Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sanibel Island
January 26, 2011
Today Shaffers and John and I drove down to Sanibel Island. It was overcast. As the three of them started out on the ride, it sprinkled, but then it quit. I drove over to Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge and birded the wildlife drive. Lots of all the large Herons and Egrets, both Brown and White Pelicans, one Yellow-crowned Nightheron and about five Black-crowned Nightherons,
the only ducks were Red-breasted Mergansers and Blue-winged Teal. Lots of shorebirds on the sandbars, Dunlin, Willet, Least, Semi-palmated, and Western Sandpipers, Sanderlings, Black-bellied Plovers, and a new one for the year--Semi-palmated Plovers. Not many small birds, a single Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Cardinal, and a Yellow-rump.
Had lunch on Captiva at The Green Flash Restaurant.
Still full from lunch and a McDonald's stop, so we are skipping dinner at a restaurant tonight.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
January 25, 2011
Today we left at 8:30 a.m. and drove to Myaaka State Park. We all left from the parking lot around 9:15. Some riders went on the short ride--36 miles. Some on the long ride--60+. Fran
Shaffer and I stayed in the park. We rode up to the birding boardwalk and walked out to see what
birds were there, Long-billed Dowitchers, Forster's Terns, Dunlin, Least Sandpipers, both Yellowlegs, several Herons and Egrets. Saw two Alligators out in the water.
By the time we had ridden back to the cars, we had gone 13 miles.
When John got back from the short ride, we drove up the cafe to get some lunch. John had a sandwich, but I opted for two scoops of ice cream, just right.
Other new birds for the year today, Palm Warbler and Purple Martin.
Now we are under a Tornado Watch until 9:00 p.m. and possible severe thunderstorms.
Monday, January 24, 2011
January 24, 2011
John left with the group for a 53 mile bike ride at 9:00 a.m.
I decided to wait until it warmed up a bit, so went birdwatching. Stopped at Shamrock Park. Very few birds were flying around. Drove the roads in that part of the city, South Venice to Englewood. New species for the trip at a pond on Tarpon Road, Gadwalls(Ducks), Northern Flicker, and Common Moorhens.
At the Venice Rookery, which is owned by the Venice Audubon Society, a few Great Blue Heron
pairs were building nests on the little island in the pond. The male collects a stick, passes it to the female with its bill, and the female pokes it into the nest she is constructing. There were several Black-bellied Whistling Ducks on the slopes of the pond, Fish Crows, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Wren, and Willets.
Came back to the room for lunch, then headed out to the Intercoastal Waterway Trail and rode
5 miles on the south side. A Florida Scrub Jay hopped out of a bush and landed right next to me at the side of the trail. Unfortunately I didn't get his picture.
Playing cribbage tonight after dinner.
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