Field Trip Photo Gallery 2011-2012
WELCOME AND ENJOY HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR FIELD TRIP ADVENTURES
Want to share your adventure on the new photo gallery?
Then email photos to fieldtrips@stpeteaudubon.org
See you outside - Susan Pepper, SPAS Field Trip Coordinator
Celery Fields, Sarasota, FL - Total of 47 Bird Species
February 18, 2012
Participants enjoyed 47 species while walking only in the south wetlands area.
The early morning fog lifted to the sounds of trumpeting Sandhill Cranes and Killdeer followed by the
unmistakable scream of Limpkins. Highlights were a pair of wood ducks house hunting,
seven Limpkin chicks and a pair of immature Bald Eagles having fun scattering flocks of Glossy Ibis
and Blue-wing Teal. All in a day at the Celery Fields.
Thank you Jeanne Dubi with Sarasota Audubon, trip leader.
Wood Ducks house hunting Participants glasssing south pond
Sandhill Cranes Limpkin feeding on Apple Snail
All Photographs by Sandy Harris
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Cockroach Bay Preserve, Ruskin, FL – Total of 73 Bird Species
January 28, 2012
Participants enjoyed an early morning view from the top of “Mount Cockroach”. In between the thousands of feeding tree swallows one could see the skyline of down town Tampa and St. Petersburg along with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
January 28, 2012
Participants enjoyed an early morning view from the top of “Mount Cockroach”. In between the thousands of feeding tree swallows one could see the skyline of down town Tampa and St. Petersburg along with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
The area was purchased by Hillsborough County in 1991 and has been undergoing large scale habitat restoration. The old crop fields and sand/shell mining pits are being converted to native upland forest and tidal wetlands to provide a natural transition from coastal wetlands to uplands habitat.
The name "Cockroach Bay" may have originated with early explorers who observed numerous horseshoe crabs in the area.
Savannah Sparrow photograph by Sue Tess Restoration Mount Cockroach by Sandy Harris
Early Morning Birding photograph by Ed Tess Tree Swallow photograph by Ed Tess
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Weekiwachee Preserve, Hernando County, 5th winter sparrow flushing and banding
January 21, 2012
A dream come true for 45 participants - a bird in hand view of 5 sparrow species and 2 wren species.
5th winter sparrow drive in this Audubon of Florida designated important bird area
Marianne Korosy banded 3 Henslow's Sparrow; 10 LeConte's Sparrow; 1 Grasshopper Sparrow;
1 Savannah Sparrow; 4 Swamp Sparrow, 1 Sedge Wren and 1 House Wren.
The House Wren was banded January 15, 2010 in the same field and recaptured on today's sparrow drive.
Banding a Le Conte's Sparrow Participants flushing birds to mist nets
All photographys by Sandy Harris
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Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland, FL - Total of 73 Bird Species
January 14, 2012
January 14, 2012
Dawning hats and gloves 24 birders spotted 73 species. Highlights include
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Purple Gallinule, Sora, Glossy Ibis, Northern Harrier, an active Bald Eagle nest, Orange-crowned Warbler
and American Goldfinch.
Limpkin photograph by Sandy Harris Purple Gallinule photograph by Sandy Harris
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21st Annual Rich Paul Birding Open Raises over $500 for Audubon of Florida’s
Coastal Island Sanctuary. January 1, 2012
Coastal Island Sanctuary. January 1, 2012
More than 30 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.
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Possum Branch Preserve, Saftey Harbor - Total of 50 Bird Species
December 10, 2011
A record setting day – thanks to Judi Hopkins and Marie Hughes 21 birders enjoyed finding a Green-tailed Towhee. Only the second record of a Green-tailed Towhee in Pinellas County
and one of only a few birds ever found in the entire state of Florida.
The first county record was in February of 2003 at Honeymoon Island State Park. In total, 50 species counted today.
Green-tailed Towhee and field trip participants enjoying record setting find photographs by Ed Tess
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Eagle Lake County Park, Largo - Total of 51 Bird Species
November 12, 2011
Another great day for a walk in a Pinellas park - 45 birders spotted 51 species. Highlights
included 5 warbler species - Black-and-white, Palm, Pine, Praire and Yellow-rump;
3 hawks - Red-shouldered, Red-tailed and Cooper's; Great Horned Owl pair,
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, White-eyed Vireo and female Painted Bunting.
Thank you to Ed & Sue Tess, trip leaders.
Pond and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker photographs left to right by Sue Tess & Ed Tess
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John Chesnut Sr. County Park, Safety Harbor - Total of 56 Bird Species
October 22, 2011
Thank you Ron Smith, trip leader.
Pine Warbler photograph by Sue Tavaglione
Yellow-billed Cuckoo photograph by Sue Tavaglione
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Photography Class Photos
October 8, 2011
Fifteen enthusiastic recreational photographers set out on a daring adventure to change their digital camera shooting mode from “auto” to “program”. Entering the world of camera settings such as ISO speed, shutter speed, aperture and macro.
Thank you Tom Funari and Sue Tavaglione, instructors.
photographs by Bonnie Douglass and Sandy Harris (left to right)
