Take a peek at a few videos of beautiful places to Explore Walton County and the surrounding area

Lavender clouds across the skies over the Gulf of Mexico

With a full moon setting, a colorful morning awakes on July 26 on South Walton beach in Seagrove.

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Beach path a canvas of color

Local resident Jamie Conley snapped this beautiful photo of a path to the beach near Seagrove in South Walton County. The colorful flowers are part of the Asteraceae (aster or daisy) family, native to our coastal beaches.

“This world is but a canvas to our imagination.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

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Another day in paradise and the beaches are open!

Jayden and Jackie Roe spent the morning of May 17 strolling the beach at Topsail Hill Preserve in Santa Rosa Beach.

“Huge dunes, the mountains of Florida, ghost crabs crawling everywhere, emerald green water, sugar white sand. If you’ve ever seen a more beautiful beach, please let me in on it,” said Kelly Roe, Jayden and Jackie’s mom.

Currently the beaches in South Walton County, Florida are not affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. They are beautiful and ready for exploring.

To learn more about Topsail Hill Preserve, Click here

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Berry time for the birds in Walton County

Jenny Gomillion of DeFuniak Springs captured this nice photo of a cedar waxwing in a mulberry tree. Looks like there are plenty of berries ready to eat. To learn more about Jenny’s photography, go to www.inspirationsphotography.net

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Great fishing on Grayton Beach!

A perfect day was on tap as young anglers enjoyed the day catching fish along South Walton’s Grayton Beach.  Coastal Conservation Association hosted the annual fishing event on May 15 with more than 100 kids joining in on the popular tournament.

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Heron perched with watchful eye as she protects her nest

The beautiful yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea) was spotted along the chain of lakes near Ebro. The chain of lakes is a tributary of the Choctawhatchee River. The heron was poised on a branch not far from her nest which housed a pale blue egg.

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A first for YOLO on Chain of Lakes

YOLO boarders, kayaks and canoes enjoy a beautiful day on the Chain of Lakes near Ebro, Fla.

John Savage, the owner of the launch area on the lakes said it was the first time he had seen stand up paddle boards.

The old growth cypress trees are an in abundance along these lakes which are tributaries of the Choctawhatchee River.

For related story about exploring the Chain of Lakes,  Click here

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Six Carolina Chickadees about to hatch

On April 3, a good deal of activity was stirring at a Carolina Chickadee nest in Freeport, as six new eggs are about to hatch.

Both Chickadee parents were close by as Joe Wyatt, naturalist at Hammock Bay checked the bird box for its progress. As Joe approached the box, the female chickadee flew out of the nest and perched herself on a nearby tree branch and chirped in discontent for the intrusion.

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Bioluminescent waves light up the shoreline at Grayton Beach

Algae creates glowing phenomena

Local resident and photographer August Bach captured this incredible photo of bioluminescent algae “glowing” along the wave crests recently at Grayton Beach.

Bioluminescence an amazing natural phenomena that occurs when a type of planktonic algae (microscopic free-floating algae) has high densities of excess nutrients. The glow appears when the algae is disturbed by motion.

To learn more about August Bach go to his website at www.augustbach.com

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Spring is officially in the air in Walton County!

The Black titi (Cliftonia monophylla) is also known as the buckwheat tree. Found common in our wetland areas, it is an evergreen shrub or small tree to 30 ft; smooth bark, gray to grayish-brown; simple alternate leaves, evergreen, short-stalked to sessile; flowers white to pinkish in short racemes, clustered; winged fruits.

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Beautiful adult Cooper’s hawk spotted near Lake Powell

Among the bird world’s most skillful flyers, Cooper’s Hawks are common woodland hawks that tear through cluttered tree canopies in high speed pursuit of other birds. You’re most likely to see one prowling above a forest edge or field using just a few stiff wingbeats followed by a glide. With their smaller lookalike, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawks make for famously tricky identifications. Both species are sometimes unwanted guests at bird feeders, looking for an easy meal (but not one of sunflower seeds). Information courtesy Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Snow falls in North Walton County Feb. 12

Unique weather system on Feb. 12 created some fun for locals in North Walton.

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Hootie hoo are you?

This Eastern Screech Owl was photographed in the Mack Bayou area of Santa Rosa Beach. He (she) sat patiently as the photographer climbed into the bed of a pick-up, then up on the toolbox to grab the shot.

Although the photo is not recent, it was the third consecutive spring the owl had made this tree its home. A slightly cropped version of this photo appeared in an ad in the October, 2007, edition of National Geographic Magazine.

Rick Thomason is an avid local photographer who enjoys shooting both nature subjects and architecture. He may be contacted at rickthom@yahoo.com To learn more about Rick’s photography, click here

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Ice dream truck in Blue Mountain Beach

Local resident Brandan Babineau shot this photo of Justin Gaffrey’s icy truck in Blue Mountain Beach Jan. 10. Looks like someone left the water on, perhaps just for some icy fun! Freezing temperatures have left this icy art intact for a few days.

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DeFuniak Springs farmer harvests

12 pound sweet potato

That is one big sweet potato!

David Adams with Adams Farms recently harvested their largest sweet potato to date. Their sweet potato crop is ready and priced at $5 for a 5 gallon bucket. Call ahead: Tel: 850-978-2747. Directions: From Hwy. 90 in DeFuniak Springs, take Hwy. 83 north. Turn right on Hwy 185 and go approx. 2 miles. Farm is located at 257 T.R. Miller Road. Website: www.adamsfarminc.com

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Bald eagle soars over Western Lake in Walton County

Local resident, bird lover and avid photographer, Jamie Conely captured this beautiful bald eagle Dec. 16 perched on a dead tree on the north side of Western Lake in Santa Rosa Beach. Thank you for sharing Jamie! For more information about the come back of our national bird in Florida, Click here

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Late afternoon on a coastal dune lake

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Beautiful sunsets abound in South Walton

Local photographer Brandan Babineaux captured this beautiful sunset Nov. 10 on the beach in South Walton.  Colors come to life during the winter’s southern sunsets in the Florida Panhandle. Living in one of the most beautiful places in the world has its rewards. To learn more about Brandan’s incredible photography, go to: www.brandanbabineaux.com.

Picture perfect paddle

Local Joe Moore paddles in from a glassy evening on the Gulf of Mexico Nov. 2. This incredible photo was taken by Brandan Babineaux, www.brandanbabineaux.com.

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“This is the one I want”

A perfect pony at the Walton County Fair: Hailee, the granddaughter of David and Kerrie Thompson of Ponce de Leon finds the perfect pony at the Walton County Fair on Oct. 24. The week long fair included livestock shows and competitions, rides, handicrafts, horses, photography, poultry, pumpkins, baked goods and good old county fair fun.

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The end of the day in South Walton

Ahh… the spectacular sunsets of Walton County Florida on a cool fall evening. The indigenous beauty of a coastal dune lake reflects the end of the day.

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It’s scuppernong time!

Called a scuppernong or muscandine, the wild grape (Vitis rotundifolia) is valued for its edible, tasty fruit.  Currently bearing fruit along the Panhandle, the grapes are a favorite food source for white-tailed deer and other wildlife also eat the fruit, including black bear, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, and opossum. Songbirds such as cardinals, mockingbirds, robins, cedar waxwings, consume the fruit and are essential to the dispersal of wild grape seeds.

Humans also enjoy the unique fruity flavor of the grapes and make jellies, jams, juices, and wines from the fruit. Commercial production is small, but they are widely grown for home use and local markets in southeastern states. Native Americans in Florida also made a blue dye from the grapes.

Source: University of Florida, IFAS

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A Green Heron on Lake Powell

This beauty, was spotted perched on a dock along Lake Powell Sept. 6.

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It’s a great big world out there!

In the early evening hours of Aug. 8, Rebecca Wilson was at the right place at the right time, as she witnessed the hatching of South Walton turtle nest No. 7 near Stallworth Lake.

Rebecca, a professional wildlife photographer was able to capture the hatching of nest No. 7 on camera without using any flashes.

“I’ve been waiting 26 years for this,” Rebecca said to South Walton Turtle Watch volunteers Anthony and Sherry Head, who arrived around 7:30 p.m.

By the time Anthony and Sherry arrived there were 49 turtle all over the beach headed for the Gulf.  Click here to learn more about our local sea turtles

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A good day fishing for snapper and mackerel!

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Mid-morning breakfast at Hogtown Bayou

This hungry osprey is perched on top of a long leaf pine enjoying its catch of the day at Hogtown Bayou in Santa Rosa Beach. On any given morning, ospreys can be spotted  along with other raptors such as red-tailed hawks, and a variety of herons catching their daily meals.

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Chairs for two

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Beautiful summer plant strengthens sand dunes

Always a pleasant sight along our sand dunes, the beautiful blooming railroad vine is also an important protector of our sand dunes. As with the sea oats, the plant helps to stabilize the dunes by rooting at nodes all along its length, and is often planted for that purpose.

Each flower opens only once, in the morning, but keep blooming almost all year long, peaking from May through November.

The railroad vine is native and part of the Convolvulaceae (morning glory) Family. It is an herbaceous vine that grows wild on ocean shores from Florida to Texas and Georgia.

They open in the early morning and close before noon each day that the plant is in bloom. Small, round seedpods that contain four velvety, dark brown seeds appear on this plant after flowering.

General Information:

Scientific name: Ipomoea pes-caprae

Common name(s): railroad vine, beach morning glory, goat’s foot vine

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Snowy plovers and least terns nesting at Grayton and Deer Lake State Park

This fledgling snowy plover is learning to fly while its mother watches on at Grayton Beach State Park. Photos courtesy Rex Lavoie, park volunteer. Spread your wings little snowy plover!

Grayton Beach State Park is hosting two least tern nests and one snowy plover nest this late spring. Deer Lake State Park has four least terns and two snowy plover nests.

Please be careful as you walk along these State Park beaches as the young fledglings will be learning to fly and have little cover from predators or human traffic.

Local encounters endangered pitcher

plants along South Walton creek

Local Santa Rosa Beach resident Josh Foreman happened upon some rare beauties – endangered indigenous pitcher plants, on a walk near Camp Creek Golf Course recently.

Josh explains: “Yellow pitcher plants (Sarracenia Flava) first caught my eye near a small creek flowing east towards Alys Beach, after following the creek a short distance my eyes found a little patch of young white topped pitcher plants (Sarracenia leucophylla) ready to grow up. This particular variety is found along the Gulf Coast.

Josh Foreman is a Santa Rosa Beach resident and owner of 30A Bike Rentals. For more information, go to www.30abikerentals.com

Morris Lake overflow at Topsail Hill Preserve

Local photographer Brandan Babineaux snapped this aerial photo of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on May 17. Spring rains created an overflow from Morris Lake closing the trail to the Gulf of Mexico. For more information about Brandan and his photography, go to: http://brandanbabineaux.com

Boiling Creek a paddle thorough pristine water

Boiling Creek is a beautiful, pristine paddle, full of cypress trees, water lilies and a variety of pitcher plants along its banks. The water is crystal clear, and you will see colorful underwater grasses rippling below, as you meander through the slow moving twists and turns.  For more info: CLICK HERE

For more information about Topsail Hill Preserve State park, click here for story, or go to the park’s website at: http://www.floridastateparks.org/TopsailHill/

Reflecting on the end of the day

Local photographer Brandan Babineaux snapped this photo of a skim boarder reflecting the end of the day at Seagrove Beach recently. Looks to be a perfect ending of another day in paradise. For more information about Brandan and his photography, go to: http://brandanbabineaux.com

Singing a song for food

Feed me, I’m hungry!

These hungry mockingbird chicks look hungry as Jacquee Markel of Dune Allen snapped this photo. Jacquee said every time she or her husband Kenny went near the nest, the babies would stick their beaks out looking for food.

Blue lupine blooms in spring

In spring, the sand dunes along the beaches in South Walton are dolloped in blue lupine. The gulf coast lupine (Lupinus westianus) is threatened and endemic to Florida.

Their habitats are sand hills, scrubs and coastal dunes. Some say that this rare perennial shrub is only found in a few counties with Walton fortunate enough to be one.

Early explorers to the panhandle did see Blue Mountain Beach covered in Lupine and gave it the affectionate name that we now call it, even though this plant is becoming more rare due to habitat loss.

Alligator Lake awash in color

Local photographer Brandan Babineaux took this photo of blooming water lillies on Alligator Lake in Santa Rosa Beach recently. The vibrant blue sky saturates the water with a vibrant reflection. For more information about Brandan and his photography, go to: http://brandanbabineaux.com

Locals enjoy a colorful ‘hangout’

Zane, and Ryne Sandro look on as Billy Johnson rigs up the tree climbing apparatus. Photos by Brandan Babineaux

Local photographer and tree climber, Brandan Babineaux shared his love for getting into the trees with a few local kids on April 8. Zane Johnson, son of Billy Johnson is shown above in this vivid and colorful photo at one of their secret spots near Bowman Bayou in Santa Rosa Beach.

For more information about Brandan and his photography, go to: http://brandanbabineaux.com

Kids have fun learning at Earth Day celebration

Lots of activities entertained and educated children on Saturday Apr. 18 as folks celebrated Earth Day at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. There were booths and programs that included storytellers, puppet shows, book readings and music.

Nonie Maines of  Nonie’s Ark Animal Encounters educates the children on frogs. Nonie hosts “EVEntuers” and animal encounter parties. To learn more about Nonie’s Ark, go to noniesark.com.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hosted bird painting for the children. The painted skimmers and least terns will be placed on beaches to encourage nesting of the birds. For more information on shorebirds, go to: www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/shrbird/shrbird.html

For more information about Topsail Hill State Preserve go to: www.floridastateparks.org/topsailhill

First bluebird chick of the season hatches at Hammock Bay

Great news for spring!

Naturalist Joe Wyatt was checking the bluebird boxes March 10, and found the first hatched chick. Attached is a photo of the first of many this season.

Joe Wyatt, naturalist at Hammock Bay in Freeport, has been running a bluebird breeding program to increase the numbers of these beautiful indigenous birds.

The success has been quite good. In 2008, the program recorded 317 bluebird fledglings, which resulted in a success rate of 77.78%.

A day in South Walton at the beach … nice!

A day in South Walton sight casting for cobia … priceless!

YOLO sunset

As Mother Nature’s beauty comes to life in a simple sunset, we are reminded of what a beautiful place it is that we live.

This photo was captured by local freelance photographer, Shelly Swanger.

“I was watching this couple enjoy the sunset from their YOLO board..it was really sweet because she was sitting in front and he was slowly paddling her around,” Swanger said.

Swanger lives in Santa Rosa Beach and also works at Smiling Fish Café. For more information about her photos go to: www.shellyswanger.com

Locals out enjoying the spring-like temps

With the local temps up into the highs of 70 degrees, locals in Walton have been enjoying the weather.

Santa Rosa Beach resident Mike Ragsdale took the opportunity today to enjoy the weather by purchasing a new YOLO board.

The YOLO stand up paddleboards are popular among locals in the area and the home base for the company as well. For more information about YOLO boards go to YOLOboard.com.

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Early morning by Eric Marcus.

Putting a new perspective on our environment

Eric Marcus has a creative eye for altering his local nature photography and adding a twist. Eric took this photo recently of in Santa Rosa Beach. The photo has an inviting feel, as though you wonder what the misty morning will bring.

For more information about Eric Marcus, contact: www.emmarcusphotography.com

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