Our Nest, Sea Oat Planting and DUST!!!!

Nest #109 checks out

When turtle nesting season began 1st May mini me soon found a nest up the beach, and had hoped to have one within sight of our balcony.  Shortly thereafter she stopped wishing, thinking it might never happen ... BUT then - waking up last Thursday morning (the 26th) we discovered a mama sea turtle had crawled up our beach and made a nest just by our condo during the night. Clearwater Marine Aquarium was quickly on site to check for eggs and mark the nest - honestly you wouldn't know it was there if it wasn't marked - should hatch in about 6-8 weeks.  And yes, that is a man building a sandcastle in the background.

Next morning the excitement was an injured cormorant sitting on the beach.  It was stretching its wings (to dry off) but didn't seem able to fly.  A call was made and soon the bird rescued under the beady eyes of our local sheriff.

Saturday was an early start for mini me, she volunteered to support the city and beach conservation by planting sea oat plugs in the dunes.  This stops erosion and holds back high tides from washing over the nearby streets! 

Walking home along the beach we saw a man and egret sharing the same fishing spot.  The man is net fishing probably for bait, but the bird needs no net. And yes the egret caught a fish from the shoreline just darting into the surf.  Sadly I missed the shot.


Wall skimming - it's not dark, it's dust!

And those renovations - well the fine white dust from the wall skimming (finer than the sugar sand of our beach!!) has finally driven us out and into the condo of nearby friends who kindly have offered us a home for the next few weeks.  Drywall is up in the kitchen and we are now awaiting the 'screw inspection' (I kid you not) so they can skim, paint and install the kitchen cabinets and counter top.



Friend's local art find