This morning I was signed up for the Run for the Beaches fun run on Treasure Island. I checked in, attached my number bib, and started stretching. But then, I looked down and my plans immediately changed.

I spotted a small sand dollar that was still alive and knew I had to move it out of the way of the impending stampede. I placed it gently back in the water but by then I had noticed a small piece of coral, and the fog over the water, and a larger sand dollar, and the run was over for me!

I still completed the route and I’m so glad I did because on my return trip I spotted a small Southern Stingray (Hypanus americanus) in the shallows. The ray wasn’t happy to see me so it quickly glided off before burying itself in the sand.

I didn’t set any records this morning but it was certainly another memorable day on island!

Since it’s the holiday season I thought I’d share some nature-inspired tree decorating tips. There’s a tall Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) visible outside my kitchen window. Various birds take turns perching on it. I recently caught this Nanday Parakeet (Aratinga nenday) on the tippy top.

Cute but perhaps not showy enough. Stay tuned, I’ll have some other suggestions coming soon…

I had the pleasure of spending time with this juvenile Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) last week at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. Though they are roughly the same size as a Snowy Egret, the grayish, two-toned bill is a helpful clue.

As the name implies, when this bird molts into adult plumage it will be a sleek blue-gray.

Sunset on the beach was a bit chilly tonight but oh, so very worth it!

Apparently, Westley isn’t a big fan, though he did finally get out of bed. Wonder what he’s going to do when the temperature drops tomorrow?

Spent a drizzly morning wandering the trails at Boyd Hill on Friday. Unlike the mall, it was pretty quiet out there but some of the plants were putting on a show. Wild Coffee (Psychotria nervosa) shrubs were loaded with fruit and looked so cheery in spite of our dearth of rainfall this year. Might have to plant one in my yard since birds and other wildlife are fond of the fruit.

Sadly, invasive species were also thriving, like the detestable Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia) and pervasive Air Potato Vine (Dioscorea bulbifera). The vines are rapid spreaders, growing 6 inches a day. Though I must begrudgingly admit that those heart-shaped leaves are attractive.

Both of these invasives are a land management headache, proving difficult to eradicate manually. Thankfully, the USDA has approved biological control agents for them. Species-specific thrips, leaf gallers, and beetles to the rescue!

Not a bad way to spend a cloudy morning.

Wednesday morning, I took advantage of a weekday without work and drove south to the Celery Fields of Sarasota. The weather was perfect for exploring, sunny and a wee bit warm (presumably, our last 80+ degree day of the year).

I’d driven past this area several times over the years but never had the time to stop in. I’m so glad I finally did! Once a former wetland, the area was drained in the 1920s and used agriculturally for decades, primarily for growing celery (hence the name).

In 1994, record setting rainfall (and its associated flooding) forced Sarasota County to buy these low-lying properties and return them to their original purpose – wetlands that absorb runoff. The area is once again a boon to wildlife as it had been for at least 100,000 years. In the process of re-sculpting the land, hundreds of Pleistocene megafauna fossils were uncovered (mastodons, mammoths, ground sloth, ancient horse, bison, etc).

Though the 400-acre site is now surrounded by urban sprawl, the area is still teeming with wildlife. In addition to the species that I regularly see in my county, I was delighted to spot some Glossy Ibises (sadly, out of decent photo range), Purple Gallinules, and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Apparently, the 45 southward miles matter, because I never see them up by me.

My birding good fortune continued because I also noted a usually secretive Wilson’s Snipe (which I’ve only seen a couple times before). In a final stroke of luck, as I was heading back to my car I spotted another bird just off the boardwalk. Though it resembled a Purple Gallinule, something about the coloring and size struck me as odd so I spent some time photographing it. And boy, am I glad I did!

The slightly chunky, colorful wading bird turned out to be a Gray-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus). In all my years of traveling, exploring, and birding I’d never even heard of this species!

Though I was excited to see one, the Swamphen is considered invasive. Native to southern Asia, they were brought into the state as part of the pet trade. Somehow in the mid-1990s, they escaped and have since established breeding populations. Wildlife officials are very concerned about the spread of this species since it outcompetes our native ones.

Except for learning that bit of sobering news, it was a wonderful way to spend the morning.

When the weather is sunny and mild in late November, there’s no reason not to hit the water. Even if it is Thanksgiving. Katie, Peggy, Chris, and I took advantage of a calm morning and paddled out to Shell Key.

Other than all our avian friends, we pretty much had the place to ourselves. The breeze picked up in the afternoon which made our return trip a bit more strenuous but overall, it was a wonderful way to spend the day. Happy Thanksgiving!

I first noticed this tall lady over a year ago while driving around Bradenton but it wasn’t until recently that I finally stopped to take a closer look. Tootsie, as the current owner calls her, is one of the 15 known remaining Miss Uniroyals.

The 18-foot-tall bikini-clad fiberglass ladies were made in the 1960s. They originally held a Uniroyal sign in their raised left hands and used for promotional events by the Uniroyal Tire & Rubber Company.

There were a couple versions of the Uniroyal Gals, as they are popularly known. Apparently, the company had to send the statues back to the International Fiberglass company to be fitted with shirts and skirts after complaints that they were too racy.

This “Uniroyal Gal” originally stood in front of a shop in Downer’s Grove, Illinois. When the owner retired and moved to Florida, he brought her along. When Tom Edmunds purchased her in 2013 for $500, she still wore her original (though faded) yellow bikini with black polka dots, matching yellow heels, and had blonde hair.

Tom gave her a makeover in 2017 and she proudly fronts the Edmunds Metal Works. Hopefully, she’ll be around for another sixty years!

After a few days of much-needed rain, the skies cleared to make for a beautiful opening weekend of this year’s Sanding Ovations sand sculpture competition. With sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, who could ask for anything more?

The event’s theme was “It’s About Time” and it was fascinating to see all the different interpretations. One of the sculptures there was a young woman taking time to smell the roses, and a working sundial, while another was titled, “Clocktopus”.

The people’s choice award went to the Jimmy Buffett tribute, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”. Fittingly, Saturday ended with live music by the Landsharks Band (which was Jimmy Buffett’s opening act for many years).

The festival will continue next weekend, though the artwork could remain into the New Year (if the elements allow). Walking barefoot on the beach in mid-November, not a bad way to spend time!