Fort Myers Beach, Florida -- December 2004

This temporary trip gallery presents a selection of the digital captures I made from December 4th to 12th, 2004 on Fort Myers Beach, mainly around Little Estero Lagoon, and also at three locations nearby. The comments on each image conclude with the specific location. Most sea, shore and water birds you would expect to find are included--notable exceptions are Pelicans (White and American Brown). Pelicans were certainly present (White Pelicans only at Ding Darling, on Sanibel Island), but they weren't especially photogenic. Wilson's Plovers were quite numerous--more so than on any of our previous winter visits; I include images showing the variation in their plumage

Click on any photo to see a larger version, with comments

Return to Recent Postings Go to main Galleries page Return to Home

$Magnificent Frigate Bird (adult female), over Little Estero Lagoon. A prehistoric creature par excellence! These birds are tropical in range, extending into southern parts of Florida. \nWe had never before seen them so regularly or in such numbers at Little Estero Lagoon or the vicinity (e.g. over two dozen one morning, circling high overhead).$

Magnificent Frigate Bird (adult male), over Little Estero Lagoon.

Anhinga (adult male), drying his wings. A quintessential Florida (and tropical) bird!. Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

Anhinga with a fish--caught underwater using its sharp bill as a spear! Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

Head of a swimming Anhinga. When an anhinga surfaces, only its long neck protrudes from the water--like a snake! I have yet to capture the perfect image of this phenomenon; here, I was too close to show the entire neck--but I'll take it! Ding Darling Refuge (on Sanibel Island).

Juvenile Anhinga, with its characteristically furry grey neck. Ding Darling Refuge (on Sanibel).

Great Blue Heron, at sunset. In the original the bird is darker--I brightened it in Photoshop. Fort Myers Beach, near Little Estero Lagoon.

Great Egret, at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

Great egret in flight--captured late on a cloudy day, at ISO 800. Little Estero Lagoon.

Reddish egret. These birds are found on much of the coast of southern Florida and of Texas, foraging vigorously for food. Little Estero Lagoon.

Exceptionally, this Reddish egret remained in one spot for close to an hour, and I took shots for a good 40 minutes, as he (or she--no way to tell) raised his plumes periodically. Little Estero Lagoon.

Exceptionally, this Reddish egret remained in one spot for close to an hour. Little Estero Lagoon.

This is a white morph (or white phase) Reddish Egret--an unusual white version of the same species as in the previous three images. This bird was extremely active, as you can see--and after these extended antics he gallopped (yes, gallopped) away to the north along the lagoon behind him. Little Estero Lagoon (southern end).

This is the same white morph Reddish Egret, an instant later. Little Estero Lagoon (southern end).

This is the same white morph Reddish Egret, just prior to the previous two images. Little Estero Lagoon (southern end).

Snowy egret, with fish (captured just before the white morph reddish egret appeared). Little Estero Lagoon (southern end).

Plumes of a Snowy egret, (same bird as the previous shot--a couple of minutes later) Little Estero Lagoon (southern end).

Tricolored Heron, displaying its plumes. Little Estero Lagoon.

Tricolored Heron, high in a tree. Though infrequent, this behavior is not uncharacteristic of many herons and egrets. Ding Darling Refuge (on Sanibel Island).

Tricolored Heron (juvenile--see the rusty neck and flanks). Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve.

Little Blue Heron, with food, Bunche Beach (near Ft. Myers Beach)

Little Blue Heron, juvenile (note the light green legs), Ding Darling Refuge (on Sanibel Island),

Little Blue Heron, juvenile (note the light green legs), Ding Darling Refuge (on Sanibel Island), Cross Dyke

Black-crowned Night Heron, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (Audubon).

Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Little Estero Lagoon

Yellow-crowned Night Heron, with prey, Little Estero Lagoon

Roseate Spoonbill, Little Estero Lagoon. Although rarely present at the lagoon in previous years, these striking birds were around regularly on this visit, usually singly. They are regularly present at Ding Darling on Sanibel Island.

Roseate Spoonbill, Little Estero Lagoon.

Wood Stork, foraging (I saw it catch a very small minnow with its large bill!). In a small pond between Little Estero Lagoon (north end) and the beach.

Wood Stork in flight--they glide quite majestically. Ding Darling Refuge (on Sanibel Island).

Osprey, in flight. Little Estero Lagoon.

Black-bellied Plover--in winter plumage, obviously (and prettier than when breeding, in my view). Bunche Beach (near Fort Myers Beach.

Piping Plover. An endangered species, present this time in small numbers. Ft Myers Beach, near Little Estero Lagoon.

Semipalmated Plover. Bunche Beach (near Fort Myers Beach.

Wilson's Plover, distinguished in part by its large bill. This individual is in typical winter plumage. Little Estero Lagoon.

Wilson's Plover, again in typical winter plumage; here the large bill is especially evident (a real "schnoz"!). Little Estero Lagoon.

Wilson's Plover, ruffling its plumage. Little Estero Lagoon.

Wilson's Plover, apparently still close to its breeding plumage (with dark collar and front of crown), even in early December. Little Estero Lagoon.

American Oystercatcher. A guide once described this colorful species as "a bird in black tie smoking a carrot!" Little Estero Lagoon (south end).

Greater Yellowlegs (longish bill. slightly upcurved). Little Estero Lagoon.

Ruddy Turnstone. Ft Myers Beach, near Little Estero Lagoon.

Sanderling. Ft Myers Beach, near Little Estero Lagoon.

Dunlin. Generally present in large numbers. Here at Bunche Beach (near Fort Myers Beach).

Least Sandpiper. Distinguished mainly by its yellow legs. Little Estero Lagoon.

Laughing Gull--adult, with food. Beach at Little Estero Lagoon (a bit north).

Laughing Gull-first winter plumage. Beach at Little Estero Lagoon (a bit north).

Royal Tern, at rest. Beach at Little Estero (a bit north of the Lagoon).

Black Skimmer, juvenile molting into first winter/adult plumage. Beach at Little Estero (a bit north of the Lagoon).

Kingfisher, Little Estero Lagoon (on a pier)

Bird Photographs by John Van de Graaff

All photographs © John Van de Graaff
All photographs presented on this site are the property of John Van de Graaff.
They are protected under U.S. copyright laws and may not be downloaded or reproduced
in any way without the express written consent of John Van de Graaff.