A lot of flirting going on.

Posted on June 4, 2022 by dinajohnston

The usual shore birds were at the fishing pier in early April. There was a large variety of them hanging out together including those large ring billed gulls in the middle. They make the other birds seem so small.

There were a lot of royal terns on the beach. The two above with the orange beaks looked like they were flirting. They were standing at attention among the sandwich terns, common terns and willets.

They were definitely flirting. Walking back and forth together, almost like slow dancing. Their little black toupees were standing up.

Then we knew for sure they were flirting. The poor couple didn’t have any privacy although the willets weren’t really paying attention. It looked more like a game of leap frog than actual mating though.

They danced around again for a while as that kittiwake was keeping an eye on us.

They tried again but I don’t think she was really in the mood.

As I was leaving I noticed the crowd had thinned out. Everyone was here to see the kittiwake but there was so much more going on.

Little birds on the beach

Posted on November 23, 2020 by dinajohnston

The skimmers lined up along the shoreline at Fort Desoto.

Out on Outback Key spit, I could see tons of shorebirds from the beach.

So many shorebirds, so little time. The spit was full of different shorebirds but nothing new on this trip. The tide was high in mid-October early in the morning so I was wading knee deep to get out to the area where the shorebirds were. It was a slow walk just making sure I didn’t sink and go under. Everything was packed in my backpack but you just never know.

Little birds on the beach.

Posted on October 8, 2019 by dinajohnston

Lots of oystercatchers at the north beach at Fort Desoto. Including the first one that has the TO bands on his legs. I have pictures of him as far back as 2011.

A ruddy turnstone still in his summer feathers.

Two little plovers. A piping plover on top and a semipalmated plover on the bottom.

A mom and juvenile sandwich tern.

An almost grown black skimmer taking a break on the sand.

Pelicans resting on the shore.

Linking to My Corner of the World.

Seafood for breakfast.

Posted on September 14, 2019 by dinajohnston

The above sandwich tern flew right in front of me and landed with a fish. Adult sandwich terns have that yellow tip on their beak.

He then proceeded to fly around the flock of different birds on the beach looking for his mate or baby. Not sure which. He seemed to be lost and none of the other birds tried to take the fish.

Some of the other babies tried to steal it after a few seconds. Eventually the bird flew off down the beach. He must have come back to the wrong flock on the beach.

This royal tern baby was driving his parents crazy, begging for food. Royal terns have orange beaks and always look like they have a bad hairpiece sticking up.

This lonely willet had a sand flea.

Happy Memorial Day from the beach

Posted on May 27, 2019 by dinajohnston

Everyone was after this yummy snack rolling around on the beach.

Other birds were going after their usual snacks including the sandwich tern and great egret above. I think that egret had a tough time getting that fish down.

A fisherman had pulled up this tiny fish and left it on the pier so this great blue heron tiptoed up and grabbed it.

The usual birds at the fishing pier at Fort Desoto park.

A few female red breasted mergansers were swimming along the shoreline.

It’s the unofficial summer season kickoff this weekend. Although here in Florida that started months ago. I probably won’t be at the beach today since we tend to stay away on big holidays and avoid the crowds.

Morning walk on the beach

Posted on November 30, 2016 by dinajohnston

Young royal terns and sandwich terns were yelling at the parents to get them fish.

Ghost crab on the beach.

Sandwich terns showing off.

Young black bellied plovers. I’m not sure if they were fighting or playing.

Ibis looking for snacks.

A hawk flies by on the beach.

A dolphin goes by out in the gulf.

The last of my Sanibel Island vacation pictures.

Hanging out at the fishing pier.

Posted on November 3, 2016 by dinajohnston

Yes, I cut off his wings. Who cares anyway, the sandwich tern has a fish.

The hybrid great egret/great blue heron has been hanging around the pier for a while now.

This guy was scurrying across the pier with his stolen bait fish. It wasn’t until I got home and cropped this up that I realized he has string wrapped around his leg.

This guy is just too pretty to be a laughing gull.

Fish under the pier.

The one that got away! The fisherman was bummed.

SkyWatch Friday

Birds on the beach at Fort Desoto

Posted on October 3, 2015 by dinajohnston

A ruddy turnstone staring at me.

The usual oystercatcher walking along the water.

A willet walking by.

These godwits and willets were trying to sleep in the water.

I tried not to wake anyone up. They looked so peaceful.

The above are all black bellied plovers hanging around the marsh.

A sandwich tern fly by.

A handful of shorebirds that were hanging out at Fort Desoto in late September.

Saturday's Critters

More tourists than birds on the beach

Posted on August 27, 2015 by dinajohnston

Someone should tell this grackle that she’s not a shorebird.

“Everybody run, there’s a grackle on the beach!” said no Willet ever.

Juvenile royal tern.

A sandwich couple flirting. She gets a fish instead of roses and chocolates.

Prehistoric pelicans. All juveniles that were born this spring.

Red eyed night heron.

Woodpecker in the parking lot.

All of the above birds were on this busy beach. I guess they tolerate the tourists. I headed out to the beach for an after work walk. So crowded even at dinnertime.

Skywatch Friday