EcoGlimpse

After “creeping out” a few folks with spider tales and macros, I thought it best to showcase birds this time. Less scary?

Like many others, I enjoy birding and often point my camera in their direction.

In the summer, snow birds have flown north from Florida and have not yet returned. Birds are in their less colorful, non-breeding plumage, and humans wear as little as possible when ever they can get away with it. Nature and au naturel in all of its glorious diversity!

Since I am often on the beach, I have several photos of gulls, terns, willets, and snowy egrets.

Three of many, New Smyrna Beach

Part of a flock of terns, New Smyrna Beach

Willets taking it easy, New Smyrna Beach

The gulls, terns, and willets like to hang out in groups whereas the egrets are more solitary.

One curious snowy egret ventured so close to me that the resulting photo, taken in bright morning light, looks unreal, almost like it was cut and pasted onto the background. (It reminds me of those famous moon walk shots.) But I assure you this is a real photo, of a real bird, on real sand.

Egret at my feet! New Smyrna Beach

A visit to Ponce Inlet Jetty provided a shot of a larger white egret, aptly called the Great Egret. As it stalked the rocky pools for food, my daughter, visiting from Denver, remarked that its neck looked like a skinny rope, and just as flexible too.

Fishing, near Ponce Inlet Jetty, Ponce Inlet Park

Earlier that week, while waiting for my daughter’s flight in the Orlando International Airport cell phone parking lot, I was amused to see two Sandhill Cranes land in the adjacent disturbed field just feet away from cars and humans. Luckily, I had my little point and shoot camera with me to record them as they strutted around with studied indifference.

One of two cranes, near cell phone lot, Orlando Airport

Let’s finish up with a shot of a bird we all know… the rock dove, more commonly called the pigeon. This bird is loved and fed by many and has adjusted well to humans and their structures. But, sometimes when I see them perched on high, I envision their cliff dwelling ancestors.

I observed this pigeon and others roosting above the Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna Beach boardwalk. It was taking a rest, no doubt, from scavenging crumbs left by messy, human beach-goers. It seemed fat, sassy, and content.

Roost above the boardwalk, Flagler Ave, New Smyrna Beach

I was fortunate that it did not grace my head with pigeon poop as I took its picture, but was soon less pleased to see that the hood of my car had been liberally used for pigeon target practice!

Squab anyone? Lyn

August in Florida means hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms, and perhaps a tropical storm or so.

Since I am a year-round Florida resident, my escape from the heat is a nice long walk on the beach, feet in surf, camera in hand.

Normally, I photograph nature but thought it might be fun to look at human activity and signs on my walks and share these photos with you.

My local New Smyrna Beach seems a bit more crowded lately. My guess is that many are not travelling far this year and are visiting the coast as part of their summer “staycation.”

Folks are enjoying the beach in all the normal ways, swimming, fishing, biking, strolling, and baking themselves in the sun. One local wit renamed my town, New Sun-burna Beach, in honor of all the pale white tourists that turn bright red in the sun like a pot of cooked lobsters.

Those that have been here for many years reminisce fondly of days when our beach was less developed. With crowds comes crowd control and regulations. In the past, beach driving was not regulated, and people could drive for miles on the beach, stopping as they liked for picnics and camping or other “beachy” acitivities.

Now, we have no-drive zones, marked traffic lanes, and areas beyond which parking is not allowed to protect both dunes and sea turtle nesting habitats.

I understand and appreciate the reasons for these regulations but also wish I could have experienced the freedom of years past.

Surfing near the Ponce Inlet jetty is also a favorite sport for many with interesting consequences. Yes, we do have sharks in our surf.

Sometimes, (ok often), sharks will take a little nibble out of surfers or swimmers usually near the jetty where they are hunting for bait fish. In fact, New Smyrna Beach has been called “the shark bite capital of the world.” No fatalities have occurred, just a variety of bites, some requiring stitches.

As a local, and a walker, not a swimmer or surfer, I am not alarmed. I respect the fact that sharks are in their element whereas I am just a two-legged interloper.

The beach is mine, but I do keep a wary eye out for what might lurk not very far from the shoreline!

Lyn

Just two days after I confessed to a disappointing lack of skill in when it came to outwitting a speedy spider, I once again held my human head high.

As mentioned, a hunting spider had staked its claim on my master bathroom and bedroom which is a bit too cozy for me. One evening, about dusk, I noticed that one of my cats was staring intently at a lower wall next to a bedroom closet. Knowing that cats often watch critters rather than attack them, I followed her gaze and saw THE SPIDER.

It did not seem to be in a hurry to take off, and I grabbed my camera. Much to my surprise, it allowed me to sit very close for several macro shots. Like a good model, it did not move, not even a millimeter, during its photo shoot, flash and all.

Thinking that I could now capture it, I approached quietly with a small water glass and two sheets of stiff paper. The plan, which has worked well for me in the past, was to trap the spider in the upside down glass, and slide the paper between him and the wall. Thus imprisoned, he would be transported to the great outdoors.

Three attempts later, I still held an empty glass, and the spider had retreated to some dark, inaccessible hiding place in my closet.

Internet research revealed that the spider that had so cleverly avoided me is Dolomedes tenebrosus more commonly known as a fishing spider. I do live near the water, and perhaps this also helps to explain why my bathroom had attracted him.

Later that same night, I awoke around 3 AM and flipped on the light to wander around for a bit. Returning to my bed, I found that Mr. Fishing Spider had beaten me to it. A spider sharing my sheets? No, thank you!

I went running for the glass and paper.

After a few near misses, I finally captured the quick little visitor in the glass, and dumped him outside the garage door. I wish him good luck hunting outdoors, where the prey are much more numerous than in my house.

But, as the saying goes, nature abhors a vacuum

A few nights ago, following my cat’s stare toward the living room ceiling, I saw another fishing spider, even bigger than the first. As I watched in disbelief, it scurried off around the corner, in the direction of my bedroom, and subsequently disappeared.

I have no idea where he is now, Lyn

OK, maybe not love of all Arachnids, since that would include ticks (yikes!), but lately, I have been photographing and researching some of the spiders that share space with me, some inside the porch, some outside, and yes, even a few “daddy-long-legs” inside the house.

I found out that true spiders belong to Order Araneae, a somewhat smaller taxonomic group in the Class Arachnida, Phylum Arthropoda. Smaller is probably not the best descriptive term because there are many, many different kinds of spiders.

Two that caught my time and attention recently are the beautiful Orchard Spider (Leucauge venusta) and the tiny Trashline Orbweaver (Allocyclosa bifurca).

The Orchard Spider, with its vibrant colors, just begged to be photographed. Two of these beauties spun webs just outside the porch door, suspended from the eaves of the house.

They are gone now, most likely victims of our gusty Florida thunderstorms. They stayed long enough for me to take several photos and watch one catch its prey with lightning speed.

A few weeks later, bead-like stings started to appear in spider webs both outside and inside my screened-in porch. I suspected that these were spider egg cases, but where were the spiders? The entire string of eggs was not more than 4 inches long. Upon closer investigation, I found a tiny (about ¼ inch) spider hanging on to the end of the string… perfectly camouflaged.

Curiosity aroused, I spent several hours browsing spider identification websites and images, until finally, there was my little visitor, aptly named the Trashline Orbweaver, or even the Garbageline Orbweaver. Great name! This spider’s line includes not only its egg sacs, but also parts and pieces of prey.

There is still one, larger spider left for me to photograph and relocate. This one is going to be a real challenge as it hunts prey rather than waiting for the hapless victim its web.

Unfortunately, my speedy friend has decided to stake out my bathroom and bedroom as its territory. So far, it has been way too quick for me, darting into tiny hiding places before either my cats or I can snag it.

I admire spiders and wish them no harm, but one in my bedroom…well, that is just a bit too intimate. The hunt continues, both the spider’s and mine! Hopefully, human guile will outwit spider instincts.

For now, the smart bet is on the spider. Lyn

“She who loves the beach” is the title of a picture by Suzy Toronto that hangs in my home office. It reminds me of the reason that I live just a few blocks away from the Atlantic.

“Turn off the computer, Lyn”, it whispers, “and go for a walk on the beach.” When I heed the advice, I return home tired physically, refreshed mentally, and nourished spiritually.

I love strolling leisurely on all of “my beaches” in east central Florida; and because I visit often, I am struck by how the beach scene changes. The tides, the weather, the season, the number of people, or even my own state of mind make each seascape and each experience unique.

Over the last several days, I walked on two very different beaches, separated not so much by distance, as by human use.

New Smyrna Beach takes pride in its beach, as well it should. Locals and tourists alike enjoy not only the sand and surf, but also the hospitality, activities, and accommodations of a beachside community that values its “charm.”

But make no mistake; there is development here, with beaches lined by homes and condos. Cars are even permitted on some parts of the beach in New Smyrna although more restricted now than in the past.

First this week, I joined the happy hordes in New Smyrna Beach, keeping ears and ears alert for cars in the driving lines. People watching galore!

I was pleased to share smiles and friendly greetings with others that were enjoying a day in the sun.

On this trip, I was amused to see a portion of the beach designated as a Personal Watercraft Area for launching jet skies without, I presume, needing to avoid bathers or surfers.

Several days later, I visited Apollo Beach in Canaveral National Seashore about 10 miles to the south of my first stop.

Here, the beachgoer (me) steps back in time when nature, and not humans, fashioned the beachscape. There are no air-conditioned condos and no beach driving on this beach!

Certainly, structures are present. Some are remnants of early settlement, such as the Eldora House, now a museum. The National Park Service builds and maintains other structures, such as boat ramps or dune walkways, to help visitors enjoy the outdoor environment, from the Mosquito Lagoon estuary, (aptly-named, by the way) to the Atlantic shore.

“Leave only footprints” has a very special meaning here.

How fortunate I am! I can tailor my beach experience to my mood: festive and sociable, reclusive and contemplative, or somewhere in-between.

“She who loves the beach” will always be…Lyn