A mile or so South along Gulf Drive on Anna Maria Island is a stretch of beach chosen by The Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) as a nesting site. They lay their eggs in depressions they make in the sand.
It is quite a busy place with constant squawking as adult birds come and go in a constant effort to supply the chicks with small fish.
There are many shore birds who lay their eggs right out in the open. I have even seen small shore birds with eggs right in the middle of railroad tracks.
The chicks seem very vulnerable out on the sand and their first instinct is to hunker down and hide. The parent birds will aggressively defend them if you approach to closely.
There are casualties but they are far outweighed by the numbers that will survive.
This colony has grow over the last few years.
It is a delight to see them on the beach and observe their behavior!
We are at the half way day here at the beach. I feel so clean and brown like a fresh baked dinner roll.
This morning's swim included a visit from a lonely manatee who allowed me scratch it's back before continuing north to parts unknown. Always a joy to have one of God's creatures acknowledge my time on the planet with them.
The wild life is thriving around here. There are so many skimmer chick's the dead ones are out numbered 20 to 1.
Being here makes me think of all the people I have shared this time in history with these few decades. I have been blessed with so many souls to love over the years. I pray they simply walk in the Word and spare themselves any messes that are so easily made when we carelessly feed our lusts.
Psalms 119:105-106 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
Every year for many many years our family spends a week at the beach. This all started with a rare lapse in judgment by my father. Timeshares are a scam but if you keep them for over 20 years you break even. You pay a considerable amount of money to purchase the week you will stay followed by years of ever increasing maintenance fees. You may sell your week but two thousand dollars go back to the originators of the scheme off the top.
Anyhow over the years we have enjoyed our little room at the beach over the years and this year was no exception. After a few years family started to take notice and one after another began purchasing units at the resort. Now every year is like a little family reunion.
This is a five generation image. The old fellow on the left is my granddad who started it all. He is man who loves Jesus.
Every morning he and his wife sit by the shore having their coffee and watching the world go by! They stay two weeks.
On our last day this year I had a great photo opportunity! A Yellow Crowned Night Heron had attempted to make a meal of a Ghost Crab but the crab had turned the tables.
There is so much to see as you beachcomb. This year tropical storm Debby reclaimed much of the beach but this produced little tide pools. There was just enough left for sun bathing and when the tide was low the sand bar 40 yard form the beach was great for standing out in the water!
The water was clear cool and colorful with sand dollars 25 feet down. My favorite thing to do is to swim lazily up and down the shore over the sand bar looking for sand dollars while the Jack Mackerel circle me in the water!
We live in such a beautiful part of the world and thanks to God we have the freedom to appreciate it. Never take our liberty for granted and always remember it is because we are a country who's laws are based in God's Word that we have the peace and prosperity we enjoy!
Today finds our heros on Anna Maria Island where they have cooked up one crackin good mission. Having scouted the area the previous day the team knows there are many fine sea urchins in the area. What if we collect as many as we can fit into this plastic button and tote them to the beach for a few pictures! Your on !
Having easily accomplished their mission we see a bucket full of urchins resting solidly on the sand.
There are two distinct types and many color variations.
