I’d heard through the grapevine that the great horned owl was back nesting at Stump Pass Beach State Park. This was call for an impromptu Venice Area Birding Association field trip, so I called ranger Betty to see if the red tide was tolerable. I certainly did not want to make our little group ill. Betty said that the red tide was a low and wouldn’t be a problem.

Stump Pass Beach State Park, located on the barrier island of Manasota Key, happens to be one of my favorite places in this area. The 245 acres comprise a wonderful wild beach and park. I monitored nesting terns on the point for several years. Unfortunately, the sands are always shifting at the south end and at this time the point no longer exists as it once did. The terns no longer have this beach expanse available for nesting.