Snowbirds

“Snowbirds: A seasonal infestation of Yankees (as well as Midwesterners and Canadians) in sunny warm states in the South such as Florida. A snowbird is an elderly Yankee that migrates down to the South to winter when their natural habitat of New York, Ohio, or Michigan is too cold for them. Their migration begins in early September and lasts until April.”  (urbandictionary.com)

Urban dictionary sure does have a way with defining terms! Last December, my Godparents partook in their first migration south, Brandon, Florida to be exact. Apparently 30+ winters in Green Bay, Wisconsin was enough for this newly retired couple. Thanks to the 2014 polar vortex, I finally talked myself into visiting them before my new job starts. I plan to be back home Friday night or Saturday morning and I have to report for my first day of work bright and early on Sunday. 3 days from now, I'm hoping I have enough will power to leave this 70+ degree weather and head back to the snowy Midwest!!!

Brandon is a nicely located city with amazing attractions roughly an hour drive in all directions. The first item on my "Fun in Florida" list was manatee viewing, so we hopped into the van and headed to Apollo Beach. I saw a dozen or so manatees off in the distance. Shortly before the park closed, a manatee decided to bless us with its presence in the shallows near the shore. I also spotted a green heron near the shore waiting patiently for fish to swim over to it.

After that, we hopped back into the van, drove across Sunshine Skyway Bridge (the bridge in the photo behind the old people) and ended up following some street signs that lead us to Fort Desoto Park. While beach combing, we found some interesting finds.

Whelk egg case

Internally fertilized eggs are surrounded by a transparent mass of albumen, a gel-like material, and are laid in protective flat, rounded egg capsules joined to form a paper-like chain of egg cases, commonly called a "Mermaid's Necklace".

American Oystercatcher

With its highly contrasting dark and white plumage, it is among the largest of North American shorebirds, measuring up to 18 inches in length, and weighing 21 ounces, with a 32-inch wingspan.

Brown Spiny Sea Star

Can often be found in the open because it seeks light. Commonly found in South and West Florida and Alabama.

A blob...

Not quite sure what this is. I'm thinking it is mesoglea, the layer of gelatinous material that separates the inner and outer cell layers of jelly like critters

On the north beach, the crashing waves left a rippled effect on the sand. Other than my time spent in the desert, I've never seen rippled sand like this before.