Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Where is this? Map,  Satellite View
The Sanctuary provides a beautiful raised walkway that can take you for (up to) a two mile walk. Most of the walk is inside forest and can be a little dark. Keep this in mind with your choice of camera equipment. There are open fields also, and I have seen deer there. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is owned and operated by the National Audubon Society and acclaimed as the crown jewel of the Audubon's sanctuaries I am told.

Red Shouldered Hawk

Pileated Woodpecker making a dent in this tree limb

Almost 200 types of birds are residents of the Sanctuary, either permanent or temporary. Year round, you can see egret, ibis, heron, limpkin and anhinga. Songbirds include black-throated green warblers and yellow-billed cuckoos visiting during the spring and fall as they migrate. In winter, birds include pine warblers and painted buntings.

By early spring the "Swamp" is dryer. There are at times competitive feeding frenzies at these small watering holes that are left behind when the water recedes.

These 'coons were looking for food from this small pool. They looked cautious, and for good reason, these small holes are home to at least one alligator also looking for a meal. Just a few moments after this picture was taken a small alligator sprung out from underwater but was not fast enough to make a meal of this pair. You can see the cave the alligator had created at the back of the pool. And, of course, I was too slow with my camera for that shoot.

"Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge

This Refuge on Sanibel Island, FL is well noted for birds and wildlife.  I enjoy starting early in the morning at opening (7:30am).  Spoonbills are what many come to see, but there are always other surprises to see along the five mile road.  The area around the observation tower is a good place in the morning to see Spoonbills.  When entering the Refuge I usually drive to the tower without stopping elsewhere.  A keen eye is needed along the way though, the bushes on each side of the road are always hiding something. 
Where is this?  Map   Satellite View

Spoonbill Fly By.  I have noticed in my visits that birds such as the Spoonbill are out feeding for only a couple hours after opening.  Though some are always around, the large gatherings seem to fly off to places unseen by ~9:30am.  When they start leaving there are many opportunities for over head shots like the one above.

Black Crowned Night Heron

Young Night Herons seen in late Spring

Snowy Egret by Observation Tower

Osprey (Fish Hawk) on nest alongside the road

Lakes Park, Ft Myers

Lakes Park can be a wonderful place for a walk with your camera. Much work has been done to the Park after Charley came through in 2004, and is now well landscaped throughout. There is a variety of wildlife all year round but numbers increase in the winter months. Where is this? Map Satellite View

Tri-color Heron hunting in Lakes Park Green Back Heron hunting dragonflies in Lakes Park

American Coot sunning

Dragonfly in Lakes Park

Black Snake starting a meal after a succussful strike

Harnes Marsh Walk-about

I had heard of Harnes Marsh through a couple birding websites and had the recent opportunity to have a morning walk-through. I headed south down the dirt road from my parked car and made my way around to the fields and woods on the other side of the water, a very quiet and out-of-the-way place to walk. Trees had dozens of empty Apple Snail shells underneath, discarded by Snail Hawks and Limpkins. The shells, in themselves, were interesting to look through and worth taking home a sample. 
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Marsh - South end of lake

Young Sandhill Crane pair - no chicks yet

A Limpkin - the Crying bird

Bunche Beach Walk

This small beach is excellent for walking and wading.  The water is shallow for quite a good distance out so it supports a number of wading and shore birds.  This is also excellent for picture taking, no large waves and it allows a person to walk out into the water and shoot back.  The picture of the Sandwich Tern was taken out in the water 100 ft where the bird decided to take a bath next to me. 

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Skimmer - touching down

Sandwich Tern on Bunchie Beach

Skimmer Fly-by

Osprey Hunting Overhead