More Birds & Boats

 

Have I ever said that the American Bald Eagle is my favorite bird?  Last summer I placed two decals on our Camper Van, each with a Bald Eagle on them.  Bald Eagles migrate to Florida for the winter, seeking open water and food.  Florida has year-round residents, but the winter months sees an influx of these northern migrants for nesting and feeding, with the Florida breeding season occurring from fall to spring.  I guess experts can tell the difference, but to most of us we have no idea if they live here year around, or if they are just another "Snow Bird".

This tree (above) has had an Eagle's Nest in it for many years.  It has survived hurricane strength winds,  but it always needs adjustments to the nest.  So far this year, I have only seen the one Eagle hanging around...it takes two to make a nest.  Still hoping a "mate" might come along so the nest can be fully utilized.

I see this same eagle flying over the coast between Anclote River Park and Anclote Gulf Park.  Along this mile long stretch of the Gulf of America, it is flying high over the other birds of prey, such as the Osprey the Turkey and Black Vultures.  Normally this nest would already have eggs or hatched eggs in it.  Sad to see it so empty.

Above he/she is in another tree close to the nest.  I wish I could tell the difference between a male and female...females are typically larger than the males.  But with only one hanging around, it is hard to say...my guess is that this is a male though, but I can't tell you exactly why other than saying, "It is a gut feeling...."

 

This is an Osprey's nest...it is a natural nest located in the parking lot of Key Vista Nature Park, another park about a miles driving distance from Anclote Gulf Park, but only 1/2 mile by the way the crow flies.  

This is the same nest, and you can clearly see that there are two Osprey present.  My guess is that there are eggs in the nest, but they have not hatched yet...should be soon though.  The reason I don't think they have hatched is because the Osprey don't seem to be feeding anything in the nest.  Also, once they do hatch, there is a distinct high pitch chirp that the little ones make...I have not heard that sound yet.
 

These Osprey nesting platforms encourage ospreys to nest and raise their young, aiding in population recovery efforts.  They keep the Osprey safe from sites like dead trees, which might be vulnerable to collapse, or hazardous man-made structures like active power poles. Like the Bald Eagle, the Osprey have a migration population, and a year-around population too.  The above nest, by-the-way, has had two adult birds in it, I just have not got a picture of both in there at the same time.  There are MANY Osprey nest, either on a platform or in a tree, all over Florida.  Every day I take Indy for a ride.  We drive between 8 to 14 miles...when it is 14 miles we visit four county parks along the Gulf of America.  There are COUNTLESS numbers of Osprey nests along this route.  Interesting note:  Florida is home to one of the largest osprey populations in the United States. Approximately 20% of the U.S. osprey population (excluding Alaska) nests in Florida.

        

 Great Blue Heron (left) and Wood Stork (right)

Along our route as we near home, we typically stop at the Public Library.  This time of year, there are many birds, such as these two above.  Now and then we will see an Osprey dive into the pond and grab a fish.  It is not unusual to hear of cars being hit by fish dropped by Osprey.  Once dropped, the fish becomes food for the seagulls and the large black birds.

 

 

At Anclote River Park, there are many boats that are anchored near the boat launching area, and along the river up-stream towards Tarpon Springs (the last one above is a boat that is anchored in the river, Tarpon Springs is located up river, which is to the left in this picture with the Sponge Docks about 2 miles away from this point.)  As long as the boats are not anchored in the river waterway, or too close to the docks, then there is no time limit and no docking fees.  Some of the boats seem to be there long term, others come and go.  A few of the "come and go" type seem to have people living on the boat, and they have skiffs that will take them from their ship to the shore.  There is a limit how long a skiff can be tied up to the docks.  

 

Above is another boat anchored along the river.  But behind it you can see some homes...which have there own set of docks with boats docked there.  There is well over a thousand properties in Pasco County which have private docks on them, while Pinellas County (think Clearwater to the far south to Tarpon Springs to the north end of the county) has nearly 15,000 private boat docks.  These homes in the picture are in Tarpon Springs, and are valued in the $800,000 to $3 million dollar range.  (Here is a random one found on Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2053-N-Pointe-Alexis-Dr-Tarpon-Springs-FL-34689/46960384_zpid/)  

     

Boaters returning from an outing on the Gulf...or perhaps travelers headed for a short stay in Tarpon Springs???  You never know...except the boat on the left was docked on the north side of the river in the Sponge Docks area when I drove through there the next day. 

These last five are the more typical fishing boats.  Some days, especially weekends, the parking for vehicles with boat trailers at the park is around 90 spots on asphalt, and another 50 or so on grass...I have seen where all the asphalt spots are taken...at $10 per day per spot, although you can buy a yearly pass.  You cannot park all night and stay in your vehicle, but I am sure some do.

We have had seasonal/typical winter weather.  Tonight will be in the upper 30's, with temps in the 50's tomorrow.  By Thursday we will be back in the 50's at night, and in the low 70's during the day.  Today, due to the cold, there were only a handful of boat trailers parked, and only one boater pulling out of the water, while we drove through.  I expect the same for the next few days, but with temps in the 70's next weekend, I am sure things will pick back up. 

Nearly a Month at Huntley Park, LOVING IT!

At Huntley Park, Gold Beach Oregon

We have been in Oregon for 40 days now, and here at Huntley Park for 4 weeks this Tuesday.  40 days, and we had rain for part of one day, overcast two days, early morning fog about 8 days (burned off by 9 am) , and we ran the A/C one day for 3 hours while at Loeb State Park.  To say the weather has been near perfect would be an understatement.

This afternoon I FINALLY got a few pictures of the Bald Eagle which has occasionally been traveling up and down the Rogue River.  Today it landed across the river from us, and I got the camera.  For the next 90 minutes it did not fly anywhere, but was keeping a sharp eye on the river, and the Osprey were keeping a sharp eye on the Eagle, although they did quiet down a bit after about an hour.  Skruffy’s alarm went off on my phone reminding me that she needed to have her diabetes test…by the time I got back out the Eagle was gone (Skruffy tested at 88, so she is doing well).  I still have 2 more weeks to try and catch it flying along the river.

So many birds along and in the water…

 

 

Of course, the Osprey are never too far away from the water…always watching, always aware, always sounding an alarm when an intruder, such as the Eagle or Buzzards fly in on their territory.  They work together, helping other Osprey.  I saw one Osprey miss a fish, getting in on a second try, and three Seagulls flew after it trying to steal some food…but other Osprey met the Seagulls head-on, and next thing I knew the Seagulls were headed back to the Ocean.  Just then the Eagle flew in…but being out numbered, it just continued along the river as the Osprey gave their shrilling cry over and over again until the Eagle was out of sight.

Inside the campground there is an abundance of Stellar Jays and Northwestern Crows…both loud, always searching out that camper who leaves food out, or fish guts which have been tossed out along the bank.  Sometimes they can descend upon your “area” and make things a bit noisy for a short while.  I have yet to have been “hit” by their "white debris" as they fly overhead…but we still have a couple more weeks...I might have to invest in a hat.

I took another short excursion along the north side of the river, found a place to turn around and low and behold, there was a young buck and a doe.  Saw the doe first, got a few pictures of her, and then I saw the buck.  Amazing how they blend in unless you really look things over.  Counting the deer we saw on the way to Agness, and on runs back into Gold Beach and back, we have seen around ten deer this year.  Others in the park have seen a few Elk, but we have not had such luck…yet.

For the past three weeks our fishing neighbors have been here in full force.  Our immediate neighbor was here for nearly two weeks, first with his wife, a daughter and two very young grandkids, but five days later the daughter and grandkids left.  A week later, the wife and husband left…but in their place three tents, relatives of some of the other fisherman, moved in for the week.  Today, they all left, all of them...but they left their RVs and their boats, and many will be back Friday. 

I close with this shot of “Libby Pond”, which is a body of water on the other side of the river from us...the north road runs along it. The Libby Pond property is up for sale, including what they call a sportsman’s hall (no sleeping, just a large hall includes a kitchen).  The entire property is 184 acres, and the asking price is just under $900K…just in case anyone is interested.