Rock Steady Revisited

Admittedly, I have been a bit sentimental when it comes to checking up on Chocomount’s recovery.

A favorite “Picnic Rock” spot.

Erosion from the tumults of hurricane surges and wintery blasts have left me wondering just how this beachscape may appear come summertime.

Photos taken in late January are now compared to this early April.

Spring’s Renewal

I caught the moon this morning-waning to be full once more.

I see the buds of a tree silently bursting to soon blossom.

A Ring-necked Pheasant’s shrill call declares arrival.

A once vacant Osprey’s nest is occupied now.

A Great Horned Owl announces Renewal-of all sorts.

 

Good Natured Beachgoers

Location:
Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge & Little Torch Key, Florida

The small Key Deer and slow Gopher Tortoise are steady beachgoers here.

I enjoy the privilege of encountering these animals as I explore Floridian coastal marine preserves.

Both are listed as endangered species and are protected- their populations now becoming more visible and I might add more “tolerant and easygoing” with human activities.

It was nearly noontime on my nature trails when I heard a distinct crunching sound and spied the tortoise grazing on shrubs outside her sandy burrow.

The numerous small deer peer frequently from the shady swamp mangroves.  And “heads-up!” were last seen in a Winn Dixie parking lot.

Naturalist’s Walkabout

Crystal River, Florida

Time: 6:30am. Temperature: 28 Water Temp: 72

It’s early morning and I am shivering a bit and squinting my eyes to adjust through the clouds of sea smoke rising off the river.

I am laughing a bit too. I had thought a little walkabout to southern waters and National Wildlife Refuges would help me to learn about the different marine ecosystems comparable to Fishers Island.

Well, the weather is the same today-maybe even chillier…

But alas my vision becomes clearer.

My walkabout becomes an amazing “swimabout” with many Manatees this particular morning congregating in Crystal River enjoying the warmth of the underground springs.

Natural Wonders have this naturalist feeling wonderful!

Confessions of a Naturalist

Last week I found a tiny diamond earring on the floor of a locker room.

When I asked the woman next to me if it might belong to her she said

“No, but how on earth did you ever spot that?”

I laughed, then smiled and confided in her.

“I walk beaches a lot and find myself looking downward.

I seem to be drawn to any tiny shimmer or twinkle of sea glass.

Honestly, it’s becoming a habit!  I treasure that one color that I call ‘Contemplation’

But I don’t want to miss that pod of dolphins swimming by one day”.

I laughed again.

“I am practicing by looking up and away”.

I brought the earring to the front desk Lost & Found.

I suppose it’s an occupational hazard for a naturalist collecting observations to have an attraction turn into distraction.

I remember those long days squinting through binoculars atop Polovina  Cliffs in the Pribilof Islands. Finding the detailed color of a Northern fur seal’s whiskers could categorize her age. There I learned very quickly to routinely look up…because seals spying on me didn’t want to miss a single thing either!

So I keep practicing.

The stars are twinkling beautifully tonight.

Natural History Lessons

I find that exploring different ecosystems of Fishers Island will gift a naturalist with the very presence of nature’s wonder.

I find too, that in those present moments of discovery there is often a history lesson for me – of a different sort.

While observing seals far off on two rock clumps on the northeast side of the Island I spied a white piece of fabric poking up through the wet sand.

Thinking to mark the item in my data as “trash” I took a closer look.

Gently, I pulled on what appeared to be an old tattered sleeve of a sailor’s top.

I began to investigate the two patches….

I imagined the uniform belonged to:

1st Class Yeoman “JPK”, a petty officer performing clerical duties for

WW II Naval Amphibious Landing Forces.

A treasure found indeed.

Winter Stillness

There is a hushhhhhh today on Island.

I can see it.

But for a distant call of a Loon across Hay harbor,

A  Herring Gull announcing lunch time on South Beach,

A ripple slides silently out Silver Eel Pond

While snowy sands sit on Dock Beach.

 

Seals in Snow

It was very still amidst snow flurries at Hungry Point this afternoon.

From where I stood I counted 143 Harbor seals on both rock haul-out sites.

A female Cardinal kept me company.

 

Icy Sea Monsters & Sea Smoke

Air Temp: 8 on Island

Ocean Temp: 42 in Long  Island Sound

 

Rock Steady ll

Look closely and compare the December photo of “Picnic Rock" to this

January’s photo and you can see that Chocomount beach is slowly recovering from Hurricane “Sandy”.