White Ibis
Feral Pig
I had 2 target birds on this Florida trip: Snail Kite and Short-tailed Hawk. We got Snail Kite(s) at our next stop - Harnes Marsh which is just east of Ft Myers. Snail Kites was reported for at least a week there. The marsh is located smack in the middle of a suburban neighborhood. You actually access the marsh from 38th street, but once you are there, it is a pretty big space. You have to walk the dirt road which surrounds the marsh. Birds were everywhere. We immediately saw a Bald Eagle, lots of Egrets, Herons and Coots and an Osprey. We ran into a group of senior citizens who were obviously on a bird walk. We asked about the Kites and were told to ask the tall guy in the baseball hat. He knows this place like the back of his hand. Great! He'll give us the lay of the land and hopefully guide us to the Snail Kites.
We caught up with the leader and informed him that he was recommended as the expert. "You see that dead tree there?" he asked. Yes, the tree was about 200 yards down the path. We could clearly see the tree. Then he said "We have never made it past that tree, ever. You see these people? They are hot and tired and returning to their cars." He wasn't kidding. He really had never been past the tree. He did tell us that they saw 2 Snail Kites through the scope. Both immature or females. He also gave great description of what to look for and we did see the kites.
Of course, passing the tree became a goal that we had to meet and we did indeed go past the tree. We didn't have to go far past the tree before seeing the kites. At first, I thought it might be a Harrier due to the size and white rump patch, but it was indeed a female Snail Kite. She was quickly joined by the male who put on a show for us hunting, well, snails. These are really bad photos due to sun glare and heat shimmer but you can clearly see the kite's markings. Look hard to see the orange hooked bill that it uses to pull the snails from their shells.
Male and female Snail Kites. Male is the dark gray bird on the right.
Male Snail Kite soaring
Male Snail Kite soaring - you can see the profile of his hooked bill here.
The object of the Snail Kite's desire.
As if that wasn't enough, Connie yelled "Lin, look at that big hawk that just took off next to us". It wasn't a hawk at all - it was a Crested Caracara! Right next to us. Lousy photo since I was surprised and the light was still really bad.
Crested Caracara
Here is a better photo of one from our trip to Belize a few years ago.
All of this, and it wasn't even lunch time yet. I'll post the rest of the day next.
1 comment:
Glad you had a great trip. Loved my time with Mimi...does she ask about me?
The Hand Shaker
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