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<\/a><\/p>\nThe Reddish Egret with prey above (image 1) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n
An early April visit to Bunche followed my January visit when an American Flamingo was personally observed. The flamingo had put on a tremendous show for many weeks and was seen at Bunche Beach as recently as three weeks ago according to an eBird report.<\/p>\n
The Willet above (image 2) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Black-bellied Plover above (image 3) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Black Skimmer above (image 4) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Black Skimmer above (image 5) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Royal Tern above (image 6) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Black Skimmer above (image 7) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Royal Tern above (image 8) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Black Skimmer above (image 9) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The 1st Winter Herring Gull above (image 10) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n Other specialties including Whimbrel and Long-billed Curlew have been observed at the preserve this past week by other birders. On the morning of my visit I missed seeing them although I primarily made my observations at the west end of the beach.<\/p>\n The Osprey with Cravelle Jack above (image 11) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Osprey with Cravelle Jack above (image 12) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Laughing Gull above (image 13) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Marbled Godwit above (image 14) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Brown Pelican above (image 15) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Short-billed Dowitcher above (image 16) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Short-billed Dowitcher above (image 17) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Osprey above (image 18) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Osprey above (image 19) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n There was no shortage of regulars that should be expected at this time of year. The morning was pleasant with a cloudless sky and a comfortable breeze from the north. As is normal the birds took flight into the wind which was not ideal for photography considering the position of the sun.<\/p>\n The Royal Tern above (image 20) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Black Skimmer above (image 21) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Black Skimmer above (image 22) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Sandwich Tern above (image 23) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The banded Royal Tern above (image 24) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Black Skimmer with Royal Tern and Laughing Gull above (image 25) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Laughing Gull above (image 26) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Laughing Gull above (image 27) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Osprey above (image 28) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n As the morning progressed the large flock of loafing skimmers, terns and gulls took off inexplicably as they are want to do. It was interesting that an overflight of a Little Blue Heron startled the flock although the birds did not take flight.<\/p>\n The Osprey with Mullet above (image 29) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Osprey with Mullet above (image 30) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Osprey with Mullet above (image 31) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The scene above (image 32) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Willet above (image 33) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Great Blue Heron above (image 34) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Great Blue Heron above (image 35) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Great Blue Heron above (image 36) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Marbled Godwit above (image 37) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Ospreys were successful in their capture of prey. I was particularly intrigued with a Cravelle Jack that had another fish dangling out of its mouth while in the talons of an Osprey as can be seen in image #12.<\/p>\n The Marbled Godwit above (image 38) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Reddish Egret above (image 39) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Reddish Egret above (image 40) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The juvenile Reddish Egret above (image 41) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The juvenile Reddish Egret above (image 42) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The banded Reddish Egret above (image 43) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The banded Reddish Egret above (image 44) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Spotted Sandpiper above (image 45) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n The Spotted Sandpiper above (image 46) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n Toward the end of my visit to Bunch Beach Preserve this day a banded Reddish Egret with antenna was observed in pursuit of a juvenile of its own species. This action followed a very impressive sight of a flock of Short-billed Dowitcher that numbered well in excess of 200 individuals.<\/p>\n The banded Reddish Egret above (image 47) was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in April 2016.<\/p>\n