Grayton Beach

 

Live Oak Landing
Freeport, FL
November 22, 2013

 Yesterday morning, Joe and I had ourselves a walk on the beach. Grayton Beach is about a 13 mile drive from LOL. The small beach village is adjacent to Grayton Beach State Park.

The village is in the center of a 20 mile long stretch of 15 coastal dune lakes.

 No lakes today though...just the Emerald colored waters and the whitest, cleanest beaches we have ever seen. 

It was an overcast day...even though the weather report called for partly cloudy skies, we never saw the sun peek.

It was just us and the birds today for miles and miles.






  This little plover is one of the smallest shorebirds. They prefer to run...not fly away. It's always been one of my favorite birds to watch at the beach. I'm not sure about the orange on the legs...





Usually in a congregation of a dozen or fewer,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

they feed at the waters edge...

and stay busy racing away from  the surging water with their speedy, tiny legs.

 But this day, the terns stole the show. Terns with  orange bills, black bills and even a few with yellow-tipped black bills.

They are beautiful birds with their slender grey and white bodies, forked tails, and sharp beaks.





Joe and I couldn't help but laugh as the Royal Tern on the left was definitely trying to have a "conversation" with the one on the right.  

It sure tried hard...I'm sure this is probably some sort of ritual...and when we left it was still talking! The other bird tried to walk away, turn around, and even attempted to ignore it.

And yes, these are the same two birds... we spent quite a few minutes watching and laughing! Of course Joe and I were putting words in "her" mouth.

Our idea of exercise at the beach...


 

I could not identify this bird. There was only one like it on the beach today.

 Its been a great week here in Freeport. The weather has been perfect, but I think that's about to change. Rainy and cooler days are forecast for next week.

 The weeks sure fly by! Cant believe its another week-end...

I have been practicing with my macro lens some this week as I walk in the campground. I am having a hard time with the focus. I sure want to be able to take some close-ups... really clear photos.

Well, until next time...take care and

enjoy your view!

Exploring Black Creek

Live Oak Landing

Freeport,FL

November 17, 2013

 

 

 

 Yesterday, Joe and I woke up excited to have plans. Our friends Barry and Millie invited us for a ride down the Black Creek.

 We met Barry and Millie at LOL last year in October. They have a Boston Terrier, Gus, who was featured in our blog last year...Sally was in love!

 Anyway, Barry and Millie never left. They bought a home, settled in, and are enjoying their retirement here. They also bought a pontoon boat..."YIPPEE!"




dock at LOL



covered deck at dock area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday morning, we headed for the dock at LOL and watched as they rounded the bend. 
 

 

Gus, our official greeter, made us feel very welcomed!

 The creek is named for the color of the water caused by the presence of tannin from decaying leaves and vegetation.

Black Creek offers a mix of salt and freshwater.

 The skies were a little overcast...which was just fine with us. We talked a lot, but also enjoyed the quiet a lazy day on the creek provides.Of course, I was on camera overload.

































We were more than pleasantly surprised to see how pretty the trees were.

 

 

 

 

The creek bank was lined with water plants...

 

 

 

 

 

 

cypress trees and cypress knees...

 

 

a sunken boat...

 

lots of hidden docks...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and spots of yellow from the wildflowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I did learn that a meander is a bend in a river/creek. A meander is formed when the moving water erodes the outer banks and widens its valley  and the inner part has less energy and deposits what it is carrying.

 

A river/creek of any volume may assume a meandering course...eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the inside.

 

 

 

I hope you can see what a wonderful time we had!

 

 We didn't see many birds, just a few osprey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Barry and Millie. We will definitely take you up on the offer to join you again. Next time we might get to go into the Choctawhatchee Bay. We cant wait!

 Tomorrow we are headed back to Fleet Maintenance for new tires.

Hope you have a great week.Until next time, take care...

 and enjoy your view!