Let's Go Kayaking !

Leisurely paddling and observation at a variety of sites difficult to visit by any other means. Kayak, paddle, life vest, etc supplied. If you haven’t used a kayak before, a short training session before the trip will get you going.
Call John at (941)966-7308 for reservations. Members who own a kayak and life vests are welcome to go on trips marked with an asterisk(*) for a $5 donation to ALS. Cost is $20 members, $25 non-members unless otherwise noted. Trips into State parks require an additional entrance fee.
 2012
*Jan 5 Waterways of Nokomis 10am - 1pm

  Jan 7 Myakka State Park 10:30am - 1:30pm

* Jan 11 Caspersen Beach Park/Lemon Bay 1pm - 4pm

* Jan 19 Don Pedro State Park/Englewood 10am - 1:30pm $25 mem, $30 non- mem

* Jan 21 Little Sarasota Bay/Palmer Pt Park 1pm – 4pm

* Jan 22 Bird Key/South Lido Park 1pm – 4pm

* Jan 28 Blackburn Pt/Oscar Scherer State Park 11am – 2:30pm

* Jan 29 Little Sarasota Bay/Palmer Pt Park 10am – 1pm

* Jan 31 Palma Sola Bay/Robinson Preserve 10am – 2pm $30 mem, $35 non-mem

Public beach access on North Longboat Key

The North Shore Road public beach access on the NE end of Longboat  should be open by now.  The entry point was closed in November for  seawall repair to protect the nearby roadway from potential erosion.

Apalachicola, Florida

 

 

   Today, Apalachicola is a small, lovely, tourist town 

on the shores of Apalachicola Bay and the Apalachicola River on Florida's Panhandle.

Many Gulf of Mexico shrimp boats bring their catches here.

 

 Photos by John Sarkozy

Mottled Ducks

"Mottled Ducks feed by dabbling in shallow water, and grazing on land. They mainly eat plants, but also some mollusks and aquatic insects. The ducks are fairly common within their restricted range; they are resident all-year round and do not migrate. The breeding habitat is coastal marshes. The nest is built on the ground amongst vegetation, such as bull-rush and marsh grass."  -- Wikepedia

Mottled Ducks Dipping (Tails Up)

Eating on the Bay: Drydock Restaurant on Long Boat Key

 

Winter Kayaking in Florida

Here's a kayaker and his dog.   

It was freezing outside... about 60 degrees F.

The dog had no choice. 

Sarasota Bay Watch Releases Scallops in Sarasota Bay

http://sarasotabaywatch.org/

Bud Doyle's Beach Beat:: Scallops and River Otters

On that recent blow two weeks ago,  I found hundreds of bay scallop shells on North Jetty Beach.  Normally, I am able to find a number of calico scallop shells and a few bay scallops.  However, on this occasion, there were only a few calicos and, as I mentioned, humdreds of bay scallop shells. I have been unable to find any answers to the above.

One more interesting note, as we were hiking the coastal forest behind Caspersen Beach we came upon a river otter swimming along in the Intracoastal Waterway.  It turns out that they have been coming on to the beach from Red Lake to feed on ghost crabs.  So the otters are enjoying crabs for breakfast at Caspersen Beach while I am eating cheerios on Albee Rd. in Nokomis - what's wrong with this picture??

Bud Doyle's Beach Beat : SEA GRAPES

For the past 7 years, groups on my nature walks have enjoyed tasting sea grapes on the North Jetty walks.  There have always been hundreds, no thousands of grapes that we enjoyed from October into January.  However, this year there are none to be found.

Last year's sea grape.

 (Ed. Note:

On the second and third Thursdays from now until April, Bud will conduct guided nature walks at North Jetty Beach Park on the north side of  Venice Inlet.  Give Bud a call if you want to join him:  Bud Doyle at 941 488-4158 )

Legacy trail leads to bike and swim at Caspersen Beach

http://www.ticketsarasota.com/2011-12-09/section/recreation/legacy-trail-leads-to-bike-and-swim-at-caspersen-beach/
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Quiet Water Kayak Trips: Jan 5, 2012 - Feb 29, 2012

*Jan 5 Waterways of Nokomis 10am - 1pm

Jan 7 Myakka State Park 10:30am - 1:30pm

* Jan 11 Caspersen Beach Park/Lemon Bay 1pm - 4pm

* Jan 19 Don Pedro State Park/Englewood 10am - 1:30pm $25 mem, $30 non- mem

* Jan 21 Little Sarasota Bay/Palmer Pt Park 1pm – 4pm

* Jan 22 Bird Key/South Lido Park 1pm – 4pm

* Jan 28 Blackburn Pt/Oscar Scherer State Park 11am – 2:30pm

* Jan 29 Little Sarasota Bay/Palmer Pt Park 10am – 1pm

* Jan 31 Palma Sola Bay/Robinson Preserve 10am – 2pm $30 mem, $35 non-mem

* Feb 2 Apollo Beach/Kitchen Preserve warm water sanctuary 10am – 2pm

$30 mem, $35 non-mem + $5 private boat launch fee

Feb 4 Myakka River State Park 10:30am – 1:30pm

* Feb 5 Little Sarasota Bay/Palmer Pt Park 11am – 2pm

* Feb 8 Waterway7s of Nokomis 11am – 2pm

Feb 10 Myakka State Park 10:30am – 1:30pm

* Feb 12 Shell Key Preserve/Pinellas County 10am – 2pm $30 mem, $35 non-mem

* Feb 15 Historic Cortez/Kitchen Preserve 10am – 1pm $25 mem, $30 non-mem

* Feb 23 Edwards Island/Roberts Bay Bird Rookery 10am – 1:30pm $25 mem, $30 non-mem

* Feb 25 Little Sarasota Bay/Palmer Pt Park 10am – 1pm

* Feb 26 Bird Key/South Lido Park 10am – 1pm

* Feb 29 Apollo Beach – see Feb 2 above

Hooded Mergansers

 The "snow birds" are here in Sarasota for the Winter. They come down from swamps and wooded ponds of the northern half of the United States and southern Canada.  Mergansers are occasionally seen on Sarasota Bay.   The visitors pictured were cruising in The Meadows Community pond.  Check out the Celery Fields for a possible sighting.

The single bird above is a male.  He is seen with 2 females in the top photo.

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

http://www.fws.gov/saintmarks/

The rich and beautiful marshes of the St Marks National Wildlife Refuge,in the Florida Panhandle

Photos by John Sarkozy

AJAJA

What an interesting genus name for Roseate Spoonbills!  These birds breed on the gulf coasts of the United States.  Peg Conklin phographed this flock at an inland site near Sarasotaon a cool day.

3 Million Baby Scallops Released

http://galleries.heraldtribune.com/default.aspx?id=345138#http://ibis.htcreative.com/getGalleryImages/uploadedImages/photos/2011/12/09/zoom/2583733.jpg

- Sarasota Herald Tribune

WPBT's Changing Seas

Wild Cotton

	Wild cotton is related to commercial cotton,  The USDA attempted to wipe this plant out in Florida in the early 1900s due to the fact that it is a potential host to the boll weevil.  This specimen was growing  at the Orman House State Historical Park in  Apalachicola.

Service Park: on the Gulf south of Venice, FL

 

Service Club Park, south of  Venice,  has a coastal oak/scrub and pine forest found nowhere else on the west coast below Pinellas County.  This park is next to the old Loran coast guard station which shares the same habitats plus isolated wetlands.

Note: LORAN (LOng RAnge Navigation) is a terrestrial radio navigation system using low frequency transmitters in multiple deployment  to determine the location  and speed of the receiver. -- Wikipedia.com

Photos by John Sarkozy

Family Days at Bay Preserve in Osprey

 Chuck Idleberger and John Sarkozy from the Southeast American Littoral Society helped out at the Bay Preserve  fundraiser. Chuck led invited kids in seining activities.

 Wildflower Arrangement

Tampa Bay, Sunshine State Parkway Rest Stop

We always stop at the rest area on the north end of the Sunshine State Parkway to stretch our legs.  There are picnic tables, restrooms, bay views and a couple of memorials to those who have died in shipwrecks on the Bay..  Those exotic Australian Pines provide welcome shade and large rocks have been brought in to prevent shore erosion. 

Scientists dissect BP oil spill's effects on marine life

http://www.pnj.com/article/20111127/NEWS01/111270321/Scientists-dissect-BP-oil-spill-s-effects-marine-life?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

- Pensacola News Journal

American Littoral Society News

COASTAL REPORTER                     November 2011

NJ Supreme Court rejects attempts to gut clean water regulations, but fight not over: The NJ Supreme Court has rejected a request from the developer's lobby to overturn a lower court decision upholding New Jersey regulations preventing sewers in environmentally sensitive areas. The American Littoral Society participated in the lawsuit as a friend of the court in defending the clean water regulations. The ink had not dried on the high court's rejection of the developer's request before the New Jersey legislature introduced a proposal to do what the developers wanted. The Littoral Society will continue its fight to prevent development in environmentally sensitive areas and will oppose this bill.  Read proposed bill

  

Society Fights Plan to Dump Toxic Chemicals into Jamaica Bay:  JFK International Airport has proposed a plan to increase the amount of toxic plane de-icing and other chemicals it dumps into Jamaica Bay. Don Riepe, Northeaset Chapter Director and Jamaica Bay Guardian opposed this plan at a recent meeting of the Jamaica Bay Task Force. To learn more

NJ Fertilizer Law Takes Effect: Help spread the word, not the fertilizer! As of November 15, NJ residents cannot apply fertilizers to their lawns until next spring. Commercial applicators of fertilizer have until December 1 to complete their customer service cycle of late Fall fertilization. Fertilizers cannot be applied onto lawns again until March 1st. NJ's Fertilizer Law was established as part of the Governor's 10-point action plan to restore and protect Barnegat Bay and is one of the most stringent fertilizer laws in the country. The Society played a key role in passing this law. To learn more

Restoring Shrewsbury Island:  Earlier this month, Society staff and members joined forces with volunteers from the J. M. Huber Corporation to remove marine debris from a dredge spoil island in the Shrewsbury-Navesink estuary, a few  miles south of Sandy Hook.

To learn more

Call for Proposals: 6th National Conference on Coastal & Estuarine Habitat Restoration: The Restore America's Estuaries (RAE) National Program Committee is accepting proposals for dedicated sessions, presentations, & posters for this conference, which we co-host. To learn more...

 

 Celebrating 50 Years of Caring for the Coast

 www.littoralsociety.org

Casperson Beach Scenes

Sandpiper at Casperson Beach

It's not easy to tell the sandpipers apart.  Above is either a semipalmated sandpiper or a western sandpiper.  Black bills and feet, dark mottled back, and streaked breast, both are about the same size.  The books say that some "cherp" and some "cheep".  (My parakeet "cheeps".)

As task force prepares oil spill report, questions arise on who will pay to restore the gulf

As task force prepares oil spill report, questions arise on who will pay to restore the gulf 

- St. Petersburg Times

Florida bans the killing of some shark species - Living Green - BradentonHerald.com

Florida bans the killing of some shark species - Living Green - BradentonHerald.com

Wave barriers promise erosion control for wading bird habitat

http://www.observernews.net/thisweek/front_page/3743-Wave_barriers_promise_erosion_control_for_wading_bird_habitat.html

- The  Observer News
(contributed by Naturelady, Apollo Beach)

Varnish Leaf

Having a  really pretty flower, this shrub was found on the near beach dunes at Caspersen Beach.  The Varnish Leaf usually grows to less than 10 feet tall.  
In Florida, it is restricted to coastal strand and coastal hammocks.

Casperson Beach: New Buildings still in progress

 Gulfside Pavillion

 Bayside Pavillion  (Restrooms?)

 

Beachside Pavillon

Sarasota Bay Watch Featured on "A Gulf Coast Journal"

This Thursday November 24, 2011, Thanksgiving evening, please join us in watching
"A Gulf Coast Journal" with Jack Perkins
on WEDU Channel 3 at 8:30 PM. 

  In August a production crew from "A Gulf Coast Journal" filmed the 4th Annual Sarasota Bay Watch Scallop Search and president Rusty Chinnis speaking about the vision of Sarasota Bay Watch.  The segment will include footage from the Scallop Search and Sister Keys, as well as interviews with our board members John Ryan and Ed Chiles.

December Programs at Weedon Island Preserve

December Programs

Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center

1800 Weedon Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, Fl. 33702

Register at least 24 hours prior by visiting www.weedonislandpreserve.org, and click on the “Events, Classes, & Hikes” button on the homepage.  Event information call (727) 453-6500. 

Salty Topics: Global Change in the 21^st Century – Do Coral Reefs Have a Future?

Thursday, December 1, 2011, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Presented by Dr. Pam Hallock Muller of the University of South Florida College of Marine Science. Studying both the geologic record and modern coral reefs, students gain insight not only into environments of the past and present, but also the effects of human activities on future tropical benthic ecosystems. Their work has implications for cell biology, coral-reef ecology, environmental management, global environmental change, evolution, paleoceanography, sedimentology and hydrocarbon exploration.  Pre-Registration required.  Free

Weedon Walkabout

Saturday, December 3, 2011, 9:00am – 11:00am

Enjoy this guided walk through coastal mangrove and upland ecosystems of the preserve while learning about the coastal environment and the early residents of Weedon Island Preserve.  Water and a snack, along with a hat and closed toe shoes are recommended.  All ages welcome, children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.  Pre-registration required.  Free

Wee-Time at Weedon

Thursday, December 8, 2011, 10:30am – 11:15am

In this week’s book, children will hear a great story about, Great Sharky Shark: A Tale of a Big Hunter, by Suzanne Tate.  Recommended for ages 3 to 5.  Pre-registration required.  Free

Great Weedon Bird Quest

Friday, December 9, 2011, 8:00 am – 10:00 am

Learn identifying marks and behaviors of the feathered year-round residents and seasonal visitors while helping to compile an annual checklist of the preserve’s birds.  Hikes are designed for all levels of birding experience.  Binoculars and bird guides are available.  Recommended for adults.  Pre-registration required.  Free

Holiday Arts and Crafts

Saturday, December 10, 2011, 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Enjoy creating special holiday decorations and gifts with Environmental Educator, Colleen Gray.  Pre-Registration required.  Free

Archaeology Lecture Series: Competition and Cooperation at Crystal River

Thursday, December 15, 2011, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Thomas Pluckhahn, PhD, presents a National Science Foundation project to examine the formation of early village societies using the important Crystal River site as a case study.  Pre-Registration required.  Free

Photography Hike

Saturday, December 17, 2011, 8:00 am – 10:00 am

After a brief classroom session, center volunteer guides highlight seasonal features of the preserve, as well as specific wildlife behaviors that help participants capture the natural beauty of Weedon Island preserve.  Recommended for Adults.  Pre-registration required.  Free

Weedon Walkabout

Saturday, December 17, 2011, 9:00am – 11:00am

Enjoy this guided walk through coastal mangrove and upland ecosystems of the preserve while learning about the coastal environment and the early residents of Weedon Island Preserve.  Water and a snack, along with a hat and closed toe shoes are recommended.  All ages welcome, children younger than 6 may find this hike challenging.  Pre-registration required.  Free

Feds scrub colored lobster trap line idea

http://keysnews.com/node/36067

- Florida Keys News

Roseate Spoonbill and White Ibis at Myakka River State Park

As you might expect, the spoonbill and white ibis are closely related.
To help confuse things, the immature white ibis is brown and
the immature roseate spoonbill is white.


 ...and some other water creatures (below) enjoying a pleasant cruise.

Photos by Peg Conklin

Wood Ibis at Myakka River State Park

 

3-foot tall coastal wading storks, wood ibis are really ugly!  

Well, at least their heads are ugly.

They catch fish in shallow waters using "grope feeding". 

Touch their bill underwater and you get snapped up!

Photo by Peg Conklin

Puerto Rico - View from Fort San Felipe del Morro

"Morro Castle" is a 16th-century citadel located on a peninsula

jutting out on San Juan Bay, Puerto Rico.   

The City of San Juan can be seen in the background. 

San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico and  is the 

second oldest European-established city in the Americas.

Beach south of Ponce (town in south central Puerto Rico)

 

 4 feet long tarpon cruised by the shoreline docks waiting for handouts.

 

There are also many of these 5 inch wide red starfish

in shallow waters near docks.

 Lookout tower near picnic area

 Boat basin near beach....  Here, as in many places in Florida, 
Australian pines are used as a wind and water break 
on the outer rim of the bay.

 

What do you see in the background? A Thing of the Dead?

Looking south at the profile of Caja de Muertos Island off the south coast of Puerto Rico, 

which is so named because it looks like a coffin. The island is visited by 

tourist ferries and yachts, but is uninhabited.