3rin's View…

This evening on my beach walk, I borrowed a gull’s dinner so I could take a few photographs.* I was enthralled by the fish’s striking appearance.

The first part of the common name, Honeycomb Cowfish (Acanthostracion polygonius), derives from the unique hexagonal plates of the fish’s carapace (yes, this slow moving species sports armor). Each plate has a dark ring, creating a honeycomb pattern. While cowfish, comes from the spines (that look like horns) over the prominent eyes and sloped forehead.

Measuring about 8 inches long this was an average size specimen. While the bright coloration suggests it was a juvenile. This species is somewhat uncommon in the Gulf of Mexico though there is a known population that hangs out along the coast of Florida.

*After a quick rinse and snapping a few shots I returned the fish to the impatient gull. Bon appétit!

I wish this photo was a bit crisper but I’m sharing it anyway since I am so enamored with this handsome fellow. I mean, if I was a female grackle, I’d be interested.

Oddly, most of these birds that live here along the Gulf of Mexico have a dark eye while the ones that live over on the Atlantic coast sport the yellow eye. I wonder how he ended up here?

These showstoppers caught my eye as I wandered around Eagle Lake Park last week. The bright colors of these fruits more than made up for the dearth of flowers around.

From left to right: Elderberry, Beautyberry, and Pepper Tree fruit.

A fisherman caught this baby Bonnethead Shark (Sphyrna tiburo) at the John’s Pass jetty last week. Also known as a shovelhead, this is one of the smaller members of the hammerhead genus.

When they are less than two feet long they don’t look all that scary. This little one was gently replaced into the Gulf of Mexico.

“Swim away, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo”