Rays in Eastern Lake outlet

Green with envy. I walk by there almost daily and rarely see anything moving around, unless it's open and critters are getting washed out.

I was walking by the Eastern Lake outlet today, and I saw two small rays in the outlet, which is not open to the Gulf right now. I guess they have been in there since the last time it opened up. One of them came right up to the edge of the water and looked at me. I swear, I could read its mind. WTF? Can I go home now? :shock:
Then a shadow caught my attention, and I looked up. A hawk was circling the dunes. Such a pretty day there today.

We had the same happen to us. Pretty cool. I have pictures. I need to find them. I didn't know until 4 years ago that some rays are both freshwater and ocean water dwellers.

We had the same happen to us. Pretty cool. I have pictures. I need to find them. I didn't know until 4 years ago that some rays are both freshwater and ocean water dwellers.

Post pics please. That is so cool.

Wish I could have seen this.

I hear they are actually quite tasty

Post pics please. That is so cool.

Finally found it.

I hear they are actually quite tasty

:shock:

Finally found it.

I hear that Rays make good dinner for Hawks.

I didn't see any Rays today, but I did see a small shark swim right up to the beach around sunset. A guy had just packed up his fishing gear from that very spot. He was going out in the water to cast past the sandbar, then come back in to wait from shore. They caught a Lady Fish, and maybe the shark was still picking up on a little blood in the water. Couldn't tell what kind it was, but it was maybe only 5-6 ft long, judging my the distance between the fins. No pics, as the shark was gone before I got my camera out of my pocket.

rays

It is always very cool to see ocean life when you least expect it. Here is a small leopard ray (that I have never seen before) that we found while snorkeling on the 2nd sandbar last summer! It was a cute little guy. I brought him in to show people on the beach and released him back.

Anybody else ever seen one of these?

Don't forget that, as beautiful as rays are, they will sting (or whatever it is they do to you when you step on them) the living snot out of you if they feel threatened. It hasn't happened to me personally, but it has to a friend of mine, in the bay. He likened it to stepping into a pile of white-hot charcoal, having it run up your leg, and not being able to get out. Be careful, and keep the kids and pets away!

It is true that stingrays sting, but not all rays sting or have the ability to. It is definitely very smart to "shuffle" your feet while walking in areas that rays may be prevalent so to scare them away before you step down on them! I feel sorry for your friend who got stung, and hope I never do, but it doesn't keep me out of the water!;-)

I'd watch out since they have recently been stabbing people in the hearts or flying out of the water to get folks. ;-)

It is always very cool to see ocean life when you least expect it. Here is a small leopard ray (that I have never seen before) that we found while snorkeling on the 2nd sandbar last summer! It was a cute little guy. I brought him in to show people on the beach and released him back.

Anybody else ever seen one of these?

This tiny leopard ray is cute. I've had a large sting ray come up out of the sand about 3 feet in front of me and swim out into the gulf at Shell Island a few years back.

At Stingray City off Grand Cayman, I was actually talked into/forced into the water with stingrays. It was weird. My older brother was dumb enough to pick them up out of the water to see their mouths. I lasted about 10 minutes and shuffled my tooshie back into the boat. Never again and that was 15 years ago.

OMG!! That's my OTHER favorite picture!!!

Awesome.

These picture are so incredible Kurt, thank you! Can I find these on your link? I don't remember seeing them before.

Thanks!

http://www.sowal.com/photos-101005.html

always enjoy looking at the photos.
the dog picture is grayt.