There were several small alligators hanging out close to the dock. I didn’t see any big ones but I’m sure the mom was close by.
This deer was right off the boardwalk and I snapped this with my phone.
After walking around Chesnut Park in early January, I stopped by a small park along the water on the way home to see if there were any wintering ducks in the bay. No ducks to be found but this gull had found a piece of a fish in the low tide and was snacking. It was weird that there were several live conch shells on the dead fish.
We had a big storm come through the area on Friday and then next morning I headed out to Fort Desoto. It was low tide and the beach was full of things we don’t see that often. Lots of live shells. We mostly see broken ones.
I think this crab took over this empty conch shell.
This starfish was missing a few limbs.
The beach was full of these. They were all empty though.
Horseshoe crabs were on the beach.
Another critter taking up residence in an empty shell.
The beach was full of the above. Some kind of sea plant? Looks like corn on the cob husks to me.
After two trips to the little lagoon on the Tampa side of Gandy bridge, I finally saw the white-winged scoter. It’s either a female or juvenile. She’s been there for a while, maybe two months. She was sitting on the little sand bar far out in the lagoon.
She got up and walked around for a few minutes. These are extremely cropped and it was raining but hey, at least I can finally add this duck to my list.
I’m not sure what was in this spot many years ago. The lagoon has a concrete wall around it that is falling apart in some places.
The sun was going down quick and the rain had stopped even though it looked like it would start up again.
The scoter got in the water and floated around. She was not going to let me get close.
The shallow area was full of live conch shells.
Taken with my iphone, a view of the bay from this small park.
Last shot before dark.
After a week of pouring rain, I stopped by the tiny park and saw the white-winged scoter. It’s a rare sighting for the Tampa bay area. Did she get lost during spring migration? She didn’t look injured. Will she leave and go south for winter? Everyone here is wondering. It was only a drizzle while I was there but it kept others away so I had the whole place to myself. I should stop here more often after work but the bugs were terrible. Worse than the other parks I walk at after work. Maybe in the winter they won’t be so bad.
