth of water, a clear, firm sea bottom, the right tidal movement, and the right kind of small fish. They also need undisturbed nesting areas. Of the ones studied at Ding Darling so far, they have learned that these birds are very local in their movements, not moving very far. (Canon SX 50 camera in Sports Mode photos). We have seen 6 at a time foraging in Ding, so that is prime habitat for them, good thing it's protected!

Cool Sanibel Birds today!

White-crowned Pigeon was out in the open today, roosting on the Shell Mound trail in Ding Darling NWR. Listed as threatened in FL, this bird is finding the hardwood fruits it needs in this upland hammock habitat.

White-crowned Pigeon

Short-tailed Hawk, flew over us on Sanibel, this hawk is rarely seen here.

American Kestrel hunting from a low shrub on the beach today because of high winds.

Some cool birds seen on Sanibel Island today. You never know what you'll find that's the fun of birding.

Hooded Merganser reflections

Hooded Merganser, male at Ding Darling NWR. Hunting for fish, diving, surfacing, such interesting water colors and patterns. What a treat to photograph.
Lillian Stokes

Black-necked Stilts just arrived, Sanibel, FL

Black-necked Stilts, male in front, female behind

Black-ncked Stilt, male

They have recently returned from migration here on Sanibel Island, FL. Male and female look alike except the female has a slightly browner back than the male. The sweet pair in the first photo was making themselves at home at the Bailey Tract, part of Ding Darling NWR on Sanibel. They breed in much of the West and up the East Coast. Such dramatic birds and a treat to see.

White-crowned Pigeon, Ding Darling NWR, Sanibel, FL

White-crowned Pigeon at Ding Darling NWR, on the Shell Mound Trail, when sun came out.

White-crowned Pigeon

Preening

This afternoon we saw a White-crowned Pigeon on the Shell Mound Trail at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. This is a very unusual bird for here, although there have been a very few sightings previously on Sanibel. Their status is listed as Threatened in FL. They live in the very southern tip of FL. Research has indicated that the total distribution of this bird occurs in the Caribbean Basin, the Bahamas and extreme southern Florida, but they make long over-water flights between breeding and wintering areas within this region. They are threatened due to loss of habitat and hunting and poaching in their range. White-crowned Pigeons feed mainly on fruits of hardwood trees and they are an important dispersal agent for these trees. It was nice to see this bird on the Shell Mound trail, which had a lot of fruiting hardwood trees, thus providing the type of habitat crucial for this bird species. What a special bird for us to see!!

Marbled Godwit beauty, one of the prettiest shorebirds!

Marbled Godwit, one of the prettiest shorebirds

Doing shorebird yoga

Beautiful pink bill

How many Marbled Godwits can you find hiding among the Willets?

Here are some recent shots I took at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge where 2 Marbled Godwits are hanging out among the other shorebirds, much to the delight of the birders and photographers. This has got to be one of the prettiest shorebirds. This is a shorebird you can see in winter on mudflats in southern coastal areas of the East, West and also on the Gulf Coast. In summer they breed in wetlands and grasslands in the northern plains areas and into Canada. Enjoy their beauty.

Ding Darling Sunset Beauty

As sunset approaches, at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the light gets beautiful. The Double-crested Cormorant stands, lone dark figure against the white snow of the White Pelicans.

A Wood Stork flies into shore, backlit against the lowering sun.

A Snowy Egret guards the shore,

and flies after any intruder, full out fury.

White Pelican take-off, centered below the lowering, glowing ball.

Moonrise Bird Beauty

Went for a wonderful sunset cruise recently out of Tarpon Bay (nestled within Ding Darling NWR) Sanibel, FL, run by Tarpon Bay Explorers. We saw birds going to roost at sunset and this spectacular moonrise (taken with Canon SX 50 HS camera, photo not cropped. All photos were taken with this camera.)

Tarpon Bay (the setting for the Doc Ford novels by Randy Wayne White) stretches out before you. The pontoon boat we took is at the dock.

We passed this nesting pair of Ospreys atop a pole with a nesting platform. 

Then out to the rookery islands out in the bay where there were hundreds of birds, especially pelicans,

both White Pelicans,

and Brown Pelicans.

The birds were settling in for the night.

 The closer it got to sunset, the more birds flew in including may White Ibis, Snowy Egrets, other herons and more. The birds find safety at night on the islands and also a place to nest.

It was magical as the sun got lower.

and we had a spectacular sunset,

then moonrise. It was awesome being out in nature and experiencing the night ritual of the birds. Just us and them. Go if you can.

Green Heron Up Close and Personal

Green Herons are not your flamboyant sort. They prefer to skulk in cover then extend their long neck quickly to strike a fish. So when they decide to stand right out in the open in front of birders and photographers on wildlife drive in Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel, FL, I consider it my  lucky day. 

Photos taken with the Canon SX 50 HS point and shoot super-zoom. Last photo is not cropped, it's zoomed in at 200x. 

The second photo is cropped, but untouched as to any kind of processing or sharpening, the rest of the photos have minimal done.

More Canon SX 50 Bird Photos

Yes, I am having fun with my camera, the new Canon SX 50 HS. Took it to Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge yesterday and shot this Osprey hovering in "Sports Mode."

The camera does an amazing job on birds in flight.

Brown Pelican shot on "Smart Auto" mode.

Went to Blind Pass at sunset and took this Snowy Egret in "Sports Mode" fishing in the waves. 1/640 sec at f/5.6, 100 ISO, 100% digital zoom ratio. The camera does the thinking in these auto modes.

What is then fun is to be able to take the wide angle shot with the same camera and capture the beautiful sunset.