Having walked almost the full length of the beach now, we can report excellent shelling in the stretch of shoreline from The Sandbar Restaurant south to Bali Hai in Holmes Beach. At other times I've noticed that shells are quite prolific down on Coquina Beach as well. Of course, I just found an enormous shark's tooth in the shell path at my house, so you never know where you'll find treasure! These olive shells, lightning whelks, scallops, and assorted mollusks were collected this morning.
Who knew that we have a real hill on Anna Maria Island? Visit Leffis Key and experience it for yourself! Located across the street from the public parking at Coquina Beach, Leffis Key is a nature preserve filled with boardwalks and informative signs explaining the various habitats found on a barrier island. Climb the hill (manmade from dredging deposits years ago) and get the best views on the island! Just be sure to use your bug spray; mom and I had mosquitos chasing us out of the preserve because we forgot ours!
We loved this flock of pelicans roosting on one of the groins jutting out into the water at Coquina Beach. Mom and I have noticed that the birds seem to naturally segregate themselves: pelicans on one groine, seagulls on another, herons on yet another.
Beach warning flags are useful things with which to familiarize ourselves. Thankfully, the beach has been almost perfect all summer long...no flags necessary!
While finishing our first section of beach walking (we're now walking the entire length of Anna Maria Island's 7 miles of beach), mom and I spotted this vessel heading out for a day of adventure.
We made it all the way to the south end of the Island! Hard to believe we've walked every single street on the Island...and we're ready for more! Tomorrow we set out to walk the entire beach.
