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