Even though it was chillier than I would’ve preferred, I wasn’t going to miss the last sunset of the year. It didn’t go out with a bang, and personally, after the year I’ve had, I think that’s just as well.

Yesterday was my first visit to the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Knowing it would be busy because of the holidays, I arrived right when it opened. I was one of the first 10 people in the small park and while it was chilly (a mere 42°) it was worth it!

The park encompasses Homosassa Spring, a first magnitude spring that is the head of the short, 7.7 mile, river of the same name. The area first became popular with tourists in the early 1900s as a railside attraction.

Passengers marveled at the fish and manatees amassed there. The constant 74° temperature of the water is the main draw, especially during the cooler months when the Gulf water drops into the low 60s.

In the 1940s, the area officially opened as a roadside attraction, expanding again in the 1960s to include native and exotic animals, many of them trained to perform. By the time the state purchased the property in 1991, that mindset was outdated. Today the emphasis is on the protection and conservation of native wildlife.

The park now provides refuge for injured or habituated animals that are native to the state. Residents include manatees, bobcats, Florida Panthers, Red Wolves, and foxes, as well as numerous bird species.

However, since the river runs through the center of the park, it is also visited by numerous wild animals that take advantage of the safe haven. Other than the charismatic flamingoes, all the animals in my photos above were “visitors”.

Speaking of flamingoes, while admiring them I overheard a Florida girl earnestly ask her dad, “Why is it so cold?” I commiserated with her, even though I was wearing my down parka and gloves. Yes, I’ve lived here for 6, going on 7, years now but I still keep a pair of them in my car (after all, that’s why it’s called a glovebox)!

In case you were wondering, the name Homosassa came from the Seminole and Creek languages and purportedly translates as “place where wild pepper grows”. The pepper in question is the native Firecracker Pepper (Capsicum annum). I didn’t notice any peppers but I did spot a scraggly wild orange tree growing in the mesic forest along the Pepper Creek Trail.

Overall, it was a lovely way to spend one of the last days of the year!

In case your holidays have been a bit hectic, Westley is giving you a gift – a demonstration of purr-fect relaxation! Wishing everyone some peace and quiet!

They may not be wrapped under the tree but I’m wishing you the best gifts of the season – love, peace, and joy!

We may not have snow and Santa’s method of transit may be a bit different down here but the season is still celebrated in festive style. Hoping your festivities are filled with joy!

The weather was absolutely perfect for a morning paddle, so I loaded up my kayak and headed downtown. There’s a little park just north of all the high-rises that has a small boat launch. I often walk along the Coffee Pot Bayou seawall, so it was nice to be out in it for a change.

This small, sheltered waterway just off Tampa Bay is favored by all manner of birds, dolphins, and manatees (though sadly, I did not see any of the latter today). Thankfully, my bird and dolphin sightings more than made up for the lack of sea cows. The best part was watching a momma dolphin carefully guide her baby as it rolled on the surface of the water (see its little white belly in the video below). What a morning!

*Yes, I wish I had been closer. Also, please admire my restraint as I did not squeal (though I really wanted to)!

The weather recently has been just delightful, sunny and warm (in the upper 70s during the day). Westley loves his outside time and especially enjoys it when I’m sitting out there with him. Though, as you can see in the second photo, he finds it annoying when I turn our afternoon into a photoshoot!

Could be worse, buddy, we could live somewhere cold and wintery!

It’s such a relief to see annual events returning to Treasure Island in the aftermath of last year’s damaging hurricane season. The actual carving and celebration of these incredible sand sculptures took place the weekend before Thanksgiving, replete with a craft market and live music.

I first viewed this artwork during the opening weekend but it was so crowded that I couldn’t manage decent photos. I knew I had plenty of time to get back and take pictures because, unlike other nearby sand sculpting festivals, the city leaves these standing until the beginning of the New Year (unless weather damage makes them unsafe, then they will be leveled early).

In case you noticed the color difference from our beach sand, these sculptures are molded from an entirely unique sand. The firm, uniform-sized sand the artists use for their masterpieces is trucked in from down near Miami. That special deposit is the remains of an ancient coral reef. Reef that was chewed up by hungry parrotfish who then pooped out this fine-grained sand mixed with an organic compound that makes it ideal for large-scale projects. The more you know…

As for the contest, Morphism overwhelmingly won first place, from both the judges and the public. You probably have to see it in person to appreciate all the hollow, empty spaces that the artist incorporated. The lacy look seems almost impossible!

A couple weeks ago I went on a birding trip to Roosevelt Wetlands up in Clearwater. The wetlands are actually retention ponds that were constructed as part of Pinellas County’s watershed management plan to help control flooding from the densely developed area nearby. As with most urban areas, if you set aside land, wildlife will soon flock there.

This new-to-me birding hotspot attracts a lot of birds during migration, some of which end up staying for the winter season. We tallied 53 species which was pretty good for a two hour stroll. We were a fairly large group of birders, so it was difficult to get good photos. As you can see from above, the birds left for quieter spots right when I raised my camera. Not my best shots but I can’t complain about spending time outside on a beautiful day.

My favorite part of the morning was watching a Banded Watersnake move across the top of the water. Unlike the birds, this snake was in seemingly no hurry. I wasn’t in a hurry to leave either, though I had to keep up with the group. Next time I visit I’ll linger longer…