After the Storm

After the storm had gone, the beach returned to normal, though not so wide, and with lasting effects to be felt long after the storm, with all our turtle nests having been impacted; to what degree time would tell.

First morning back on the beach with calm once again restored the air, is filled with large Dragonflies as I reach the entrance to the beach.  It looks like a snowstorm of the winged creatures out of a clear sky silhouetted by the sunrise.

The beach was surprisingly un-littered but still some very interesting treasures to find.  There was a wrack line as expected of the dead marsh grasses that was filled with tiny Box Crabs or Marsh Crabs.  The birds lined the whole beach searching for that seldom enjoyed delicacy.  Many pretty shells were scattered around with several early morning beachcombers hunting for treasures, some going away disappointed.  Lots of the shells still had live residents.

Not so many gooey gummy things as usual after a storm.  One very large Moon Jelly the largest I have seen,  Something I had not seen is "Sea Pork" which is very gristly and firm; I wasn't quite sure if it was animal or vegetable.  It is actually a colony of tiny turicate animals known as zooids.  I added it to my collection of living things to take to Kayak Amelia.  I took the Yellow Sea Whip also, which, when I checked in this week, did not survive very long.  Jody at Kayak Amelia feels that if something doesn't survive it becomes food for the others.  It looked like it had collected a bunch of trash from the bottom of the Yellow Sea Whip sea, but it was organic, tube worm-like casings, although it did have some monofilament line tangled in its branches.  The Brown Sea Cucumbers can be pretty slimy so I threw it back in the water.  An interesting critter that is used as make shift sandals in some island societies which must brave the sharp corals to catch fish.  By squeezing the Sea Cukes they get the sickly slimy stuff and apply it to the bottom of their feet.  Doesn't hurt the Sea Cukes at all.

Between the molting birds and the Warble infested squirrels, my backyard critters are not very pretty right now.  My squirrel feeder is empty today, so the squirrels have tried all day to get to the bird's feeder outside my window, climbing up the screens and the nearby vines.  This little Wren sitting atop its house is singing the blues I think over his unattractive state.

But back at the beach some of the larger Whelk shells have been pretty.  I like to line flower beds with them.  I stick the pointed end down into the ground that leaves the flower like spiral sticking up. Thankfully I live on an older street with not a single one of the Community Nazi Organizations that seem to love to tell you what you can and can't do at your own house.  One in Chattanooga refused to allow the building of a ramp to enable the wife of one of my old friends, and War Hero and for several years a POW in Vietnam, Roger Ingvalson, to get him from the car to the house after undergoing his dialysis treatments.

A friend around town called me just as I was getting in the car the other morning at 7AM.  She said she had found a "Wash Back" on the beach.  I knew she had read my note on not putting Wash Backs back in the water because they might need some rehabbing if they truly were washbacks.  I was on my way to do Turtle Patrol, I met her since she did not see any local IslandTurtle Patrol folks out.  I told her I would get it where it needed to go.  Once I got it I realized it was probably just a new hatchling that had gotten left behind.  It still had its egg tooth.  I ran into Pat Foster Turley on the beach who writes our local nature column.  I told her to come with me.  She had her own treasures, two Horse Conch's which were alive.  The Conch's went to Kayak Amelia's saltwater aquarium.  As soon as we got our treasures into my holding tank and headed toward the water's edge a beautiful blue Dragonfly flew into the box also.  What a beachcomber's treasure chest of living creatures.

I had never seen one of these beautiful little orange Horse Conchs before.  The Horse Conch is the State Shell for the State of Florida.  They grow to be very large, over 24 inches, but this pretty orange one was very small only about 2 inches.  It will loose its beautiful color as it matures.  It will however retain the bright orange on its body inside the shell. They will only be at the Kayak Amelia Aquarium for a short time.  As they grow up they get too big an appetite to be handled in the aquarium and will be released.

The little one was not super energetic but did make it's way into the water with a little help.

It got tumbled back a few times.

But it kept trying.

Finally it made it into the water and was gone.

This is the highest nest and we are hoping its eggs survived the wash over.  Nest number 18, the one I walked to check during the storm which did not get washed away, obviously had hatched at that time, but since they got washed over two nights in a row all the babies drowned.

I found some Dead Man's Fingers that were actually alive and well.  They were pink in color and were lacy looking.  They found a new home in the Salt Water tank also.

This little unusual colored Dragonfly posed prettily on top of my dead tomato stalk.  This was a dismal summer for my tomatoes.  My crop consisted of one small tomato and about 3 cherry tomatoes.  I guess I must face the facts, I can't grow tomatoes here.  I have tried for years and this was the worst, and the one I had the most hope for, because I was using heirloom seeds from the area.  I don't have enough sun in my mostly shady yard.

Guess I'll just stick to making a Butterfly kingdom instead.  When I went to the Farmer's Market that Saturday.  I was asking about native Butterfly Weed from Reflection of Nature Nursery.  He said he didn't have any but had some fennel which had some Black Swallowtail Cats on them.  So off I go trying to be careful not to dislodge them on the way home.  They were so tiny I would have never spotted them on my own.  I found them to be much more temperamental then the Monarch Cats.  It seems they go through about 4 metamorphosis and shed their outer skin each time.  That must be a very risky time as not all survived, biting the dust at different stages, one when it was almost grown.  It shed its skin and then was just was laying dead the next morning at the bottom of the cage.  But I do have two which have made it to the Chrysalis stage and one more picked up at this Saturday's market almost grown who seems to be healthy.  Pictures will follow as they progress.

The rides get more lonely and not as interesting with very few nests to check.  One morning last week I got to be the only witness as the sub came by just after daybreak.  Some of the men were out on deck.  I waved but they were busy and paid no attention.  You can be sure though, that there is someone watching me, and probably knows my name and social security number.  They are saying, "Oh never mind it's just that ol' turtle lady again.

This is an empty Horse Conch Shell which I found on the beach.  Very thick hard shell on it.  The color still resembles the smaller versions. This one was about 5 inches long.

The Caterpillars have grown and soon would become a Chrysalis.  These have the very unique defense mechanism I found out (Lisa had already warned me).  I moved it from one twig to another because the one it was on had broken in two.  When I touched it these two feathery looking antenna came out of one end and I got sprayed with a fairly stinky substance.  Kind of like having your own tiny pet skunk.

I had not seen the Osprey on the pier before as it flew in without a fish, to sit a while.  The Bald Eagles are also back to harass the Ospreys and try to steal their fish catch.  As Ben Franklin said they are just "Fish Thieves" when he was trying to keep the Eagle from being adopted as our National Symbol and I am beginning to think him right on that point.

I thought this shot really highlighted why this bird is such a good fisherman.  Look at those talons, almost like large fish hooks.  They have a rotating like thumb so they can really hang on and also twist the fish into the most aerodynamically position while in flight.  Large, high resolution eyes also, for spotting the prey from above, even underneath the water.  If you have ever seen how a Flounder blends into his environment from above you will think their vision must really be supernatural.

At low tide, the patterns were quite beautiful and I never tire of them.

Life on the island has certainly settled back into acceptance of what the weather has done as just part of life and life gets back to normal (whatever that is) once again.  The Shrimp Boats are back at work, the turtles are still hatching although not nearly with as much ease with hard packed sand on top of them, and the tourists who were scared when they heard the word "hurricane" have started to trickle back.  The Turtle Trot painting has sold and I received the canvas and stretchers to start another commission piece.  I am finally going to get those Koi's painted.  Life resumes come good or bad, fair weather or foul, we just learn to roll with the tide.

Hello Irene, Goodbye Irene, Goodbye...

WRITTEN THE WEEK AFTER IRENE:
 When we woke up last Monday the weather news was surprising and alarming.  A hurricane named Irene was headed up the East Coast of Florida and it looked like according to the spaggetti models that my bedroom could be in the "eye" of the storm.  Nothing shakes you up more then the fact that you may have to evacuate leaving your home, belongings, and have to make hard decisions on what to take with you and a short time to prepare.  Terrible situation for two first class procrastinators.  As it turned out by Tuesday it was clearly not going to hit here but it could still mean power outages which would require storing up supplies,enough to sustain one for a few days.  Look out Wal-Mart you are going to be busy.

By Wednesday, it seemed like a good idea to take another day off and "go fishing" with my friend Fran.  We thought the possiblity of the weather changes, barometric pressure and all that stuff, might make the fish hungry.  Wrong.  Fran caught one keeper, and I caught an ugly Toad Fish and another too-small-to-keep fish.  I finally got the hook out of this very toady looking fellow and he "bit" me goodby.  Although his teeth were small they were sharp and could put a "startle" in your awareness.

The storm was about midway up the coast of Florida toward us, well off shore, but we knew by the next day we would be getting some more serious effects from it.  Today though was an absolutely beautiful day with a strong breeze and pure blue skies and equally beautiful puffy clouds.  The Osprey from her nearby perch rode the currents above us, as I tried to balance between taking pictures and grabbing the rod when I got a bite which seemed to always happen at the same time.  That could be part of my "low catch" day, but I got some cool photos, (rationale).

Bonnie and Clyde were our ever constant companions.  This set of older Herring Gulls find that waiting on a handout is far easier than diving and hunting the beach for shellfish.  Their patience was rewarded as we had lots of tidbits for them to nibble on until we stopped fishing and gave them the mother lode, enough of our leftover bait to leave them feeling full for a long time.  A few Laughting Gulls also joined into the fray, making you quickly look around to see who the noisy person was with the irritatingly loud laugh standing just behind your back.

Our chosen site was "The Honey Hole" the girl from the week before had recommended.  The surf was much too strong on the ocean side for surf fishing.  The clouds, whether local effects, or from the outer bands of Irene were a wonderful sight.

Take a good look at our beach as we look toward the storm track, because a lot of this part is now under water even at low tide.  A lot of the beach disappeared beneath the high, high tides that would be arriving overnight.

Madam Osprey was the only one of our group to score a good catch as we watch with envy while she tears into her well earned meal.  We had some huge fish jump in front of us which were probably Tarpon.  They were big, as in feet and not inches, if measured.  The dolphins also came almost within touching distance.  Lots of wonderful catches for the eyes and the mind even though all I succeeded in accomplishing was to totally loose 3 fishing rigs, hook line and sinker, by getting snagged on what must be an oyster bed underneath the water near this big post.

By Friday morning Turtle patrol the skies had changed.  The outer bands of Irene were definitely showing up with some bands of rain coming onshore.  I knew when I crossed Eagans Creek to the back of the park and saw how high the tide was I might not be able to make the route for Turtle Patrol.  I had about 30 minutes according to my in-house meteorologist before a band of hard rain would be hitting the island.

This is a picture of the clouds and view toward the Fort as I reached the beach.  Let your eyes flatten the water and keep in mind this photograph was stitched together from several photos.

The wide expanse of beach I had enjoyed the day before had totally disappeared and I knew this was only the beginning of the high water.  I have one turtle nest almost to the point that you can see in the distance.  If I could get close then I could walk on down to check it and then drive in my car to the ocean side to walk in there to check the others most likely in peril.  There was one behind me on top of the escarpment which was high enough to survive if the escarpment itself holds, but that was doubtful.

Using the flat fill sand area I was able to get this far without too much risk of getting stuck in the sand which was becoming softer and softer as I rounded the bend and the water higher and higher.  My feminine ego in a park full of men will not allow me to have to call them and tell them I am stuck in the sand.  I turned the buggy around facing back toward the route I needed to retrace before shutting it off and loosing my forward momentum.  This is minor dune area but now with no real beach left it was beachfront.  I hoofed it the rest of the way.  The nest was still OK, but even though it is overdue, it has shown no signs of hatching.  It is in a sheltered area which doesn't get full sun therefore making it slower to emerge.  By the end of the day it will be underwater.

I had meant to check the front beach where I had two low nests.  One had hatched the day before but according to rules could not be excavating until Sunday.  Right next to that one was the other of the low nests and it was also due to hatch any minute.  By the time I got to the ocean front beach a terrible blinding rain storm hit so I blew it off and drove on out of the park.  After exiting the park I headed toward Main Beach the closest view of the ocean from the car.  I joined the line of other curious residents waiting my turn to snap a photo before another band of rain came in.  Yes the surf was definitely kicking up.

By noon all real threats of downpours seemed to be gone with not that much needed moisture dropped on us.  I closed the gallery for a little while so I could go check out the beach front with the now lower tide.  The surf was rough all the way back with the outside edge of that massive storm visible in the distance as it slowly makes its track to the North.

The nest that had hatched, #22, is now gone and only one stake was left from the other one due to hatch.  The black plastic had held on that one, but #22's was totally gone.  The black screen was to block out the light pollution we are getting from the factory behind the park and Marie had said it worked as all hatchlings seemed to go to the water.  By Sunday there would not be a trace of any of this left with nest 21 and 22 having disappeared beneath the waves.  Although we know the one hatched we will never know about the other one.  The babies should have been hatched but whether they could breathe enough to survive until they were washed out that night or even could have been washed out alive.

Standing near the low tide the seas are to be only enjoyed by the surfers who had been showing up all day.

But the day itself was beautiful and the sun and clouds so bright that it was a good day for grabbing a photo or two on my way back to work.  Beyond the Palmettos and the marsh overlook you can see the smoke stacks from the paper mill which has recently been bought out by Rock Tenn and seems to be causing me my light problems.  I have a feeling the new owners are not aware of what damage lighting can do to our dark park beach.  I believe they must have installed something new over there which is pulling our sea turtles backward away for the water.  We have never had this problem before.

The clouds behind our lighthouse was worthy of a painter's brush with the very painterly clouds framing it in from the back.

As I left work the clouds were so pretty all billiowing and puffy and the sky so blue I started snapping photos by just holding the camera on the steering wheel and clicking away.  I was afraid they would change too much by the time I could find a good spot to actually focus.

Although I couldn't be high enough to get some of the best the view from 10 Acres Club property, where I wasn't sure I wouldn't be arrested since I am no longer a member, but trespassing is sometimes required to get the best shots.

We were an hour from high tide and the view across Egans Creek to the Tiger Point Marina tells me a story I don't want to know.  The water is now almost covering the marsh grasses.  We were heading to the park for a 6:30 (pm) going-away party for one of our rangers.  Everyone was woofing down their meal and saying quick congratulations to Rhonda so they could all head to the beach somewhere to see the power of the water.  We seldom get to see it this way and although it is fearsome is it also a feat of nature that we don't want to miss.  Such power this usually mild mannered neighbor of ours has.

We chose the pier to witness the beach invasion.  The one nest I though would be totally safe was the one high up on top of an escarpment just to the East of the pier.  Although the sticks and the light barrier were holding it was still being washed over by the high tide and still 30 minutes to the highest part.  (-edited to add;  This nest hatched Saturday, and will be excavated Wednesday)

Curiousity seekers with camera filming the surfers were checking out the usually wide front ocean beach.  All the rest of the nests on the upper end of this beach have already hatched.  It's the ones south of the boardwalk which are in question.  The long stretch of beach looks much much shorter in the photo as the signs at the southern boundary of the park catch the low sun.  Half way down to there are the 6 remaining nests in question.  The water has definitely washed over them all even though 4 of them are pretty high.

The water churned over the jetty which is almost buried underneath the water.  I would not want to be in the area near these rocks now, they would definitely whup-up on you.

But the surfers were having a blast.  They were saying the waves were as good as Hawaii, although I don't think they meant the really big ones over on the Northshore, just the regular ones.

I'm not sure how much success you could have on one of these big boards in that kind of water.  I visualize this activity where you stand on the board and paddle yourself around to be done in much more placid waters.

The water on the river is well into the dunes and where I usually ride is somewhere in the right bottom corner of this photograph.

In the distance I can see one stake left sticking up in one of our last found nests.  It did hold and we were able to remark it for future reference.  The eggs may be OK as this was a late one as long as they did not stay underwater without oxygen for too long.  I have seen them hatch many times after being washed over.

As we leave the back of the park at high tide the marsh has disappeared and in its place is a wide lake.  It will certainly have received a good cleaning of old dead plants which will find their way onto the beach in the next day or so in the form of wrack to help rebuild the sands washed away.  It is really a miraculous process the way the beach can heal its wounds.  Some people need to learn the lesson that being scared and wounded doesn't have to be permanant.  The sand will rebuild, sometimes with the aid of the renourishment process but mostly by itself it will rebuild during much gentler tides which will carry the sand in and not away.

The sun set over a very exciting and anxious day on the island.  Another day of extremely high tides and we will be back to normal and can access the damage to our bountiful Turtle Season.   We will be happy to say Goodbye to this lady who so roughly breezed by and left her callng card.  Not a nice lady this Irene.  On Saturday a visit to the Farmer's market brought me home with new butterfly caterpillars to grow and protect.  I stopped by the Nature's Reflections plant booth to see if he had any native milkweek.  He said it had really been in short supply this year.  I think a lot of people have gotten interested like I have in creating a Butterfly friendly garden.  He said, "I just had a lady buy some fennel a while ago because it had some Swallowtail Caterpillars on it."  Of course my ears perked up as I scanned the plants in front of me for the host plant of one of the Swallowtail's to see if I saw any little butterfly starter kits.  He pointed out this small speck of black which looked like Anole droppings, except the white spot that is on the end was in the middle of this little black thing.  I would never have known that was a caterpillar.  As I write, I am sitting watching my three little ones who in a week have almost doubled in size.  I might now be able to get a photo of the little 1/2" black fellows.  New life, new horizons ahead.  WooP!!! as my friend Sabrina is always adding to her emails when something exciting or good happens.  New life, new beauty to help create.