Friday, November 29, 2019

Kayaking at Low Tide

On this sunny, warm morning in South Florida, my son and I kayaked on Sarasota Bay, where a low tide had created extensive shallows around the mangrove islands.  While the conditions limited our course, they brought a variety of avian residents into view.

Among the waders were great blue herons, great egrets, little blue herons, a tri-colored heron, a green heron and a yellow-crowned night heron.  About seventy American white pelicans fished the shallows, joined by a lesser number of brown pelicans, double-crested cormorants, pied-billed grebes and several belted kingfishers.  Overhead, three ospreys and a lone bald eagle patrolled the bay.



By immersing ourselves in a natural ecosystem, whether on foot or by boat, we gain a better appreciation of the interaction between its various species, plant and animal alike.  Drifting along in a kayak is one of the more enjoyable and least disruptive means of exploration.  

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Red Knots crowd the Beach

Up at Bean Point (the northern tip of Anna Marie Island) yesterday, I encountered a large flock of red knots resting on the beach.  By my count, 210 of those migrants joined lesser numbers of sanderlings, willets and ruddy turnstones.  As is often the case, eBird's algorithm questioned my "unusually high estimate for the date and location."

Red knots are mid-sized sandpipers that breed across the high Arctic, from North America to Eurasia. While some winter on sub-tropical and tropical coasts, most head to South America or Australia where they may congregate in huge flocks.  Threatened by the overfishing of horseshoe crabs on the eggs of which they feed during their long migrations, red knots are uncommon visitors on the Gulf Coast of Florida, usually (in my experience) observed in small flocks of a dozen or so individuals.

Yesterday's flock was the largest I have yet to encounter in Manatee County; a few were drilling the wet stand for marine invertebrates but most stood at attention, crowded together and oblivious of the humans that wandered by.  Decked out in their rather drab winter plumage, their fortitude and endurance still shined through.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

An Assault on Truth

Long before he was President of the United States, Donald Trump was surely a compulsive liar and con man.  And following his election, he has attracted the devotion of Americans who are unconcerned with truth; unfortunately, many of those devotees are Republican members of Congress.

One can understand why Evangelicals are drawn to Trump's rhetoric, ensconced as they are in religious mysticism (the most universal assault on truth); focused on issues that justify their belief system, they resent science and the "liberal press."  So too is it easy to understand the support of industrialists who have benefitted from his tax cuts, climate-change "policy" and relentless assault on environmental regulations.  Most disturbing is the support that Trump has received from seemingly intelligent and well educated politicians, who clearly understand the danger that he poses to our democracy, environment, security and alliances but are more concerned with their own re-election.

It has been said that truth will prevail in the long run.  The question is: how much damage will be done in the meantime?  However the Impeachment process may end, Americans must vote for truth in 2020, removing all of those who have failed to uphold it. 

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Pink Phantom

Standing on our seawall along Sarasota Bay, one is almost guaranteed to see brown pelicans, white ibis and various herons and egrets on any day of the year; during the colder months, these common, permanent residents are joined by American white pelicans, common loons and red-breasted mergansers.  Now and then, we are also treated to the sight of a roseate spoonbill or two.

Once abundant across the Southeastern U.S., roseate spoonbills were extirpated by plumage hunters during the 1800s.  A slow recovery of their population began in the early 1900s but they are still found primarily in South Florida and along the southern Texas Coast.  Even here, off the coast of Sarasota, their presence is erratic and they are most often encountered during the warmer months.

Nesting and roosting in colonies, roseate spoonbills may also congregate at favored feeding sites, especially during low tide.  There they scour the shallows for marine invertebrates, small fish and some plants.  Since returning to Longboat Key almost three weeks ago, I have observed only two of these elusive pink waders.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Vulture Parade in South Florida

Birders flock to South Florida to see species such as roseate spoonbills, anhingas, limpkins, magnificent frigatebirds and many others.  Yesterday, however, turkey vultures provided the avian highlight on Longboat Key.

It was late morning when I looked up to see a flock of vultures passing overhead, moving from SSW to NNE above this barrier island.  The flock continued to drift by for the next five to ten minutes; I suspect it was a mile long and numbered 280 birds by my count.  Turkey vultures are abundant in Florida during the winter months as those that summer across northern latitudes migrate to the Southeast, often traveling in massive flocks; there they join year-round residents ( other turkey and black vultures) to scour the landscape for carrion.

During the late fall and winter months, vultures congregate at favored roost sites and, considering the time of my sighting, I suspect that yesterday's flock was leaving one of those roosts, soon to disperse across South Florida.  In any case, it was the largest flock of vultures that I have yet to encounter.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Regret & Communication

Regret, acknowledged or not, is part of the human experience and, it seems to me, is most often tied to a failure of communication.  Young children communicate freely but teens and adults, subject to fear and intent on protecting their self-esteem, may fail to speak or do so in an offensive manner.

Failure to express love or gratitude and an unwillingness to apologize for our words or actions are perhaps most closely tied to future regret.  How ironic that we humans, set apart from "lower" animals by our linguistic skills, should endure anguish due to their underuse or misuse.

Fortunately, we often have the opportunity to undo our failure to communicate, unless, of course, fear or pride intervene.

See also: The Nature of Regret

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Rising Tide at South Platte Park

Since I am only in town for a few days, I had to get down to South Platte Park, my favored local birding area.  On previous visits this fall, the waterfowl migration was well behind schedule but the tide seems to be rising.

The Canada goose population has clearly begun to increase along the Front Range and, down at South Platte Park, I encountered large flocks of northern shovelers, American wigeon and buffleheads.  Present but under-represented for the date were hooded mergansers, common goldeneyes, gadwalls, ring-necked ducks and American coot.  Despite the mild conditions, permanent avian residents were also rather sparse during my brief visit this morning.


But I remain hopeful that the winter duck count will continue to rise in the coming weeks and that my patience will be rewarded when I return in December.  And, if not, I'll keep stopping by for the exercise, fresh air and potential rare sightings.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Intense Hooting on the Farm

Back at our Littleton farm for a few days, I was awakened last night by the the hooting of a great horned owl.  While we often hear them on the farm, primarily during the colder months, the hoots were especially loud and intense.

Monogamous and territorial, great horned owls hoot as part of their mating ritual and to protect their hunting grounds; once the young are raised and able to hunt for themselves, they are "encouraged" to find their own mate and territory.  Hence the vigorous hooting that is often heard during the autumn months.

Great horned owls generally nest by late winter, even earlier at northern latitudes; this gives their young plenty of time to hone their hunting skills before mom and pop send them on their way.  Facing a harsh winter on their own, they will feed on a wide variety of birds and small mammals; this seemingly cruel edict, common throughout the animal kingdom, prevents both inbreeding and overhunting.  Of course, we humans are an exception, sometimes housing children and grandchildren long beyond an age at which they should be independent.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Flashback Post XVII

Tonight is the peak of the annual Leonid Meteor Shower, an astronomical event that I first described in a post back in November, 2006.  Indeed, it was the fourth post of Nature's Blog, which now exceeds 3700 entries; I never anticipated that this project, therapeutic though it may be, would last 13 years (just over 1/3 of the comet's orbit period).

See: Comet Dust

Saturday, November 16, 2019

A Raw Morning at Lido Beach

Lido Beach, just south of Longboat Key, is one of the best birding and walking beaches in Southwest Florida.  This morning, however, it had the feel of the New England Coast, shrouded by low, gray clouds, enveloped in cool air and raked by a strong north wind.

A few ospreys, brown pelicans and double-crested cormorants braved the choppy Gulf while most of the gulls, terns and shorebirds remained grounded, huddled along the shore.  At least 500 royal terns had settled on the sand, joined by smaller flocks of laughing gulls, sandwich terns, willets, red knots, black-bellied plovers and sanderlings.  Except for a group of windsurfers and their cohorts. the scenic beach was devoid of human sunbathers; only a few other couples joined us as we trudged along the tideline, leaning into the wind.

Within a day or two, Lido Beach will be bathed in warm air and sunshine and the Gulf of Mexico will return to a flat, inviting sheet of turquoise water, attracting far more human visitors.  Sometimes, raw weather has its advantages.

Friday, November 15, 2019

A Hunter on the Bay

While at our Longboat Key condo yesterday, I looked out just in time to see a peregrine falcon fly across Sarasota Bay.  Once endangered by the use of DDT, this large falcon has made a steady comeback and is now an uncommon resident or migrant in most regions of the U.S.; they are, in fact, found across the globe, inhabiting all continents except Antarctica.

Peregrine falcons nest primarily on cliffs across Alaska and Canada and southward along the coast of the Pacific Northwest and through the mountain chains of North America; in recent decades, they have also established nests on skyscrapers and bridges in urban centers of the Midwest and Northeast.  Come fall, they follow migrant flocks of waterfowl and shorebirds on which they feed; most winter along the Southeast and Gulf Coasts or along the Pacific Coast, from Canada to Mexico.

Feasting primarily on birds, from geese to shorebirds and songbirds in size, these powerful raptors may hunt from a high perch or soar overhead, stooping to knock their prey to the ground; at other times, they swoop into flocks of pigeons, waterfowl or shorebirds at high speed, picking off their victim.  While no longer as rare as they once were, it is always a pleasure to encounter these handsome hunters. 

Thursday, November 14, 2019

A Storm Rides the Front

The polar front that brought record lows to much of the country this week stretches from South Texas to  northeast Florida this morning; associated with that front is a center of low pressure, churning off Brownsville and sweeping cold rain off the Gulf into east Texas and the southern Mississippi Valley.

As the polar front drifts back to the north, this storm will ride its outer edge, moving ENE and dropping chilly rain across much of the Southeast.  Here in South Florida, the storm's outer bands will move in from the warm Gulf of Mexico, bringing waves of thunderstorms and mild, humid air for the next few days.

Once the storm moves off the Southeast Coast, it is expected to strengthen over the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the Carolinas before heading out to sea.  Indeed, its movement up the Eastern Seaboard will be blocked by a second polar front that will drop through the Upper Midwest and New England, producing another round of winter in those regions.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Subtle Signs of Global Warming

As an early Polar Plunge grips most of the U.S., likely fueling the passion of climate change deniers, here in South Florida we have noticed subtle signs of global warming.  These observations, purely our own, fit the scenario of rising and warming seas.

Our first observation is that low tides in our arm of Sarasota Bay are not as shallow as they used to be.  When we first bought our condo, in 2003, low tides produced extensive shallows on the bay, attracting hordes of egrets, herons, spoonbills and wood storks; over the past couple of years, such spectacles have not occurred (at least during our visits).  Today, when visiting the Leffis Key Preserve in Bradenton Beach, many of the low boardwalks were damp and covered with vegetative debris, indicating that high tides are covering these elevated paths; again, this is a phenomenon that we have not encountered in the past.  Finally, the severity of the 2018 red tide, documented in this blog, was likely fueled (in part) by rising water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico; unfortunately, another toxic algal bloom is currently developing off Sarasota County, just to our south.  Cool weather cannot arrive soon enough but may rarely (if ever) envelop South Florida as the climate warms.

Perhaps my observations are tainted by my own convictions and concerns but rising and warming seas have been well documented as polar ice sheets melt and glaciers retreat across the globe.  We would be fortunate indeed if higher low tides, swamped boardwalks and toxic algal blooms turn out to be the only consequences.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Heron's Nest Nature Park

Located in the community of Summerfield, east of Bradenton, Florida, Heron's Nest Nature Park is a scenic preserve that stretches along the course of Wolf Slough.  Characterized by two lakes (Summerfield Lake and Heron's Nest Lake), separated by a lowland forest of pine, oak and palmetto, the refuge is accessed by a 1-mile trail loop.

Heron's Nest Nature Park is an excellent destination for those hoping to observe birds that inhabit or visit the interior of the South Florida Peninsula; as its name suggests, a small island in Heron's Nest Lake attracts a variety of waders and waterfowl that seek safe grounds for roosting and nesting.  This morning, we observed 17 anhingas, 45 black-bellied whistling ducks and a mix of waders, including white and glossy ibis, great and snowy egrets, great blue herons, a green heron and a limpkin.  Other sightings included pileated woodpeckers, sandhill cranes, fish crows and palm warblers.

Lying adjacent to a recreation area and dog park within a suburban community, this Park might be overlooked by avid birders in favor of less developed ecosystems.  But birds know what they need and this small refuge clearly offers the food and security that they seek.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Fifteen Months after the Red Tide

It has been fifteen months since a devastating red tide poisoned the waters around Longboat Key, Florida.  Having returned three days ago, I have observed promising signs of recovery but the ecosystem is not yet back to full health.

The number of brown pelicans and double-crested cormorants fishing on Sarasota Bay have increased dramatically but the populations of ospreys, waders, gulls and terns have not yet returned to pre-tide levels.  We did encounter a pod of dolphins in the Gulf but, at least to date, their numbers seem to be relatively low.

These observations, purely my own, may not hold up to scientific scrutiny but I suspect that effects of the red tide persist; of course, natural ecosystems evolve over long periods of time, too slow for the impatience of humans.  Hopefully, the recovery will gradually continue before another insult, perhaps fueled by global warming and seawater pollution, threatens this subtropical paradise.

See: Encountering the Red Tide and Benefits from a Red Tide?

Friday, November 8, 2019

Lake Manatee State Park

Lake Manatee, a reservoir on the Manatee River east of Bradenton, was created in the 1960s; Lake Manatee State Park stretches along its southern shore.  Those who visit the Park to camp or hike while enjoying views of the Lake may be a bit disappointed; indeed, shoreline views of Lake Manatee are limited to the boat launch and the small swimming area.

The Park's trails primarily loop through scrubby flat woods, characterized by stands of pine, live oak and palmetto, offering only distant views of the lake.  On the other hand, hikers may encounter gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, marsh rabbits and gray fox; plants of interest include garberia and the rare Florida goldenaster.  Birds of note include bald eagles, ospreys and sandhill cranes and American alligators may be observed.

On this hot, sunny morning, we followed the 1.8 mile Gopher Trail Loop in the eastern section of the Park.  Sightings included a lone anhinga, an osprey, black vultures, Cooper's hawks, red-bellied woodpeckers and gray catbirds, among other songbirds.  An early morning or evening hike would have been more enjoyable and more productive for wildlife viewing.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Detour to Congaree National Park

On the way to our condo on Longboat Key, Florida, my wife and I made a detour to the east, crossing the broad swath of the Appalachians between Berea, Kentucky, and Spartanburg, South Carolina.  Our destination was Congaree National Park, southeast of Columbia, South Carolina.

Established in 1976, this Park covers 27,000 acres of the Congaree River's floodplain, protecting the largest remnant of old-growth floodplain forest in the United States.  While most of the park is wilderness, accessible only by canoe or kayak, the northwest corner of the preserve includes a Visitor Center, a 2.4 mile boardwalk loop and several longer earthen trails.  Massive bald cypress trees rise within the sloughs and Cedar Creek Valley while towering oaks and long-leaf pines dominate the upland areas.  Among the wild residents are pileated woodpeckers, barred owls, river otters, five-lined skinks and a large variety of waders and wetland songbirds.

Today, the sloughs and trails were dry, reflecting an ongoing drought in the Congaree watershed.  As a result, wildlife sightings were limited despite the mild, sunny conditions.  On the other hand, we got plenty of exercise and were able to explore an ecosystem that has been nearly (99%) lost to logging, flood control, wildfire suppression and agriculture in America.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

City Lights from Above

As we flew back from Denver to Columbia, Missouri, this evening, the skies were clear and the lights of cities and towns glowed from the darkness below.  A magnificent sight, one could not help but admire the human ingenuity that made such a spectacle possible.

Yet, in this era of global warming, I could not help but wonder how much of that lighting was necessary.  While we attempt to combat climate change with cleaner forms of energy, mass transit and other measures, we will not be successful unless we significantly reduce our energy consumption; more efficient engines, better insulation and low-energy lighting will help but lowering thermostats (in winter) and turning off non-essential lights will also be part of the solution.

The city lights were indeed beautiful from 30,000 feet but darker landscapes will be more inspiring in the long run.  Natural ecosystems do not depend on artificial illumination and it is best that we aspire to limit our dependence as well.  Don't forget, Daylight Savings Time begins tonight!