Westley’s morning routine involves using a sand pile – but not in the way you might think. He is a very particular little dude, he prefers to potty outside and typically chooses a private spot under one of the bushes (he has a perfectly acceptable litter box in the house but he likes to do his duty au natural).
As for the sand that comprises part of a drainage area in my backyard, that is his Zen garden which he cultivates daily in his own unique way. No rake needed…
This week is the twelfth annual Shine Mural Festival, where invited muralists from around the world add their unique splash of color to St. Pete. Businesses offer up their boring buildings and walls as blank canvases, ready for transformation.
Alyssa Marie, one of the local, participating artists sent out a call for volunteers so I signed up. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised by the festive atmosphere- there were food trucks, a DJ spinning fun tunes, tons of volunteers, and the weather was perfect (sunny, low 80s).
Since the festival’s inception they’ve added over 150 murals to the area. All this beautiful public art is another reason why St. Pete is awesome!
*Yes, I realize it looks like the wall is fully painted but it needed a second, thick coat to help it last. And if I’m good at anything, it’s globbing on extra paint! 🖌️
Old reliable Blue is the first one at my feeder every morning, typically just a few minutes after dawn. So maybe that old adage needs an update, Early bird gets the seed? 💙
It’s been a busy few weeks, haven’t had as much time for the beach. Happy to report that it’s still a fantastic place to be…🏝️
My friends Keith and Claudia flew in from Texas the other day. They were headed down to Key West for a music festival, and since I had a couple days off I decided to go part of the way with them.
We made a couple stops on our way through Alligator Alley before landing in Key Largo for the night. We only spotted one small alligator, though I know the area is loaded with them (hence the road’s name).
I was excited to see the famous African Queen docked near our hotel. The wooden vessel was used in the film of the same name which starred Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Standing next to it, the boat seemed awfully small. I’m in awe of the brave mariners who twice traveled the globe with her.
Built in 1912, she has seen better days, then again, she’s also seen worse ones. After starring in the movie in 1951, she ran cargo in Africa before being abandoned in Cairo. In 1968 she was brought to the US only to end up in a cow pasture in the middle of nowhere, Florida. Fifteen years later she was finally brought to Key Largo, refurbished and used for local tours.
She looked fantastic for her centennial but has taken a bashing from hurricanes the last few years and is, once again, in need of repair. Seems like a metaphor for life…
Of course, these lyrics flitted through my brain,
“Just like Bogie and Bacall
Starring in our own late late show
Sailing away to Key Largo
Here’s looking at you, kid
Listen to all the things we did
We can find it once again, I know
Just like they did in Key Largo”*
Our walk back from the tiki bar at the marina took longer because of king tides. The boardwalk was completely underwater, though thankfully, it was not as bad as the coastal flooding over in the Miami area.
This morning we parted ways, Keith and Claudia continued south while I went searching for crocodiles. Yes, crocodiles are native to Florida. They overlap with alligators in the Everglades and the Keys (gators prefer, though are not limited to, freshwater, while crocs like brackish or salty water).
I stopped at a couple preserves on the island in hopes of seeing one but no such luck. The most fearsome beasts I met were mosquitoes. 🦟
Hopefully I’ll find one next time!
*From the song named after the island by Bertie Higgins, if you’re a yacht rock fan, I know you know this one!
Eek! I’m so excited, my bird feeder camera recently documented a new feathered friend in my yard (apologies for the blur, something smudged the lens).
This sighting is even more interesting when you consider that thrashers generally do not visit feeders, preferring to root around in the leaf litter for tasty bugs and grubs. They usually do this in a rather vigorous manner, hence the moniker, thrasher. Welcome, my new feathered friend!
This morning before dawn, my bird feeder camera caught another surprise, a tiny owl. While I’ve seen and heard them in my yard many times over the years, this is the first time one has used my feeder. Note, that it is not eating any seeds, just using it as a convenient perch.
I installed an owl box a few months ago, I do hope this little one finds it and moves in!
Since we’re in a bit of a dry stretch again, my water stations are also popular. Most nights this Opossum waddles through the yard (it drinks from the water dish on the ground behind the bushes).
Raccoons, such as the one in the video below, make use of all the water dishes, high or low. And often not exactly in the intended way…
It makes me happy that all these creatures feel safe in my yard!
Recently, my bird camera caught a new species at the feeder. Not exactly the intended subject, though I suppose if you go back far enough* in their family tree they are related.
*Roughly 315 million years ago they diverged from a common ancestor. Today, birds are more closely related to alligators and crocodiles than lizards. I do hope an alligator does not take interest in my bird feeder, it’s not sturdy enough to withstand that! 🐊
I’m not exactly a space cadet, but since I was nearby I figured I should at least watch the launch this past Tuesday morning. So at 6am I parked at the beach access that the turtle ranger from the day before had recommended. There are closer viewing spots but those tend to fill up much earlier in the morning than I was willing to deal with. I used a railing to support my phone, and I must say, I’m pretty pleased with the results.
This launch from Canaveral Space Force Station was carrying cargo for the International Space Station, packed with over 6,000 pounds of science equipment and supplies. The Cargo Dragon’s journey to the ISS was scheduled to take two days.
In my video below, you can see the white speck of the spacecraft leaving the “space jelly” cloud on its way to the ISS while at the end the orange glow is the first stage booster returning to Landing Zone 40 near the launch pad. I read that it was the 8th successful launch and return for that booster, which seems pretty impressive to me considering the incredible heat and pressure it must encounter each time.
If you want to watch a launch, there’s another one scheduled for Monday, October 19, 2026 at 3:30am.
The main attraction that drew me over to the east coast was a nighttime bioluminescent tour in the Indian River Lagoon. I’ve seen the phenomenon before, having paddled through it in waters near me a few years ago. The lagoon is different because in addition to glowing phytoplankton they also have bioluminescent comb jellies.
For best viewing there are a number of factors that need to align; the water needs to be warm, the skies clear, the moon in its early stages, and for the comb jellies late Summer/early Fall. As luck would have it, last week all of that aligned with my work schedule, so it was a bit of a last minute decision but I didn’t want to miss my chance.
Setting off at 7pm we had time to get acquainted with our hybrid paddle boards while the sun set. That part of the lagoon is part of a wildlife refuge so light pollution from humans was limited, which was important.
The bio we paddled through was fairly faint with a few intermittent bright spots but I wasn’t disappointed because the Sea Walnut (Mnemiopsis leidyi) comb jellies made up for it by far! Jess, our tour guide gave us each a net to swish in the water to stir up the jellies and catch the glowing, pulsating little orbs.
At the end of our paddle she placed them all in a glass jar so we could get an up close look at the brainless little marvels. Afterward, she gently released them back into the brackish water. What a cool experience!
Forgive the video quality, it was a bit of a challenge to paddle and film at the same time. At least you’ll get the general idea.
Since I was visiting the east coast of Florida I figured I’d best get out to the beach for sunrise, and boy, am I glad I did!
I hit the sand around 7am and found a few other folks out there waiting, coffee cups in hand. After the sun made the day official, I continued my beach walk.
Within a short while I came upon a small group clustered near a sand dune. Ever curious, I wandered closer…
It was a sea turtle nest and the last two hatchlings were slowly making their way toward the water. We were enthralled and stayed until the waves picked them both up. The odds are long but hopefully they’ll make it. What an amazing sunrise surprise!
After the group dispersed, the sea turtle ranger who had been monitoring the nest, was kind enough to stick around and answer some of my questions. He also shared some of his favorite places in the area and even gave me details on a rocket launch the following morning.
I spent the rest of the day driving south on A1A, stopping at various points of interest, learning about the area’s surfing history, a potential Ponce de Leon landing site, and the formation of the Archie Carr NWR that protects critical sea turtle nesting beaches.
After pulling off the highway to explore Sebastian Inlet State Park I had to assist a freshwater turtle. It was in the middle of the road and I didn’t want it squished so I carefully moved it in the direction it was headed (though it didn’t seem too thrilled about my help).
The swimming cove at the park was teeming with marine life; pelicans diving for mullet, dolphins cruising the shallows, manatees floating by, and even a little bonnethead shark. It was hard to tear myself away but south of the bridge was Pelican Island NWR, essentially the holy grail for anyone who appreciates our national park and wildlife refuge system.
The bird rookery on Pelican Island was the impetus for the wild idea of preserving land for wildlife. Local residents were horrified as thousands of nesting birds were slaughtered for their feathers for the millinery industry, headquartered, then as now, in New York City. Entire populations of multiple avian species just wiped out in the name of fashion.
Their outrage led to an effort by the Audubon Society in New York to lobby President Theodore Roosevelt (an avid outdoor enthusiast) for some protections. In 1903, resident Paul Kroegel became the first ranger of the newly designated preserve, his $1 month salary was paid by the Audubon Society since there wasn’t a government agency yet established.
From the refuge I found an inviting sandy road and followed it instead of the highway. The historic Jungle Road was created on the bayside of the island by the first settlers in the 1880s. Thankfully, residents preserved a seven mile section of it, as well as some other historic points of interest. A quiet and relaxing drive through the country, as it were. Then it was time to my way back north for my evening adventure. I’ll tell you about that next time…
