Birds and other wildlife of Southwest Florida

Besides chasing the Burrowing Owls and Florida Scrub-jays, I also took pictures of other birds and wildlife. Most of these were taken on Naples Beach, with some taken on Sanibel Island.

(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)

Brown Pelicans are a common sight on Naples Beach, they seem to leisurely cruise above the beach all day long.


Brown Pelican


Brown Pelican

Sanderlings are the most numerous shorebids found on the beach.


Sanderling


Sanderling

Black-bellied Plovers in their winter plumage are less numerous, but one or two of them can always be found if one cares to look.


Black-bellied Plover


Black-bellied Plover

Willets are also very common on the beach.


Willet


Willet

Snowy Egrets are one of the most elegant birds found on the beach.


Snowy Egret


Snowy Egret


Snowy Egret

On my last morning, near Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, I saw a White Ibis wading in the water on the beach. While not a rare bird (in fact they are very common in Florida), I seldom see them on the beach.


White Ibis

On that morning, I saw saw a group of Red-breasted Mergansers swimming close to shore.


Red-breasted Merganser

A probing Ruddy Turnstone was also seen on the beach.


Ruddy Turnstone

On two occasions, I saw gulls -- first time a Lauging Gull, another time a Lesser Black-backed Gull, catching or eating a fish.


Laughing Gull


Lesser Black-backed Gull

Almost my last encounter with birds on the beach (and my best) was with a mixed flock of gulls and terns. The most numerous of these are the Sandwich Terns.


Sandwich Tern


Sandwich Tern

There were also a few Royal Terns in the flock. One of these had a projection below its bill. I later found out that it was its tongue, and the condition is known as oral fistula. The bird seemed otherwise healthy and alert, despite its suffering. I wish it well!


Royal Tern


Royal Tern

Among the mostly white gulls and terns, the Black Skimmers contrast sharply with them.


Black Skimmer


Black Skimmer

It was on Naples Beach that I also saw a few dolphins, some apparently feeding near shore. But it was difficult to photograph them, as their surfacing was unpredictable.


Dolphin

On Sanibel Island, we saw a Gopher Tortoise munching on beach plants. I also saw one last time on Naples Beach.


Gopher Tortoise


Gopher Tortoise

Our stop on Sanible Island was brief this time, and our visit to J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge was very short indeed. My only photos there were of a lizad (likely a Brown Anole) outside the visitors center.


Lizard



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