Limpkin and Wilson's Snipe

Pictured are two uncommon birds found at Harms Marsh in SW Florida. The Limpkin is the larger of the two and this was not only the first time I photographed one but also the first time I had actually seen one. An unusual bird of southern swamps and marshes, the Limpkin reaches the northern limits of its breeding range in Florida. There, it feeds almost exclusively on apple snails, which it extracts from their shells with its long bill. Its screaming cry is unmistakable and evocative.

The smaller bird is the Wilson's Snipe. I had seen this bird before but, because of its' secretive behavior, had never gotten a good picture. The Wilson's Snipe has an extremely long bill that it uses to probe in the mud for small invertebrates. Its' camouflage is so good that it often is not seen before it flushes from the grass. The long bill of the Wilson's Snipe is flexible. The tips can be opened and closed with no movement at the base of the bill. Sensory pits at the tip of the bill allow the snipe to feel its prey deep in the mud.

Snail Kite

I have travelled to SW Florida each winter for over 20 years and have photographed birds in many locations. I thought I was familiar with a wide array of the birds that winter in this part of the state, but to my surprise I learned of a new birding location where I had the possibility of viewing a bird I had never seen. The new site and the bird both proved to be exceptional. The site is known as Harms Marsh and is about 3 mile east of Fort Myers. Shown in these photos is a Snail Kite. In one photo, you see the Snail Kite dining on his favorite meal, snails. A bird of tropical marshlands, the Snail Kite makes it to the United States only in southern Florida. This specialized hawk feeds primarily on snails. This beautiful bird is listed as a Federal and State endangered species because of its small population in the United States and its extreme habitat specialization. Widespread and common in Latin America.