Holding steady in the summer heat with all our friends

 Snowy Egret, holding steady in the sea. Coquina Beach, July 4, 2022

We headed to the beach early enough that it only took @6 minutes from Wildewood to see the rising sun's exquisite light play in the sea. 

Waves coming and going.

Like this Black-Crowned Night Heron. Landed on the Woodlawn side.

Then turned around and flew off!

That quick peek was the opposite of this nursery of raccoon kits. Four of them watched us watch them with equal curiosity. We were looking from inside our place. 

Then they dispersed. It felt like Where's Waldo? trying to find them. (Their nest is high in the Laurel Oak tree. A squirrel nest is on the opposite side of the tree.)

Marc Holtsberg said he was at the Springlakes pool when this male Pileated Woodpecker lit nearby. 

A juvenile Yellow-Crowned Night Heron visited Deb Coomer.

The Zinnia I planted a few springs ago said on its container that they could grow to 4 feet. They are that tall! I only planted a few. They self-seed. Plus birds eat and disperse their seeds, so there are now some along the pond edge.

Summer rains bring rainbows. Have you ever thought about what makes a rainbow? Just right atmosphere, amount of light and water, temperature? It appears, but it's intangible. As soon as one of the factors contributing to it is missing, the rainbow disappears.  

Last and important.

Summer also includes a family of Coyote nearby. (I've written about coyote HERE). Neighbors report 3 very active, cute cubs. BUT, we need your help to keep a safe environment for our residents, pets, and wildlife. How to help? It is so important that you do not feed any wildlife. No bird seed. No bird feeders. No feeding peanuts to squirrels. If you eat lunch on your front garden, patio, or courtyard, double check that no food is outdoors. Please tell your neighbors nearby and in other villages.

Additional help:

Wash your recycling materials before placing them in the bin. (This is required by the County, too.) 

No containers with food waste in recycling bins.

PS Our WS2A Board and HOA will share care and guidance information regarding Coyotes with residents and other HOAs. 

Manatee County under a tropical storm watch this weekend

Florida long-timers take note of early and late season storms. So we're staying tuned to the depression in the Gulf. Though the storm at this point looks like it might be a light rain and wind event for our area, it's a good time to get our plan set for the season. 

So, here is hurricane prep information from a former post. Same guidance, new year. 

These websites are helpful:

Tropical Tidbits

Mike's Weather Page (a longtime, local community member) Here's a post from about 9:30 pm TH evening.

Look at the sidebar of this website for many more weather website resources.

We're asked to use our HOA WW2A Rules and Regulations Guidelines to prepare our condo for our time away. Look for helpful contact information in the booklet.

Other Wildewood Springs I has their own HOA guidance. 

Now we know why we're asked to secure loose objects before storms (or when leaving for the season). From the recent disaster planning guide, "Clear your yard of lawn furniture, potted plants, and other objects that can become potential airborne missiles." Tampa Bay Disaster Planning Guide.

I wonder where birds like this Spoonbill Roseate and Tri-Colored Heron find refuge in storms. This article has information about what birds do in storms.

And then, what about the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron fledglings who have begun branching? (Marc Holtsberg took these wonderful photos.)

Annoyed and annoying birds, an example

American Fish Crows, Great Blue Heron, Thursday, May 19, 2022

I didn't see the cause of the commotion, but two fish crows dove-bombed a Great Blue Heron for about a half hour. Raucous and determined, the message was probably about staying away from their nest. These majestic herons are known to eat the eggs of other birds.

I have read that sometimes crows will harass a Great Blue to cause a release of a caught fish. But, there are two crow nests nearby, so it was probably about protection. They were so loud that a raccoon came out to see what was happening.

This post is a reminder that birds continue to nest in Wildewood Springs. Marc Holtsberg photographed a female Wood Duck returning to one of the nesting boxes in Springlakes. 

A chilly day , nestled birds - and Marc's photos

Great Egret, breeding plumage, Saturday, January 29, 2022. 

Just before sunset, I stepped outside. I noticed a Great Egret in breeding plumage nestled in the foliage next to the pond. It's chilly. Tonight will be one of the cooler nights according to Dark Sky. 

I walked toward the pollinator garden and saw these two, a Wood Stork and another Great Egret also in breeding plumage. I wondered if it was the other's parter.

Marc Holtsberg had a fascinating birding day, too. He photographed, Great Horned Owlets in a nearby nest (not in Wildewood Springs). 

This is a pair of Red-Bellied Woodpeckers in Wildewood. Marc said the nest was destroyed in the winds.

I checked the Blue Heron nest today, late afternoon. The herons are probably very low in the nest.

Before I came inside from the backyard, Wood Stork gazed my way. Hello beautiful bird.

Wood Storks like most of the species of storks lack a syrinx, a vocal organ, and so, are mute. They clatter their bills against each other as a mode of communication in their colonies and nests. The clacks sound like this. Chicks though are loud in the nest. Their sound is nasally and sounds like a braying donkey.

Eagles nesting in Wildewood? Marc's photographs.

Marc Holtsberg photographed an Eagle landing on top of a Norfolk Pine tree near the big pond this past week. Then he noticed that there were two.

If this is their nest, this is what we will not see - the downy chicks - until they old enough to lift up above the nest. Maybe Marc will get a photograph for us when that happens. Photographs of juvenile Eagles in Wildewood from past years here.

Marc Holtsberg installs a Barn Owl Nesting Box in Springlakes

Lucky us!

Marc Holtsberg installed a Barn Owl Nesting box in what looks like a perfect location - shade and protected from wind, the box opening faces wide open space. The nearby trees will give fledglings a place to perch to practice hunting. What will they hunt? Vermin. (I hope that feral cats and raccoons will obey the posted "no trespassing" sign : ))

Wondering which owl is the Barn? Normally exclusively nocturnal, I photographed this owl in the Gainsville, FL area. Listen for their call, it's distinct: not a typical hoot, rather a raspy, sorta screechy hiss. Read more at the Cornell Bird website.

Here is an 8-minute video to learn more. Marc says, "Let's hope an owl finds it." He'll let us know.

Earth Day, many of us looking out and up

Great Egret, 4.22.20. Earth Day. (SM Barrett)

"It is in you that you must look, not around you." – Eugene Delacroix. 

This quote is good guidance for Earth Day. I'm encouraged to explore my habits and see if they align with what I care about. I found it in award-winning scientist and brilliant teacher Hope Jahren's book, The Story of More. The book's message is to "use less, share more."

Such noticing. Marc Holtsberg took his camera on an early walk. Look what he saw. A pair of Osprey, likely from a neighborhood nest. (Marc's photograph)

Playful rascals - American River Otters. (Marc's photograph.)

Marc said that this family of 12 (!) departed the nest recently. (Marc's photograph.)

And, one of my favorite birds! A Limpkin. (If you haven't heard its call, you can find it in this link to All About Birds.) You'll never forget it. Thank you, Marc, for this photograph, especially.

From Wild Palm neighbor, Sandy, an invite to a Barred Owl cam. This is the type of family we hope finds our recently installed nesting box!

Pineneedle neighbor Walter Goodrich photographed from his window this American Bald Eagle cleaning up the leftovers of a too-much-fish-for-an Anhinga:

Here are some recent sights that caught my attention.

Has anyone else noticed how active the ducks are right now? This Mallard hen kept 3 males fast-waddling behind her, jumping, flying in circles, heading off into the Wedelia (laying eggs or what comes before?) She was vociferous!

A Red-Eared Slider Turtle took notice of the commotion.

This female Pileated Woodpecker checked out a Laurel Oak and maybe this Dendrobium Orchid. They are pretty delicious. (The orchid!) Have you tried one? Pineneedle's Grounds Committee has placed 35 orchids onto mostly oak trees for viewing, not eating.

(Yes, you can eat orchids and other flowers. Like Nasturtiums. Here is a photo of our dinner salad, nasturtium flower and leaves from our neighborhood Butterfly Garden.)

Here she is a few minutes later pausing in the Southern Live Oak behind Rosalie, Pat, and Betsy and Jim's. Let her inspire us to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in an Audubon Certified Wildlife area.

A Green Heron pair continues to nest. This is one of the two. Look for their activity at dusk.

Moonflower vine is one of the lovelies along Wildewood's border on 34th. I took this photo of a partly-prepared-for-weather blossom under the dim light of a soon-to-burst bluster of rain. Like sails unfurled it reminds me of a memorable wordless sail with a girlfriend in a boat her husband built.

Rounding the curve to our home, this airplane contrail (is that what you think this is?) seemed to be pointing out Wildewood, a wonderful place in the world.

UPDATE: Marc Holtsberg says that the contrail is from the rocket launch from Cape Canaveral yesterday afternoon. See the launch replay HERE.

Note - All photographs by others on Wildewood Wonders belong to the photographer named. Posted here with permission.