28 April 2023 - Key Largo to Orlando via Sanibel

« Newer   |   Older »

Magnificent Frigatebird, Red-shouldered Hawk, Wood Stork, Swallow-tailed Kite, Common Mynah

Today we had to head back to Orlando, but via Sanibel Island. to collect my wallet from the Sanibel Police Dept.  Before setting off, several Magnificent Frigatebirds passed over the accommodation, and once on the road we didn't really stop much. A few Common Mynah were seen by the roadside in Key Largo, and our first stop was at the HP Williams Roadside Park on the Tamiami Trail (US41); the same place we stopped on the way down and saw Wood Storks and Alligators.  The Alligators were still on view, but only a small number of Wood Storks were seen.  A White-eyed Vireo sang from some nearby bushes (identified by the Merlin app) but I didn't get to see it.  However, I found a nice Red-shouldered Hawk by the entrance road which allowed a reasonably close approach before flying off.

At Sanibel, we saw a couple of Frigatebirds, and some Ospreys but not much else.  After leaving Sanibel we travelled north on US17, where we saw several Swallow-tailed Kites swooping over the road;  about 10 for the entire journey in fact. We arrived late in Orlando, in the dark, after 11 hours driving so there was no chance of any exploring.

Magnificent Frigatebird, 1/2500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 400

Wood Stork, 1/2500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 320 (view full size image)

Alligator, 1/2000 sec, f/5.6, 186 mm, ISO 1250 (view full size image)

Redouldered Hawk, 1/2000 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 1250 (view full size image)