Robinson Preserve

Welcome Center - Refurbished Robinson house 

Kayaks are available to rent.

 

Crotalaria , aka showy rattlebox ,

takes on the appearance of an inflated cylindrical pod.  

The fruit turn brown to black when mature and the seed within the fruit 

often become unattached resulting in a ‘rattlebox’ sound when shaken.

 

A surprising variety of plant and animal life survives on these Salt Flats.

Glasswort

View north with Tampa Bay in background

more Crotolaria

Muhly grass at Caspersen Beach

 Clump forming and fast growing,  the grand show of  muhly grass lasts from late summer to fall    Thin, arching leaves are characteristic of this native grass.   Foliage is finely textured and a blue green color.  The flowers turn a buff shade in winter, providing continual visual interest.

Photo by John Sarkozy

Love vines cover live oak trees at Casperson Beach

Native love vines like sandhills, scrub, pinelands, and hammocks.  They are parasitic plants which attach themselves to host plants. Then, they detach from their roots and will eventually kill the host. The vines are leafless  with dense clusters of small white bell-shaped flowers on  orange-yellow stems

Photo by John Sarkozy

Juvenile manatees try to mate with dead manatee mom in Miami Beach

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/26/2472758/juvenile-manatees-try-to-mate.html

- Miami Herald

Lego man washes up on Siesta Key

http://galleries.heraldtribune.com/?id=342973#http://spotted.heraldtribune.com/images/100047/photos/2011/10/25/zoom/2522483.jpg

- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Inland Waterway and Venice Boat Ramp

Below is a view of Florida's Inland Waterway  

looking south from the Venice Boat Ramp

 The historic Venice train station can be seen to the left.

Click link for info on the Historic Train Station.

http://www.venicegov.com/Archive_links/train_station.htm

Hidden Sarasota: Point of Rocks

http://galleries.heraldtribune.com/?id=342928#http://spotted.heraldtribune.com/images/100047/photos/2011/10/24/zoom/2521418.jpg

- Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Wildflowers of Nokomis Waterway

The horsemint's white flowers above are of the elongated flower cluster type.

The gold flower below has disk florets and ray florets and brown center..
 It's difficult to tell whether it's a beach sunflower or a close relative 
without a better look at the leaves.

The gold flowers above have disk florets and ray florets AND yellow centers.

 

 

Poisonous painted leaf is related to the poinsettia. 

Tiny flower clusters gather  above the bright red upper leaves.

Clam Pass Dredging

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/oct/22/county-clerk-brock-clam-pass-permit-dredge-pelican/
- Naples News

Bonita residents celebrate their river

http://www.news-press.com/article/20111023/NEWS0102/111022028/Bonita-residents-celebrate-their-river?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|p

- Fort Myers News Press

Ft. Clinch, at the NE tip of Florida, guards the Amelia River

"Fort Clinch is a 19th century brick fortress begun in 1847 after the end of the Second Seminole War. It was named in honor of General Duncan Lamont Clinch, important figure in the First and Second Seminole Wars. The only battle to occur at Clinch was when Union troops recaptured the fort in 1862 after Confederate forces seized control the previous year. Fort Clinch served as the base of Union operations in the area throughout the Civil War.

In 1935, the State of Florida bought 256 acres (1.0 km²) that included the then-abandoned fort and the surrounding area. Fort Clinch State Park including the fort, opened to the public in 1938."     -- Wikipedia 

 

 Photos by John Sarkozy

Stone crab season begins, Mullet on horizon

http://www.islander.org/2011/10/stone-crab-season-begins-mullet-on-horizon/

- Anna Maria Islander

Coral Bean

This coral bean was planted at Hammocks of Nokomis Waterways

last Spring by a group of SE Littoral Society members.  

 Photo by Peg Conklin

Bacteria issues at Turtle Beach

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111021/ARCHIVES/110211060

- Sarasota Herald Tribune

BP wins approval to resume drilling in Gulf of Mexico

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15412205

- BBC News

Manatee County : Calendar of Natural Resources Events

http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/natural-resources/nrd-headlines/edu-program.html

BIRD KEY: Bay Life Search, tomorrow

Explore the sea life near our shores with American Littoral Society biologists.  Using hand and seine nets, we will be searching shallow waters and sea grass beds, observing, collecting, and discussing the natural history of some of the many interesting fishes and other animals that inhabit Sarasota Bay.  Call  for reservations.  Call  Chuck at  941-488-8998

tomorrow:  Saturday : 9:30-11:30 am. Wading shoes suggested. 

 

Alligators at Myakka River State Park

 

John Sarkozy and Littoral Society Kayakers

 

Photos by Peg Conklin

Common Gallinule

Here's a close-up from Nancy's earlier photo.

Note the greenish-yellow tip on the red bill.

Also, there is a rd band at the top of the green legs.

Gators and birds

These photos were taken by Nancy Cadieux from her kayak last winter

 The photo below looks like some fortunate person's back yard.

White pelicans are in the middle of the photo with cormorants on their left.

The birds on shore are probably laughing gulls.

Note the lonely galinule in the foreground..

"Birds of a feather stick together."