The Green Flash

Green Flash

Ask people about the green flash on Sanibel and they are likely to think you are referring to a restaurant by that name on Captiva Island. Or they might think it is just the stuff of legend and not a real phenomenon at all. A third possibility is that they declare they have seen it after downing several margaritas at sunset on the beach. For the few sky gazers who have actually witnessed the event, they will defend their sighting ignoring ridicule and laughter. I fall into the last category.

Take to the beach at sunset, hope for a clear horizon with calm seas and wait. I have been fortunate to observe the green flash three separate times in my life, the last two times in the past month right on the beaches of Sanibel. Each time there have been others who observed it as well, insuring it wasn't an overactive imagination on my part.

Last night was my third opportunity to witness the event and was fortunate to be with an actual astronomy professor from Canada who has been determined to capture the green flash on camera. That requires real dedication as most evenings do night produce a green flash.  If it did, it wouldn't be such an alluring event. He sets up his camera on a tripod and hopes. Some evenings the camera can capture what his eyes did not. Other evenings the opposite occurs.

Green Flash

According to the professor, the science behind the green flash involves refraction of light and inferior mirage effect. Really?  Ok, but I say, just take to the beach at sunset, and keep an eye out for the green flash. The magic is there. And if you miss it, at least you were on the beach at sunset and you might even see something like this!

Last night right before the green flash...calm and clear.

Sanibel Sunsets never disappoint.

Turtle Time Begins!

Welcome to my Sanibel Island Blog.  We have been living here full time for almost two years now. Sanibel has proven to be a truly wonderful place to call home.  In this blog, I will share the unique and special events that define the Island and the folks who live here.

Today I am excited because my training to become a permittee for the Sea Turtle Monitoring Program with SCCF (Sanibel Captiva Conservation Society) begins this week. I have wanted to be involved in conservation for this endangered species and living on Sanibel is perfect for easy involvement.

Last summer Michael and I volunteered to walk a zone on the East end of the Island. This meant getting up before dawn to be down on the beach by sunrise.

Walking our section of beach at sunrise

 It's important to arrive before the Island starts to awaken, but no matter, there was always someone walking, fishing, jogging or setting up for a day at the beach! As we walked our section, we looked for signs of loggerhead turtle tracks. Loggerhead turtles are the most common sea turtle to nest on our beaches. Most days were unproductive- no signs of false crawls where the female comes ashore but fails to lay eggs,

False Crawl Loggerhead Turtle Sanibel

 No signs of successfully laid nests. By mid season however there were about four nests in our small section of beach to monitor for the program.

Marked and Monitored

It was a great experience and I was eager to expand my participation. So this year, I am in training to do more. I'll share my experience as it unfolds and it should be rewarding and educational. Come along with me on this journey and learn more about sea turtles and Sanibel Island, Florida!

Loggerhead Sea Turtle