Eagles, Gulf Waters & a different kind of bug

January 1 & 2, 2013
Oscar Scherer State Park
Osprey, Florida

 

The Eagles have landed

 

 

Yesterday we took a walk out on the green trail to see the park’s resident bald eagles.  David was wearing his new binocular harness and likes it very much.  Thank you Carrie!  Great gift!

The Eagles have been arriving back at Oscar Scherer in September for a number of years apparently.  I haven’t yet found anyone who knows how long but they’ve been here for the last 3 at least we can attest to.  They re-establish their territory, repair the nest and in December mate and lay eggs.  Hatchlings emerge in January so I’m hoping when we are back here again in mid February to be able to see them.

 

 

 

 

Although they were taken off the endangered species list in 2007 and there are an estimated 6000-7000 pairs in the US, there are still federal protection laws which include no activity zones up to 660 feet from a nest.  All parts of the green trail going closer than that toward the eagle’s tree have been blocked off.

 

 

 

Can you spy the “eagle tree” in this picture below?
This is all you can see without a zoom lens.

 

 

How about now??

 

 

 

Eagle Facts

 

We thought it was the mother on the nest but when the second bigger bird flew in we realized our mistake since female eagles are larger than the males.

Here are some eagle facts we learned from the information board at the viewing area.

An eagle’s wingspan is 6’-7 1/2’

 

 

 

 

They can soar up to 10,000 feet

Level cruising speed is 30-35 mph

Lifting capacity is 4 pounds

Their eyesight is 3-4 times better than humans

Adults are 35-37” tall and weight 10-14 pounds

Life span is 30 years.

 

 

 

An eagle’s nest can be up to 8’ around and weigh up to 2 tons. 

What we saw was a realllly big nest but TWO TONS!  Good grief!!

Eagles mate for life

Eagle eggs are twice as big as chicken eggs

Incubation takes 30-35 days

Eaglets are the fastest growing bird in nature

The park has a nice two person bench for balancing binoculars or cameras while you look and photograph.  They also have a park bench and a picnic table near the information board.  You can see those in the picture of the roped off trail.  The park is quite proud of their eagles and glad to have their approval of the habitat the park protects.

 

Spending the last day of 2013 watching the eagles was a very fine finish to a good year.  IF I can get myself organized perhaps “soon” I’ll post a year summary of our 2013.

 

 

2014 has a bit of a shaky start, at least for me.

 

 

I woke up yesterday and went out running.  I didn’t seem to be dragging myself around any more than usual but when I came back I felt really tired and still draggy.  David said he did too so I didn’t think anything more about it and we headed over to the gulf to start the new year out right, at the beach!

It was pretty overcast but the water was gorgeous and there were picturesque sailboats on the horizon.   This is David’s picture.  I think he’s lightened it up to take away the haze that was around all day.

 

 

 

Lots more folks on the west coast beaches than the east, or is it just the public beach??

 

There were a lot of people here which is a different look from what we were used to at Sebastian Inlet’s beaches.  But then Oscar Scherer isn’t on the water like Sebastian Inlet which is a state park where you have to pay a fee to use the beach. Nokomis beach is public and free including parking.  Plus it is New Year’s Day and a holiday for pretty much everyone.

 

 

 

At one point though, I thought there were might be as many birds as people.

 

 

Neither of us had worn our bathing suits and we were sorry we hadn’t since the water was wonderful and lots of people were in swimming.

 

 

After a short walk along the water I settled into my chair to read the afternoon away.  David spent his time watching the bird antics and taking pictures of them.   He had a good view as they just kept moving closer and closer to where we were sitting.  They really did put on a good show.

 

 

 

The gulls were a collection of Ring-billed, Laughing, Black-backed and Herring.  It was quite a congregation.

 

 

 

The most entertaining of the afternoon was this royal tern who seemed to be telling off all the other members of the group.  I’m surprised David didn’t get a picture of him with his mouth open.  He was squawk squawk squawking all the time.  Thank goodness his voice isn’t as grating as the gulls.

 

 

These two terns clearly have different hairdressers.

 

We even got to see this guy skimming for fish.

 

 

 

 

 

Things then go from bad to worse.

 

When we get back to the coach for dinner, I am still feeling subpar and when David asks if I want to go to the Wednesday night Nokomis drum circle I decline.  I stay home and read while feeling tired, achy with some intestinal distress.  When I get chilled I realize I might actually have some bug so I take my temperature -  100.8.   Well then……

David returned from the drum circle and I was in full hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes mode.  I wiped down everything I had touched and went to bed early.  By the time I turned the lights out at 10:00 I wasn’t feeling any better but my temperature had gone down not up so I figured perhaps all I needed was a good night’s sleep.

These pictures are David’s from the Nokomis drum circle which he enjoyed tonight just as we have in the past.  It’s a great way to honor the sunset.  Wednesday and Saturday nights all year long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow is another and brighter day.

 

When I wake up this morning, my temperature is back to a normal for me 97.4.  A 24 hour virus, good news.  But so as not to push the envelope I go out for an hour walk rather than a run and good thing too since the red trail I chose is mostly through sand too deep for running.   But I did get to watch a gopher tortoise for a while near the end of the walk.  Didn’t take a camera so no picture.

Today is showing itself to be the nicest since we’ve been here, a high of 75 and sunny predicted. It’s off to the beach

 

 

 

I was pretty surprised to see even more people here today on Thursday a non holiday.  Not sure if this is the end of the holiday season for folks but I guess we’ll find out when we come back next Monday.   I don’t remember this many people here last January but who knows, memories being what they are these days.

 

 

 

 

The sand at Nokomis is quite different than that on the East coast.   It’s literally full of shells and at some points difficult to walk on.  Here’s a close up of the “sand” right next to my chair arm which you can see in the bottom right corner.  It’s really pretty though not so great for your bare feet.  Folks, including me, were walking gingerly toward the water where the sand is finer and easier to walk on.

 

 

 

 

Lots of people in the water.  A family trying to use their boogie boards in the gentle gulf waves was quite a humorous sight.  Another group building a sandcastle.  The skim boarder was the best I’ve yet seen so I really enjoyed him as well.  

 

 

 

 

 

I am very glad to be at the beach today and feeling fine. 

Tonight they are calling for rain and tomorrow a big drop in temperatures.  Today it was sunny with a high a glorious 75.  Tomorrow a dyslexia is predicted and the high will be 57 with a low of 45.  But it’s all good when you are retired and your former hometown has a high of 32!

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s also a real treat to eat dinner outside now that we are away from from bugland.

 

 

 

 

THE END!