There was still one egret to find down here in south Florida. After seeing lots of herons and egrets, one species was eluding me … the Reddish Egret. Cornell describes this bird in this manner: “In the stately and dignified world of herons, Reddish Egrets are the swashbuckling cousins. These big, cinnamon and steely gray birds put on a show as they forage in shallow saltwater. They race back and forth, open and shut their wings, stir up sediment with their feet, and even swoop low over the water in flight—all in pursuit of small fish”. (Cornell link)

My search focused upon the shorebird heaven in the Fort Myers area, Bunche Beach. If you visit this beach, arrive about an hour after low tide when the incoming waters bring food to the shorebirds, egrets and herons. Two afternoons ago I found a Reddish Egret near the outflow of the small creek that is 1/2 mile down the shore to the NW from the parking. Unfortunately the egret was always between me and the sun … a silhouette. Yesterday morning I returned shortly after sunrise to Bunche Beach in the hopes “red” would be hunting for breakfast near the same creek outflow. Jackpot, but this time the sun was low  and behind me … the golden hour!

Before I show the Reddish Egret images, here are some parking lot photos! I was birding the beach for 90 minutes, and apparently the morning low of 41F kept everyone away except this MInnesotan. I was the only person present … no morning beachcombers or birders! Here are two photographs of my rental car … the only vehicle present.

Most of my photographs were taken as I watched to Reddish Egret fish right next to a White Ibis. These two wading birds have different food desires, and foraging methods. It was obvious the Egret was watching to see what the Ibis might scare up!

Three days ago I did not even know that Nanday Parakeets existed. I had previously posted that I drove over to the Pelican Baseball Fields … not in search of Burrowing Owls but Monk Parakeets (Birding Florida’s Undesirables). In my research prior to my Pelican Baseball Trip birding extravaganza, I discovered eBird reports mentioned a few Nanday Parakeets. This led me to wonder … what is this bird?! I quickly did eBird species searches for south Florida and discovered Nanday Parakeets were quite possible to find in the Fort Myers area (also known as a Black-Hooded Parakeet).

Over the next two days I drove the Fort Myers area and took hikes at parks where I sometimes saw the Nanday Parakeets at a distance. I was never able to get truly close. Thankfully at a Fort Myers city park I met some local birders while walking the Billy Creek Preserve (a delightful park for birding). When I told them I was on a Nanday Parakeet Quest, they said drive north to Celery Fields near Sarasota. This area is actually and old clery farm which was purchased by the local Audubon society. It has amazing number of Nanday Parakeets.

This morning, Sunday, I woke up early as always (5:15 am). I was trying to decide where to bird this fine morning. I decided to look at eBird reports for Celery Fields and Nanday Parakeets. Some reports had over 400 of of these parakeets at Celery Fields. I decided … why not drive north to Sarasota? Remember, Florida traffic is horrible, but I decided on Sunday morning traffic should be way less at 6:45 am (it was less on I-75).

Jackpot! I saw hundreds of Nanday Parakeets! The Audubon Society has feeders which attract these birds to easily observable spots first thing in the morning. Should you decide to make the trip plan on getting there early. I arrived by 8:15 am. By 9:30 there was nary a Nanday Parakeet around, but prior … hundreds and hundreds till the morning feed was finished.

I had to deal with heavy fog when I first arrived, but I have learned through years of bird photography that fog and rain 0ften brings out deep colors in bird plumage. It is only in the later two or three photos that I started to have brighter conditions as the fog started to burn off.

The Nanday Parakeets of Celery Fields!

Okay, I’ll admit it … I love to the bird the unlovable … the undesirable birds of south Florida. While eBird and Cornell may hold up their collective noses at these two bird species, I actually went out looking specifically for these two colorful characters yesterday, and I was successful! What were the focus of my explorations?

• Monk Parakeets: From eBird – “Monk Parakeets, native to South America and long popular in the pet trade, established wild populations here in the 1960s. These social parakeets nest communally and dozens live together year-round in large, multifamily stick nests built in trees and on power poles.” My focus were the Pelican Baseball Fields in Cape Coral where MOST people go to see the Burrowing Owls, and yes I did see the small owls, but my focus and major time spent was trying to find and capture the green birds on camera. Okay, I’ll admit I did have a pet parakeet in the 1970’s.
• Gray-Headed Swamphen: From eBird – “Originally from southern Asia, it became established in southern Florida in the mid-1990s when birds escaped from captivity and began breeding.” My search was back once more at Harns Marsh.

Remember, the Ring-Necked Pheasant which folks love to see and photograph was also an import circa 1890 … from China! (see eBird). We now consider this bird a native … no star is listed next to its species name on an eBird report (unless out of range near a game farm).

Do you bird the undesirables? the unpopular? Remember, whatever birds you prefer are fine. Personal enjoyment is the key!

Gray-Headed Swamphen (nest construction in process)

Monk Parakeets (mating time)