This morning we drove out to Anna Maria Island in the hopes of getting photos of the Razorbills that have been seen there. We were not disappointed. We got there around 11:15, and we found four north of the City Pier. Two of them were very content to feed near the shore. They came very close to the shore, and I was just amazed by them.
If you’re not aware, Razorbills are extremely rare for Florida. Before this year, only 14 had ever been recorded in the state. But over the last few weeks many have been appearing along the coast of Florida, and many have even made it into the gulf, where we found these. I don’t think that anyone knows exactly why we’ve had so many here. Some have suggested that Hurricane Sandy is the cause; others have suggested that their food supplies have been depleted in the northeast. If you’re interested, there’s an article about this invasion here.
Scott Simmons
Scott Simmons, based in Florida, is a lover of nature, landscape, and wildlife photography. Scott became interested in photography in 2001 when he was given his first SLR camera. When he acquired a telephoto lens, he became progressively more interested in birds and other wildlife. Scott enjoys learning about bird habitats and behavior, striving always to take images that are both beautiful and interpretive. Scott believes photography is a great vehicle to help others to appreciate the wonder for the stuff of earth.
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