We had a good turnout on Saturday for our first official field trip of the season at Joe Carlucci Boat Ramp and Spoonbill Pond! It was so great seeing both familiar faces and new members out together as we kicked off the 2026–2027 season.
Huge congratulations to Mary for winning Saturday's shorebird guide giveaway!
The birding highlight of the day was the large number of Wood Storks. Attached is a photo of one in flight, taken by Doug Schiffman. The best viewing was at the boat ramp, where we saw a good mix of herons, egrets, and shorebirds. Two Bald Eagles captured our attention, and we also had a few Roseate Spoonbills.
At Spoonbill Pond, the water was high, leaving little sandbar space for shorebirds. A fun surprise was a Cattle Egret perched on an island in the pond. Several peeps flew in alongside a larger, pale shorebird that fed rapidly; after checking field guides, my best guess is that a Sanderling joined the Least Sandpipers.
Good birding, Bill George
This Saturday, September 26, 2026, the annual Talbot Tidewater Celebration takes place at The Ribault Club on Fort George Island. Bill George will lead a bird walk at 10:30 AM to look for migrating birds. Please come join the family-friendly activities!
Tip: Please be sure to bring bug spray! The trail area for the walk isn't sprayed for mosquitoes, so coming prepared will keep you comfortable. As always, dress for the weather and bring your binoculars.
Exhibition Table: Be sure to stop by our club's exhibition table (open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM), which we are sharing with Duval Audubon. I (Kristin) will be staffing the table during the walk, so please drop by before or after and say hello!
New Book by Member Deborah Penrose: We are thrilled to celebrate the release of Birding Through Deaf Eyes! We will have a copy on display at our exhibition table this Saturday. If you can't make it to the walk, you can view her book on Amazon, with proceeds generously donated to Duval Audubon.
Best,
Kristin
Attribution: The Wood Stork photo is © Doug Schiffman • All Rights Reserved.
Layout and posting by Kristin Herring