Almost every morning I'm out for a long walk. And most mornings, I see some interesting critter. So, I'll try - no promises - to get some photos and post a note when I do. It won't be every day, but I'll try to do it regularly for a while. Here's today's report:
Just off the beach at Ramsgate at about 7:00 AM there was a single dolphin making its way westward. I don't see them there many mornings, more in the afternoon. Pretty soon, there was a silvery fish about 10" long jumping out of the water, trying to escape. After a while, more fish and probably 3 or 4 more dolphins. The dolphins worked the school of fish for about 5 minutes. I'd guess at that point they had either eaten most of them or broken up the school, because after that I didn't see either again. Sorry, no photos. They were too far out for the simple zoom on my pocket camera.
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Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
Oh, I will love this daily critter report. 
I am a critter lover from way back. 
I am a critter lover from way back. 
Beach Fanatic
I always thought and still think that early morning is the best time to walk the beach and look for critters. I keep trying to get the wife to walk with me but she thinks it is too early. This year I took my brother and sister in law for a couple of walks and they could not believe the sights. They thought I was always pulling their chains on what I saw.
Beach FanaticAuthor
The dolphins were back feeding again yesterday. They were just a couple of hundred yards east, off the tip of Eastern Lake.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Here's a Monarch. It would spread its wings and I would press the "shutter" button, but by the time my digital camera could actually fire, it would be closed again. I've got 4 shots just like this one.
Skunky
Just a moment ago I spotted a Homo sapien encouraging his Canis familiaris to poop on my yard
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
Just a moment ago I spotted a Homo sapien encouraging his Canis familiaris to poop on my yard
:funn:
Beach FanaticAuthor
Just a moment ago I spotted a Homo sapien encouraging his Canis familiaris to poop on my yard
Veteran trackers can identify a species by its spoor. Did you examine it?
Meow
Just a moment ago I spotted a Homo sapien encouraging his Canis familiaris to poop on my yard
:funn:
Beach FanaticAuthor
I saw these birds Saturday morning. I've tried in vain to identify them in my Audubon guide, but I believe they are both some type of sandpiper. Does anyone know?
The larger one kept working that hole until it retrieved the ghost crab that was down there. It then took it out to the gulf and rinsed off the sand before swallowing it.
Notice that one of the littler ones only has one leg.
The larger one kept working that hole until it retrieved the ghost crab that was down there. It then took it out to the gulf and rinsed off the sand before swallowing it.
Notice that one of the littler ones only has one leg.
Edited
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
I saw these birds Saturday morning. I've tried in vain to identify them in my Audubon guide, but I believe they are both some type of sandpiper. Does anyone know?
The larger one kept working that hole until it retrieved the ghost crab that was down there. It then took it out to the gulf and rinsed off the sand before swallowing it.
Notice that one of the littler ones only has one leg.
I was told by a very reliable source they are Sanderlings...There is a great picture in my album that I took of one in September!!!
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
Oh, btw...I love this thread. 
bean
I love the critter reports too! Looking forward to more...
Looking forward to more...Beach FanaticAuthor
OK, from my Audubon guide, I thought the little ones were Sanderlings. But the big one is a different bird, nearly twice the size and with a proportionately longer beak. From all the sandpiper pix I've pored over, I think it is also a member of that family, but I don't know which one...
Beach FanaticAuthor
These ghost crab burrows are under the trash bag at the Ramsgate walkover. There are a couple at the Eastern Lake walkover, too, also under the trash bag. The crabs are pretty elusive - I've only seen one of them, but you can clearly see their tracks in the photo.
Beach FanaticAuthor
It's a couple of days old now, but here's an anole in the pine tree in my yard. I like the all-green photo.
SoWal Expert
bean
I like green...green is the new black ya know. ;-)
Beach Fanatic
My daughter and her friend caught 2 big toads and 3 green anoles today. As I type this, we have one great big raccoon wandering along the edge of our pond.
But I don't have pictures of any of this to share.
But I don't have pictures of any of this to share.
Beach Fanatic
I that shade of green. Nice pix. I never knew those were anoles. Thanks. Sowal learned me sumpin' again.
that shade of green. Nice pix. I never knew those were anoles. Thanks. Sowal learned me sumpin' again. 
SoWal Insider
Robin taking a bird bath.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Here's another of the larger sandpipers from my Oct. 16 post. I believe this is a Willet. Can anybody confirm?
For the last two mornings, there have been about a hundred ducks in Eastern Lake. My "Audubon Field Guide to Florida" is about to go in the trash, 'cause this is yet another bird it doesn't identify.
They are really dark, nearly black, with an even blacker head and neck. Dark tan bill of medium length. They are feeding both by dabbling in the water and by diving. I wasn't close enough to see what they were eating.
For the last two mornings, there have been about a hundred ducks in Eastern Lake. My "Audubon Field Guide to Florida" is about to go in the trash, 'cause this is yet another bird it doesn't identify.
They are really dark, nearly black, with an even blacker head and neck. Dark tan bill of medium length. They are feeding both by dabbling in the water and by diving. I wasn't close enough to see what they were eating.
Beach Fanatic
My "Audubon Field Guide to Florida" is about to go in the trash, 'cause this is yet another bird it doesn't identify.That is because they are migrating birds not native to Florida. From your description and from what I can see in the pic, they appear to be "?? winged teals"
Edited
Beach FanaticAuthor
That is because they are migrating birds not native to Florida. From your description and from what I can see in the pic, they appear to be "?? winged teals"
I guess I gotta get a camera with a stronger zoom. It's hard to get a decent pic of a bird that isn't close enough to eat out of my hand.
The photos I've seen of green-winged and blue-winged teals show some white. These ducks don't have any.
OK, I don't think it's an American Black Duck. The photos of them online show a head and neck slightly lighter than the body. These are darker.
I'll keep trying.
Beach Fanatic
I saw these birds Saturday morning. I've tried in vain to identify them in my Audubon guide, but I believe they are both some type of sandpiper. Does anyone know?
The larger one kept working that hole until it retrieved the ghost crab that was down there. It then took it out to the gulf and rinsed off the sand before swallowing it.
Notice that one of the littler ones only has one leg.
They actually have two legs but keep one close to the body..have no clue why but have seen them release the other leg showing both legs...LOVE this thread!!
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