Christmas on the Treasure Coast

We've been settled into the Port Saint Lucie RV Park for 3 weeks now; other than the local decorations it certainly doesn't feel like Christmas or winter.  Sunny, warm days, times at the pool, and birding trips to area natural areas.

The best part about being in PSL is being near Ty's brother Daryl and his wife Vicki.  Spending time visiting, working, eating together and going to church and Bible studies has been fun.  We look forward to another 6 weeks here in the area until their mission trip to Haiti with New Hope Missions Intl. that they help administer.

Alligator in almost every pond

Almost daily we walk to Wood Stork Trail and Lake just north of the RV Park.  Seems like there is something new to see everyday.  Here's a small example.

Mottled Ducks

Pleco

Ox Beetle

Pileated Woodpecker

This Sandhill Crane along with two others landed right in the RV Park and took a walk around the sites.

Eastern Towhee

Just northeast of PSL is the Savannah State Park where we walked the trails and went through the Nature Center.  Here are some finds from our exploration.

Pine Warbler

Grass-leaf Golden Aster

Great Blue Heron takes off

Eastern Meadowlark

We drove about 30 miles southwest of PSL to the Allapattah Flats.  While walking the trails we saw northern migrants such as this Eastern Meadowlark and flocks of American Robins.




There were many wading birds in the area such as the Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks.

Roseate Spoonbill & Wood Stork

Peregrine Falcon

We took two trips to Ft. Pierce and Hutchinson Island enjoying the Atlantic Ocean beaches.  While sitting at the beach we observed many Magnificent Frigatebirds and Northern Gannets and we even saw some Cory's Shearwaters.

Magnificent Frigatebird

Sometimes the birds just come to you; all I had to do was bring out a bag of cookies and 30+ Ruddy Turnstones immediately arrived hoping for a crumb or two.  This was on the Ft. Pierce South Jetty where many people also come to fish.  There were several Manatees feeding close by.

At the river mouth is a great place to bird.  Brown Pelicans, Black Skimmers, gulls and terns and over 20 Ospreys found abundant fish as the tide rolled in.

Christmas Berry (Dahoon)

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and hope you have a wonderful New Year.

Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann