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Field Trip Photo Gallery Fall 2012 - Spring 2013
 
     WELCOME AND ENJOY HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR FIELD TRIP ADVENTURES
 
Enjoy the photographs below, see you outside. St. Petersburg Audubon
 

Fall 2012 / Spring 2013 Field Trip Stats to date:
Total Bird Species: 162

Total Individual Birds: 8,164

Total Miles Walked: 15.5

Total Adventures: 11

Circle B Bar Reserve - Total of 73 Bird Species

Febuary 16, 2013

 

It Pays to Get Up Early!

Although that is not what I was thinking when the alarm went off at 5 am to make the drive over to Polk County. Participants were rewarded with great views of American Pipit, Purple Gallinule, Sora, Roseate Spoonbills, Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks and Limpkins to name only a few. The American Bittern stayed tucked behind the grass, but was found by all. What a wonderful day. 

 

 

          Birding Group - Photograph by Ed Tess                        Roseate Spoonbill - Photograph by Ed Tess


 

                         Sora (Left) and Purple Gallinule (Right) - Photograph by Sandy Harris

Wall Springs Park & Wm Dunn Water Reclamation Facility - Total of 53 Bird Species

January 26, 2013

 

DIVE, DIVE, DIVE - what a treat, participants enjoyed watching the submarine maneuvers of a Common Loon swimming underwater catching fish right next to the nature trail. The speed and agility was amazing with an underwater hunting technique completely different from the Anhinga. 

 

     

           Common Loon - Photograph by Tom Bell                  Common Loon Underwater - Photograph by Ed Tess  
 
 
      Pine Warbler - Photograph by Ed Tess                                Early Morning at the Park - by Ed Tess

22nd Annual Rich Paul Birding Open Raises over $400 for Audubon of Florida’s 

Coastal Island Sanctuary - January 1, 2013

 

More than 20 birders enjoyed a beautiful January 1st day at Fort DeSoto County Park to participate in a challenge to find as many species of birds as possible in a 6 hour period.  Prizes were awarded to both individual and team efforts.

 

Thank you to everyone who participated.   Happy New Year!

 

 
Roosevelt Wetlands - Total of 52 Bird Species
December 8, 2012

The Eagle Has Landed ! – well actually three Bald Eagles landed (2-Adults and 1-Juvenile 2-3 years old).
Wow, raptors were the birds of the day as we walked the elevated dike around the wetland.
Particpants enjoyed Vultures, Bald Eagles, Ospreys, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin and
American Kestrel. 
 
Thank you Maureen Arnold and Steven Sloma, Trip Leaders
                                                                                         Pair of Bald Eagles Photograph by Sandy Harris 
 
                                                 
                                                        Northern Harrier Photograph by Sue Tess
Sawgrass Lake Park - Total of 36 Bird Species
November 17, 2012

Alligators, an Otter and Birds – The cool, overcast morning started off with a flock of warblers dropping in to feed atop the old oaks at 8:15 am sharp; a trip leaders dream come true. We welcomed several new comers and enjoyed our stroll through the park with a Blue-headed Vireo and Limpkin topping today’s bird list.
 
 
Photographs by Sandy Harris
Marine Quest - October 27, 2012
 
They’re everywhere …kids! Thousands of families with young children attended the free activities at Marine Quest sponsored by the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute on the University of South Florida Campus in downtown St. Petersburg.

The St. Petersburg Audubon exhibit area this year was non-stop action with Nancy Dunne joining us.
She provided a table full of artifacts explaining - what is in a wrack line and why do birds love what they find there; to beach litter and how the birds are affected; to where shorebirds build their nests
and what material is used.

The kids had a coloring station to draw pictures of the beach and real sand to build their own shorebird nest.
 
Thank you Nancy Dunne, Nancy Ogden & Sandy Harris for providing a wonderful time for the kids.
 
 
 
  
 
Photographs by Kim Kandz 
Lake Seminole Park - Total of 49 Bird Species
October 20, 2012 
 
What a wonderful morning, filled with lots of laughter as we strolled through the park. The laser pointer green dot proved harder to find than the elusive Common Yellowthroat or the secretive House Wren.
Green dot WINS today! Hmm do I see a future cartoon series. 
 
By the end participants were rewarded with 2 Bay-breasted Warblers.
 
        Where’s the Green Dot? 
 
 
 
 
 Photographs by Sandy Harris - Red-bellied Woodpecker and Yellow-throated Warbler and Green Dot 
Fort De Soto County Park - Total of 61 Bird Species
September 22, 2012 
 
OH MY, how to count 2000 birds? Overwhelming is an understatement, but manageable when broken down into smaller pieces – 1500 Sandwich Terns, 250 Laughing Gulls, 145 Black Skimmers ….. Participants learned that a conservative estimate is better than no estimate and allows scientists to use our personal observations from eBird.
It sure was easier to count 1 Long-billed Curlew!

Thank you Jason Guerard, Trip Leader! 

 
 
                                                           Photographs by Sandy Harris - Long-billed Curlew 
John Chesnut, Sr. County Park - Total of 40 Bird Species
September 8, 2012 
 
Participants kicked off the season opener with a couple of fall migrant touchdowns – Blackburnian Warblers, Worm-eating Warblers and Yellow Warblers. Rain delay, no problem, gave everyone a chance to catch up on summer adventures. Then back on the trail again for more Carolina Chickadees, Yellow-throated Warblers and a pair of Barred Owls. 

Thank you Ron Smith, Trip Leader 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                             Barred Owl photograph by Sandy Harris