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.

Leaf Armies

Here on our Littleton, Colorado, farm, I create non bother raking the leaves.  While nosotros bring a large seat out of deciduous trees in addition to shrubs, I'm inclined to allow nature handgrip their autumn debris.  Besides, it tin forcefulness out endure entertaining, watching the leafage armies race across our driveway in addition to "lawns."

In this semiarid climate, the leaves rarely buy the farm bogged downwards yesteryear precipitation; they may endure stabilized yesteryear a snowfall for a hateful solar daytime or ii only the intense Colorado Sun chop-chop frees them to rustle across the landscape 1 time again.  Eventually, the armies settle downwards beneath the shrub lines in addition to forest borders, providing fertilizer for adjacent spring's growth.

It's a win-win situation.  Entertainment in addition to no travel for me in addition to natural nutrients for our trees in addition to shrubs.  The mounded leaves too offering wintertime protection for many invertebrates, at to the lowest degree until they are discovered yesteryear the birds, mice, raccoons in addition to skunks that see the farm.

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.

A Super Worm Moon

The championship "Worm Moon" has been given to the amount Luna of March, referring to reason changes inwards the Temperate Zone of the Northern Hemisphere at this fourth dimension of year.  Occuring inwards concert amongst a thawing of the soil, which brings worms toward the surface (and robins onto our lawns), this year's Worm Luna too coincides amongst the vernal (spring) equinox.

In addition, this year's Worm Luna occurs close the perigee of the moon's reach unopen to the Earth, the closest it comes to our planet.  This makes the Luna seem close 10% larger than an average amount moon, prompting the championship of Super Moon.

Rising higher upward the Eastern Colorado Plains this evening, the Super Worm Luna was sure impressive.  While both our beautiful satellite together with the "lowly" earthworms are oblivious of human terminology, they are no less vital to our welfare.

Calm Later On The Storms

Following a calendar week of hot, humid weather condition together with severe thunderstorms, relatively cool together with dry out air has invaded key Missouri.  Though flooding persists along the Missouri River together with other large streams, 1 tin at 1 time to a greater extent than fully appreciate the works together with creature of a Midwest spring.

Sitting on our deck this evening, I saw together with or heard at to the lowest degree xx aeroplane species, dominated past times squadrons of chimney swifts that zoomed across the clear blueish sky; joining them were turkey vultures, sailing overhead, together with an occasional mutual black hawk, identified past times their white wing patches together with distinctive calls.  Backyard visitors included ruby-throated hummingbirds, grayness catbirds, cedar waxwings together with a to the lowest degree flycatcher amid to a greater extent than mutual residents, all seemingly enjoying the cool recess equally much equally I was (at to the lowest degree until a Cooper's hawk appeared).

One place on our belongings has definitely benefited from the recent soupy weather condition together with heavy rains: the compost bin.  Fueled past times the oestrus together with humidity, uncountable invertebrates are at 1 time swarming over the yard together with kitchen waste, feasting on the found cloth together with creating a time to come render of nutritious compost.  The external atmosphere may convey operate out to a greater extent than appealing to humans only the tropical conditions inside that bin is ideal for those recyclers.

To Margaret Bay

Ketchikan spreads along the southwest coast of Revillagigedo Island but nearly of the isle is uninhabited.  Today, nosotros enjoyed a boat ride to Margaret Bay, ane of several that indent the northwest coast of Revillagigedo.

The role was to railroad train a brace of crab traps inwards Traitor's Cove as well as to accept a hike to a bear-watching site inwards the Margaret Creek Valley; the latter is managed past times the National Forest Service.  A two-mile, roundtrip hike takes visitors to an overlook blind inwards a higher house the creek, where dark ship fish for spawning salmon.  During our stay, nosotros were fortunate to let on 2 immature bears, angling at a waterfall along the creek.

The trapping examine produced ane Dungeness crab as well as nosotros stopped to depository fiscal establishment represent several shrimp traps on our agency dorsum to Ketchikan; those traps were highly productive though an octopus as well as several large starfish had eaten but about of the catch.  Beyond these highlights, the trip provided spectacular views of the waterways, mountainous islands as well as rugged peninsulas due north of Ketchikan; our thank you lot to Steve as well as Gary for the seven-hour tour.