Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Tuesday and a Mermaid's Necklace

You never know what you'll find on the beach. I think that's what intrigues me and keeps me going back; my curiosity. Today was no different, the ocean was calling me.

At resident access 7, the first thing I noticed when walking to the beach, was a nice Downy, April fresh scent coming from one of the Blue Dolphin cottages. Walking out onto the beach I was met with the unpleasant smell of the red drift algae. There was some on the beach and some spotted areas in the water. I was so hoping that there wouldn't be any today.







There were some very small, I am guessing, young terns putting on a show today. They were looking down as they were flying, and when they spotted some seafood, they dove into the water, like a dart. They were so cute and fun to watch.





A pelican flew from the water to sit at the top of an Australian pine tree. Until I moved here, I thought they were to big and awkward to fly into tall trees. :-)



Just in case you don't know, the tan color, swirly thing is a Lightning Whelk egg case. They are sometimes called "mermaid's necklaces", because they resemble a large necklace. Each pouch of the "necklace" contains around 20 or more eggs that develop in about two weeks into baby whelks, complete with fully developed shells.



The brown thing that probably brings bad thoughts to mind, is only a piece of driftwood. I had to do a second look at that myself. :-) Kind of made me wonder how long it had been rolling around out there, how big the wood was to begin with, what it was, and where it came from. It was completely worn smooth.



Everyone on the beach seemed to be having a great time on this 78 degree day. I saw people walking, shelling, walking their dogs, sitting in chairs beneath umbrellas, fishing and flying kites. Does life get any better than that?



5 comments:

Melli said...

Until you POSTED this I thought they were too big and awkward to fly into trees too! But I guess they do fly quite well!

I have also never seen or even heard of those mermaids necklace! What an odd thing. You sure are gettin' educated since you moved down there, huh? THAT's the fun part! Well... okay... there's LOTS of fun parts!

Gayle said...

No, Tootie, life doesn't get any better than that. I love see the pelicans.

Denise said...

We loved watching pelicans dive bomb a school of fish in a swim area out in Venice. Your site makes me wish I was back on Sanibel. Gosh, I love it there. I'm bookmarking your site!! :) Thanks for stopping by mine, even accidentally ;)

Alice In Wonderland Rocks said...

I had never seen a Lightning Whelk egg case,thanks for the photo's :)

toni said...

The picture of the pelican is great!! I didn't think they could sit in tall trees either. He looked too big to be in that tree.