Fact: UA is the oldest and largest of the public universities in Alabama. Founded in 1820.
Bryant-Denny Stadium
I enjoyed strolling through the Quad. I did a little research and the Quad is 22 acres.
Denny Chimes on the Quad – has a 25 bell carillon. I actually got to hear the bells while photographing the bell tower.
(Photos by RSheridan)
Osprey Fledgling
(Photos by RSheridan)
There is nothing better than taking in a nature walk and then heading to the beach to relax!
The Eagle’s Nest
The Osprey and Their Nests
A Falcon
A Great Horned Owl – A 1st for Me to See!
(Photos by RSheridan)
The park consists of 155 acres and is located on the Gulf of Mexico. You get to the park by going over the mile long causeway. The views are spectacular!
White sandy beaches. We enjoyed the beach and swimming area. Birds, dolphins and manatees. We saw plenty of seagulls.
The landscape of the park is impressive! Sea grass beds to wetlands to mangrove estuaries to salterns to coastal scrub to long leaf and slash pine flatwoods to turkey oak to long leaf pine sandhill. Plus the various species of birdlife and wildlife.
There is a $5 daily parking fee and pay via an automated pay station. There are picnic shelters available that require a reservation. There are plenty of restrooms, rinse stations and beach showers.
The park was dedicated on April 16, 1966 and today there is almost 2 million visitors to the park annually. Fred Howard was elected the Mayor of Tarpon Springs in 1945 and served as a City Commissioner. He also was the Vice Chairman of the Pinellas County Park Board for more than 30 years.
(Photos by RSheridan)
Decided to go on an exploration to see the Eagle Pair at Honeymoon Island State Park. Did not see the Eagles, however; their nest was pretty impressive!
“The 2015-16 season was the 8th consecutive year for eagles to nest on the island. This new nest is the first time eagles have reestablished nesting on the island since the 1935 homestead nest.”
Eagle Facts:
Those Eagles have some exact timing when it comes to laying and to hatching their Eaglets!
Imagine being on an Island within a Pine Forest! You will see sand as well as pine cones. Plus Ospreys Galore along with their nests!
I have lived here long enough now to know the call of the Ospreys. It makes my ears tune in and my eyes focused on the trees or skies every time.
Egret
Woodpecker
These trees are perfect places to build an Osprey nest. Also, Ospreys build and repair nests by snapping off dead limbs in flight instead of collecting downed wood from the ground.
Briefly touched on to the Pelican Trail that works its way around the edge of the Island and along the Gulf of Mexico. Mangroves, Salt Air and Sea Breeze Oh My!
A Baby Mangrove Plant
Never Far From the Water (Photos by RSheridan)
A Florida State Park located on Honeymoon Island, a barrier island across St. Joseph’s Sound from Palm Harbor, Ozona and Crystal Beach. The park is 385 acres in land area with 2,400 acres submerged and 4 miles of beach. Honeymoon Island was formerly known as Hog Island.
The American public were introduced to Honeymoon Island in the early 1940’s. The advertisements promised undiscovered pleasures for newlyweds. Honeymoon-type huts were built on the island for vacationing. Hence Hog Island became Honeymoon Island.
Then World War II began and the thatched huts fell into disuse. The structures were torn down as the island was turned into a state park. A causeway was constructed in 1964 leading to the island.
The Dunedin Causeway
Recreational Activities
The Island is a refuge for a number of species of plants (i.e. slash pines, mangroves, etc.) and animals (i.e. dolphin pods, birdlife, wildlife, etc.).
The beaches are sandy.
Amenities
Rattlesnakes are common to Honeymoon Island – exercise caution! Mosquitoes can also be a nuisance. Sunscreen+Bug Juice = Happy Beach Goer!
Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island were originally part of a large barrier island that split in half during a major hurricane in 1921. The waterway between the islands is known as Hurricane Pass. Located in the Gulf of Mexico across St. Joseph Sound to the west of Dunedin, Florida and north of Clearwater Beach. Caladesi Island is not its own island, but shares its island geography with Clearwater Beach.
The Gulf of Mexico
There is a ferry from Honeymoon Island out to Caladesi Island. There is a dock on Honeymoon Island to launch private boats to go out to the island. You can also walk to the island via Clearwater Beach from the south; it is only separated by a “welcome” sign.
Hurricane Elena filled in Dunedin Pass in 1985 marking the island accessible by walking northward from North Clearwater Beach.
Recreational Activities
Amenities
Caladesi Island (Photos by RSheridan)
Took the Parrotdise Express out of the Dunedin Marina for a 2 1/2 hour boat cruise! The wild bottlenose dolphins were being a little more tame and relaxed than wild and jumping about.
“Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale
a tale of a fateful trip,
that started from this tropic port,
aboard this tiny ship.”
“For a three hour tour,
a three hour tour.”
At least the punch was secured and at the ready – ha!
I loved that they covered so much of the water surrounding the Dunedin and Clearwater area too!
Great Day for Sailing!
The Birds Put On Quite A Show!
Anhinga
Herons
Ospreys
Pelicans
Seagulls
The Beautiful Gulf of Mexico
AMAZING! Day to Be Out on the Water!
I think this is Mama and Baby.
Wait for me . . . I am coming . . .
Guarding the stash of fish!
The Pelican Posse
This bird bath makes me look BIG!
This Egret had his feathers in a ruffle!
Love spotting the baby birds high up in their nests.
(Photos by RSheridan)
Enjoying the Lake View . . . ahhh . . .
Mama Gator and Her Babies
Look at that tail!
Gator Babies – oh so cute!
I finally saw an armadillo in the wild. Just use your ears to hear all that rustling about and rooting for food.
Fauna/Flora
Colorful Catepillar
Fierce Bird
Looking right at you!
Get my good side. (Photos by RSheridan)
(Previously 'Year of Vulnerability') - Follow me as I try to live life on the vulnerable side
where design is more than what we stand in, its what we stand for
~Synnove Polaris
...experiences with spirit's voice...
Philosophy / Mind / Art
Live. Laugh. Run...
52 weeks captured through photos
From May 2015 - March 2016, Sherry and Sean traveled the country and lived in a 5th wheel R.V. They took pictures, hiked mountains, and saw amazing sights. They are now settled in Fort Myers, Florida and are continuing to take pictures and seeing amazing sights. This is the blog of their journey from leaving St. Louis and starting an adventure, to living in Florida and doing photography. Enjoy the stories, and leave comments if you have one to share!
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the ramblings of a wife, mommy, foodie, runner and follower of Christ.
Carnets de Vie & de Voyages trilingues (Français, English, Español)
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Ruminations, Reflections, and other Ramblings
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