American Oystercatchers, Fort Desoto

Sunshine Skyway Sunrise Far

Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas County, FL.

Reddish Egret posing for me. I was photographing a white morph Reddish Egret fishing in this lagoon. It suddenly took off and this guy landed 15 feet away from me and posed and preened.

Reddish Egret White Morph

Fort De Soto Park

A first-winter laughing gull gets some take-out from a shellfish on a cold, dreary day at Fort De Soto. Pictured here on his way to the water to rinse his meal.

I hope my ID is correct. Taken in Fort de Soto Park, Florida.

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Yellow-billed Cuckoo ~ (Coccyzus americanus)

It is always nice to get a look at this secretive species without 12 branches in front of it.

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Fort De Soto Park

I recently spent a few great days with friends and birds at Fort de Soto Park, one of my favorite Florida destinations. Many people were there for the warblers and migrants passing through but I like to watch and shoot shore birds. There’s something about getting in the water that attracts me. Reddish Egrets are a favorite target and every day there were several working the low tide. This one gave me a pose I find appealing. (Egretta rufescens) (Sony a1, 200-600 lens @ 239mm, f/6.3, 1/5000 second, ISO 640)

The female American Oystercatcher is in hot pursuit of the much smaller Black-bellied Plover. (I can tell it’s the female by the tags on her legs. The male was not tagged.) She’s just clearing any bird considered too close to her darling chicks for her comfort. A bit overprotective if you ask me in this case. (American Oystercather - Haematopus palliates; Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola) (Sony a1ii, 200-600 lens @ 600mm, 1/4000 second, f/6.3, ISO 640)

Roseate Spoonbill ~ (Platalea ajaja)

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Reddish Egret White Morph Hunting at Fort Desoto

I found myself in a small lagoon where this Great Egret was fishing. No one was around to distract the bird and I was able to approach slowly enough not to disturb it. I was in the water, kneeling, trying to get my lens right over the surface of the water, which created this lovely effect in the foreground. It caught this little fish in an instant and an instant later, it was gone. (Casmerodius albus) (Sony a1, 200-600 lens @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 second, ISO 640)

Last shots from a series I took of a sunrise centered over the Skyway Bridge a little while back.

Warbling Vireo ~ (Vireo gilvus)

One of the highlights of 2018 Spring migration for me thus far was seeing this Warbling Vireo at Fort DeSoto. My previous looks at this bird were about 50 feet in the air at the top of trees in silhouette form!

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Sunrise splitting the uprights over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from Fort Desoto. Here is the first of my edited shots from this morning. Love our beautiful sunrises.

Roseate Spoonbill ~ (Platalea ajaja)

A Roseate Spoonbill stretches it's wings out after preening. I swear I saw all the other wading birds in the tidal pool roll their eyes.

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A Snowy Egret coming across the lagoon at Fort Desoto

Taken at Fort De Soto, Florida.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.

A pair of royal terns appear to be negotiating over a fish (in the male's beak) and what could follow. Will she or won't she? Stay tuned!

Taken at Fort De Soto in Florida.

My sincere thanks to all who spend the time to view, like or comment on my photos. It is much appreciated!

© 2024 Craig Goettsch - All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use without permission is prohibited.

Great Blue Heron Playing with its Food

Great Blue Heron and Great Egret Hybrid ~ Fort DeSoto

I am not sure how nailed down the ID is on our local "One-in-a-million" bird, which is a hybrid of a Great Egret and Great Blue Heron which spends a lot of time at Fort DeSoto. When I was watching it hunt the other morning, it sure seemed to show some pretty strong Reddish Egret behaviors. Really interesting bird!

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Male Scarlet Tanager (4)

Blackpoll Warbler ~ (Setophaga striata)

Another familiar face of migration, the blackpoll warbler. Showing off those fancy orange boots.

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Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas County, FL.

A Reddish Egret gets lost in the wide blue expanse.

Sunshine Skyway Dawn

Osprey at Ft Desoto, Gulf side fishing pier, Pinellas County, FLorida

Fort De Soto Park, Pinellas County, FL.

I just love the color contrast here between the white snowy egret and the blues of the water.

My sincere thanks to all who spend the time to view, like or comment on my photos. It is much appreciated!

© 2024 Craig Goettsch - All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use without permission is prohibited.

iPhone 4s

Aviary App

Fort de Soto, Florida

Magnificent Frigatebird ~ (Fregata magnificens)

A Frigatebird swoops down close to the water for a refreshing drink.

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Taken at Fort De Soto, Florida.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.

American Oystercatchers frequently visit Fort de Soto. They are an interesting bird, with their long stout bill which they use to forage in the sand to catch small critters or crack open an oyster or a shell. This one was captured landing on the beach. (Haematopus palliates) (Sony a1, 100-600 lens @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 second, ISO 1000)

Fort De Soto Park

I was recently at Fort de Soto, which is back open for business after hurricanes Helene and Milton. There are still a few areas that are closed due to storm damage but for the most part everything is back to normal. There seemed to be a lot less bird activity than in past years, maybe due to the storm, but it was still great. This Osprey has a nest in a wide-open tree adjacent to North Beach and I was lucky enough to be in the right position, on my way to the beach, as I saw it coming back to the nest. The wind was perfect to be able to catch the landing, talons out. (Pandion haliaetus) (Sony a1ii, 400mm lens, f/5.6, 1/4000 second, ISO 640)

This White Ibis tries to recover from an awkward landing.

While I'm laid flat on the beach, this Black-bellied Plover comes up to see who's in his spot.

The threat chased off, this American Oystercatcher returned to its mate and nest.

…is a small white member of the heron family….diurnal bird, that hunts during the daylight hours….😎😎

Taken in Florida.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.

A White Ibis comes in for a landing.

A Reddish Egret finds a better position

The Black Skimmer favours calm waters protected from open surf such as tidal lagoons. They fly low with the long, lower mandible ploughing the water and snapping the bill shut when it contacts a fish. Source: National Audubon Society.

I didn't see this one heading in my direction in enough time to get down into a lower position but I thought it was worth posting as it shows the lower mandible clamping shut on a small fish.

Taken at Fort De Soto, Florida.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.