I took Molly up to the Babcock Webb Preserve early this morning for our bicycle ride. As noted in a prior post, the five mile paved road in the park makes for a delightful 10 mile round trip ride in a beautiful natural environment. Molly ride 20 miles which I only did 10 such that I could stop and bird / photograph.

3 miles into our ride we came across a lifer for me … Sneetches w/o Stars! Even the non birder would get excited with this sighting. I know my readers rely upon me to give good factual birding information, and while others might believe these birds were Great Egrets (over 30 feeding in one marshy field), I knew better … Sneetches!!!

In this image I caught three Sneetches (YouTube Story Link) looking for their stars, while one danced in joy. Perhaps it has seen Sylvester McMonkey McBean with his Star On and Off Machine?

Here are more images from the Sneetches’ morning, including a “student body take-off”. I had spent 20 minutes gaining the confidence of the birds and getting closer, when one car came by and caused the take-off. However, within moments they all landed once more within 40 yards of my position. (in the take-off images you will find White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Little Blue Herons in addition to the Great Egrets)

In addition to Sneetches, I found this flock of White Ibis taking care of the morning preen in a dead tree just across the river.

Finally, in closing, I photographed this Little Blue Heron (immature) in an extremely nice, artistic pose / location.

Yesterday morning I did a repeat … Harns Marsh at sunrise followed by a search for Crested Caracaras immediately afterwards. Both efforts were highly successful. My goal was to ignore the water birds and focus upon two bird species that hunt to survive, the Loggerhead Shrike and Crested Caracara.

“The small of it” would definitely be the Loggerhead Shrike. It is the only songbird about which I know which hunts other birds, small rodents, and insects. I found a pair of Shrikes after a one mile walk. This duo were obviously an established pair. In addition to watching them catch lots of insects, two Cardinals are lucky to still be alive. By a matter of inches the Shrikes failed in their attempts to kill the red birds. However, apparently a Northern Mockingbird is either big enough … or nasty enough in its own right that the Shrikes left it alone. The Mockingbird often hunted for food just a few feet from the Shrikes and was definitely left alone.

Loggerhead Shrikes

Northern Mockingbird (being left alone)

After enjoying my time with the Shrikes, it was time to try and find a “Mexican Eagle” … the Crested Caracara. This bird is actually a falcon but its large fierce appearance is more than likely how this nickname arose. Regardless, I found a Crested Caracara on Church Road. I had never seen a juvenile, which this bird apparently was given its more brown and black markings (adults are white and black … see my prior post). Thus … for the “Large of it”!

Crested Caracara

With this post I have finally caught up in term of processing photographs. Over the past seven days I have birded many different locations where one finds the ever present wading and water birds of southern Florida. While many more locations exist for these kinds of birds, my own research seemed to indicate these would be the best birding spots. Each of those locations is listed below, including my opinion both in terms its value as a birding location, and for any tag alongs who do not care if they see another feathered friend ever again. Here are my rankings and comments:

1. Harns Marsh: This is my favorite location to see wading and water birds. One parks in a gravel parking lot and walks the path next to the canal / slough. The birds tend to be across the water (only 15 yards) in the marsh area. The walk is peaceful and a pleasant hike even for the non birder. Best time by far to visit starts a few minutes after sunrise. No facilities.
2. Ding Darling National Wildlife Preserve: Wilderness Drive is a slow speed birding trail. There are primarily two big viewing area, and lots of little places to obtain views of the water. Cycling is a most excellent option at this location. Non birders will likely quickly get bored. Visiting a bit before low tide will optimize your viewing success. You will see more birds than at Harns Marsh, but I enjoy the marsh for its much more private and calm viewing habitat with much, much fewer people.
3. Bunche Beach: A gem most people do not know about in Fort Myers. Visiting a bit before low tide means beachcombing for the non birder, and lots of wading birds for everyone. This is a excellent location for shore birds. No facilities. This location almost edged out Ding Darling in my mind. Often there is not a single other person within hundreds of yards of your location (at least at sunrise)
4. Babcock Webb Preserve: This is a great spot a bit north of Fort Myers. The park has a five mile long paved road that basically follows the river / lake and dead ends in a small turn around. Makes for a great bicycle ride with almost zero car traffic. A six dollar entrance fee is required (cash only).
5. Six Mile Cypress Slough: The habitat is neat, but I think this spot is greatly overrated in terms of birding. There is a nice boardwalk through the slough / swamp. This is a good place to see alligators.

Use Google Maps to find these locations, and to get directions from wherever you are staying. Now on to catching up in terms of my wading and water birds.  The birds in this post were photographed during my bicycle ride at Babcock Webb Preserve, Bunche Beach at low tide, and finally Six Mile Cypress Slough (late afternoon on the boardwalk). See my previous posts over the past few days for the other locations (end of post).

You will GREATLY enhance what you see by either being out at sunrise for locations without tides, and in the hour approaching low tide in ocean affected locations. If you are able to combine a low tide with a sunrise … that’s the best!

Bunche Beach

Brown Pelican

Little Blue Heron (white LBH is an immature bird)

Reddish Egret

Snowy Egret

Tri-Colored Heron

Babcock Webb

Great Egret

Great Egret and Friends

Little Blue Heron (immature)

Glossy Ibis

The Ibis Cousins (immature white ibis and glossy ibis)

Six Mile Cypress Slough

White Ibis (These birds are everywhere … perhaps much more numerous than Robins up north, but I liked seeing them in a slough … think natural environment … than someone’s yard)

Other Fort Myers Wading and Water Bird Posts

• Limpkins and Ivory Gulls
• J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve Bicycle Birding
• Harns Marsh Birding
• Wood Stork and Crew