Ghost crab digging a burrow near a washed up coconut

However, crabs can deliver a nasty pinch as I have experienced often when I have tried to pick one up without using tongs, or have stepped on one half-buried in the sand.

Having a crab dangling from one’s digits is a painful and panicky situation. The first instinct is to shake your hand or foot like crazy, which is not a good plan since they just hang on for dear life.

Land Crab - posing nicely for me.

At least this works for aquatic crabs, I am not sure what I would do if a land crab were to latch on to me with no water in sight. And so, I try to keep a safe distance. Thank goodness for zoom lenses! No macros!

Usually, they will just scurry away before attacking as did these land and ghost crabs after they got tired of posing for pictures. Their sideways runs at lightning speed left me clicking the next shots of the places where crabs used to be.

But why do they run sideways and not go full steam ahead? A little internet research revealed that crab anatomy permits them to shuffle slowly forward, but to go full out sideways. (See: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/crab.aspx)

And, their flexible eyestalks allow them to look all around them so going sideways does not mean they cannot look in other directions. (Notice that Mr. Land Crab has one eye on me while the other looks elsewhere.)

Land crab after running away from me

The crabs pictured here are just two of the great diversity of crabs found in Florida. I have trapped and eaten blue crabs and stone crabs (yummy) and seen numerous other kinds, including hermit crabs, spider crabs, mangrove crabs, swimming crabs, and so many others, including my personal favorite, the fiddler crab.

The fiddlers live in large groups in burrows on mudflats. The male has one large claw which he waves around to warn off other males and to attract the female of his species. Hey baby… over here!

Ghost crab hiding in the washed up seaweeds

Henceforth, I vow not to call some grumpy human, “an old crab,” ever again. Lyn

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

“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.”

Twin Condos, New Smyrna Beach Florida

PSA area, Jet skies only!

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.

Agave plants in bloom, Apollo 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.

Apollo Beach, Canaveral National Seashore

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

Rocks Rule!

Nature, modified by man

I returned there May 02, but this time accompanied by photographers from the Southeast Volusia Camera Club. Our group of ten took many photographs, not only in different natural settings but also in changing light as we moved from the bright light of the beach to the deep shade in the park as the morning passed. I share some of my photos with you here.

Washington Oaks is truly two parks in one as it spans the extent of a barrier island from the ocean to the (estuary). The field trippers gathered around 9:00 a.m. at the rocky beach portion of the Park at dead low tide, the best time to see the exposed coquina rock formations. We explored and photographed tide pools and the rocks, covered with algae and encrusting organisms, such as snails, barnacles, and limpets. Seabirds and a large, blooming yucca plant provided more photo opportunities.

Shore line at low tide

Here, we found a mix of formal gardens and typical barrier island hammock vegetation. Roses bloomed in the formal gardens; a variety of plants flourished along paths that wound around spring-fed ponds. A gazebo, fountains, foot bridges and small statues provided additional evidence of human maintenance. Huge live oak trees covered in epiphytes, such as ferns and bromeliads, dominated the natural vegetation.

The dominator!

On the beach, life battles harsh elements – wind, waves, and heat as well as erosion. The algae and small creatures survive by clinging to rocks, waiting for relief as the tide moves from low to high twice daily. Each rock is covered by these tenacious organisms; every tiny spot is prime real estate. Competition for a foothold on the rocks is fierce.

Environmental conditions in the Gardens are more moderate. The plants provide shade and moisture, and enrich the soil as they live and die. But, competition for space here is as fierce as it on the beach. Seeds and seedlings claim turf and try to dominate green competitors as well as outlast hungry herbivores. However, some animals have evolved to assist plants as pollinators, a win-win relationship with the plants. Tall trees serve as habitat for not only animals but also other plants.

As an ecologist, and college instructor, I have often taken students to Washington Oaks to investigate how plant and animal communities change and blend along a continuum from lagoon to beach. This time nature photography and artistic expression were the goals.

While all of us enjoyed the lush park setting, a few did not find artistic inspiration on the severe beach landscape, where geology rather than life seems to dominate. Many photographs recorded the strikingly different settings on the beach and in the gardens, but perhaps, it is macro photography that best captures the less obvious battles for life in both places. Lyn