Southwest Florida Shoreline Studies: May 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110530/ARTICLE/110539976/2416/NEWS?Title=Did-BP-s-oil-dissolving-chemical-make-the-spill-worse-
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Monday, May 30, 2011

Jellyfish put sting into holiday weekend at some Florida beaches

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/30/florida.jellyfish/index.html?hpt=T2
- CNN.com

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Blossoms at Sarasota's New Pass

Scaveola sericea, above, is a highly invasive plant from the south Pacific. We remove them at our project sites and expect the county will do the same there. They can completely cover a dune system and are appearing in mangroves also. A beautiful but very big problem plant.

Sea Grape blooms from late Spring to early Summer.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Gulf oil spill effects may be seen in diseased fish

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110525/ARTICLE/110529627/2416/NEWS?Title=Gulf-oil-spill-effects-may-be-seen-in-diseased-fish
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Under the bridge at New Pass

There were no fishermen here this morning, but plenty of small fish in the water and red boring sponges on the rocks.

The garbage from a busier day needs collecting.

Well, there was one fisherman. The common egret has orange bill, black legs and is about 3 feet tall.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

50th Annual Meeting of the American Littoral Society

October 20 - 23, 2011 -- Cape May, NJ

The Society's 50th annual meeting will be held in and around Cape May, NJ, from Thursday evening October 20 through Sunday late morning, October 23. Please join us to experience the treasures of this region of the coast when the hawk migration is at its peak; wetlands, bays, and beaches take on fall colors; seaside goldenrod host migrating Monarch butterflies, and dolphins may still be seen along the beach.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Barge at Beer Can

"Beer Can Island" is the local name for the northwest tip of Longboat Key, FL. Sand has eroded from the tip of Beer Can and migrated east along the Pass.

Beach re-nourishment is underway along the north Gulf side of Longboat Key and will eventually make it possible to walk from a beach access point south of Longboat's tip to the ever popular Beer Can.

Coastal ground-cherry

Look closely to see this small plant with yellow pods in the back sand dunes of South Lido Beach.
They are coastal ground-cherries, a perennial herb about 12 in.high. The drooping fruit is a berry within a papery sac. It's hard to tell them from the sand ground-cherries which have wider leaves.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

In an ocean of noise, sea life faces new threat

http://www.bradenton.com/2011/05/19/3207711/in-an-ocean-of-noise-sea-life.html
- Bradenton Herald

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Reddish Egret

Big Pass at South Lido
The white foam on knees covered the shore several mornings ago.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Volunteers make clean sweep on Sister Keys

http://www.yourobserver.com/news/longboat-key/News/0511201111821/Volunteers-make-clean-sweep-on-Sister-Keys
- Longboat Key Observer

High tide and kayaks at Lido Park

Rental kayaks and surfboards were lined up and ready to go at the bayside park on southwest Lido Beach, Sarasota. The water was as high as I've seen it on this early morning after a full moon.