Barrier Island Girl

Nightlights

2012-01-08T18:27:00.000-06:00

I didn't have a tripod as I exited The Grand Marlin tonight, so I used the handiest thing I could find to brace my camera - a wall. The lights are lovely, but it's also startling to see the difference which has occurred in less than a decade.

2012-01-08T09:31:00.000-06:00

“There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul”

~~ Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)

Barefoot

2012-01-05T10:22:00.000-06:00

"If I had my life to live over again, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall..."

~~ Nadine Stair

The walkover

2012-01-04T10:00:00.000-06:00

"Tell me what you yearn for and I shall tell you who you are. We are what we reach for, the idealized image that drives our wandering."

James Hillman (1926 - 2011)

Kitesurfing in the New Year

2012-01-02T11:00:00.002-06:00

Can you imagine a group of surfers sitting on the beach one gusty day, perhaps bemoaning choppy water which was not prime for longboards. As they sat there mulling over the situation, some of them obviously figured out a way to combine surfing and paragliding, then threw in a little bit of gymnastics just to mess with us common folk. In the end, they named it kitesurfing and set out to boggle the minds of those who watched from shore.

The strength, agility and grace of kitesurfers is amazing. Just watching a newbie learning to control their kite on the beach will give you a glimpse of the upper and lower body strength it takes. My shoulders would probably be dislocated in the first five minutes, or maybe someone would eventually locate me over in Apalachicola after I caught a few high gusts.

If you see their giant kites on the horizon one windy day on Pensacola Beach, take the opportunity to head their way and watch this intriguing water/wind performance. You won't be disappointed.

To watch a few seconds of the man above in action, you may click HERE.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T19:58:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year from Pensacola Beach! I hope 2012 will be an awesome year for each and every one of my friends and blog followers. To view some of the festivities on the island today, you may click here to watch the Polar Bear Plunge!

Quite a spectacle

2011-12-18T22:04:00.000-06:00

"There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul."

~~ Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)

Gray Days

2011-12-13T11:16:00.000-06:00

We've certainly had our share of gray days lately, but I believe I'm beginning to see a little blue.

December sunset

2011-12-08T19:47:00.001-06:00

"One of the most satisfying experiences I know is fully to appreciate an individual in the same way I appreciate a sunset. When I look at a sunset...I don't find myself saying, 'Soften the orange a litle more on the right hand corner, and put a bit more purple along the base, and use a little more pink in the cloud color...' I don't try to control a sunset. I watch it with awe as it unfolds."

-Carl R. Rogers (1902 - 1987)

Art & Wine Weekend follow-up

2011-10-02T23:31:00.001-05:00

I'd like to extend my thanks to all the folks who came out to support us at the Art & Wine Weekend. We had so much fun. It was also great to meet more of my blog followers who stopped by to say hello!

I'm going to take a couple of weeks to do a bit of traveling and get away from telephones and computers. {{{Gasp!!!}}} I'll be back the third week of October to catch up on my blog.

Sadly, I will be missing the Pensacola Greek Festival this year. If you have a chance, please check it out during the weekend of October 14-16. There will be great food and wonderful Greek music, dancing, and costumes. You may check out more about the event and even download a copy of the festival program by clicking HERE.

Art & Wine Weekend

2011-09-30T10:37:00.000-05:00

It's once again time for Art & Wine Weekend! This year there have been some changes made to the event, most notably being the location. Instead of artists having their tents at various locations around the island, all artists will be set up in the core area between the Visitor's Information Center and the Sandshaker.

I will be there from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day with baskets of note cards and double-matted photos in various sizes. This year I have also added a few larger pieces - photos on canvas.

It is a fun event, not only because it gives me an opportunity to display my photography, but increasingly I've had folks that follow my blog come out to introduce themselves or say hello. So, if you're in the area, please stop by this weekend! I'll look forward to meeting you!

Another morning view

2011-09-29T16:36:00.002-05:00

Another moment from my patrol at Santa Rosa this morning.

Last Patrol of the Season

2011-09-29T15:48:00.000-05:00

This morning was my last sea turtle patrol of the season. It turned out to be in the Santa Rosa area instead of Ft. Pickens, my usual patrol area. I was treated to another spectacular sunrise as I neared the eastern end, which stops at Navarre Beach.

It was a bit sad, but it has been a fantastic year for us. We had over 80 sea turtle nests in our entire area which includes Perdido Key, Ft. Pickens, Pensacola Beach, and Santa Rosa. As usual, we mostly had Loggerhead nests, but this year we also had a few Greens and a couple of Kemps ridleys. Outstanding!!!

2011-09-28T19:34:00.000-05:00

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

~~ C. S. Lewis (1898 - 1963)

Shake Your Tail Feather!

2011-09-19T14:05:00.004-05:00

Several classes from Monette Hodges 'Dancingly Yours' dance studio on Pensacola Beach performed at the Casino Beach pavilion during the Taste of the Beach event on Sunday. This adorable group of tiny dancers showed us all how to Shake Your Tail Feathers! Oh how we love our little beach babies!

(Double-click the video after it starts to see it full screen and prevent the right side of the video from being cut off. You may hit Escape to return to your regular screen afterward.)

Life's a 'Vette at the Beach

2011-09-19T13:45:00.000-05:00

There were so many activities on the beach this weekend that it was hard to fit everything in! One of the big events which helped fill Casino Beach parking lot was the Corvette show, Life's a 'Vette at the Beach, which just celebrated its fourth year on Pensacola Beach.

Hosted by the Miracle Strip Corvette Club of Pensacola, this show seems to be getting bigger and better each time. This year there were over 185 amazing Corvettes on display. You may click on any photo to see a larger image.

Leave only your footprints behind

2011-09-18T11:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was Coastal Clean-up Day. Volunteers along the Panhandle turned out to pick up trash on our beaches. This little shore bird wants to extend its thanks for everyone who helped make our environment just a little bit better and our beaches just a little more beautiful.
The smaller birds were very appreciative of footsteps left behind and took full advantage of them during the gusty weather at Ft. Pickens early this morning.

Great Blue Heron

2011-09-14T08:43:00.000-05:00

One of the joys of patroling at Ft. Pickens is the number of Great Blue Herons I get to observe.

Santa Rosa tidal pool

2011-09-13T08:34:00.000-05:00

Storms can be very difficult, especially for those who live on barrier islands, but after they pass the beaches are swept clear, as is the sky. Tidal pools form and shore birds abound. Yesterday morning a northerly wind flattened the surface of the gulf, but ruffles of waves raced along the shore, one after another. As you watch the video, notice how a wave will start to the west of me and make a quick run eastward.

Osprey

2011-09-12T14:37:00.000-05:00

I was very excited to see this beautiful osprey during my patrol at Santa Rosa this morning. Someone had taken an old log which washed up and stood it upright. It was a perfect perch for an osprey to scope out some breakfast!

Moving forward

2011-09-11T16:13:00.009-05:00

Tropical Storm Lee had me pretty bummed out when I saw how our remaining sea turtle nests were being battered by high surf and buried deeper with sand. I didn't know how many would be left.

Yesterday was the first day we resumed patrols at Ft. Pickens after the road reopened and I was anxious to see how it looked.

I was sad to see the nest I discovered on July 17th was marked 'LOST'.

I even (accidentally) sacrificed my beloved Droid for this nest in the torrential downpour that morning when the pocket where I had it stashed filled with water. Come to think of it, I think our bio-tech, Toby Stapleton fried his phone the same way that morning in another area.

This in situ nest (natural/not relocated) was a reasonable way from the water when it was laid, but is quite close now.

Luckily, the mama loggerhead had climbed a fairly steep berm to nest, so this site escaped the worst of the waves. Unfortunately, you can see that it ended up with about two feet of extra sand on top of it and these little fellows will need some help digging out.

Six unhatched sea turtle nests remained at Ft. Pickens when Tropical Storm Lee shut us down. Of those, two were lost. We are hopeful the other four will hatch with little or no ill effects.

This nest with the extreme sand accretion, FP 7281, was discovered by Volunteer Connie Mickle and appears to be the last next one for this season at Ft. Pickens.

FP 7251, a relocated nest, holds 84 loggerhead eggs, and escaped no worse for wear. The number of eggs is slightly lower than usual. Many of our nests contain 100 or more eggs.

A photo of Ft. Pickens Road on the way out of the park. Sand was piled over head-high on each side of the road. Not surprising since it was reported that sand was 2 ft. to 4 ft. deep over certain areas of the road.

I feel more upbeat after a couple of days patrol. Tomorrow morning I'll be patroling at Santa Rosa and I'm anxious to see it for myself as well. I was very grateful to hear from our Bio-Tech Toby Stapleton that my Green nest made it through! Expect photos tomorrow!!!

Florida Brown Pelican

2011-09-11T15:15:00.000-05:00

What a joy to catch a snippet of a Brown Pelican during patrol this morning! These birds are so shy that I can never get near enough to get a good photo of them. I was quite pleased to catch this fellow unaware!

High Surf on Pensacola Beach

2011-09-05T13:59:00.001-05:00

Taken from my friend's condo on the 19th floor of Tower One at Portofino, you can see how the Gulf of Mexico is churning. You can imagine how large the waves appear at ground level.

Tropical Storm Lee - Monday morning

2011-09-05T10:19:00.000-05:00

Things only got worse overnight on the island with multiple watches, warnings, and advisories: Tornado, High Surf, High Wind, Coastal Flood, Rip Currents ... and that's just in our area.

Obviously I won't be going over to the beach, so I took this video on our upper deck.

News Release from National Park Service

2011-09-04T15:21:00.000-05:00

Gulf Islands National Seashore Announces Temporary Closure of the J. Earle Bowden Way (SR 399)

Due to flooding caused by Tropical Storm Lee’s heavy rains and high surf and sand on the roadways, Gulf Islands National Seashore will temporarily close the Santa Rosa Area including the J. Earle Bowden Way between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach on SR 399. Once the storm has passed and the sand is removed, the Seashore will reopen the road. This closure is in addition to the closures for the Fort Pickens Road and the section of the Perdido Key Road from the main parking lot east to the cul-de-sac. The Naval Live Oaks Area on U. S. Highway 98 in Gulf Breeze and the Fort Barrancas Area on board Naval Air Station Pensacola are open. Double red flag conditions remain in effect and visitors should stay out of the water. The park staff is currently assessing all beach road conditions to determine when they can be reopened. For more information please contact the Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center at 850-934-2600 and the Fort Pickens Road hotline number at 850-934-2656.

Sea turtle nest PB-7121

2011-09-04T14:03:00.000-05:00

It's difficult to stay out on the beach for very long, not just because of rain, but gusty wind and blowing sand. This is what remains of our nest enclosure at PB 7121, west of Portofino.

Tropical Storm Lee - Highway 399

2011-09-04T12:08:00.001-05:00

I was heading out to check on some of our Santa Rosa sea turtle nests this morning, but had to turn around just before the Welcome to Pensacola Beach sign. If you look closely you can see two frontloaders in the distance working to clear sand from the road.

I've been told that Ft. Pickens Road within Gulf Islands National Seashore has been closed and may stay so for a few days. Some areas of the road are covered by water and other by approximately 4 feet of sand.

TS Lee'ward

2011-09-04T11:06:00.000-05:00

I think we can appropriately say this lady is looking Lee'ward, even if she is on the windward side!

Peggy's Pensacola Dream

2011-09-03T20:32:00.000-05:00

I enjoy hearing and reading about other people fulfilling their dream of moving to our own little paradise. I know how exciting it is when that dream finally comes true. I just discovered a new blogger who recently relocated to Pensacola, so I thought I'd share her site with my readers. Please drop in to check out Peggy's Pensacola Dream, give her encouragement, and welcome her into the fold!

Tropical Storm Lee at Pensacola Beach - Saturday morning

2011-09-03T11:24:00.001-05:00

Although the surf was up just a little more this morning from yesterday afternoon, the wind definitely seemed higher. I will try to get the battery replaced in my small, hand-held wind speed gauge this afternoon so I can use it next time I go out.

PB 7121, which is a loggerhead nest, took on quite a bit of water during the night. If you compare the video from yesterday afternoon to this morning's you can see that it has resulted in the accumulation of several additional inches of sand top of the nest. The whole area is also littered with jellyfish.

There's always one....or two

2011-09-03T09:18:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not, a couple of these men were actually waist deep in the water yesterday afternoon. The young lifeguard who was patroling the beach stopped to talk to them and ask them to stay out of the high surf with its dangerous rip tides. [Note the rescue can buoy in his hand as a precaution.]

I'm still amazed at the foolishness of people sometimes.

Tropical Storm Lee

2011-09-02T20:53:00.000-05:00

The surf was getting higher on Friday afternoon as Tropical Storm Lee affected Pensacola Beach. A personal weather station on the island reported a gust at 43 mph today, but I think winds are sustained around 16-20 mph this evening.

Tropical Storm Lee

2011-09-02T18:22:00.000-05:00

Tropical Storm Lee is already taking its toll on our sea turtle nests. I was checking one of the Pensacola Beach nests this afternoon when the waves starting washing across it. It will almost surely be washed out tonight since we still have several hours until high tide (3 a.m., I believe).

We've all been so happy at the boom of sea turtle nests we've had this year, but we hate to lose even one.

Invest 93

2011-08-31T21:36:00.000-05:00

Invest 93 is just beginning to enter the Gulf of Mexico, but surface winds are already kicking up the surf. You can see how fast the wave are rushing to shore. Current wind gusts tonight are around 22 mph. Another 5 mph or so and it will be time to break out the long pants to avoid being sandblasted.

Hopefully this is not something which will affect our remaining sea turtle nests, but the Ft. Pickens nest I was screening tonight was only 36 ft. from the waterline when I left. If the waves (and tides) get higher, it could be a problem.

SPLASH!

2011-08-31T10:07:00.000-05:00

The Mystic Krewe of Nereids held their annual Splash! party at Paradise this past weekend.

Splash! is a fundraiser for the Mystic Krewe of Nereids and part of the proceeds from this event go for breast cancer awareness, a cause which is very important to this all-female krewe.

We love our Mer-Ducks! You did notice these were not your average ducks, right?

Surely you're familiar with the Flip-Flop fling.

The dunking booth is a big favorite at Splash!

Choose your water-weapon!

Ladies checked out the sunhats and pins available at the Krewe of Nereids tent.

That's right, Sissy. Take 'em down! Show no mercy!

Some fabulous bathing beauties in their vintage swimwear.

Morrie Drees raking in the money for the Nereids at dunking booth!

Lovely little Alana is stylin' again this year even when she's learning to fish. She's a mermaid-in-training.

Melanie Waite, Carleen Wheeler, and Bobbie Cunningham found a temporary dry spot to hide out. Never expect to stay dry at a Splash! party.

The Terminator!

The Nereids have lots of games available for the kids at Splash! and make sure they have a great time too.

Cownose Rays

2011-08-29T12:19:00.000-05:00

Schools of Cownose Rays were all along the shoreline yesterday morning at Ft. Pickens. At first I saw some movement from the corner of my eye and thought it was a shark feeding, but then realized it was the wingtip of a ray. They move fast, but I was able to get ahead of them and get just a few seconds of video

This might be a good time to check out the Pensacola Beach pier and perhaps spot them from that vantage point. It's really amazing to see them gliding through the water, especially if you're lucky enough to see a larger school.

The lumbering loon

2011-08-29T10:23:00.001-05:00

[You may double-click on the video above to watch it full screen and prevent the cut-off on the right. Afterward, click ESC on your keyboard to go back to normal viewing]

I've had a few calls and e-mails in the past month from people concerned about injured birds on the beach. So far, without exception, I've learned that the bird in question has been a common loon which came ashore to rest.

Yesterday I finally managed to capture a bit of video showing a Common Loon stumbling and lumbering its way back toward the water. Once you watch this you will understand why folks would think the loon has a leg or wing injury, when actually their legs are set back so far on their body that they can only manage to wobble about on land.

In the water, loons are very strong swimmers and divers. They also have four basic calls, which you may listen to by clicking HERE. Mostly what I hear from the Common Loons on the beach are the beautiful 'Wail' and the 'Tremolo', the Wail being my favorite.

Sunrise at Opal Beach

2011-08-21T14:42:00.000-05:00

I enjoy my early sea turtle patrols, but even if I do not find tracks/nests, I am often treated to beautiful sunrises on the beach.

This morning I covered the Santa Rosa area of Gulf Islands National Seashore and was treated to this brilliant display just before dawn.

Life if good!

A Sunset for Andrew

2011-08-16T13:30:00.000-05:00

After driving to the Point (the western tip of Santa Rosa Island where the old fort is located) to screen a sea turtle nest a couple evenings ago, I stopped to watch the sun slowly sink into the horizon over Perdido Key and Pensacola Pass.

It made me think of our friend Andrew Diller who left Pensacola for the Washington D.C./Arlington, Virginia area just last week, and how much we are going to miss him. Andrew was the Florida Sea Grant Marine Extension Agent for the Escambia County Extension Service. He is a marine biologist and was also one of our very dependable sea turtle patrolers at Perdido Key.

Even more important was the major role Andrew took in educating the public on how beach lighting impacts our sea turtles and their nesting. He helped with workshops which offered lighting options to beach residents and worked with condominium homeowners associations. It was through his guidance, with the assistance of Jim Cox and Lois Hausman, that one of our larger complexes, Portofino Island Resort, retrofitted parking garage lights in all five of their towers with 'turtle-friendly' amber bulbs, as well as changing their balcony lighting from bright white to amber.

Next time you are on the beach, note the difference in the lighting at hotels and condominiums which have the new turtle friendly lighting and those which still use bright white light. It's an amazing contrast and you will be able to see we still have a long way to go in regard to changes.

Our sea turtle conservation efforts may actually be paying off, however. After several years of dwindling numbers, we are having record high numbers of sea turtle nests this year, and hope this is the new trend. The Santa Rosa area of Gulf Islands National Seashore has 23 nests, Ft. Pickens area has 17, Perdido Key area has almost 30, but Pensacola Beach itself has only 12 sea turtle nests - another example of how lighting impacts sea turtles which are scouting out darker areas of beach to come ashore and nest.

So, Andrew, this sunset is for you, in addition to many thanks for your amazing contribution to our beautiful beaches. Hopefully anyone who reads this will make their own contribution toward turtle-friendly lighting on the beach by clicking HERE to read more about the subject and implementing changes of your own. You may also want to read another informative article which was written by my supervisor, Mark Nicholas, Head Biologist for the Florida District of Gulf Islands National Seashore: "Light Pollution and Marine Turtle Hatchlings".

[Andrew, I'll also give you a laugh by telling you I was standing in the surf and it was washing the sand out from under me as I was taping the sunset, hence the occasional jerky moves on a tribute to you which I meant to be much more moving. ;-)]

Osprey at Ft. Pickens

2011-08-15T14:56:00.001-05:00

One of the great things about patroling at Ft. Pickens in the summer is being able to observe osprey. Many of the tall pine trees which died in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan have had their bleak skeletons claimed as prime nest sites by both osprey and herons in this area of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

As much as I enjoy watching osprey, I rarely have an opportunity to photograph or get video of them. On the occasion I do, the quality is not the best because not only am I a distance from them, they are usually flying and I'm driving a UTV! Not prime conditions to capture a moving target with my camera.

Last Sunday, however, I did manage to get a small amount of footage of an adult osprey taking a break from fishing and resting on a long piece of driftwood. He even ruffled his feathers for me once! Also note the dragonflies darting about at the beginning.

Observation Tower at Ft. Pickens

2011-08-14T10:14:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately the Observation Tower at Battery 234 in the Ft. Pickens area of Gulf Islands National Seashore is now closed to the public. But, it still looks lovely at sunrise from my vantage point.

June Grass

2011-08-11T14:44:00.000-05:00

June grass has made an appearance again. For the last couple of years it seems to have been washing ashore later in the summer. [Click HERE to see photos of the thick mats we experienced late summer 2010 at Langdon Beach.]

June grass is actually a species of algae called Cladaphora, which doesn't look so bad on the beach from a distance, and when there is only a small amount of it. It looks a bit like someone threw out a bucket full of lime jello! As it becomes thicker, however, and accumulates, it begins to look more like pea soup washing up, and smells about as bad. (My apology to those who thoroughly enjoy split-pea soup)

We have been lucky not to have as much of it as they are experiencing to the west of us, in places like Walton County. The good part is that generally you can move a half mile or so down the beach and not see any evidence of it.

We never know how long the June grass will be with us, sometimes a couple of weeks, sometimes longer. It seems to work its way all along the Gulf Coast eventually. It may be a nuisance, but it isn't harmful. A north wind can come along and push it offshore, so you never know if or when you may see it in the water this time of year. It could be gone tomorrow. It's just one of those interesting events we deal with on the island.

Best storm photo

2011-08-11T08:57:00.001-05:00

I received permission from Dave Holifield to share this incredible photo he took at Bands on the Beach Tuesday evening. I thought it was the best of all the storm photos which were taken that night not only because the location is so easily identifiable with the iconic Pensacola Beach water tower and the Casino Beach pavilion in the background, but it puts the viewer right in the middle of the action. The freakish storm has caught the crowd off guard. It truly did sweep across us rapidly.

Thank you for sharing your photo, Dave!

Stormy weather

2011-08-10T17:36:00.000-05:00

Now that nests are hatching, I seem to be on the beach every night either screening or nest-sitting. Last night I had three to check on at Ft. Pickens and thought I had plenty of time to complete my rounds after watching the weather and double-checking the radar.

This system, however, was not the normal variety and swept across the island with a vengeance. I pushed the pedal to the metal on my old UTV as I hightailed it from just east of the Point, trying to get back to the Ranger Station at Ft. Pickens as the lightning came closer and closer. The sky would have made any Hollywood producer very proud!

I made it to my own vehicle and headed out of the Park as the front descended, stopping long enough to get this photo. The sky turned black as midnight as clouds descended like a giant alien spaceship.

I'll take a little less drama in the future, thank you very much!

Amanda's special patrol

2011-08-09T15:17:00.005-05:00

Sea turtle patrolers never know what the day will bring for them. Sometimes it's fair weather, soft breezes, and lots of birds to watch while we make our trek down the beach, scouting for sea turtle tracks which may lead us to a new nest. But, we aren't always so lucky, and yesterday morning, Amanda, who patrols the Santa Rosa area on Mondays, woke up to thunder, lightning, and rain.

Amanda was scheduled to stop and remove screens off of three nests before beginning her patrol. Considering the amount of lightning, it was a rather harrowing task to run from her car, out to the beach, and set each screen aside. The beach is not a safe place to be during a storm and sometimes we just have to wait it out!

After Amanda was able to begin her patrol, she realized that she had forgotten to remove one of the screens from a nest she checked. Fear will do that do a girl! ;-) So she focused on completing the east side of her patrol and hurried back to take care of SR 6021, the nest still screened, before the sun popped out and clouds cleared. Sun and heat can quickly put hatchlings in a state of distress, which is why it is so important for us to monitor a nest carefully.

Since hatchlings had actually emerged from SR 6021 the night before, it was very possible a few stragglers were going to make their way out in the next couple of days. And, upon Amanda's arrival back at the nest, probably half an hour from the time she had checked it earlier, two little hatchlings had indeed surfaced and were impatiently awaiting to be set free.

Amanda quickly pulled the screen, put the hatchlings in her tote, and carried them down to an area about 15 ft from the water. But, suddenly the hatchlings spied the rough surf and seemed to say to themselves, "Yikes! Those are some big waves", whereupon they did a U-turn, and crawled right back toward her!

Amanda kept turning the hatchlings back toward the Gulf, but finally had to move them closer to the water. The damp sand seemed to finally trigger the appropriate response and they quickly made a bee-line for the surf and swam into the frothy waves.

Amanda stayed to check and recheck the beach, making sure the little guys weren't washed back ashore and grabbed by predators like ghost crabs - who always seem to be waiting for a tasty hatchling snack. (Arrrrghhhhh, bad crabs!) She then said a farewell to the tiny turtles she had named Stormy and Skye due to the stormy morning on which they made their appearance (yes, some of us do bestow names on the scouts and stragglers) and wished them luck on their journey.

Congratulations, Amanda! Job well done!

Amanda's story is dedicated to Ryan, his sister, Alli, and cousins Marin and Nathan in Minnesota; Jake and his brothers in Iowa, Claire in Alabama; Meagan and Lauren in Louisiana; Gavin and his little sister Sophie in Michigan, and all my other young blog followers who love our sea turtles and spend their time on the beach learning more about them, as well as helping to keep our beaches clean while they are here! It is through their enthusiasm for sea turtle conservation that these endangered marine creatures may survive!

[Photos by Amanda Moomey]

When Pigs Fly

2011-08-09T13:34:00.000-05:00

My sister-in-law JoAnn visited recently and she never comes empty-handed. She always pulls out some unique gift which she's found in an out-of-the-way shop - or perhaps an out-of-the-way aisle in a department store where treasures are buried behind a stack of pillows, rugs or pottery. I was completely enchanted with this little watering can she presented me! I still stop to admire it every day!

If you had told me when I was a little girl that I would be living in this paradise, it would have seemed like an impossible dream...sorta like "when pigs fly..." Now I can look at this little fellow, chuckle a bit, and say, "Yes, they do!"

Sandcastles

2011-08-08T14:19:00.000-05:00

The beautiful sandcastle I photographed on the beach yesterday morning is probably gone today, but I love discovering them and appreciate the work people put into building them. It always puts a smile on my face.

Take time to enjoy the beach, build a sandcastle of your own, lay on your back and look for funny animal shapes in the clouds. Relax. Take a deep breath. Listen to the surf. There will always be deadlines and shopping lists and commitments in one form or another, but a postcard I once had proclaimed, "You'll never look back and wish you had spent more time at the office."

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

~~ Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemons)

The Sea Turtle Nest

2011-08-02T14:31:00.000-05:00

If you look closely, you can see a sea turtle nest discretely tucked away in the dunes and the tracks of a UTV going past it. Each morning the patroler on duty will stop at every nest in their area to check for signs of predation. It's fairly common to find ghost crab holes around or near nests and a patroler will quickly fill them in. Ghost crabs are one of the worst predators of our sea turtle nests.

After 50 days or so gestation, patrolers will begin listening to a nest for sounds of scratching by placing their ear to the sand near the egg chamber. Don't worry, we put a towel or sheet down first! It can be a bit funny when tourists happen by and are concerned we've passed out or gone to sleep on the job. Believe me, nearly every patroler has such a story.

It's hard to miss the sound of hatchlings digging their way to the surface! And, as the sound gets louder, we know the hatchlings are close to emerging. Once they become active, the nest starts being screened and supervised during the night.

Several hours before hatchlings emerge we will see evidence of a 'cone' - a small depression in the sand immediately above the egg chamber. When we see coning, we go on high alert. Bio-techs and volunteers are almost always present to help the hatchlings make their way into the Gulf of Mexico and protect them from disorientation (heading away from the water and toward areas of light pollution) and predators.

This is turning out to be a record breaking year for sea turtles nests in our area of Gulf Islands National Seashore. After years during which the numbers of nests have steadily dwindled, and especially coming on the heels of the oil spill which was devastating to us last year, this has generated so much excitement for the Park and for all those who have a passion for these endangered marine creatures.

The big-eyed cutie!

2011-08-01T13:28:00.001-05:00

I finally managed to get a photo of this young, big-eyed cutie which I've been seeing in the Ft. Pickens area of Gulf Island National Seashore. Does anyone out there know what it is? Actually, I had to verify it with one of our former bio-techs, but it is a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron.

If you'd like to see what this juvenile night heron will look like as an adult, click HERE.

Gulf Islands National Seashore

2011-07-30T07:11:00.000-05:00

How blessed we are to live in such a beautiful part of the country. Pensacola Beach is flanked on both sides by the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Sea oats in silhouette

2011-07-29T20:38:00.000-05:00

The golden sea oats were only a silhouette tonight as Mother Nature slashed my initial across the sky. ;-) What? You can't see the 'Z'????

The amazing Green sea turtle crawl!

2011-07-28T14:07:00.003-05:00

I was not very excited to wake up at 4:15 this morning to the sound of wind howling across the chimney and sheets of rain hitting the bedroom window. Luckily the rain had let up by the time I got to Opal Beach and what an awesome patrol it turned out to be! Not only did I discover my sixth sea turtle nest of the season, but it turned out to be that of a Green! It's the first Green sea turtle nest I've ever found!

The mama turtle's crawl was 41" wide and what a path she made! There were two body pits (eggs were found in the second pit), and there were three loops where she became disoriented afterward, as she tried to make her way back into the Gulf of Mexico. Considering she probably weighed 300 lbs or more, you can imagine how tired this poor mama sea turtle must have been by the time she made her way back into the sea.

By the way, this is the sixth Green sea turtle nest of 2011 season (out of the total 75 nests to date). So far, all of the Greens have nested in the Santa Rosa area of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Why do fish jump?

2011-07-24T16:14:00.000-05:00

It was a gorgeous day at Ft. Pickens -- except for about half an hour when the skies grew dark as a rain cloud passed over and drenched me! That's partially why the video is jerking around - I'm beginning to feel the first drops and scanning the sky around me, but I wanted to capture the moment.

As you can see in the video clip, fish were jumping all over in the surf, either having a great time or trying to escape larger fish feeding on them. It was driving the Laughing Gulls crazy.

There was a lot bird activity to enjoy throughout the patrol: sea gulls, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Plovers, Least Terns, Black Terns (who appear to still be migrating), and Willet. Coupled with the fact I found a Loggerhead nest and a false crawl, I'd say life is good!

Common Loon

2011-07-22T10:37:00.000-05:00

It was almost two months into the 2011 sea turtle season (which started the first of May) before I saw Common Loons resting on the beach again. Prior to that it was 2009 when I observed them or heard them calling before dawn as I readied my vehicle for patrol.

I'm not sure why they weren't around last year. The easy answer is that they were affected by the oil spill in some way, possibly just by the number of people on the beach helping with the clean up. Whatever the case, it is great to see and hear them again.

Loons are excellent swimmers and divers, but their legs are located farther back on their bodies than most birds and it makes them very awkward on land. If you see one struggling on shore or trying to get back in the water, don't assume they are injured, just quietly leave the area. Remember, when I get these pictures or video on patrol, I am quite a distance away and it is our purpose to complete our patrols with as little impact on wildlife as possible.

Breakfast with the Black Skimmers

2011-07-21T11:44:00.000-05:00

There are all kinds of captions one could use for this video clip I took during sea turtle patrol this morning, starting with "I can't believe I ate the whole thing". Poor little Black Skimmer fledgling finally just sidled away behind the dune to finish his fish in peace.

Sunrise at Navarre Beach

2011-07-21T09:43:00.001-05:00

"We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise if we have waited in the darkness."

~~ Author Unknown

Herons at Nest FP-6111

2011-07-20T08:50:00.000-05:00

Sea turtle patrolers can count on finding something unique on the beach nearly every time we go out. Sometimes it will be sea creatures we can't identify or interesting bird behavior (as shown below). Sometimes it's curious things which have washed up on shore.

This summer, for instance, I've see considerably more logs, driftwood, and large splintered pieces of wood along the beach both on Ft. Pickens and Santa Rosa, probably originating from storm damage hundreds of miles from us.

There are also times when nests get washed over during a high tide. Wood and sargassum littered a large area around nest FP-6111, intriguing a family of herons who decided to swoop in to investigate. I hated to interrupt them, but after a couple of minutes I had to push past to complete my patrol.

For Justin

2011-07-18T13:46:00.000-05:00

"Let the wind carry you home,
Blackbird, fly away.
May you never be broken again.

"Beyond the suffering you've known,
I hope you find your way.
May you never be broken again."

~~ Blackbird, Altered Bridge

Justin was the son of a friend in Tennessee, a beautiful young man who was badly injured in a car accident late last year and has been in a coma since that time. After overcoming many obstacles throughout these past months, Justin passed on last night and hearts are heavy at the loss for his family and the many friends who stayed by his side, hoping he'd be able to return to them one day.

Blue Angels over Pensacola Beach

2011-07-15T13:35:00.001-05:00

It certainly has been a busy couple of weeks with family visiting, the Fourth of July celebration, and the Blue Angels Air Show on Pensacola Beach. It has been great to see crowds back at the beach, helping local business owners make it a profitable year, and trolley stops being put to good use as people save a little gas by taking advantage of free rides.

I've taken time to catch my breath, had a little quiet time while I cleaned the house and worked in the yard, plus check out and download photos and video I've taken recently.

There are tons of great photos on the web and on Facebook of the Blue Angels performing over the beach, so I'm just going to share a few video clips I took of Team RV, Fat Albert, and the Blue Angels performance so you can get a taste of the excitement last weekend. Our thanks to Mike and Chrissy Cook who invited us to attend their Blue Angels party and family reunion! Chrissy is a wonderful hostess!

Fat Albert

Here comes Fat Albert again!

Blue Angels

How cool is this!!

Team RV in their brightly colored planes.

Glorious Day

2011-07-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

"And now, this is the sweetest and most glorious day that ever my eyes did see."

~~ Donald Cargill (1619 - 1681)

Grand Show

2011-07-06T11:11:00.001-05:00

"This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and gloaming, on seas and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls."

~~ John Muir (1838-1914) John of the Mountains: The Unpublished Journals of John Muir

Happy Birthday, America!

2011-07-04T22:15:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, America! I just watched fireworks taking place all over our island - east from my balcony and west from my windows. It was an amazing display.

On our 235th birthday, I would challenge my blog followers to take a few minutes and read something very precious to our country, but so easy to take for granted: our Declaration of Independence.

Happy Fourth of July

2011-07-04T20:32:00.000-05:00

Happy Fourth of July from my paradise to yours!

Sunrise

2011-06-27T08:52:00.000-05:00

Sunrises and sunsets are always beautiful at the beach, but they are more dramatic recently due to the wildfires we are currently experiencing near our area. It's a bit more difficult to appreciate their beauty when you discover it's because sunlight is passing through a light haze of smoke.

For a look at the number of wildfires we are currently experiencing in Florida, click HERE.

Drought conditions for our area of the Southeast are at the highest level, D4/Exceptional Drought.

False crawls!

2011-06-26T13:22:00.002-05:00

Shortly after sunrise this morning I came across my first false crawl. It was a little west of Marker E...

Less than ten minutes later I came across my second false crawl, almost a condensed version of the first. It was located about a quarter of a mile farther east, on the east side of Marker E...

And less than ten minutes later I came across my THIRD false crawl approximately another quarter of a mile east, which put it between Marker E and D.

I've never found three false crawls during one patrol. And, what made it even more interesting is that when I took measurements of each crawl width, I discovered the crawls were made by three different sea turtles.

One track was 36" wide; one was 37" wide; and one was 38" wide. Also, the track patterns themselves were different. Tracks may have a unique pattern if there has been an injury to a flipper or if barnacles are present on the plastron (belly) of the sea turtle.

Although I did not discover an actual nest today, it's still fun to know they will try again within the next day or so and hopefully be more successful!

A New Day

2011-06-21T12:51:00.000-05:00

Sometimes the only thing that will help is a new day.

Little spouts!

2011-06-19T16:50:00.000-05:00

For about an hour this morning, during the earlier portion of my patrol, I watched funnel clouds dropping down here and there from a long line of rain clouds in the Gulf of Mexico. I was hoping I might be able to capture a photo or video of one as it made contact with the Gulf and started sucking water up into the funnel, but none progressed to that point.

Dark clouds started on the southwest horizon and crossed the island diagonally to the northeast. I managed to stay behind the system, but could see heavy downpours in the Gulf. Waterspouts are intriguing to watch, but can wreak havoc if they come ashore. Which ever way they head, you should head the other direction! Remember, simply put, waterspouts are are tornadoes which occur over water.

FP 6191

2011-06-19T13:36:00.001-05:00

A Fathers Day gift for all you sea turtle lovers out there! I found this nest at Ft. Pickens shortly before 6 a.m. this morning near Marker E...hence it is tagged as FP 6191 (Ft. Pickens - June 19 - 1st nest discovered on this day in this area) My measurements showed it was a good sized Loggerhead with a 38" crawl. Unfortunately, the nest was too near the water and had to be relocated, during which time we discovered there were 129 eggs!

My thanks to Bio-techs Toby Singleton and Lauren Quinn for coming out to relocate the nest.

This is the 3th nest I've found this year; the 9th for Ft. Pickens; and the 29th for the entire area from Santa Rosa to Perdido Key! What an amazing year!

The Great Blue Heron and the ray

2011-06-16T15:33:00.001-05:00

Sometimes when I get busy, I forget about photos or video I've taken during patrol and wanted to share with you. This short video clip shows the Great Blue Heron I posted about on Sunday, walking around with just a bit too much breakfast to handle.

The biting flies have been out recently. That generally happens when the wind blows out of the north, so when you see the picture jerk up and down and make a weird noise, it's because the flies were biting my ankles as I crawled nearer to the heron on my elbows and knees. I was trying to scrape/shrug them off of me!

The way I see it, even the Garden of Eden had a snake, so pests are to be expected in our little paradise, too.

Snowy Plover chicks

2011-06-15T11:05:00.000-05:00

Gulf Islands National Seashore is full of these adorable Snowy Plover chicks. Right out of their nests, they could probably outrun the average person!

Freaky storm

2011-06-13T21:34:00.000-05:00

A freaky storm blew up this evening. Unfortunately I felt I had to document it and cranked open the window for a better shot.

Suddenly the wind ripped the window off its hinges and sent it flying into the driveway. Glass is now scattered everywhere.

It took a while for us to get plastic [read: garbage bags] taped into place because the wind and rain kept trying to rip it out of our hands as the rain poured into the dining room.

Now how do we explain this to the insurance agent?

What's for breakfast

2011-06-12T10:09:00.000-05:00

Looks like this Great Blue Heron will be having a ray for breakfast, but it also looks like it bit off more than it could chew!

King of the Sea

2011-06-10T12:42:00.000-05:00

King Poseidon, a/k/a Morrie Drees is also the king of surfing! Morrie just finished his last day of surf camp and gets a gold star from all his friends, plus all kinds of other goodies from Innerlight who sponsors a surf camp each week during the summer!

Morrie puts the rest of us to shame when we think we can't do something because of our age. He will turn 80 this year and has more stamina than those half his age! Age is only a number!

2011-06-10T07:43:00.000-05:00

The Black Skimmer chicks at Santa Rosa are getting bigger and exploring the area around their nest. When I videotaped them yesterday morning, Mom and Dad Skimmer where 'changing shifts'. One of them needed a break from those cheep-cheep-cheeping youngsters and walked away! You see the other parent, complete with bed-head, heading toward the nest for their turn after the first one walks away. The chicks aren't sure which one they want to follow.

Yesterday was the last day I'm scheduled to sub on a Santa Rosa patrol until July, so these little chicks may have fledged and gone when I return.

Ft. Pickens is my regular patrol area. Each section, Ft. Pickens and Santa Rosa, is special in its own way. Santa Rosa has many more Black Skimmer colonies. Ft. Pickens has more Osprey and Great Blue Herons, plus the old fort. I also enjoy watching the charter and fishing boats heading into the Gulf of Mexico through Pensacola Pass when I patrol Ft. Pickens, but no matter where I'm at, it's a beautiful day at the beach!

Keep 'em coming!

2011-06-08T17:07:00.000-05:00

I did a happy dance this morning when I discovered my second sea turtle nest of the week. This loggerhead was all business! She came straight up on the beach, nested, and headed straight back into the Gulf.

The body pit, which is very evident in this photo, was 6' 7" across.

To give you some sense of scale, the width of her track was 37" wide.

I immediately called the bio-techs to alert them I'd found another nest. I wasn't sure if it would need to be relocated. Then I posted a sign and then headed off to complete the rest of my patrol just in case there were other nests or false crawls.

By the time I returned to work on the nest (measurements, staking, reporting), bio-techs Rebecca Carruth and Toby Singleton arrived to assess the situation, along with volunteer Emily Kennedy. Rebecca was a welcome sight on Sunday when my Ft. Pickens nest had to be relocated.

Even though the decision was made to leave the nest "in situ" - it's original location - Rebecca digs down to locate the egg chamber itself so that it can be GPS'd. She then replaces the sand and leaves a light hand print for reference when they return with the GPS equipment.

The whole team of Bio-techs and volunteers are thrilled with the number of nests we've had so far this year - and we haven't even gotten into the peak of our season! But we realize there will be a lot of sleepless night in a couple of months when all these nests start hatching!

Measurements taken, nest roped off, reporting completed on SR 6081. Time to head home.

Life is good!

The Turnstone and the Crab

2011-06-08T15:33:00.000-05:00

A Ruddy Turnstone and a ghost crab face off over a fish.

Black Skimmers

2011-06-06T08:49:00.000-05:00

A tiny Black Skimmer chick ventures to the top of the nest to look around at the rest of the colony which is full of nesting mamas right now.

Turtle Alert!!!

2011-06-05T15:50:00.001-05:00

What a fantastic morning! I discovered a sea turtle crawl at Ft. Pickens and the mama turtle appeared to have nested. We know that it was a female coming ashore to nest because males never return to land after they have hatched and entered the water.

Unfortunately the nest was laid not far from the water and had to be relocated. At the time I discovered it, the nest was 20' from the water line, right in the middle of the wrack line. By the time the nest was excavated, it was 7' from the water line! Timing is very important when it comes to moving a nest, especially one this low.

The crawl pattern was a bit difficult to dicipher, but I'm leaning toward a loggerhead even though the tracks looked pretty symmetrical. A loggerhead has an alternating track. A Green sea turtle has a symmetrical track, but displays a tail drag (unlike what is pictured here).

Another clue is that a loggerhead came ashore to nest on on May 19th, two and a half weeks ago. Sea turtles skip years to nest, but in the year they are active they will come ashore every couple of weeks to lay a new nest. Consequently this could possibly be the same turtle that nested on May 19th!

Since sea turtles are a threatened or endangered species, volunteers may now only assist to a certain degree when it comes to an excavation and relocation. Bio-tech Rebecca Carruth came straight from her own patrol at Santa Rosa to help me and began to assess the situation.

We carefully dug down through the sand until we reached the eggs (Rebecca was right on the money when guessing where the eggs were deposited!). Sand from the nest was added to the bottom of our container and the eggs were gently lifted from the nest with as little movement as possible, taking care to avoid any rotation of the egg itself.

A close up of sea turtle eggs. They look exactly like ping-pong balls, don't they? And they appeared to be about the same size.

Rebecca lays the eggs in rows of 10, careful to keep them in order. The eggs will be placed in their new nest, created by Rebecca, about 150 feet north of the current location. They will also be placed in the nest in the exact same order they were removed from the original nest so that the bottom eggs will still be on the bottom and the top eggs will remain on top.

Approximately 60 days from now we should have ninety-nine tiny hatchlings emerge from this nest. We will be there to help them into the Gulf of Mexico and try to increase their rate of survival in the meantime by carefully monitoring the nest each day for any signs of predation, such as ghost crabs or other island critters such as raccoons, fox, opposum, and coyotes.

Life is good!!!

Quit hangin' 'round with me

2011-06-05T11:22:00.000-05:00

The terns have had just about enough of this crab near their nest!

Black Skimmer with chicks

2011-06-04T13:40:00.001-05:00

This photo was taken on June 1 within the Santa Rosa area of Gulf Islands National Seashore. If you click to enlarge the photo, you may be able to see the tiny beak and eyes peering out from under mama Skimmer's wing (to your right).

Just three days later I captured photos of the same nest with the chicks venturing out. The daddy Skimmer guards his family and warns other birds to stay clear.

Black Skimmer chicks almost look cartoonish when they start toddling around. Their body looks a little out of proportion to their head.

But they are such beautiful, graceful birds as adults, especially when you observe them feeding along the water's edge.

Paddleboarding

2011-06-03T09:31:00.000-05:00

Paddleboarding is becoming very popular in our area and even if you aren't a participant, it is very enjoyable just to observe.

Those Tootling Terns

2011-06-02T16:22:00.000-05:00

Needless to say, I love watching the tiny Least Tern chicks run around the beach and this is the music I hear in my head as they go tootling along.

Baby, baby!!!

2011-06-01T17:37:00.000-05:00

I barely had time to get my camera out and capture a few frames of video before this little Least Tern chick outran me. Isn't it adorable?

This is a wondrous time of the year within Gulf Islands National Seashore with all the nests, chicks and fledglings. And I'll be sharing as much as possible of the special discoveries on my patrol with my blog followers!

Memorial Day at Barrancas National Cemetery

2011-05-30T22:57:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day at Barrancas National Cemetery. Originally established as a U.S. Navy cemetery in 1838, but in 1868 Barrancas was officially proclaimed a National Cemetery.

"...No impious footstep here shall tread
The herbage of your grave;
Nor shall your glory be forgot
While Fame her record keeps,
For honor points the hallowed spot
Where valor proudly sleeps..."

Theodore O'Hara
Bivouac of the Dead , 1847

On May 5, 1868, John A. Logan, Commander in Chief, Grand Army of the Republic, issued General Orders No. 11 - The Memorial Day Order:

"If other eyes grow dull and other hinds slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us....

.

"It is the purpose of the Commander‑in‑Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades."

You may click HERE to read the Order in its entirety.

To those who have served our country and to those who have fallen, we extend our gratitude and respect.

The Tern and the Crab

2011-05-29T10:40:00.000-05:00

A stand-off occurs when a crab ventures too close to a tern's nest, causing the bird to try several diversionary tactics.

"Get away, I say! Get away from my nest!"

Sunrise

2011-05-29T09:55:00.000-05:00

A beautiful sunrise this morning over Bob Sikes bridge.

Come On and take a Free Ride!

2011-05-26T21:15:00.002-05:00

"Come on and sit here by my side! Come on and take a FREE RIDE!"

Yep, everyone on the beach can take a free ride starting Friday morning (tomorrow) when the Beach trolleys begin running from 11:00 a.m. 'til 11:00 p.m., seven days a week.

Not only that, but at 11:00 a.m., May 27, the new trolley-tracker system will go online, allowing you to call in -- or text -- an automated system, enter the trolley stop number you plan to use, and find out the trolley's current location and approximate arrival time at your stop.

To learn more, check out Trolley Times, a special edition Island Times, which gives you all the stop numbers and corresponding locations. Then, tomorrow (after 11:00 a.m.) , you may call 850-602-9384 or text 41411 to "SRIA (and add your stop number)" to find out when the trolley will be stopping at your location!

Come on and take FREE RIDE!!!

Cruising past Ft. Pickens

2011-05-26T14:39:00.000-05:00

I was very appreciative to have an opportunity to go on the Military Fishing Expedition last week. As we passed Ft. Pickens, rounded the island, and headed through Pensacola Pass into the Gulf of Mexico, I took some video of the old fort. I'm especially fond of Ft. Pickens since it is the primary area I volunteer for sea turtle patrol.

Park Rangers give guided tours of the fort at 2 p.m. each day in the summer and they will tell you Santa Rosa Island is gradually shifting west. When you watch the video above, notice how far it is from the sea wall to the fort.

Now, click HERE to take a look at a drawing of Ft. Pickens done around 1861 and submitted to Harper's Weekly by a Mrs. Gilman, wife of Lieutenant Gilman, second in command at Ft. Pickens at that time. It shows rough waters swirling around the fort itself - quite a difference from what we have today.

It is my belief that the seawall which now surrounds the fort was not built until sometime after the 'killer hurricane" of 1906. On September 26/27, 1906, a hurricane hit the Pensacola area and reportedly resulted in a 10' storm surge which washed over the Ft. Pickens area and up to a 14' storm surge across the bay at Ft. McRae. The storm resulted in much damage to both Ft. Pickens and Ft. McRae, as well as the navy yards.

Sea Turtle Patrol

2011-05-24T09:08:00.000-05:00

Almost at the western tip of Santa Rosa Island - the Ft. Pickens area of Gulf Islands National Seashore - I stopped to take a short video. You can see across Pensacola Pass to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola Lighthouse, Big Lagoon, and Perdido Key.

[Note to blog readers: At certain times of the day, server traffic can get heavy and the HD videos I plug into my blog may experience some hesitation.]

Crabby

2011-05-23T07:22:00.000-05:00

If you ever wondered why they call some people crabby, just look at this downturned mouth and harsh stare.

Black Skimmer mama

2011-05-22T09:54:00.000-05:00

A very short clip of the mama Skimmer sitting on the same egg I showed you yesterday.

Although these birds may have an almost cartoonish look to them on land, they are exquisitely graceful as they fly parallel to shore, skimming the water with their lower mandible to scoop up tiny fish, crustaceans and insects.

Guess the egg!

2011-05-21T17:49:00.001-05:00

Well it looks a bit like a Dalmation, or a Rorschach test...or a funny face with a tongue sticking out at us (can you see it?)

Actually this is the egg of a Black Skimmer and tomorrow I'll share a video of the mama skimmer with you.

Morning patrol at Santa Rosa

2011-05-21T11:54:00.000-05:00

My sea turtle patrol at Santa Rosa started off in foggy conditions, but by 7:00 - 8:00 am. it was clearing and turning out to be a beautiful day. There was still a bit of haze in the air when I took this little clip.

The water was beautiful, but high surf which has been frequent since the first of May has washed ashore a lot of seaweed, which you'll see.

How to peel a crawfish

2011-05-19T15:26:00.000-05:00

My neighbor, Wes, demonstrates how to peel crawfish, with a little response from me.

Crawfish Boil at the Singleton's!

2011-05-19T15:12:00.001-05:00

Our wonderful hosts for last weekend's Crawfish Boil were our next-door neighbors, Wes and Elaine Singleton.

Steam rises from a huge pot of crawfish, the size of baby lobsters! Now, technically, I should be writing "crayfish" which comes from the Old French word escrevisse. To learn more about them and their colloquial names, you may click HERE.

Heat was turned off and ice was added to the pot after the crawfish had boiled for 3-5 minutes. This stopped the cooking process and also causes the crawfish to sink, thereby soaking up the spices.

Mr. Ronnie Treuil, Wes's cousin, came all the way from Rosedale, Louisiana for this event. Ronnie also delivered seven sacks of giant pond-grown crawfish straight from Louisiana bayou country. Six sacks, each weighing in at 35-37 lbs., were stored in a large custom-made cooler on the back of Ronnie's truck. The seventh sack was housed in a separate cooler. Now THAT, my friends, is one special delivery!

Another great friend who jumped right in to help Wes and Elaine with cooking duties and clean-up, was Gene Morgan. Gene and his wife, Tammy, own ReMax Total Properties in Navarre, so if you're looking for some property (or some cooking tips), you know where to go!

Spicy shrimp for appetizers - 20 lbs worth!

When you think of the quintessential southern lady who loves her friends, has a wonderful sense of humor, always has a smile for you, loves to dance, loves to sing, and says nary a cross word about anyone (well, maybe an occasional "bless their heart"), that's our Elaine! She's just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

Let the good times roll, dude! (Isn't it embarrassing when older people like me use the word 'dude'?) Our neighborhood kids are coming home for summer! George Weisnicht and a friend are fast peelers!

Elaine, always a gracious hostess.

My across-the-street neighbor, Bet Ellis, is in true barrier island girl mode with that hat and smile!! And don't you love that necklace!

Another Seashore Village neighbor, Carmella Campbell, always has a smile. If Carmella looks familiar, you've probably seen her hosting the cooking demonstrations/presentations by various local chefs at the Pensacola Seafood Festival each year!

"I just want a cookie, mommy. That man said they were cooking mud bugs!"

Wendell and Marie Colberg's beautiful daughter was in for the weekend. The neighborhood kids are all growing up so fast.

Joe Ellis, president of our Seashore Village Homeowners Association, and an exceptional friend to us all.

I had a chance to spend a little time with neighbor Anne Baehr who is a fellow photographer! Photographers always need more time to talk about lenses and techniques.

The gentleman behind our neighborhood Architectural Committee, Scott Campbell of William Scott Campbell Architects!

I met one of our newest neighbors, Pam Gadboys, who can't say enough wonderful things about living on the beach. Obviously she fits right in with the rest of us who feel the same as she! Welcome to Seashore Village, Pam

It was very nice to see George Eckes and his wife, Yvonne, at the Crawfish Boil. George was our former HOA president, but recently sold his property in Seashore Village. We know how heartbroken he was to give up that position. Right, George? :-)

It was a treat to meet Wes's friend, Bill Koenig, another avid photographer. When Bill brought out his Canon with a 70-200mm lens, I humbly bowed to him. That is the next piece of awesome equipment I hope to buy, but it may be a while before I can justify the cost (convince my husband). That didn't stop me stealing a few yearning glances Bill's way. And, sorry to catch you off-guard, Bill. Most photographers do not enjoy having their picture taken and you can see that expression on his face, non? Go figure! But it's the way we are.

Dr. John Baehr had a chance to chill out with friends and neighbors. Wes and Elaine were 'roommates' with John and Anne for several days in 2004 after Hurricane Ivan slammed into the island and caused much damage to our Seashore Village neighborhood.

"Hey, Tammy!"

Ahhhh...and now we see why these Louisiana boys love crawfish boils so much. Those spicy little mudbugs have the power to transform folks into love bugs!

The Ruddy Turnstone's breakfast

2011-05-18T06:49:00.001-05:00

Sushi, anyone?

Ghost crabs

2011-05-13T12:55:00.002-05:00

As a sea turtler patroler, click HERE to read why I'm not fond of ghost crabs, even though they may be cute as they skitter across the sand and are an important part of a beach ecosystem.

The only part of my patrols I dislike is when I discover a ghost crab has burrowed into a nest and we must carefully dig down, remove them, and fill in their tunnel. Otherwise these predators will eat the sea turtle eggs or hatchlings, if they have emerged and are working their way up toward the surface.

Crawfish Boil!

2011-05-11T13:00:00.002-05:00

Before moving to Florida, I only knew about crawfish boils through articles in Coastal Living or novels by Mary Alice Monroe. Now I know the tradition is alive and thriving on Pensacola Beach.

Crawfish (Crayfish/Mudbugs) are cooked with corn and potatoes, various spices and lemon halves, then heaped up and served on large platters.

Whatcha think about it, Anna Grace?

Lance shows Graham, Anna Grace's older brother, the proper technique.

Amy holds Sharon Elizabeth, who's keeping a close eye on her grandpa and daddy as they cook.

By the way, Sharon's daddy, Justin, is the speediest crawfish peeler I've ever seen!

Anna Grace's blue dress is adorable, but it still can't compare to her beautiful blue eyes!

Poor Roux keeps hoping someone will drop a tidbit under the table, but the sad expression is because she hasn't gotten lucky yet.

Looks like Graham is enjoying the crawfish.

Our next door neighbor/host, Brian, brings in another platter.

Brian and his son-in-law, Justin, have a great system going.

Sharon Elizabeth should be nicknamed 'Sunny'. She's the happiest little girl I know, always laughing and smiling.

Poor Hub watches the fun through the fence.

Pat and Justin peel the leftover crawfish for tomorrow's etouffe while Elizabeth supervises!

Lance has a chance to catch up on his share of crawfish now that Graham is full and off to play.

Back-door neighbors, Mellissa (Anna Grace and Graham's mom) and Priscilla (our hostess).

Two Cajun boys! Our neighbor Wes with his long-time friend, Wayne, who was visiting from Lafayette, Louisiana. I could happily listen to Wayne talk all day!

Stacy and Molly!

Mother's morning walk

2011-05-11T12:34:00.000-05:00

My mother loves to walk on the beach and look for shells. Unfortunately we don't have a lot wash up in this area. Still it is a beautiful way to spend a morning, especially with the water so clear and calm.

Mullet!

2011-05-10T08:33:00.001-05:00

And here is a swirling school of mullet at the Palafox Pier! Click HERE to read Mullet Musings, an article about mullet by Florida Sportsman.