Critters from Bald Head!!
Hey Everyone! We’re having a wonderful time so far here on Bald Head Island. I’m just starting to relax now…it took me a good 36 hours to start to wind down. I guess New York does that to a person, and the tornado outbreak had me still into “weather mode” as well. My husband kept reminding me we were on “Island TIme now” — I guess it was his way of saying “time to forget about work”…
We did have some pretty wild weather here all day yesterday — heavy downpours and windy conditions. We were under a tornado watch for a good chunk of the afternoon. Thankfully nothing really manifested here, although I was a little bit worried, and ready to go into emergency mode if needed.
The storm moved on, and brought us clear skies, and cooler than average temperatures (which I love–). We went on a bird-watching tour this morning, but I have to admit my husband and I were a little more interested in the land creatures! (i.e. - gators, snakes and lizards!) Here’s a peak at some of the Critters we caught (and some beautiful wild flowers)…
Let me know what you think. We’re going kayaking tomorrow which I am super excited for! Right now though, I’m sipping a chardonnay and getting hungry for some hamburgers on the BBQ tonight.
P.S. - I am reading all your comments too — please know that - I just may not respond very quickly since I am on “Island time!” (It’s starting to sink in…)
Hope everyone is well!
LISTEN TO YOUR HUSBAND! And hmmmm…I seem to have heard that somewhere before. Oh yeah, that’s what I said!
Those look like anoles to me (the little green guys). I used to have some. They’re pretty fun pets. Never saw any in the “wild” before.
And no fair having to deal with tornado watches! You’re ON VACATION! Hope you have a great time kayaking but stay away from those gators!
Yes, Lynn! I definitely read, and took your advice…
And thank you for reminding me what the little green guys are called! We asked a local, and they told us, but we forgot! 
Well hello Island Janice..
The flower looks harmless..but the critters not so much!!! Yikes… I would be scared to death of them.
At least your the weather is calmer..We had wild wind too..but today is sunny and pleasant.
Burgers on the grill..yum yum..and I bet that firefighter of yours is preparing them..?
Enjoy your evening and listen to some Jimmy Buffet..he knows all about Island Time!!
Deb
Thanks Deb! He’s cooking right now!
Hey Janice,
Thanks for the pictures! They look great. I’m with Deb about those critters! I took a cool picture of an alligator when I was in Florida a number of years ago. It’s a head-on shot and he was looking right at me. (Probably thinking, “Boy, she’d make a good snack!”) Part of his head is out of the water, but you can see the rest of him through the water. I was about 15 away with my zoom lens and the second he made the slightest movement, I was out of there! I much prefer birds or other harmless critters than being some alligator’s lunch!
I’m glad you were safe during those storms. They looked pretty nasty on the radar. I think we had a 39 mph gust at my parents’ yesterday. The sustained winds were pretty high, too. It was pretty nasty. I want to see some sun!
I hope you keep having fun on your trip. I’m glad you’re unwinding a little. I know it can take some time to do that, but it sounds like you’re having a great time. Have fun kayaking and be safe! We want you to come back in one piece!
Take care,
Margie
Janice…great pics!!
Hope you and hubby enjoy island time
Just soak it up!!
Hey Janice……..
Great pics, thanks. Isn’t that a beautiful island? I have always loved vacationing there. Don’t forget to go up into the lighthouse. It is worth the adventure!
Enjoy the nice cool and dry weather while it lasts.
Sunny
Thank you Janice for sharing your beautiful pictures!
it really looks like a tropical island to me
I love these little green guys!!!
what are they call again? anoles?
What are they doing with their pink throats??!
singing?!
by the way: why is it called Bald Head Island??!
Enjoy the “island time” and its “farniente”!
Forget your work worries and urban stress: just relax and explore this new Eden….
you deserve it
Guillaume
(by the way I love the picture with your Mom! with such a wonderful name, Stella, she deserves to be a super “star” all year long! )
Hi Guillaume (and everyone),
Whenever anyone asks a question, the librarian in me kicks in and I have to find out the answer! I looked up the history of Bald Head Island and found your answer. I would post the link to the web site of the Village of Bald Head Island, but sometimes that sends my posts to the spam filter. So, here is the pertinent paragraph from the history of Bald Head Island:
“Early river pilots were responsible for giving the Village its unique and descriptive name. Eager to offer their navigational services to ships approaching the entrance to the Cape Fear River, they took up watch on a high dune headland on the southwest point on the island. According to local lore, the headland was worn bare of vegetation, making it stand out in contrast to the forest behind it. This “bald” headland served as a reference point for ships entering the river, and the name Bald Head Island has endured.”
So there you have it! You can Google “Village of Bald Head Island” and that will take you to the site with the complete history if you want to know more.
Margie
Hey JD,
Hope you vacation is going along nicely!
Thanks for the pictures, but I see one critter in the collage that I can do without.
Yes you need to spend some time doing Island things.
Weather is nice in Canada. 
Only wish we didn’t have bad weather in the US and the sad earth quakes in China where thousands of people lost their lives.
Seems kayaking is a very NC thing to do.
Thank you Margie for the explanation.
I would have never guessed.
And I love History!
so I appreciate very much your research
Guillaume
From information I read one time in Field and Stream NC leads the nation in snake bites, about 9,000 a year. Here in Va there are 36 different type of snakes but only 3 poisonious. I’m told that if the eyes are round like the one in your picture they are not poisonious. The ones with oval eyes are the bad ones.
Wonderful Pix Janice! I love to sip coffee out on a deck and watch the ocean waves. One of my favorite times on vacation!