Encountering The Cherry-Red Tide

Since nosotros had a marriage ceremony to attend inward South Carolina inward mid August, nosotros decided to pass the minute one-half of this calendar month at our condo on Longboat Key, Florida.  Unfortunately, inward the weeks leading upward to the wedding, nosotros learned that a severe together with persistent ruby tide had developed along the coast of Southwest Florida.  Nevertheless, nosotros decided to investigate for ourselves.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 toxic algal flower of Karenia brevis, a ruby tide results inward extensive fish kills, littering the beaches amongst rotting fish; a neurotoxin released past times the algae may likewise kill dolphins together with manatees and, this year, the corpse of a whale shark washed ashore.  In addition, particulate debris from the abundant algae wafts inward on the ocean breeze, causing eye, pharynx together with lung irritation for those humans who create non abandon the share altogether.

We arrived to honor that the dead fish aroma was indeed rigid along the beaches exactly that the wind-blown irritants were rather mild.  Though nosotros volition probable depart before than planned, we'll confine our beach walks together with focus our activities on the bay side of the island, which seems to live on less affected.  Of note, the Mote Aquarium, inward Sarasota County, has developed a method to kill the algae past times injecting ozone into the water; directly used to protect their tanks, they volition motility this method inward canals before experimenting inward the opened upward Gulf.  On the other hand, since a flower of Karenia brevis is a natural phenomenon, 1 wonders whether such handling volition accept unintended consequences.

See also: Red Tide inward January

Inspecting The Dead

Wanting to become closer to the cerise tide destruction, my married adult woman in addition to I visited Whitney Beach this morning.  Stretching along the northwest border of Longboat Key, it is both the almost scenic stretch of sand in addition to (in my opinion) the best birding place on this barrier island.  As expected, the beach was littered alongside dead fish, eels, rays in addition to horseshoe crabs in addition to the diverseness of birds was far below normal.

Wandering amid the dead, nosotros endured the nauseating stench of rotting bounding main life.  While a distich of yellow-crowned dark herons in addition to a dozen shorebirds (black-bellied plovers in addition to ruddy turnstones) scoured the beach, they stayed clear of the victims; dark-brown pelicans in addition to large flocks of laughing gulls passed overhead or lounged far offshore.  Except for a lonely hunter alongside his metallic detector, nosotros were the solely humans on that pop beach.

Though the algal counts accept waxed in addition to waned along Florida's Southwest Coast, the cerise tide is expected to persist until a tropical tempest or cool spill weather condition invades the region.  There is problem inwards paradise and, this morning, nosotros bore witness to its wrath. 

A Pelican Roost

For the get-go fourth dimension since nosotros purchased our condo on Longboat Key, a grouping of dark-brown pelicans has established a roost on a mangrove island, around 50 yards off our seawall inwards Sarasota Bay.  Common local residents, these marine birds breed along both coasts of North America, from Southern California as well as the Mid Atlantic States, southward.

Brown pelicans by as well as large nest as well as roost inwards colonies, preferring offshore islands where they are relatively condom from predators; hither inwards South Florida, mangrove islets are nigh ofttimes used.  Once their breeding flavor has ended, around wander northward every bit far every bit British Columbia as well as New England, returning to to a greater extent than southerly latitudes inwards the fall; vagrants may fifty-fifty plough upward along major river valleys, specially inwards belatedly summer.

Comical looking precisely highly skilled every bit fliers as well as divers, dark-brown pelicans commonly feed yesteryear plunging into schools of fish, using their nib pouch to snare their prey.  Often observed at angling docks, looking for handouts, they are 1 of the nigh recognizable marine birds along southern coasts as well as are to a greater extent than than welcome on our inlet of Sarasota Bay.

Off To The Northern Gulf

Since the ruby-red tide was worsening on Longboat Key, nosotros decided to caput to the Northern Gulf Coast as well as settled on Pensacola Beach, an expanse that neither of us had visited.  The vii hr induce was uneventful, rather devoid of interesting wildlife; an exception was a huge discover of cattle egrets on ranchlands to either side of Interstate 10, simply W of Interstate 75.  Also of Federal Reserve annotation was the modify inwards graphic symbol of the rivers, from the clear, tea-colored H2O of the peninsula (flowing through limestone as well as sandy soil) to the muddied H2O of the Panhandle rivers, draining the clay soils of the interior.

Nearing Pensacola, nosotros cutting due south on Route 281, crossing the wide due east arm of Pensacola Bay to Gulf Breeze earlier continuing out to the narrow barrier isle of Pensacola Beach.  As is typical of the Northern Gulf Coast, Pensacola Beach boasts a scenic strip of white sand, backed past times little dunes as well as hotels.  While it is for sure a delightful place for Sun worshipers, surfers as well as boaters, it did non instantly appeal to this naturalist.  We did run across a fair discover of chocolate-brown pelicans on the bay, but solely a handful of sanderlings as well as laughing gulls were observed on the beach.

We'll hold upwardly hither for a couplet of days as well as I'll for sure convey to a greater extent than to study earlier nosotros leave.  Stay tuned!

White Beaches Of Northwest Florida

The Florida Panhandle is known for its sparkling white beaches, a trait that results from their composition.  The "sugar sand" of this percentage is composed of fine, ovoid quartz crystals, eroded from the Blue Ridge Mountains as well as deposited inwards the Gulf of United Mexican U.S.A. past times the Apalachicola River.

Spread past times currents inside the Gulf, the quartz crystals are a main ingredient of beaches all along the Florida Gulf Coast only are to the lowest degree "contaminated" amongst crunch fragments along the Panhandle.  In beaches along the Florida Peninsula as well as Keys, variable amounts as well as coloring of crunch fragments modify the appearance of the sand; inwards around areas, the crunch fragments predominate as well as the beach is gray, tan or nearly black.

Here on Pensacola Beach, the white sand is dazzling inwards the brilliant afternoon sun, squeaking beneath your feet as well as producing a precipitous contrast amongst the clear, turquoise H2O of the Gulf.  As 1 powerfulness hold off from the to a higher house discussion, shells are small, generally white as well as far less abundant than on the beaches of Southwest Florida.

Tarkiln Bayou Save Pose Down Park

On our agency out of Pensacola, Florida, this morning, my married adult woman in addition to I visited Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park, southwest of the city.  The Preserve's 4200 acres stretch due east of Perdido Bay, occupying (and expanding) the old site of the Perdido Pitcher Plant Prairie.  Known for its orchids in addition to carnivorous plants, the refuge is accessed via a network of earthen trails in addition to boardwalks.

Short on fourth dimension in addition to de-energized past times the heat, nosotros settled on the Tarkiln Bayou Trail (1.5 miles roundtrip), which leads southwest from the parking lot on State Route 293.  This paved walkway kickoff crosses a woodland of slash pino in addition to saw palmetto in addition to and thence snakes atop boardwalks where pitcher plants (primarily of the white-topped species) abound inwards the shallow wetlands.  The trail ends on the due east shore of scenic Tarkiln Bayou, which is surrounded past times tidal marsh in addition to empties into Perdido Bay.

This State Park is named for tar kilns, locally used inwards the 1800s to procedure pino tar that was collected from southern yellowish pines (commonly known equally slash pines); the tar was used primarily past times the transportation manufacture but besides inwards the production of soap.  While the refuge is abode to an first-class diverseness of wildlife, nosotros encountered exclusively ospreys, red-headed woodpeckers in addition to eastern towhees on this hot August morning.

The Surge Coast

The entire Gulf Coast of Florida, from the Keys to Pensacola, is peculiarly vulnerable to tempest surge equally hurricanes in addition to tropical storms come upward ashore.  Counterclockwise winds force H2O toward the coast on the "right" side of storm's eye, forcing it across the depression province in addition to upward the coastal rivers.

This procedure is accentuated along the Florida Gulf Coast due to the topography of the Gulf itself.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 wide shallow area, representing the westward part of the Florida Platform, parallels the State's Gulf Coast; equally body of body of water H2O is swept inward past times the storm, it cannot dismiss downward in addition to builds to destructive depths across the barrier islands in addition to coastal lowlands, leveling structures in addition to flooding the landscape.

Hurricane Michael, immediately a Category four storm, is poised to come upward ashore close Panama City this morning.  Storm surge is expected to arrive at xiii feet or to a greater extent than inward around parts of the Great Bend earlier the hurricane in addition to its remnants cutting a swath of devastation across the eastern Panhandle, due south Georgia in addition to the Carolinas.

Migrant Dark Scoters

Black scoters bring been turning upwards inwards both of my primary eBird areas (Arapahoe County, Colorado, together with Boone County, Missouri) inwards recent weeks.  These body of body of water ducks breed along Arctic Coasts together with on tundra lakes of Alaska together with Northern Canada, wintering along both coasts of North America too equally the Gulf Coast.

While they occasionally plow upwards on reservoirs together with lakes of the interior, they are non equally mutual away from the coasts equally their white-winged cousins.  Black scoters are unremarkably encountered inwards flocks, bobbing inwards the H2O of coastal bays together with diving for mollusks, crustaceans together with other aquatic invertebrates.  When observed on lakes of the interior, they tend to hold out lonely or inwards pocket-size groups; close deed on to coastal areas for the wintertime only roughly remain on inland lakes if adequate nutrient is available together with the waters remain open.

Unfortunately, I bring non had the chance to disclose this year's visitors to Colorado together with Missouri only I bring oft seen wintering dark scoters off Longboat Key, Florida, where nosotros ain a condo.  Wherever they are found, i cannot assistance only admire these hardy migrants from the far North.

Entering Spring

If leap was lurking inward cardinal Alabama, I wouldn't know.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 dense fog enveloped the highway from Birmingham to Montgomery together with the following landscape was all simply invisible.  South of Montgomery, however, early on leafing of shrubs together with small-scale trees was evident, a reliable sign that nosotros had entered the flavour of renewal.

When nosotros reached Interstate 10, inward the Florida Panhandle, nosotros flora ourselves inward the midst of extensive tree harm from Hurricane Michael that ravaged the portion terminal October.  Mixed alongside the carnage were flowering blood-red maples, about other sign that nosotros had changed seasons.  Heading eastward on the Interstate, nosotros flora that the tree harm extended to the outskirts of Tallahassee; thereafter, the greenery of leap was persistent, including a greenish blush inward the canopy of large trees.

Later, driving due south downward the Florida Peninsula on I-75, nosotros eventually reached the Subtropics where the classic seasons are replaced past times two: the Dry Season, from Dec to May, together with the Wet (Hurricane) Season, from June to November.  We had reached Spring together with left it behind inward the same day.

Birdlife Afterward The Reddish Tide

Returning to Longboat Key, Florida, for the outset fourth dimension since terminal summer's devastating ruddy tide, I accept flora that the regional aeroplane populations accept been affected.  While the province birds rest equally mutual equally usual, those that feed on fish as well as marine invertebrates seem to endure far less abundant.

Though nosotros accept alone been on the isle for 24 hours, near ospreys, pelicans, waders, cormorants, mergansers, gulls as well as terns look to accept moved to areas where prey is to a greater extent than readily available.  Far fewer fish are jumping on the Bay as well as schools observed from the seawall are less widespread as well as composed primarily of smaller fish.

Perhaps our initial observations are deceiving simply in that place is niggling doubtfulness that the 2018 ruddy tide had a dramatic impact on the local marine ecosystems, both on the Gulf of United Mexican United States of America as well as inward Sarasota Bay.  H5N1 total recovery volition eventually occur simply the fish as well as aeroplane populations volition probable rest depression for an extended catamenia of time.

Old Miakka Preserve

East of Sarasota, Florida, Fruitville Road crosses a mosaic of cattle ranches which attract sandhill cranes, cattle egrets as well as a host of raptors.  Just over eleven miles E of Interstate 75, that route ends as well as a curt graveled lane, which leads to the Old Miakka Preserve, begins.

This 132-acre save offers 4 miles of grass/sand trails that cross pino flatwoods, opened upwards scrub habitat as well as creeks that period of time to the upper Myakka River.  On this sunny, mild morning, nosotros roamed that network of trails, encountering turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks, red-bellied as well as pileated woodpeckers as well as an assortment of opened upwards province songbirds. Gopher tortoises inhabit the save simply were non observed today.

Though at that topographic point is a slap-up bargain to relish as well as explore on Florida's Coasts, much of the State's unique beast an flora are flora on the prairies as well as inward the flatwoods as well as wetlands of the Peninsula's interior.  Each fourth dimension nosotros take in Longboat Key, nosotros innovation at to the lowest degree 1 excursion to that fascinating region, landscapes largely ignored past times the hordes of tourists.

South To Gasparilla Island

As I get got mentioned inward the past, my married adult woman together with I oftentimes accept solar daytime trips from our condo on Longboat Key together with get got explored some areas of the Florida Peninsula.  On this warm, sunny Sunday, nosotros decided to view Gasparilla Island (90 minutes to our south), which stretches along the westward side of Charlotte Harbor.

This long barrier island, named for a legendary pirate, is accessed via a cost span at its northward end.  Home to Boca Grande, an upscale community of spacious homes, golf game courses, restaurants together with a marina (where nosotros enjoyed a pleasant luncheon on the bay), Gasparilla Island is renowned every bit a fisherman's paradise together with hosts Gasparilla State Park, which stretches along the southwest border of the island.

Accessed past times a serial of little parking lots (which were packed amongst visitors today), the Park is a strip of Gulf beaches together with their following dune ecosystem.  Shelling is a pop activeness in that place together with shells were for sure abundant on our brief afternoon walk; on the other hand, wild fauna was all exactly absent, represented past times entirely a duo of ring-billed gulls (no pelicans, terns, shorebirds or other seabirds on the beach, on the Gulf or inward the air).  I am oftentimes amazed when seemingly pristine habitat fails to attract fifty-fifty a little multifariousness of wildlife; no doubt, this phenomenon was transient exactly it was disappointing nonetheless.

To Wintertime Together With Back

Due to or so personal business, I convey left warm, sunny Florida in addition to volition provide to Denver for a few days.  It was 76 degrees F when I boarded the bird inward Sarasota this morn for the 1.5 hr leg to Atlanta; every bit I write this post, I am sitting inward the Atlanta airport, staring out at cloudy skies in addition to low-cal fog.  It is 45 degrees.

My flying to Denver leaves afterwards this afternoon in addition to I tin laissez passer on the axe await to last greeted past times near-freezing temperatures there; ah the joys of modern travel, trading inward summertime for winter.  After a brief rest inward Colorado, I'll so provide to Longboat Key for or so other recess earlier our hit dorsum to Missouri.

We humans, having evolved inward the Tropics, bask a journeying to warm climes inward the wintertime simply are oftentimes tiresome to conform when nosotros return; fortunately, the dry out air in addition to intense sunshine inward Colorado volition repose my abrupt transition.  Besides, what ameliorate destinations for an outdoors enthusiast?

A Magnificent Visitor

Back on Longboat Key, Florida, I was birding along Sarasota Bay this morning, watching American white pelicans, red-breasted mergansers, double-crested cormorants, chocolate-brown pelicans together with laughing gulls feast on the recovering fish population (see Birdlife afterwards the Red Tide) when a prehistoric figure soared inwards from the Gulf; it was a magnificent frigatebird, the outset I lead keep seen this year.

Spending well-nigh of their lives at sea, these marine aerialists snatch fish from the sea surface, scavenge spend upward from line-fishing boats or pocket prey from other sea birds.  Visiting subtropical together with tropical bays throughout the year, they exclusively nation during the summertime breeding flavor when they assemble inwards colonies on mangrove islands.  Ill equipped to maneuver on nation together with unable to ascent from the sea surface, they produce non swim together with cannot walk; rather, they must await for winds to takeoff from their mangrove perch.  Each twosome raises i chick per twelvemonth together with the woman someone provides nutrient for its outset twelvemonth of life.

Though I lead keep seen large flocks of magnificent frigatebirds inwards the past, a lonely wintertime wanderer is peculiarly inspiring, knowing that he has been aloft for vi months or more, oft sleeping equally he soars to a higher house the warm precisely turbulent waters of tropical together with subtropical seas.  The fact that he oft steals his repast does non diminish my admiration.

Emerson Indicate Preserve

Located at the western terminate of Snead Island at the rima oris of the Manatee River, Emerson Point Preserve is 1 of the best birding locations inwards Manatee County.  Characterized past times upland woods of palm, oak together with pine, mangrove swamps, lagoons together with common salt marshes, this 270 acre refuge is owned past times the State of Florida together with managed past times the County.

The save is accessed past times a fine network of crunch trails together with wooden boardwalks together with an observation tower offers broad views of the Manatee Valley, barrier islands together with Tampa Bay.  On our two-hour walk this morning, my married adult woman together with I observed ospreys, anhingas, brownish pelicans together with a broad multifariousness of wading birds; habitation to gopher tortoises, the refuge likewise harbors remnants of early on North American culture, including the 1200 year-old Temple Mound.

Unfortunately, the western tip of Emerson Point Preserve has instruct a pop site for local fishermen, Sun bathers together with H2O recreation enthusiasts, detracting from the natural beauty together with placidity of this subtropical refuge.  If 1 sticks to the trail together with boardwalk network, however, the pristine lineament of the preserve's varied habitats is fully appreciated.

Rushing Through Perico Preserve

On this cool, foggy morning time inward South Florida, my married adult woman together with I visited the Perico Preserve, eastward of Anna Marie Island, off Manatee Avenue.  Another terrific site for birdwatching, this refuge is a mosaic of upland woods together with scrubland, freshwater wetlands together with a tidal pool.  Accessed yesteryear trails together with boardwalks, the save stretches out to mangroves along Perico Sound.

Unfortunately, mosquitos were numerous together with voracious during our early on morning time see and, since nosotros left our repellant at home, our exploration was brusk together with swift.  Nevertheless, nosotros encountered 25 species of birds, including mutual gallinules. tri-colored herons, a yellow-crowned dark heron together with a trio of forest storks.  Though non observed this morning, Florida scrub jays inhabit this scenic refuge.

On our means dorsum to the condo, nosotros stopped yesteryear Whitney Beach on the northwest coast of Longboat Key.  There, a steady, cool breeze together with gentle mist were peculiarly soothing later on our musquito gauntlet at Perico.  Though birds were impossible to consider on or over the crude oil Gulf (due to the dense fog), nosotros were greeted yesteryear a large, mixed flock of laughing gulls, dark skimmers, majestic terns, Sandwich terns together with Forster's terns that lounged on the beach, waiting for the fog to lift.

Recovery Inwards The Bay

On our final total twenty-four hr menstruum on Longboat Key, I am pleased to study that signs of recovery inwards Sarasota Bay are increasing.  Following the devastating reddish tide final summer, the Bay ecosystem is piece of cake returning to normal and, over the by 2 weeks, the bear witness of that recovery has dice to a greater extent than convincing.

Bottle-nosed dolphins choose cruised by our condo in addition to a handful of manatees are straightaway hanging out inwards the boat canal.  While ospreys remain far less mutual than usual, flotillas of American white pelicans choose re-entered our subdivision of the bay, red-breasted mergansers are diving for their meals in addition to cormorants are ane time once to a greater extent than perching on the channel markers betwixt their line-fishing expeditions.  Low tide e'er brings a host of waders to the bay; though their numbers remain relatively low, all species choose been represented during our stay.

No doubt, the Bay's recovery has a means to dice only the signs are promising.  We choose observed schools of large fish from the seawall in addition to to a greater extent than jumpers choose breached the surface each day.  The ecosystem has been recharged in addition to nosotros humans must minimize whatever pollution that mightiness fuel futurity toxic algal blooms.

Dorian Gains Strength

Hurricane Dorian, churning toward the Northern Commonwealth of the Bahamas together with the Atlantic Coast of Florida, has strengthened to a Category four tempest this evening, amongst maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.  Though withal far from the Florida Peninsula, at that spot are no atmospheric or oceanic features that advise weakening of the hurricane volition occur.

Indeed, a depression pressure level zone to its southwest has backed away, reducing the run a endangerment of meaning current of air shear together with the tempest volition shortly instruct into warmer waters equally it reaches the Commonwealth of the Bahamas together with the Gulf Stream.  The solely remaining enquiry is whether the high pressure level ridge to its northward volition shift eastward, allowing the hurricane to bend northward earlier it makes landfall inwards Florida.  Even so, a powerful tempest moving parallel to the coast volition probable create devastating tempest surge, beach erosion together with inland flooding.

Mandatory evacuations convey already been ordered for low-lying areas of Brevard County, Florida, together with many similar proclamations are expected inwards the days ahead.  Once again, climate modify may live on playing a business office inwards both the hurricane's intensity together with its coastal effects, equally body of body of water temperatures increase together with sea levels rise.  Followup posts are anticipated over the coming week.

Lake Manatee Dry Soil Park

Lake Manatee, a reservoir on the Manatee River due east of Bradenton, was created inwards the 1960s; Lake Manatee State Park stretches along its southern shore.  Those who see the Park to military camp or hike piece enjoying views of the Lake may endure a fleck disappointed; indeed, shoreline views of Lake Manatee are express to the boat launch in addition to the pocket-size swimming area.

The Park's trails primarily loop through scrubby apartment woods, characterized past times stands of pine, alive oak in addition to palmetto, offering alone distant views of the lake.  On the other hand, hikers may run into gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, marsh rabbits in addition to gray fox; plants of involvement include garberia in addition to the rare Florida goldenaster.  Birds of banking concern annotation include bald eagles, ospreys in addition to sandhill cranes in addition to American alligators may endure observed.

On this hot, sunny morning, nosotros followed the 1.8 mile Gopher Trail Loop inwards the eastern department of the Park.  Sightings included a solitary anhinga, an osprey, dark vultures, Cooper's hawks, red-bellied woodpeckers in addition to gray catbirds, amidst other songbirds.  An early on morn or level hike would convey been to a greater extent than enjoyable in addition to to a greater extent than productive for wild fauna viewing.

Fifteen Months Afterward The Cherry Tide

It has been 15 months since a devastating ruby-red tide poisoned the waters roughly Longboat Key, Florida.  Having returned 3 days ago, I accept observed promising signs of recovery simply the ecosystem is non however dorsum to total health.

The position out of brownish pelicans together with double-crested cormorants angling on Sarasota Bay accept increased dramatically simply the populations of ospreys, waders, gulls together with terns accept non however returned to pre-tide levels.  We did come across a pod of dolphins inward the Gulf but, at to the lowest degree to date, their numbers appear to locomote relatively low.

These observations, purely my own, may non concur upwards to scientific scrutiny simply I suspect that effects of the ruby-red tide persist; of course, natural ecosystems evolve over long periods of time, also tedious for the impatience of humans.  Hopefully, the recovery volition gradually cash inward one's chips along earlier some other insult, peradventure fueled yesteryear global warming together with seawater pollution, threatens this subtropical paradise.

See: Encountering the Red Tide together with Benefits from a Red Tide?