Ninth Walk of 2010

The low temperature today was 74, the high 94. The last couple of nights, some parts of the island got rain, up to 3" toward the west end. We did get a light rain at our location last night, but not worth the mention. This evening we got rain. Yay! A weather report said 1.33" on the east end of the island. I doubt we got quite that much here. Whatever the amount, we are grateful for it.

When we left the house this morning, the air was heavy with humidity and there was no breeze. I was thinking that our beach walk, might not be too pleasant, especially if the noseeums were bad because of rain last night.

As we drove to the resident Buttonwood Lane parking area, we could see the sky turning orange in the east. It was barely light enough to see, but we started out the boardwalk.


As soon as we stepped onto the sand, I saw a couple walking on the beach with a bright flashlight, obviously searching for shells. I thought for a minute about what I should do. Should I tell them that you aren't allowed to use a flashlight on the beach during sea turtle nesting season or just walk on by them and ignore it. By the time I got across the sand, I decided I should tell them, because if they are staying for several days, they should know. There have been no nests in our zone yet, so if any decided to come ashore here, we wouldn't want them to be scared away. I spoke to the couple and asked if they were having any luck finding shells, and they said, not at all. Then I said they probably didn't know, but we aren't allowed to use flashlights on the beach during sea turtle nesting season. They were very nice and said they didn't know and thanked me for telling them. I saw them later, on our return trip and stopped to talk to them again. They were excited and started showing me the things they had found. A small sand dollar, the first they had ever found, and a few nice shells. I wished them good luck and they went on their way.


There were a lot of small shells, but I tried not to look down at them. It was really breezy and cool when we started, and wanted to get to the end of our zone and back before the sun got up too high. No doubt it would quickly climb back into the 90's.






I'm not sure what part the circle around the shoes plays, maybe it's like a protective ring. ??? Maybe a security alarm of some kind. ??? :)















I can safely say, you couldn't get me out into that water, higher than my waist and neck when the waves came, with fish bait. Not during the early morning hours when sharks feed. Call me chicken if you want; not going! He wasn't out there as we walked back. Don't know if he quit or if a shark got him.


When I bent over to pick up some trash, I saw a Bubble Shell right beside it. A reward. :)


The next trash I saw, was up near the dune area, I reached over to pick up a paper plate and this guy was right there, giving me his mean look and didn't move an inch. :)


You won't believe what I found next! Yes, it is a golden slipper! I looked all around, but couldn't see a Prince or Cinderella. :(


Lizard, or a dinosaur with short legs? I don't know.

As soon as we turned to start walking back, I saw an Angel Wing. A little of the tip is missing, but it would work fine in a craft of some kind.


I watched a Crow, play around with an empty coconut shell. It was hilarious, he jumped on top of it, pecked at it, fell off and kept doing it again. When he got worn out, his buddy fought with it a while.


A tiny scallop.


Paper Fig and a Juvenile Horse Conch with a few barnacles on it, but I'm pretty sure I can clean it up.


Apple Murex and Turkey Wing


The sky had a totally different look, when we got back.


The Beach Hibiscus along the boardwalk, at Buttonwood Lane access, had all been trimmed to about half the height they were, and they are just now blooming again. It's amazing how the flowers change color, by starting out yellow in the daytime and turning red by evening.


No sea turtle activity to report; just two bags of trash to carry away.

Sanibel and Captiva Sea Turtle Nesting Stats

Number of nests is still behind previous years. But, they got a late start this year, so maybe they'll catch up.

As of June 28, 2010:

Sanibel East: 7 nests, 27 false crawls

Sanibel West: 68 nests, 160 false crawls

Captiva: 32 nests, 81 false crawls



As of June 28, 2009:

Sanibel East: 13 nests, 32 false crawls

Sanibel West: 107 nests, 128 false crawls

Captiva: 49 nests, 42 false crawls



As of June 28, 2008:

Sanibel East: 21 nests, 31 false crawls

Sanibel West: 152 nests, 148 false crawls

Captiva: 69 nests, 55 false crawls

SCCF 2010 Sea Turtle Nesting Stats

These are the current nesting stats as of today, and those of two previous years as comparison.

As of June 21, 2010:

Sanibel West- 57 nests, 130 false crawls

Sanibel East- 6 nests, 23 false crawls

Captiva- 25 nests, 62 false crawls



As of June 21, 2009:

Sanibel West- 92 nests, 116 false crawls

Sanibel East- 8 nests, 24 false crawls

Captiva- 41 nests, 30 false crawls



As of June 21, 2008:

Sanibel West- 121 nests, 128 false crawls

Sanibel East- 18 nests, 28 false crawls

Captiva- 56 nests, 43 false crawls

Seventh Walk of 2010

Today was our 7th turtle walk of the season. As we walked out onto the sand, it wasn't the usual powder that we normally walk through for a short distance. This morning the sand was packed down from the rain storm last night and felt crunchy as we walked. The beach was pretty but it was super hot, even as we started, before the sun came up. Not a breeze was blowing on the first 2/3rds of our walk. It helped keep my mind off the heat, looking at dolphins, birds, pink clouds, the sunrise and sand art, which are always pleasant distractions.








Many small seashells were left scattered by the receding tide.

























Keyhole Limpets, like the one below, are fascinating. They look like lifeless shells, but an animal lives inside. It invites a worm to live under its shell, then when a starfish comes to attack, the worm pops out and bites the starfish to scare it away. Limpets can also run away from attackers, but they can only run a few inches an hour. They make a groove in a rock to live in, only coming out at night to eat algae. They follow the trail they made while eating to get back to their rock. Limpets get hit by thousands of waves a day, but because of their dome shape, don't get rolled around like other shells. Limpets live in tidal pools and other animals can live on the spots they have cleaned. When oil is spilled along the shore, limpets die. If they aren’t there to clear the plants, other tide pool animals can’t find homes to live. Chemicals from the Keyhole Limpet are being tested in the treatment of cancer. This discovery is just one reason why tide pool animals are important and should be protected. They are just one tiny expample of sealife that is in danger now, because of the huge ongoing oil disaster. This is an empty shell, but if you happen to see a Limpet on the side of a rock, give him a break and don't try pulling him off, because that will cause him harm.


A happy fisherman.


A happy sandman?


A mermaid on her way back to sea.




A fish out of water.


Two happy shellers, digging through someone's pile of cast offs.


A new sea turtle this week, but it hadn't dug a nest.




While I'm sure these are all fun to make and enjoyable to look at, they are like a maze sea turtles have to make their way through to find a suitable place to nest. I think their lives are already difficult enough. :( Maybe a turtle would just come to shore, take a look, and go back out to sea. It's pretty sad that we don't know how to share with the wildlife. They have no choice, but to share with us.


A group of chairs that were left out all night on the beach. There are signs all over the place, telling people not to do this. There are also signs by the condo pools, also telling guests not to take chairs away from the pool area, but here they are.








Two male Boat-Tailed Grackles were making beautiful noise to the female, trying to get her to choose between them. But from what I could see, she was playing hard to get.


Their black iridescent feathers looked beautiful in the sunlight.


This pile of chairs has been laying on the beach over a week. :(


Part of a Worm Shell and a Bubble Shell.


An Apple Murex and a Scallop.


Juvenile Florida Fighting Conch.


Another sea turtle and a friend.


Sea Horse


I hate to tell you this, but I had to confiscate Mr. Sandman's Corona eye lids.


Look for the treasure below.


It's a Juvenile Horse Conch. :)


Woo~Hoo, see if you can find the next one. :)


Yes, another brighter colored one.


There's another small treasure lurking below.


A small Apple Murex.


A Button Shell and a tiny piece of coral.


A Rough Scallop and snorkle trash. :)


There was a light breeze on the way back, but still hot, and the temperature soon was 92. We still have no sea turtle nesting in our zone.