Best Lunch Picks for Beaching on Sanibel

These days the beach on Sanibel has more appeal than ever.

The heat and humidity is greatly diminished by the cool breezes at the shore.

A variety of beautiful birds can be found scurrying around the sand.

Dolphins are frequently seen displaying their charms in the Gulf waters.

And best of all, the water is very welcoming with the perfect temperature and stunning colors.

But what's a day at the beach without some great food to complement the beauty of nature?

Though there are no food vendors on the beaches of Sanibel, there are options every bit as appealing.  While you can, of course, cook up something in your vacation rental to bring to the beach, there are even easier and more diversified alternatives.

One option might be to browse the enormous selection of options at Jerry's super market.  A new department at this spacious venue is called The Kitchen. The Kitchen has a new and expanded assortment of ready to eat meal options, salads, entrees and much more.  Looking for something hot?  Jerry's kitchen offers some very exciting choices.  Hot off the Grill breakfasts, lunches and dinners include classic Jerry’s traditional meals along with an expanded selection of new items like Breakfast Tacos, Chunky Cinnamon French Toast, Fish Tacos, Jerry’s Prime Beef Burgers and so much more.

But if you prefer your beach blanket bingo wet rather than dry, you might give some thought to Bailey's Coffee Bar. Sanibel Island Coffee Bar offers hot and iced espresso coffees, hot chocolate, smoothies and other refreshing drinks, freshly baked snacks for that hungry moment.

And for those who need a vegetarian snack, or something delicious and gluten free, The Sanibel Deli and Coffee Factory will not disappoint.   Panini sandwiches, specialty sandwiches and vegetarian wraps number in the dozens. 

All you need to do is bring your beach chairs and a cooler for your beverages and you will be ready to hit the beach prepared for the day~

Step Carefully: Tiny Visitors on Sanibel

Sanibel Island is full of special gems of all kinds.

There is the flora on the island, green , lush, verdant, tropical and inviting.

There are the diversified shells decorating the beaches , beautiful, artful and unique, making Sanibel in the top three shell collecting destinations in the world.

And there are the birds of Sanibel, as we mentioned in our last post and do mention frequently.

But as exciting as bird watching on the island is, particularly in migratory months when there is an awesome fall out of warblers, this may be the most endearing time of year.

This is baby season on Sanibel.

And with careful research, planning and viewing, you may see a treat beyond belief.

Our plovers, terns and other shore birds have hatched their eggs, and tiny, fluffy bundles of joy can now be seen at specific locations.

These locations are marked with protective ropings to keep we humans from entering the nesting areas and inadvertently stepping on eggs or chicks.

But the birds can not read the signs and are now old enough to wander out from the protected areas and start exploring the beach and shore line.  The parents stay nearby, but these tiny chicks are very quick, so they are not always under the wings or eyes of the adults.

Every one walking and shell collecting on the beaches need to be aware of the presence of these puff balls.  They are adorable to view, but exceptionally difficult to see.  So walk with eyes down, with a discerning vision and with great care.

And do let us know if you see any.  Best of luck!

Added Adventure: Places to See/Go near Sanibel Island

One could argue that there is no need to leave Sanibel Island when on holiday, even for weeks or months at a time.

And it is true that Sanibel has all the essentials.

Beautiful beaches, miles of bike trails, bird watching at its best, in the top 3 destinations world wide for shelling are all woven into the fabric of the island.

And there  are dozens of restaurants, ample shopping opportunities, water sports of all kinds and a wide array of cultural activities.

But human nature often demands change, always seeking something different, even when things are pretty perfect as they are.

We have highlighted attractions in past blog posts in nearby Fort Meyers and also  further south in Naples.

Since those posts , we have discovered a few others that might be worth a visit as well. 

Though Sanibel Island is a natural wonderland, filled with wild birds of all kinds, it could make a nice day trip to visit Little Estero Lagoon, about a 35 minute ride from the causeway, which can be a mecca for bird life in many ways.  The lagoon, with both a south and north end, attracts many waders , all who are easy to spot.  The trees and bushes surrounding the lagoon, can be the residence of hawks, pelicans and woodland birds.  And, as the lagoon is bordered by the close in Gulf of Mexico shores, what ever may be lacking in lagoon life will certainly be found in the Gulf waters or on the Gulf beaches.  Recent visits to this location (early morning or late afternoon is best for bird sighting every where) were particularly fruitful.

And though Sanibel does an incredible job of protecting the nests of plovers and other birds, the number of chicks one will find on the eastern Sanibel beaches appears much less than at the lagoon.  All nesting birds, which include the Wilsons and Snowy Plovers, the Least Tern and the American Oyster Catcher, can be located easily at the Southern portion of the lagoon right now.  But one must walk very carefully and gently in that area.  Despite the nesting area being cordoned off with ropes and signs, birds can't read and do not heed the ropes. So the chicks, with and without parent birds, can be found roaming the beach necessitating the utmost care in exploration.

But if you want to see birds of incredible color and variety without a lot of looking, a drive south of Estero into Bonita Springs may be just perfect for you.  There, at the intimate but lovely and very special Everglades Wonder Gardens, you will find a flock of Flamingo and several other exotic specimens.  Well worth the visit~

Have you found any hidden gems off Sanibel? We would love to hear of them!

Seeing is believing on Sanibel Island

It never fails.

We pack everything.....BUT there is always an item we forgot to take a vacation.

On Sanibel, it is easy to find a place to buy a toothbrush , or a book.  But not a lot of choices if you forget your glasses.

That said, the most appealing choice for optical needs makes the whole process very easy for you,

Sanibel Eyecare, like every place on the Island and the island itself, is an intimate and inviting space.  And without the hustle and bustle of busy offices, your eye care needs will be taken care of with great efficiency and professionalism.

If you forgot your glasses, lost a contact lens while biking or swimming, Sanibel Eyecare will track down your prescription and get you a replacement.

And your choices will be generous.

The frames for glasses are very lovely with a fair amount of diversity in design.

If you have a medical question or issue concerning your eyes, it can be addressed in the office.  Your Medical Insurance  will cover your special eye exam when there is an eye-related medical problem such as cataracts, dry eyes, complications from diabetes or high blood pressure (among many others). They are a Medicare participating provider.

 

Vision plans are primarily for routine eye exams, glasses, and contacts only.  A routine eye exam is for patients that have no medical eye problems or known eye health issues.  The goal of a routine eye exam is to make sure that your eyes are perfectly healthy and to discover unknown problems. 

The office realizes that time is valuable , and they will track and measure their on-time performance in everything they do.

So what ever your eye issues---forgotten glasses, a lost lens, broken frames or a medical concern---- there is an island resource for you!

Warbler Wonders On Sanibel Island

Sanibel is long known and appreciated as a migratory destination for many birds, song birds and ducks included.

But there is probably no more excitement and clamor than during what is called Migratory Fallout.

This wonderful experience takes place when large flocks of birds get caught by frontal systems and are forced to “fall out” on the nearest land. These events happen every spring and fall to a greater or lesser degree,  but they vary greatly in occurrence at any one location from year to year.

This past April appeared to be exceptional when it came to the Warblers who took refuge on the Island.

These song birds that are so varied in color and patterns fly thousands of miles from South and Central America as well as the Caribbean, to take some refuge on Sanibel.

They arrive hungry and tired, and gather in many of the usual places to find food, water and rest.

They begin appearing at the beginning of the month, and generally do not leave until the end of the month.

Though they are small and quick moving, it is possible to outsmart them and anticipate where they will be hiding.  It will be worth every second you invest in the search to get a glimpse of the Cape May Warblers with their rosy cheeks, the Hooded Warblers with their brilliant yellow feathers and black neck "scarf", the beautifully patterned Black and White Warblers.  And the list goes on and on.

Apparently, there were bird alerts issued about the number of warblers visiting the Island last month, and there were many experienced birders who came to try their luck sighting. Some were successful and some were not.  With the exception of the Palm Warblers who are numerous and fairly visible, warblers are not that easy to sight.  Those who are determined to do so are best advised to have an idea of where to look.

All the warblers are attracted to the fig trees on island and that is always a good start to sightings.  But most berry trees will suffice.  We heard that one large berry tree at the beginning of the Calusa Shell Mound Trail in Ding Darling was filled with several kinds of warblers at the end of the day.  The Hooded Warbler and the Black and White Warbler were seen right off the trail in the deeper , darker thickets. And there were reports of some of the oddly named warblers like the Northern Waterthrush were spotted right in the backyards of the private homes on island.  They would move rapidly through fallen dead leaves, eating the insects underneath.

So if you are a bird lover and are looking for a week or a month on Island, you might want to consider a Sanibel vacation in April.   There is no guarantee, of course, but even if a significant fall out does not occur, there are still so many year round birds to see.

Sanibel has something for everyone , including every bird lover.

Find An Injured Animal on Sanibel Island? Help Is a Call Away!

We recently saw a pelican at the Sanibel pier that had a huge fish "resting" in its pouch.

While pelicans can easily swallow whole fish in just one gulp, this pelican appeared not to be able to do so.

We watched as it appeared to try to swallow, lifting up its head and gulping, but the fish remained in place.

In closer inspection, it was apparent the fish was stuck in the pouch.

It was not a whole fish but one that had been cut in half and the spines were not only sticking out, but piercing the pouch of the bird, holding it there despite all the pelican's efforts.

Not feeling confident that we could deal with the beached bird on our own, we were told to call Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, also known as CROW.

It was then that we discovered that CROW has an emergency line where one can reach assistance.

If you find an animal that you think needs help, please call CROW at (239) 472-3644, ext. 222. They  are there to evaluate and, if necessary, rescue and treat animals so that they can be returned to their habitats.

The CROW staff will ask for your location and request stay at the location.   And they will dispense an expert or two to come and assist in a safe capture.

Of course the agency is not open 24/7, but they do check on messages left on the phone.

They also have a drop off location right on the island as well as convenient locations in the Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres area to drop off wildlife in need of help.

CROW also offers some good advice in the event you do come across an animal that looks injured or orphaned:

"Keep a safe distance.

Please remember, you should not automatically pick up or even approach injured wildlife. Certain animals should only be handled by experts, particularly if they are ill or injured. Disturbing animals could lead to further injury and you could put yourself at risk of bites or attacks, as well.

Some animals that appear orphaned may not really need rescuing. For example, baby birds that are learning to fly often hop on the ground as a parent watches nearby, and picking them up interrupts that process. Similarly, baby rabbits found on the ground might not necessarily be orphaned. Mother rabbits feed them only at dawn and at dusk, and then typically do their best to stay hidden."

It is good to know that a Clinic so devoted to the welfare of the  Island's animal population is so easily accessible and available with sound counsel , guidance and direct assistance.

The Truth About Alligators on Sanibel Island

Sanibel Island is a peaceful place.

Small, tropical, inviting, it is easy to feel that there is not a worry in the world while vacationing on Sanibel.

And for the most part, that is accurate.

The singular exception may be the presence of alligators, and you will see signs warning about them posted throughout the Island.

But some may take the signs to heart in such a way that inhibits their enjoyment of the island.

So let's set the record straight about these prehistoric looking creatures.

First, alligators are opportunistic eaters.  They pretty much lay in wait in fresh or brackish waters or on the edges of same for prey to come close by.  They will not be wandering the streets and beaches looking for a bite to eat. 

Second, a full grown alligator can exist on one raccoon for months.  Their metabolism is very slow and they are not the ravenous monsters some think they are.  But neither you nor your dog should approach the edges of fresh or brackish bodies of water as the enticement is great, but the risk is even greater.

Third, during winter months, alligators are lethargic and pretty much just lay around.  When the weather starts to warm, alligators become active, feeding more, looking for new territories and mating. It is during these times that alligator sightings are most prevalent. If you see an alligator, the best thing to do is leave it alone.

Fourth, most deaths by alligators are not from blood loss or even from drowning.  It is the bite alone which is so full of bacteria that it kills by infection.  A word to the wise should be sufficient.

 

Fifth, alligators can be lighting fast when they see you are in striking distance, 15 feet or less from them and the water. Observe and photograph alligators only from 30 feet or more away. Remember they are an important part of Sanibel’s natural history as well as an integral component of our freshwater ecosystem.

Just as we love all wild life on Sanibel, we love our gators.  And we love our tourists.  We just want to see a sensible distance between the two!