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. 

Rialto Beach, La Push, Mora Campground

After we settled down in our new Mora Campground spot, we took the short 5 minute drive to Rialto Beach.  This is a favorite for those who wish to tent/backpack camp along the beach here in Olympic National Park.

Those type of campers head north, because to the south is La Push, and that is part of the Quileute Nation, the Quileute Indian Tribe. 

Although there are many nice rock features out in the ocean and some along the beach during low tide…there is also a bunch, and I mean a bunch, of huge piles of driftwood logs piled up along the top of the beach.

This is a crowd favorite, the hole-in-the-wall which, as it is shown here, very accessible during low tide.  During high tide, especially with high surf, you are going to get a bit wet.

Our next stop was just across the Quillayute River (above) to La Push, which is a 12 mile, 20+ minute drive to the east, south, and back to the west…unless one wants to swim.    (do you know how cold that water is?)  

Anyway, just a short distance from Rialto Beach on our way over there we came to a turnout where one could see the Quillayute River…and we stopped…and something caught my eye out in the river. 

Three Otters!  They were just playing and playing and bothering the ducks, and having a ball.  I guess someone forgot to tell them how cold the water was.

After we went over to La Push, we came back to the turnout and I was able to get some shots of the ducks…but the otters were no where to be seen.

   

Both Marcia and I captured this Blue Heron flying across the river.  I thought since we both got it, I would use both shots.  On our way back to the campground there is a small pond to the north of the road and I saw a beaver swimming in the water…but before we could get the camera out, he went under and was gone.   

Over in La Push we didn’t know what to expect…and what we found was a fairly clean city, some older homes, a few restaurants, a marina, and gorgeous views of the ocean.  This is where the River enters into the Pacific.  The same rock structures we saw at Rialto have a different look and feel from this side of the river.

I am really liking the panoramic feature of the camera…and to capture that bird, yes it is only one bird, and have it turn into three birds is something else.  We really enjoyed the views from La Push, and we are contemplating spending a day or two camping over there near the beach at $40 per night…but they have no openings until Sunday, and just not sure we want to hang around this area that long.

   

Above are two of my favorite shots of the day that I took…both with the older camera too.  We are fortunate to have two good cameras.

Marcia was so impressed with this area, she got out of the car and walked on rocky/grass to take a few shots too.  Here she got one looking over the River at the Rialto Beach area, capturing the clouds which hung over the inland just 10 miles or so in.  Early when we arrived at Mora Campground, she said, “If the sun does not shine today, you might not live another day…”, or something like that.  When we were traveling along the Oregon coast back in 2012 she was going nuts after a week plus of no sunlight. 

   

I think we could have stayed there along the beach parking lot for the entire day…except there were a bunch of people around.  So back to the campground we went.  But I would be amiss if I did not talk a bit about the Quileute Indian Tribe.  The Quileute are a Native American people who number around 2,000 people.  They settled this area, where their reservation is located, after a treaty signed in 1855.  Under 400 Quileute live on the reservation today.  In years past, they were great whalers, and great fishermen.  Fictionalized version of the tribe is featured in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. Members of the Quileute tribe are shape-shifters (mainly wolves) and hate the vampires.  Meyer’s books are centered on the town of Forks Washington, which is very close to where we are.  Told much in real Quileute folklore, the Quileutes descended from wolves…hence Meyer’s use of them shape-shifting into wolves.  From our brief encounter with them, they are a proud and happy people, they have a good tourist industry, and lovely area to live.

   

The Mora Campground is another no reservation, dry camping area in Olympic National Park.  The sites are nice, but unlike yesterday, we are back amongst the “group camping” thing.  There are 5 different loops, we are in loop C.  We got here so early that we had a hard time to find a spot…but by the time we got back from our trip over to La Push, there were only 2 camping spots open in the entire park, one across from us now being used by a motorcyclist from San Francisco, and one down the way which was gobbled up by one of two cars which passed by as this guy was checking in…this was around 4 pm.  So you have to be quick and on top of things if you want to get into these parks along the coast.

 

 

These two panoramic shots show how we are up against a wall of forest, and open to a lot of road, people and noise.  But hey, it could be way worse…you got to love these National Park Camping Sites.

I realized with the change to August I had forgot to put the pink ribbon on the pictures…sorry mom, but we still love you.  See you in a few weeks.