1st documented sighting at LKSP
Brown Noddy at Lovers Key State Park at New Pass
Fort Myers Beach, Florida USA
This is the first documented sighting of the Brown Noddy at Lovers Key State Park.
This solitary individual of its species was in the company of about 1000 birds including an
American Kestrel (a flyover that caused massive panic), Black Skimmers, Brown Pelicans,
Double-crested Cormorants, Laughing Gulls, Short-billed Dowitchers, an Osprey (overhead),
a Reddish Egret, Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, and Willets on the "flats" at low tide.
LKSP is north of the normal range for the Brown Noddy and the species is not likely to be
seen throughout the vast range of the state of Florida although the bird species is known to
breed in the Dry Tortugas National Park to the south. The Brown Noddy was observed at
Cape May, New Jersey after accompanying Hurricane David up the Atlantic seaboard in 1979.
According to LKSP Park Services Specialist, Brie Ochoa, whom researched the vertebrate
database for the entire southwest district (of Florida state parks), the Brown Noddy was last
seen at Del-Nor Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples, Florida 15 years prior to this sighting.
Lovers Key State Park, on the Gulf of Mexico, is a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail.
This particular bird allowed me a 24 minute study of it before the flock took flight due
to a disturbance I don't recall. Most often, the birds are skittish because of the shellers
visiting the park which sometime have a disregard for the birds resting. Flight will also occur
from the flats when a watercraft makes its way into the Gulf of Mexico from Estero Bay.
Nikon D80 ,Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR Zoom
1/1000s f/6.3 at 300.0mm iso250, with flash hide exif , handheld
Full EXIF Info Date/Time 19-Sep-2008 10:00:05 Make Nikon Model NIKON D80 Flash Used No Focal Length 300 mm Exposure Time 1/1000 sec Aperture f/6.3 ISO Equivalent 250 Exposure Bias +1/3 White Balance Metering Mode multi spot (3) JPEG Quality Exposure Program shutter priority (4) Focus Distance
The above commentary was written some time ago. An early December 2009 trip to LKSP had shown the "flats" to still be evident with the waves washing over them at a low tide, but an especially low tide will be required to walk and crawl dry on them again.
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