Cooper's hawk. Photo courtesy Jamie Conley.

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

Posted under Nature

Photo courtesy of Steve Matherly.

Florida’s birding trail symbol is often spotted gliding around Walton County

FWC report

The swallow-tailed kite is a snack-food junkie if ever there was one. It spends most of the day aloft, eating on the run – catching bugs and eating them in one swoop, then circling and diving to devour another.

Elanoides forficatus is also an energy miser. The kite uses thermal uplifts and winds to spend the day gliding, merely flipping one side of its forked tail to change direction. From its nest in the top of tall pines and cypress trees, it spies arboreal vertebrates – reptiles, amphibians and sometimes a fledgling from another nest – and can seize that prey mid-flight. Read More…

Posted under Birding, Nature

Waterfall at the base of the steephead at Shoal Sanctuary. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Trails, sculptures and serenity await the nature lover in Mossy Head

Tucked away off the beaten path in north Walton County there is a unique outdoor experience for nature lovers called the Shoal Sanctuary.

Located on 50 acres of trails, sculptures and serene vistas, proprietors Robert and Chris Larson welcome visitors to their retreat dedicated to sharing the beauty of the outdoor experience and appreciation of Mother Nature’s gifts.

Recorded history dates back to the 1830s. The property is believed to of been along the path of the “Trail Of Tears.” After the U.S. government’s “Indian Removal Act,” Cherokee, Seminole, Creek, Timuquan, Muskhogean, and Apalachee were forced migrate west,  and lore sites a leg of that journey along the old Indian footpath now called Crowder Chapel Road near the retreat. Local Native Americans have said that Shoal Sanctuary was once a ceremonial gathering place.

In 2000, the Larson’s acquired 35 acres of land adjacent to their existing 16-acre property, and began a reforestation project blazing trails and developed the retreat along their Shoal river property. Long-leaf pine, ash magnolia, Torreya pine and other native trees have been planted to restore the land as the Larson’s participate in Florida’s Forest Stewardship program.

Read More…

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Sand dunes along the outfall on Camp Creek Lake. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Recreational activities abound on these rare coastal dune lakes

Walton County Florida is well known for its beautiful beaches and great fishing. Less known to those that have never visited the area, are the unique and scenic coastal dune lakes that dot the coastline along the area’s beach dune systems.

Nestled along Scenic Highway 30A, Walton county’s coastal dune lakes are rare geological features that only occur in the Florida Panhandle, Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand and the northern Pacific coast of the United States.

Streams, groundwater seepage and rain are the sources that feed the coastal dune lakes. Storm surge creates intermittent connections to the Gulf of Mexico, called outfalls. This periodic connection empties lake water into the Gulf, and, depending on tides and weather, salt water and organisms from the Gulf flow back into the lakes. Read More…

Posted under Fishing, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, paddle/surf/boat

Tricolored Heron. Photo courtesy Debbie, Hurlburt.

Annual event fun for all ages

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the U.S.

Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds

How to Participate:
1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, February 12–15, 2010. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day. You can also submit more than one checklist per day if you count in other locations on that day. Read More…

Posted under Birding, Home/Garden

Photo courtesy Rick Thomason.

Screech owl peers out wearingly from its tree home

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

Posted under Birding, Nature

Patrick Gault with a barred owl. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

A look at the dedicated volunteers that nurse injured wildlife back to health

Ever wonder what to do if you found an injured bird, turtle or squirrel? As we edge closer to spring, this could be the case, as sometimes young are found abandoned, or a baby bird has fallen from a nest.

It is comforting to know that there is help available to nurse the animal back to health.

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge (ECWR) is a facility to call if you are in need of assistance. For more than 14 years, the ECWR has cared for a variety of wildlife – from stranded dolphins to injured eagles, to orphaned foxes.

Supported mostly through the donations of local residents and businesses, the ECWR is also involved in education, conservation and rehabilitation of natural fauna.

The ECWR is located in Destin at 406 Mountain Drive. To contact ECWR, call 850.650.1880, or visit their website at www.ecwildliferefuge.com

I took a visit over to the refuge and met with Patrick Gault, the assistant director of the refuge. Gault and two volunteers, Lisa Werenskjold and Paul Brachcolmb showed me some of the residents and guests at the refuge.

Here is a video of some of the residents at ECWR: Read More…

Posted under Nature

Photo courtesy OperationMigration.org

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
winter home to endangered birds

On Jan. 13, Operation Migration successfully escorted 10 young endangered whooping cranes more than 1,100 miles to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Wakulla County, Fla.

Initially, 20 young cranes left Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin on Oct. 23, 2009. The group was split in two in Jefferson County, Fla., with the second half now on their way to winter at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, just south of Homasassa Springs, Fla. This is the second time whooping cranes will be wintering in Northwest Florida. There was an enthusiastic crowd of spectators cheering the fly-over at the refuge as they arrived.

The birds were led by a group of experts and volunteers, Operation Migration, in what is called an aircraft-led migration. Operation Migration has played a leading role in the reintroduction of the endangered Whooping cranes into eastern North America since 2001. Read More…

Posted under Birding, Nature

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) nicknamed “Ruferocious.” Photo courtesy Mary Ann Freidman

Local bird lover excited about a returning winter guest

Local hummingbird enthusiast and butterfly expert, Mary Ann Friedman of Niceville is excited about a winter guest she has coming to her yard year after year. A Rufous Hummingbird, nicknamed “Ruferocious” has been returning to Mary Ann’s yard each winter for six years.

“We call her Ruferocious because she is pretty possessive and usually kicks any other would be winter hummingbirds out in a very short time. Before she started “living” here we had several species each winter (Buff-bellied, Black-chinned and Ruby-throated) that chose our yard,” Mary Ann explains.

As several hummingbirds do stay in the Florida Panhandle during the winter, people interested in attracting the birds can put up feeders when flowers are not in bloom.
Read More…

Posted under Birding, Home/Garden

One of the recently planted food plots on a closed road in the Point Washington State Forest. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

U.S. Forestry and FWC plant grasses to stimulate turkey brooding habitat

The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in Point Washington and the Florida Fish and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are working together to promote wildlife brooding habitats in the Point Washington State Forest. 18 food plots have been planted on closed road areas throughout the Forest.

Working with cost share funding from the National Wild Turkey Federation, Forestry and FWC started with warm season grasses in July 2009, with brown top millet, sorghum, pearl millet and iron-clay peas planted. In December, the cool season was planted with clover, wheat, rye and oats.

Eastern portion of food plot map in Point Washington WMA.

“The planting is for young turkey brooding habitats,” said Fred Robinette, District Wildlife Biologist for FWC. “The plots also encourage quail and dove feeding, however take a few years to fully develop. In March, April and May when these grasses go to seed, it provides excellent bugging for the birds,” Robinette continued.

The benefits are two-fold as the plots also provide excellent feeding for sub-tropical migrating birds as well as good feeding for deer.

The plots are spread out along the closed roads and range in size from .2 acre to 2.5 acres and approximately 16 ft. wide, with more than 18 acres planted. Read More…

Posted under Birding, Hunting, Nature, Trails/Hiking