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Project Noah Nature School
Pluvialis dominica
Spotted on Apr 1, 2012
Submitted on Apr 1, 2012
11 Comments
The Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge can be really nice, though extremely buggy! Bug spray is mandatory when visiting if you don't want to provide a free buffet to the bugs. I know that they create an artificially low tide twice a year. I missed it. I seem to recall it was around labor day and some time in the spring so that the migrating birds can fill up when they arrive and just before they leave. That would be the best time to go. The very first time I was at Ding Darling happened to coincide with this event and there were hundreds of egrets and herons feeding in the first retention pond. It was hard not to get a good shot. There is a $5 entrance fee good all day. You can get some decent shots at the different beaches.
I was thinking of going to Sanibel this week sometime...is it worth the drive?
I haven't gotten out too much. Life has been getting in the way. I did go out the last recently and got some decent shots locally and in Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island.
Thanks Dave...I look forward to it...seeing anything good these days?
I just joined. I'll start adding some of my shots.
Hi Dave: Will you consider joining my new mission Shorebirds of the Gulf Coast and adding some of you extraordinary photos? I'd be most appreciative
http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/1408...
Yes, this was shot at Ft DeSoto.
I didn't get any flight shots. I did post a few extra photos.
Was this at Ft. DeSoto? In Sarasota Golden Plover is listed as a rare bird in the fall only. Sibley's says Black-bellied has a white belly & Golden has a grey belly...if you saw the armpit or have a flight photo a dark armpit indicates Black-bellied.
Good to see your spottings again. Hope to hear from you if you see any migrants. Do you post to Brdbrains?
I'm back. I finally had a chance to get out and shoot this morning. Golden Plover is my best guess. The white streak over the eye on the golden plover stands out against the rest of the pattern on the head in my book. The non-breeding plumage on the black-bellied plover is muted. I could be wrong, but this is my best guess based on the pictures in my book.
Hi Dave...you're back! How can you tell this is a Golden Plover rather than a Black-bellied?