Turtle Walk Thursday

We arrived at Gulfside City Park around 6:15 this morning.  We were surprised to see a beach wheelchair locked to the bike rack.  If you didn't know what one looked like....this is it.  I've never tried to push one of these on the beach, so I don't know how difficult it is.  These chairs are readily available on the island at several rental places.  They rent them by the hour or day.  I haven't checked prices recently, but they were around $35 per day and $85 for a week.

If you only need one for a short time, you can call the Sanibel Police at 239-472-3111 to request an all-terrain wheelchair, which is available for four hours (maximum) to allow for use by others.  Upon receiving a request for a wheelchair, the Police Dept will get all the information as to time and location.  They will call Billy's Rentals, 239-472-5248, and relay the information.

Billy's Rentals will deliver the wheelchair and obtain a waiver of liability for both the City and Billy's Rental to be put on file.  There is no charge.

(Billy's Rental would like user to come by for a lesson first, but this is not required. Rentals are available seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. There will be no outgoing rentals after 4 p.m., with delivery and pickup on Sanibel only. Must pick up a key first.)

We were worried that the no-see-ums and mosquitos would bother us a lot this morning because there wasn't much air moving.  But about half way out the path, we felt wind.  YAY!!!  The temperature was in the mid 70's so that was good too.

The first thing I focused on was the moon.  Next, it was the wave action going on. :)  Maybe there were shells coming in!

There was only one person in sight.

I didn't see a sea turtle in either direction, but I nearly tripped over an alligator!

There were shells, but most were small or crumbs.

An Osprey was sitting on the nest in front of Island Beach Club this morning.

Right about here, I started thinking about an internet friend who said she was staying at Pointe Santo this week.  We had tried to set up a time to meet, but so far that hadn't worked out.  I knew they were leaving today, but I was hoping that maybe she would be out taking one last walk on the beach this morning.  But, no such luck.  There was no one around.

A white rubber fish. :)  Looks like someone lost their bait.

Surprise!!  We have a turtle nest in our zone and we didn't know it! YAY!

As I started to walk up toward the nest, I saw someone come around the end of that building, heading for the beach.  By the time the person reached the sand, I first noticed hair color, style, then ...... she looked like photos I'd seen ..... but I wasn't sure.  Should I call her name or wait to see if she might notice me?  I decided to call her name, but just as I was about to, she turned to look at me, looked away and then back again.  We both called out each other's name at the same time; it was.... my internet friend!!!!  Now really, what are the chances of that happening?  She said she had just jumped out of bed and ran out to take a few pictures before getting ready to leave.  I felt bad for her, that her vacation was over, but I was very happy that I had the chance to meet her after all.

That meeting was the highlight of my morning! :)

When we reached the end of our zone, we saw another nest that hadn't been there last week. :)  It isn't in our zone.  That little white sign you can see in the background, is the end of ours.

Handsome, yes?

There were two beach towels left laid out on the sand, chairs set up and sand toys scattered.  It was all wet from being out all night.  I piled it all up, further from the water, and left it hoping someone would come back for it.  I know most condo owners have these things for their renters to use.  It's very difficult to keep them because they get left out on the beach.  There are cards in the condos with info about not leaving things on the beach at night, especially during sea turtle nesting season.  I guess they just don't bother to read it or don't care.  In another place we found two beach umbrellas set up and left overnight.

My one shell of the day.  A Coffee Melampus.  These little snails are usually found around the mangroves where the tides keep the soil wet.  When the tide comes in, they cling to the branches.  They can breathe in air or water.

The end of another nice walk. :)  Except for a little problem with mosquitos when we stood still. :(

The mosquitos have been annoying enough, that it prompted me to find this notice, that makes me very happy!

Weather permitting, the following area is scheduled for treatment of adult mosquitoes within the hours of sundown and 2:00 AM by ULV Spray Trucks:

Captiva Island - All of Captiva Island from South Sea's Plantation south to Blind Pass.


Sanibel Island - From Blind Pass south to Belding Dr., avoiding the Ding Darling NWR.


From the west end of West Gulf Dr. east to Casa Ybel Rd. including Rabbit Rd. and Tarpon Bay Rd. and the west end of Periwinkle Way.


East end, from Sanibel Lighthouse west to Dixie Beach Blvd. and the west end of Middle Gulf Dr. at Casa Ybel Rd.

This evening we went for a drive.  The clouds looked so pretty that we decided to watch the sunset from the Sanibel Causeway. 

Clouds looking toward the Sanibel Lighthouse.

We stopped on the first island, but as soon as we did, mosquitos started swarming all around us, so we drove on to the next island.

We took the turn around loop, then pulled over for a minute to take a couple photos.

Yes, the little furball went too. :)

A Heron fishing for dinner.

Eating dinner. :) 

It just doesn't get better than this.

Turtle Nest Thursday and Captiva

I know most of you are wondering about bicycle man, and so am I.  Yesterday afternoon, we went to his house, I rang the doorbell several times and then knocked loudly on the door a few times.  There was no answer.  Their car was there and both bicycles.  I don't know if someone could have picked them up and they were gone, or if they just didn't hear me, or simply didn't want to come to the door.  ???

Today, we drove past several times and the trash and recycle containers had been set out by the street.  Now we think he must be ok.  But, that's the only clue.  I'll let you know if I see him.

This morning, just before the sun came up, we drove over to the Sanibel Inn on East Gulf Drive, where we walked out to the beach to check on our sea turtle nest.  It is due to hatch, but since it had been washed over at least twice by high tides, it probably won't hatch.  If not, our Permittee will do a 70 day dig, to check the nest.  He had to dig a nest this morning in zone 1, which is the east end of the island, by the Sanibel Lighthouse.  It had also been washed over and none of those eggs had hatched. :(

As soon as we stepped out of the car, we could hear the shore birds, they were out in full force this morning.

It was a perfect morning to be on the beach.  There was a very cool wind.  I thought maybe the rest of the day would be a little cooler too, but it got up to 91.

Some things just never change. :)

There some small shells, but not interesting looking enough for me to venture very far searching.

Not many people on the beach this morning, as a matter of fact, there doesn't seem to be a lot of people anywhere on the whole island this week. Nice :)

There were more little shells out there, just waiting for someone to grab them with a net.

Keyhole limpet

Top shell

Auger and Button shell

Jingle and an Auger

After checking the nest, we did a bad thing, (An action that yields undesirable results to its subjects); yes, we did. We headed over to the causeway and from there, to McDonalds for breakfast. Not only do we enjoy an Egg McMuffin now and then, but we have a lot of laughs at the same time.  Now, they say laughter is good for your health, so I'm thinking that should even things out.

As we were going off-island, there was a constant line  of traffic coming on.

The grounded sailboat looks like it has tipped a little further over on it's side.  I imagine the tides, coming and going, may be filling it with sand. 

Looks like it's going to be a very costly ordeal to get this boat moved, whether it's done by the owner or Lee County Marine Services.

If a grounded vessel isn't reported by the owner, it is investigated by Lee County Marine Services to find registered owner identification, if an owner is determined, there are usually  charges, penalties, and fines involved.

An abandoned vessel is assessed to determine if it is a navigational or environmental hazard.  If it is a hazard, it is removed as quickly as possible.  It it is not considered hazardous, it may sit for a long time, waiting for funding sources. 

The removal of smaller boats is usually handled by Lee County Marine Services employees.  Larger vessels requiring extensive salvage, material handling, and hazmat containment equipment, are removed by private contractors.  Sometimes vessels sit for a long time, until there are enough in one area to make it worthwhile for a contractor to bid on the job.  

Abandoned vessel removal is very difficult and costly, as an example, in 2008-09, 63 vessels were removed at a cost of $313,132.  Lee County has acquired yearly grants from the West Coast Inland Navigation District and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to help with costs.

When we were leaving McDonalds I noticed the front page of The News-Press. When we got home I read it, thinking there had been a decision whether to open the Fall snook season or not.
 

Snook are among Florida's most popular game fish, which is why many fishermen are disappointed that Snook season has been put on hold.  The reason is because hundreds of thousands of snook died during January's record cold temperatures, when Lee County water temperatures dropped into the mid-40s.  South Florida is as far north as snook can usually survive; adults can die if water temperature drops below 55 degrees.


This fish kill is responsible for a ongoing snook spawning study.   Recent tests off North Captiva, show a major decrease in the amount of adult snook in spawning areas.


Due to the fish kill, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has prohibited the harvest and possession of snook until September 16.  There was a meeting today in Pensacola to study the research and make a decision whether to open the Fall harvest. There was a unanimous vote to extend the snook-harvest closure for Gulf of Mexico waters until Sept. 1, 2011, but to open the east coast from Sept. 17 to Dec. 14. The Atlantic Ocean waters will then be closed until Sept. 1. Catch-and-release will be allowed during the closure.


This afternoon we had to go to Bailey's Hardware, then somehow we ended up going for a ride out to Captiva.  When we passed through the village, I noticed all of the inflatable water toys that were hanging on the front of a little shop, aptly named Beach Stuff.  We stopped because I saw a small boat that looked like a perfect toy for little great grandson.  It had holes for his legs to go through so he can kick his feet. :)  That made the trip worthwhile.

On the way back we stopped at Blind Pass and walked out to Turner Beach.  There were a few people around, not much shelling going on. 

Now here's a common site for the area; a half dozen fishing rods, beach chairs and towels in the back and flip flops on the ground.

It was unusual to see no beach bums or umbrellas over on the Sanibel side of the pass.

It was really hot there, so we stopped at the Santiva General Store for a cold drink, which is a fun place to go and a nice finish to a pleasant day.