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By Jan Baumgartner American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Recently, an early morning stroll down Turtle Beach yielded the magnificent sight of a lone white pelican foraging for breakfast in the company of several brown pelicans. As both types of pelicans helped themselves to the Gulf’s plentiful buffet in the shallows just offshore, their table manners […]
Willet Tringa semipalmata These unassuming shore birds travel great distances to vacation with us on Siesta Key’s beaches — with some migrating from New England, Nova Scotia in eastern Canada, and even the distant prairies of western Canada! Willets may not wear the most impressive plumage or colors of Siesta Key’s coastal birds, but these […]
Siesta friends create means of transporting their dogs, maintaining a special bond By Jane Bartnett This is the story of four best friends who one Siesta Key morning, 12 years ago, found each other at the popular Bean Coffee spot in Davidson Plaza. Two of those best friends, Riley and Bodhi, are of the four-legged, […]
By Jan Baumgartner Laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) As you explore Siesta Key’s three public beaches this holiday season, guard your snacks carefully. The laughing gull, perhaps more than any other, looks for opportunities to help itself — even stealing a morsel right out of your hand! If the ruse is successful, the clever thief’s mocking […]
Osprey (fish hawk) * Pandion haliaetus By Jan Baumgartner Circling high above the Siesta Key shoreline, the osprey is the only North American hawk who dines almost exclusively on live fish, both fresh- and saltwater.It takes lots of protein (rich in Omega-3 fatty acids) to fuel the exploits of this large raptor weighing 2 to […]
Greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) By Jan Baumgartner Would it surprise you to learn that this large, lanky shorebird is a member of the sandpiper family? Compared with other shorebirds, we know relatively little about the yellowlegs because its summer breeding grounds encompass the untamed boreal forests of Canada and Alaska, far from civilization. Yellowlegs were […]
The big boats at Bayfront Yacht Works & Marina await those looking to explore the area’s waterways in style By Jane Bartnett Ahoy! Have you always dreamed of being the captain of your own boat? If you don’t happen to have your own private yacht awaiting your arrival, the folks at Bayfront Yacht Works & […]
Semipalmated plover * Charadrius semipalmatus By Jan Baumgartner This tiny but mighty 2-ounce shorebird wings its way across the North American continent from summer breeding grounds near the Arctic Circle to winter vacation spots along the Gulf, Caribbean, and Atlantic coasts. Some plovers may opt for R&R on or near Siesta Key while others continue […]
Chloe the guide dog has given Siesta Key’s Alan Frost comfort as a second sets of eyes By Hannah Wallace Retiree Alan Frost and Chloe the guide dog are a regular presence in the Village on their morning strolls. While Chloe, like any dog, appreciates the exercise, she’s also the one taking Frost for a […]
Purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) By Jan Baumgartner The purple gallinule’s distinctive plumage is awash with its eponymous hue along with a range of vibrant blues and greens. Gallinules are included in the rail family of birds whose members are chicken-like marsh dwellers with short wings and tail and disproportionately long legs and toes. True to […]