3rin's View…

There are a number of reasons why I moved to Florida’s Gulf Coast just over three years ago but the main one is the beach. Technically I should say beaches. There are numerous stretches of sand near me and they each have their own special characteristics; some are powdery soft while others are loaded with shells and I enjoy them all.

I know my local beaches fairly well and have some special spots where I can avoid the largest crowds but to be honest, sometimes watching people is the best entertainment. I never know what I’m going to see out there!

Some friends and I checked out the newest bar in town last night, a disco joint called Good Night John Boy. Yes, you read that right, I said disco.

The place was decorated in the finest from the 1970s (with a velvet Elvis and console tvs). I wore my best (and only) bell bottoms – leopard print with sequins, a lucky thrift store find!

The music was a blast from the past and we boogied to every song (as my sore feet can attest). The nostalgia was strong and even though the place was packed we had a great time!

Our throwback tour continued outside the bar when some roller-skaters danced by. This town is never boring!

I was thrilled to spot this Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) while touring the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive this past weekend. The swamphen is a year-round resident here in Florida, though they are usually found further south of me.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds website offers this vivid description: “cherry red, sky blue, moss green, aquamarine, indigo, violet, and school-bus yellow”. Uncommonly, adults of both sexes are this colorful. It was worth the 2 hour drive just to see this rainbow bird!

I met this Florida Soft Shell Turtle (Apalone ferox ) while touring the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive over the weekend. This is the largest of our three soft shell species, so called because they lack hard shells and scutes.

Based on the massive size of this one I believe it was a female (males tend to be noticeably smaller). Since it is the height of egg-laying season I presume that’s why she was out of the water. It was a treat to get to see her up close, look at that snout, it looks like a snorkel.

I joined the Treasure Island cleanup this past Saturday. As you’ve probably gathered by now, I take any chance to hit the beach. And as you may also know, I’m constantly picking up litter (have been since I could walk). So, spending a morning strolling the sand is not a hardship for me.

I definitely benefitted from the outing; filled two bags full of trash, savored the scenery, and scored some fun finds (an unopened bottle of water, a pair of sunglasses, and some cool beach toys).

Spotted along the trail at Circle B Bar Reserve last week. Not wildlife but still a fun sighting. 💖

My last wildlife encounter at Circle B Bar Reserve occurred while I was hoofing it back to my car. This little tank barreled out of the underbrush and stomped right toward me. While they have a great sense of smell, their eyesight is notoriously terrible.

Good thing I’m not a predator. Though judging by the bloody scrape on it’s side it looks like this armadillo’s armor held up to the challenge.

In addition to the other creatures mentioned previously, my afternoon at Circle B Bar Reserve was full of feathered friends.

What I found interesting was that I took most of these images within 50 feet of each other. I couldn’t figure out the secret of that little bend in the creek but there must’ve been some magic there.

Top to bottom, left to right: Great Egret, Green Heron, Little Blue Heron (white juvenile maturing to blue), Black-crowned Night-Heron, Tricolored Heron, Pileated Woodpecker, Osprey, and four Ospreys in a tree (plus a number of smaller species that I couldn’t capture).

Enjoy the Red-winged Blackbird symphony (percussion courtesy of Pileated Woodpeckers):