Black-bellied Plover

Sanibel Island, FL
1/25/05

Although the name sounds like a misnomer, come spring and summer it really has a black belly.

Royal Tern

Sanibel Island, FL
1/29/05

Royal Tern

Sanibel Island, FL
1/25/05

Ruddy Turnstone

Sanibel Island, FL
1/23/06

Ruddy Turnstone

Sanibel Island, FL
1/26/06

Osprey

Sanibel Island, FL
1/27/07

Ringed-billed Gull

Sanibel Island, FL
1/28/08

Sanderling

Sanibel Island, FL
1/28/08

Bald Eagle

Sanibel Island, FL
1/28/09

Seeing a Bald Eagle on Sanibel Island is not unusual.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Sanibel Island, FL
1/20/10

Willet

Sanibel Island, FL
1/30/11

The Willet is a common bird with a curious migratory behavior. In summer, the Western subspecies lives inland in grassy wetlands and dry meadows of the Northwest, while the Eastern subspecies lives in the salt marshes and beaches of the east coast. In winter the Western Willet becomes a shore bird along the Pacific, Gulf and Atlantic coasts, and the Eastern leaves North America entirely.

Sanderling

Sanibel Island, FL
1/30/11

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Sanibel Island, FL
2/2/12

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is a western European gull that regularly visits the east coast of North America in fall and winter. Its yellow legs distinguish it from the Greater Black-backed Gull of North America.

Wood Stork

Sanibel Island, FL
1/26/14

This stork was particularly lucky with this catch, and the other six storks feeding in this small pool did not try to steal it. It was his to eat, but that was not so easy.

Wood Stork

Sanibel Island, FL
1/26/14

After a ten minute struggle all you could see was his bulging gullet and a little bit of the tail in the back of his bill.

Blue-winged Teal

Sanibel Island, FL
1/27/14

White Peacock

Sanibel Island, FL
1/27/14

Common Ground-Dove

2/2/14

Zebra Longwing

Sanibel Island FL
1/29/15

Willet

Sanibel Island, FL
1/30/15