LAUGHING GULLS, PELICAN BAY, NORTH NAPLES, FLORIDA, 12/16/2024

 

BLACK SKIMMERS, PELICAN BAY, NORTH NAPLES, FLORIDA, 12/16/2024

 

VERY LARGE COLONY OF BLACK SKIMMERS, LAUGHING GULLS, ROYAL TERNS, ETC. AT BEACH & SANDBAR, PELICAN BAY, NORTH NAPLES, FLORIDA, 12/16/2024

      Black Skimmers, gulls and terns are social and can form colonies that range in size from a few pairs to thousands of pairs.   We estimate that this colony, which includes the beach and the sandbar, is over approximately 2,500 birds in size.  The majority of birds in this colony are Laughing Gulls and Black Skimmers, with a sizable amount of Royal Terns.  Scattered among these birds are: Sandwich Terns, Herring Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Brown Pelicans, Sanderlings, Ruddy Turnstones and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

      The first six photos show the various birds on the beach and sandbar.  The last six photos show many of these birds in flight after being spooked by something.  This occurred twice during approximately 2 hours we were viewing and photographing them.  We do not know what spooked them.

 

MULTIPLE SPECIES AT FEEDERS, ROCKLANDS BIRD SANCTUARY (MONTEGO BAY), ROCKLANDS RD, WILTSHIRE, JAMAICA, 12/12/2024

 

JAMAICAN MANGO, ROCKLANDS BIRD SANCTUARY (MONTEGO BAY), ROCKLANDS RD, WILTSHIRE, JAMAICA, 12/12/2024 - NW SPECIES TO LIFE LIST

   We can ID this hummingbird as a Jamaican Mango as follows:

• This hummingbird was identified as a Jamaican Mango.
• Dark down curved bill.
• Overall dark, but with iridescent purple.
• Red-purple tail.

   The Jamaican Mango is endemic to Jamaica.  This bird is a new species to our ebird Photographic Life List.

 

WHITE-CHINNED THRUSH, ROCKLANDS BIRD SANCTUARY (MONTEGO BAY), ROCKLANDS RD, WILTSHIRE, JAMAICA, 12/12/2024 - NEW SPECIES TO LIFE LIST

   We can ID this bird as a White-chinned Thrush as follows:

• Distinctive bright orange bill, legs and feet.
• White chin.
• Brown eye (see last photo).
• Dark plumage head and upperparts.
• Lighter plumage underparts.
• White patch on wing (see 2nd and 3rd photos).

   The White-chinned Thrush is endemic to Jamaica.  It is a new species to our ebird Photographic Life List.

 

CARIBBEAN DOVE, ROCKLANDS BIRD SANCTUARY (MONTEGO BAY), ROCKLANDS RD, WILTSHIRE, JAMAICA, 12/12/2024 - NEW SPECIES TO LIFE LIST

   We can ID this dove as a Caribbean Dove as follows:

• Identified as Caribbean Dove by Merlin Bird ID app.
• White forehead, face and throat and bluish-gray crown
• Nape and mantle are rosy vinaceous, which is the color of the nape in the first photo.  However, the nape and mantle are very iridescent and can look purple, green, blue, etc.  This can be seen in the last two photos.
• Upperparts brownish and gray. Conspicuous white band in front of folded wing.
• White underparts that we can see.
• Legs and feet are red.

   The Caribbean Dove is a new species to our ebird Photographic Life List.