Wildlife

After spending several days touring the many pocket parks along the sound on the mainland, we headed back to the causeway for our walk this morning. We exited the neighborhood on Palm Blvd. and took the Pinellas Trail north, and then turned west on the causeway. We had been driven away by the crowds and the limited walking options last week. Today we found the north sidewalk on the main bridge closed. That walkway is only a few feet wide, not enough to provide safe passage in these times of social distance. It did work to relieve the congestion from the south side, but only if everyone traveled in the same direction at the same pace, which never happens. Thankfully, the overcast skies kept many of the normal walkers at home, so we had ample social distance. It was 82, cloudy, with a light 7 mph breeze.

On our way back from the causeway, we took a quick tour of Rotary park on the east side of the main bridge. The small park has a short path and a couple of signs identifying the wildlife you may see and explaining the importance of Mangroves. I've only seen rabbits here.

To make the return trip a loop, heading west we stayed on the causeway until it became Curlew Rd. at the Publix. We proceeded on about a half mile to the condominiums at Curlew Trails. In the middle of these units, there is a trail that you can take to a bridge that crosses Curlew creek, which makes an excellent shortcut and keeps you from having to go all the way down Bayshore and up Palm Blvd. The bridge takes you to Waybridge neighborhood and from there, it's a short block to Fairway Estates.

Curlew Creek is a tidal creek that many folks kayak and canoe in. Our neighbors tell us it's a lot of fun. I've seen pictures of bobcats traveling through here that people have posted in the Neighborhood app. It's amazing that such animals as bobcats and coyotes thrive in such close proximity to humans. The creek winds through the Dunedin Golf Course, passes under the Pinellas Trail and Bayshore Ave. and feeds into the St. Joseph Sound just south of Pirates Cove, a local marina.

Later in the day, after doing some work, we took a walk around Lake Saundra. We noticed the momma duck with her chicks.

Not too far behind was another adult duck, an adolescent duck, and some misfit bird. Didn't matter. They were all enjoying the grass and water, and there was no one to tell the misfit he didn't belong.

My mom would be proud because I took some time to go out in the 86 degree heat to pick up fallen magnolia leaves that had wafted down from yesterday's strong breezes. I was startled to see this great white egret calmly walk up beside me. Since I was crouched picking up leaves, we were at eye-level with one another.

He quietly strutted around the yard and then flew away. I caught him in flight right across my shoulder.