Bird-Nerding at Bunche

 Team Cheri decided to go to the Mud Flats at Bunche Beach for morning low tide....Cheri brought her camera and of course I had to bring a shell bag or two! One of the first things we saw was a live Lightning Whelk, which is fairly unusual in these parts...But a pleasure to see anywhere!!

As usual there was lots of live stuff out there! Live Cockles....

...and these HUGE live Fighting Conchs....we are not sure they are actually Florida Fighting Conchs since they are so much larger....

There were enthusiastic stone crabs...

I believe this is a tiny Purse crab...

There were a few Live Kings Crowns...

These Crowns were having a convention!!

I'm not sure if this was live or not, but it was very interesting!!! 

Something else that was interesting was the patterns in the water, I'm not sure if this is the natural Tannin that caused this or what, but this pattern was all over the place, it would change as you walked through it...it was very unusual.

...and the birds...so many different ones...There were Pelicans and Sanderlings...

Ibis, Egrets, & Herons...

The Majestic Great Blue Heron watched over them all!

One of the highlights of the day for me was my first Rosette Spoonbill in person!! The color was just beautiful, the picture doesn't do it justice!

and the bird prints were everywhere...so cool!! Big ones....

Little ones....

by the billions!!! ;)

and who wouldn't enjoy the Reddish Egret Dance?!! I love watching these guys!

In the middle of all of this I did pick up a few treasures also!!!

Sunray Venus, and Angel Wing, 2 Pear Whelks, Lots of Kings Crowns and Rose Tellins and a few Worm shells and Melampus!

Bunche Beach is always an adventure!!! Stay tuned!!

::Shelllady Hugs::

Walkin' with the Willets

 It's time once again for some Beach Therapy! I decided I would do better at getting out early for the sunrises...AND hopefully catch some sunsets also! 

Cheri and I have already started our walk and talk, and this evening the dolphin were slowly feeding....so fun to watch!

I even caught a tail flip!! This was all in slow motion, and so graceful!!

a couple of times!!

The Reddish and Snowy Egret stood back and just watched!!

The sky was beautiful and so calming....just what I needed!!

I enjoyed it so much I got up early the next morning to head back to the lighthouse....

Of course, the tides are the driving force, the lowest tides are in the morning, and as we approach the time change, that is still dark....for now.

 I was greeted with smiles, and lots of life....Like these Live Calico Scallops...notice the rows of 'eyes' along the bottom of his shell....

The tidal pools were out, and I think that is my favorite type of shelling.....

There were little areas just filled with Dosinia....I love searching through these areas....

This Blue Crab wasn't as happy to see me, and let me know right away he wanted me to Social Distance!! 

I found a live Atlantic Winged Oyster...

and LOTS of Jellies!

This was beside the tidal pool.....it means the possibility of a complete Alphabet cone....for now, not!

I found this Huge Horse Conch and left him for someone else to enjoy....

He was just under the sand in the tidal pool, as I lifted him out, I saw something orange out of the corner of my eye....I reached back in and found this Beauty!

A deep orange True Tulip! This one I kept!! :)

I did find a nice Angel Wing....

I've seen lots of these Calico Crabs, but I don't remember ever finding one actually in the water, and have wondered if they did go underwater! Here's proof....he was walking around enjoying the tidal pool too....He didn't seem to mind that I was there also!! Love these guys!!

As the sun came up, the birds started appearing....The skimmers were there....I have tried and tried to catch a pic of these guys....and with it being so dark it's nearly impossible!!! Finally got one!!

The bottom of their bill is longer than the top and they fly just off the surface 'skimming' their beak in the water....I think they are just awesome!!! I googled a pic for you to see....

I only see them at sunrise or sunset so it's too dark to get a great pic!! 

As the sun rose, these 3 Willets decided to escort me down the beach....they went up and back with me, either in front of me or beside me the whole time!!

It was pretty cloudy so I didn't get a full sun sunset....this was just as beautiful to me with a little sun peeking through the clouds!

It just don't get no better than That!!!  

Stay tuned!!

::Shelllady Hugs::