In life, if you can’t be good, be lucky!

I had decided based upon research that I needed to bird West Harns Marsh. Most birders, including me tend to bird the main Harns Marsh location. West Harns Marsh doesn’t have a real parking area, and only a small gate through which to access the the trail next to the marsh. However, signs make it obvious you are welcome on foot, and the access point is right across the road from the Lee County Sheriff’s Shooting Range. The 25 patrol cars parked across the road told me security would be a non issue at this location. Thankfully, the gun range is an indoor one. Thus, any gunfire retorts are very faint.

After I was getting to leave after a hike along the marsh, one birder did show up. He was visiting from the Seattle area, and had driven 3+ hours in the hopes of seeing a Snail Kite. I thought I should join his effort, and within a few minutes … jackpot! This raptor eats only freshwater snails and its range only overlaps into the United States in Florida.

Snail Kite

Loggerhead Shrike (hunting the grasslands next to the marsh)