Fort De Soto, 1/31/2012

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American Oystercatcher
I took an hour before work this morning to visit Ft. De Soto again. I heard from a friend that North Beach was a good section to check out.  He was right.  I only had a little bit of time, but I was able to see 3 American Oystercatchers, 2 Reddish Egrets (including one white morph), about 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Belted Kingfishers, and an assortment of Gulls and Terns.  On the way back to the car, I stumbled upon a group of trees filled with warblers: Prairie, Pine, Yellow-throated, Black & white, Palm, and Yellow-rumped.  A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker flew into the tree for a while as well.

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American Oystercatcher
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Reddish Egret
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Reddish Egret White Morph
(look how clear the water is!)
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Brown Pelican
After this I went to the fort to see if I could find the Lark Sparrow that people have been seeing there.  There was a group of people there, and there two scopes out, so I figured I was going to be in luck.  Sure enough, it was there.  After the group left, the Lark Sparrow came relatively close to me, and I was able to take a few pictures before it flew into a bush. All in all, a great way to spend a morning.

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Lark Sparrow
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Lark Sparrow

Here's a list of species I saw in the park:
Red-breasted Merganser 5
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Brown Pelican 3
Great Blue Heron 1
Tricolored Heron 1
Reddish Egret 2
White Ibis 1
Black Vulture X
Turkey Vulture X
Osprey 10
Bald Eagle 1
American Kestrel 2
American Oystercatcher 3
Laughing Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 3
Common Tern 1
Forster's Tern 3
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 11
Belted Kingfisher 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Loggerhead Shrike 1
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Northern Mockingbird 2
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4
Yellow-throated Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 1
Lark Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
Boat-tailed Grackle X

Comments

  1. The Oystercatcher is quite an eye catching subject! The Reddish Egrets are very nice!

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  2. Hi Scott, I'm from Virginia, visiting the area for a few days. I hit Fort Desoto 8-10 AM Wedn Feb 1, saw a Yellow-Throated in trees just across road from North Beach parking lot - maybe same one you saw! It was with several Yellow-Rumps. Later, saw no Lark Sparrow (nor other birders) around the Fort. -Steve Johnson

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    Replies
    1. That's right about where I saw the Yellow-throated. Could be the same bird! Too bad you didn't get to see the Lark Sparrow. I actually went to the fort twice and didn't find it the first time, only the second.

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