Western Willet, Terns, Sanderlings, Brown Pelicans at the beach

Western Willet

Anna Maria Island beach is quiet, the waves calm (9/8/19). The drive was 8 minutes from Wildewood this traffic-less, early morning.

Here are a few birds I saw.

This Western Willet preened.

Then settled onto the sand for a nap.

While it slept, Sanderlings ran to the water's edge and back, so fast that I was surprised to see I caught a moment of that flash of energy.

Oops, there Sanderling goes!

I looked up and caught these two Brown Pelicans in the early morning light.

Then, a Sandwich Tern (notice the "mustard" or yellow color on its beak?) and a Royal Tern. If you are having a thought that I might be good at identifying these terns, maybe let that go. I asked knowledgeable people in a birding group. They are the ones who know this species from that species with pretty good accuracy.

Here is another photograph of the Royal Tern.

Most of us just stood and watched the waves roll in and out.

Black Skimmers courting, mating, scraping

There was a Black Skimmer flock of a hundred, maybe more, on Anna Maria Island. They were wonderfully and wildly courting. I saw some sand scraping (nest making activity, mostly done by males) so it looks like they are already laying eggs. 

As I understand it, they mate for life. So first, they find a partner. I saw a lot of preening and heard barking yips.

s

The male heads off to catch and give her a fish which she eats while they mate. Off he goes.

But, sometimes if there is no fish, he'll give her a twig or feather. (At least he tried for a fish.)

 Then they fly off together.

She lands, and he joins her. Literally.

 After, they fly and land on the beach. This happens. I imagine the lift is to help in the mating process.

And then, my heart melted as they spent time touching bills. That looks like forever to me.

Check back in a month. There will be baby skimmers.

Read more. Audubon says that Black Skimmers are climate endangered.

May 23, 2018

Bird watching and Coquina Beach Market (Sundays)

Royal Tern
 

I'm hanging out with the Royal Terns. I watched a pair beak-clack and then walk in circles. I think perhaps a male was giving a female food as part of the mating behavior. Here is their sound.

 Royal tern meeting. Anna Maria, at the northern tip of the island.

Juvenile cormorant 

 Juvenile cormorant lets me take its photograph.
 

Osprey
  

I took this photo of an osprey perched on one of the beach volleyball posts while visiting the Coquina Beach Market (10:00 AM until 4 PM, SUNDAYS).  By the way, this is a fun market - veggies and fruits, jewelry, art, photos, and even someone from Milan who sells Italian pasta and sauces.

We have several resident osprey in Wildewood Springs. They perch high in the Norfolk pines or on tall trees lining the edge of the pond.