Birds on the beach - Sanibel Island, FL

 We've been traveling to Sanibel Island every winter for almost ten years. Two relaxing weeks in paradise and every time we go we experience different things. The ocean shoreline is an ever changing landscape. There are always new shells to pick, new sea life, and new birds. For example, though there are many on the island, I've never witnessed a Snowy Egret on the beach until this year and we were treated to several sightings where we could watch this magnificent bird fishing up and down the shoreline.  The way he moves is a graceful sideways dance, cocking his head towards the water and vibrating his yellow slippers to scare up some lunch.

 A bird that you can expect to see every year in abundance is, of course,  the Sea Gull. They are everywhere. And if you make the mistake of bringing food down to the beach they will move right in and demand a fair share. Though I've always known that they are abominable poachers, this year they managed to top even my worst expectations.  My two year old cousin was blissfully enjoying an M&M cookie - in the arms of her daddy - when the entire cookie was skillfully snatched right out of her hand.  She received nary a scratch, and we could do nothing but helplessly watch as the Sea Gulls embarked on an impressive aerial show stealing and snatching the cookie from each other until it was completely devoured.

 Another new sighting to the beach for us was the White Ibis. These are fun birds to watch as they move down the beach in groups fishing along the shoreline. With their orange beaks and long orange legs they are graceful and elegant. The Ibis mate for life and are abundant on the island, nesting in large colonies with other wading birds. An interesting fact is that well into the 1950's they were hunted by island homesteaders for their tasty breast meat, though the practice is now outlawed.

 The Double-crested Cormorant is a fascinating bird to watch. You can usually spot one or two during a vacation to the island and this year we saw them almost everyday. They even went so far as to perch  on one of the sand hills we dug for the kids. They can be seen in the water quite far from shore swimming and diving. Because their feathers are wettable they can dive up to twenty-five feet and they are able to hold their breath for up to a minute.  When they come out of the water it is common to see them drying their wings before flying off.  This guy kept rushing back into the water every time a beach goer strolled by giving me an abundance of photo opportunities.

Being from Minnesota and used to seeing huge flocks of White Pelicans in our lakes and ponds the Brown Pelicans of the gulf are a real treat. I love watching them fly across the water, almost skimming the surface, but not wetting even the tips of their wings. And seeing them dive into the water with a huge splash never gets old. The Brown Pelican is the only type of Pelican that dives for its prey. It can dive from heights of twenty to sixty feet. When it plunges into the water it fills its pouch with salt water and fish. A fully extended pouch can hold up to three gallons of water!

Then there are these guys... So many names, so many different types of birds that there is an unofficial "official" term for them. LBJ's or Little Brown Jobs. They are everywhere you look dashing in and out of the surf pecking up their lunches. I'm guessing that even true birders tire of trying to differentiate the many different breeds of these little guys, but they sure fun to watch!

Key Deer at the Blue Hole

 Located on Big Pine Key, the Blue Hole is definitely worth a stop. Once a rock quarry that was used during the construction of Henry Flagler's railway, now it is the largest body of fresh water in the Keys. And one of the few places in the Keys where you might spot an alligator.

We didn't spy any reptiles on our last stop, but we did see of one of the Florida Keys' neatest animals, the Key deer. Since the Keys is the only place you'll see this sub-species of deer it's worth seeking them out while you're traveling through.
 Key deer are unique because of their small size. Bucks range from 28 to 32 inches at the shoulder and weigh an average of 80 pounds, does range from 24 to 28 inches at the shoulder and weigh an average of 65 pounds. Key deer are considered a sub-species of the American Whitetail and though no one knows for sure, it is believed that the deer migrated down into the Keys over a land bridge during the Wisconsin Glacier. When the glacier melted the land bridge disappeared and the Key deer adapted to their environment.

The first written record of Key deer is in the writing of a Spanish sailor Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda who was shipped wrecked and captured by Native Americans in the Keys in 1550.

The deer were heavily hunted until the practice was banned in 1939, but the population continued to decline, due to poaching and the destruction of their habitat, until the 1950's where it became nearly extinct. The National Key Deer Refuge was established in 1953. This habitat consists of over 8500 acres on Big Pine, No Name Key and several smaller uninhabited Keys.  The Key deer also became one of the first animals to be protected by the Endangered Species act in 1973.  The population, still endangered, is now estimated between 300 and 800, and though the deer seem to be thriving at this time there is still great concern for the future of these animals due to continued development and increased traffic down Route One. About one half of today's Key deer fatalities are due to car strikes. 

The abundance of fresh water makes the blue hole a great place to spot a Key deer, so drive slowly on over and check it out. Don't forget, there are many other types of wildlife to see as well... fish, birds, turtles, and yes alligators!

Stop and enjoy the Blue Hole, you'll be glad you did. 

Click this link for a great panoramic view of the Blue hole:  

http://360floridakeys.com/things-to-see-and-do/mm30-blue-hole/

Sources:  http://floridakeystreasures.com/creatures/keydeer/keydeer1.shtml; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_deer

Mallory Square Key West, FL

I love a lot of things about Key West, Florida and Mallory Square happens to be near the top of the list. Its carnival atmosphere is complete with venders and performers of all kinds. Eat, drink, shop and be entertained while strolling the pier waiting for the most spectacular sunset you will ever witness.

Once a pirate refuge, Mallory Square was also used as a point of deployment for US soldiers during four different wars.

Today, Mallory Square is used as a cruise ship port. But to accommodate tourism and not interfere with the spectacular views during the "Sunset Celebration" cruise ships are required to leave port at least two hours before sunset. They may return after.

 People have been coming here since the 1800's to watch nature's big show. In the late 1970's panhandlers began to set up booths, selling to the tourists, though it was not legalized until 1984. Now the "Sunset Celebration" is one of the number one tourist attractions on the island.

Wandering down to Mallory Square in the early evening and browsing the venders, stopping here and there to watch the entertainers, grabbing a bit to eat on an outdoor patio, is an incredible experience.  The square is always crowded, so go early and secure your spot, bring your camera as you are guaranteed fantastic photo opportunities. We've been to Key West several times through the years, last was February of 2011. As you can see I got some great sunset shots and we had a wonderful time, as always. See you at sunset!





 Note, the top photo of Mallory Square is courtesy of: http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/florida/florida-keys/mallory-square)