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Posted by Brian Rapoza on 20:17:26 02/09/08
Today I traveled to the home of Lois and Leon White, in Alva, Lee County, hoping to see the Lazuli Bunting that has been coming to thier feeders. Several birders were already there when I arrived just before 8:00 AM, and reported that the Lazuli had spent several minutes at the feeders shortly before I arrived. As I waited for it to return, several other birders arrived, including Bill Pranty and Charlie Ewell. The Lazuli finally returned about 9:45 AM and stayed for several minutes; at one point it was joined at the feeder by a male Indigo and Painted Bunting! Large numbers of Indigo Buntings and American Goldfinch were at the feeders virtually the entire time I was there.
I must thank the Whites for their gracious hospitality; they love to show off their buntings to visiting birders!. Thanks as well to Vince Lucas for posting this sighting; directions to the White's amazing yard can be found in his previous post.
After having our fill of the bunting show, the White's took several of us to a nearby pond, where a male Snail Kite had been photographed earlier in the morning. The kite was no longer present when we arrived, but other birds sighted earlier were still around, including Wood Duck, Limpkin and Red-headed Woodpecker.
From Alva, I headed to Bunche Beach in Ft. Myers, where I easily found the Long-billed Curlew that has been wintering there. It was at the east end of the beach, along with a flock of Black Skimmers and Royal Terns, a large group of Willets and Short-billed Dowitchers and several Marbled Godwits. Next stop was Ft. Myers Beach (accessed via the Holiday Inn), where I added American Oystercatcher to my day list. I headed home via County Roads 846, 858, 833 and 835 through Hendry County. On CR 858, just north of the Hendry Correctional Center, I found two Lark Sparrows perched on the wires; also in the vicinity were two Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. Other species seen along CR 858 included Limpkin and Wild Turkey. Late afternoon rainstorms washed out my attempt to see the wintering Cassin's Kingbird on CR 835; not a single kingbird was present when I arrived, only more Limpkins.
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