Florida XII – Fort Desoto

Winter visit is worth doing – the beaches of Fort Desoto are one of the best in Florida and thus in the season you will have to share the space with loads of the tourists. Shelling on the beaches is one of the favorite activity – not only for the people but also for the birds – they do not care much about the shells itself but the goodies inside the calcareous conches. The shallow sandy beach mildly dipping to the sea is ideal place for waders – after every tide it is full of fresh shells and dead fishes.

Flock of Red Knots (Calidris canutus)

Sanderling (Calidris alba)

The surrounding rich waters attract great number of Pelicans and Ospreys who fish just a stone cast from the coast, in perfect distance for photographers.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) with the catch

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

When you get bored watching the sea, you can visit the closed lagoon only few tens meters apart – loads of wading birds will catch your attention for a good while!

Lagoon

Great White Egret (Egretta alba)

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Great White Egret (Egretta alba)

Reddish Egret, White morph (Egretta rufescens)

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

On the way to Fort Desoto, do not forget to check the small inlet with mangroves – you will see nesting Ospreys, fishing Kingfishers, White Pelicans and again a great number of Egrets and Herons.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

I’m writing this article in advance, at this time, I should be on a fieldtrip to Namibia…moreover, many pictures I have already published in the earlier articles so it will be very short today. Fort Desoto was the best spot for waders during my Florida trip – the white sand covered with beautiful shells with blue foamy water in the background. Sometimes the beach is so crowded with the birds that it is difficult to pick only one at the time. The locality is good for pictures of birds pecking out the meat from the shells and sea urchins…

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)

Black-bellied (Grey) Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)

Willet (Tringa semipalmata)

Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Black-bellied (Grey) Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)

Red Knot (Calidris canutus)

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Black-bellied (Grey) Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

Black-bellied (Grey) Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

List of relevant articles about Florida

Florida 2010 – I – Anhinga, the snakebird

Florida 2010 – II – Pelican the bomber

Florida 2010 – III – Wakodahatchee, all in one

Florida 2010 – IV – Osprey, Florida`s fisher

Florida 2010 – V – Waders – not a simple task!

Florida 2010 – VI – Florida`s woodpeckers

Florida 2010 – VII – J.N.D. Darling and chilly tropics

Florida 2010 – VIII – Little Estero Lagoon

Vultures of southern USA

Florida 2010 – IX – Sebastian Inlet State Park

Human – a friend or enemy?

Florida X - Egrets and Herons

Florida XI – close-up

Florida XIII – some more birds

Birds of Florida - Portfolio (article)

Portfolio - birds of Florida (photos)