Strandings and Trees

We had the first stranding of the year today, a beautiful little loggerhead that still had a keel on his/her central scutes. I've never seen a turtle of this size -- I've seen smaller and larger, but this is about the size they are when they first return to shore after "The Lost Years". I've seen greens like this, but it's my first loggerhead. Just wish it was alive!



Earlier this weekend, I spent a warm early morning at Santa Rosa, GPSing the north shore tide line. It's always fun to wander around there in areas that are not normally dry enough to get to. This little sculpture of tree and trash was hidden in one small marshy areas.



If it was in Thailand, I would call it a spirit tree. Here, it's likely someones excuse not to take their trash off the beach.



A lot of trees along the parks beaches died during the hurricanes of recent years, mostly from salt water intrusion. These roots have been exposed since the storms, wearing away more in the tides and weather. It seems impossible that some of them are still standing!



This was another weekend find, on low tide at the rock jetty on Perdido Key. Wonder who Cameron is, and how he or she carved this is the wet rock.