The Wandering Disciple

A pair of owlets look out over the nest as mom and dad watch from a nearby tree. This pair of Great Horned Owl were born in 2013 and found in a nest along the nature trail at Stump Pass Beach State Park in Englewood. They will remain in the nest with mom and dad until mid-winter when they will seek independence.  Stump Pass Beach State Park is located at the southern tip of Manasota Key in Englewood. The mile long pristine beach park preserves the native coastline that was present before coastal development. As a result of the preservation, wildlife like these owls can be seem along the beach and the associated woods.  Taken: March 5, 2013 at Stump Pass Beach State Park (Englewood, FL)

The further you travel down the beach at Stump Pass State Park, the further away from civilization you get. This unspoiled stretch of beach along the Gulf of Mexico is a reminder of what coastal Florida looked long before the condos and hotels that dot the coast now. In fact, if you are willing to walk a little further you might even get a stretch of the beach all to yourself.  Stump Pass State Park is located on the southern tip of Manasota Key in Englewood. It features a 1.3 mile hiking trail that crosses through the coastal habitat where you can see the owls, gopher tortoises and shore birds that call the unspoiled beach home. If you decide to visit the park, be sure to get there early as the small parking lot tends to fill up fast.  Taken: August 10, 2010 at Stump Pass Beach State Park (Englewood, FL)

 A brown pelican flies high over the beach at Stump Pass Beach State Park.  Operated by the Florida State Park service, Stump Pass Beach State Park is a popular place to bird watch where you can see shorebirds and birds of prey in plenty.  As a result, the park is listed on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a list of spots across the state that are prime areas to enjoy wildlife.  (Photo: November 17, 2018)

In the tortoise and the hare, it is the slow and steady pace of the tortoise that wins the race.  But in the Sunshine State, the tortoise is not in a race to get anywhere as he walks along the hiking path at Stump Pass Beach State Park.  The endangered gopher tortoise can be found in scrub habitats throughout the Florida.  (Photo: March 5, 2013)

A wooden boardwalk connects the nature trail with the beach at Stump Pass Beach State Park in Englewood.  Located on the southern tip of Manasota Key, Stump Pass Beach State Park has a lot to offer from combing the beach for shells, hiking the trails and observing nature or hitting the water on a kayak, jet ski or boat.  (Photo: August 10, 2010)

A mother Great Horned Owl watches over her nest of baby owls along the hiking trail at Stump Pass Beach State Park on the south end of Manasota Key in Englewood.  The nesting pair of owls had two baby owls during the early part of 2013.  (Photo: March 5, 2013)

The clouds begins to get darker and the gulf begins to quiet, signs that an afternoon summer storm is on the way from the east.  In the tropic climate of Florida, afternoon thunderstorms are a daily occurrence along the Gulf Coast.  (Photo: August 10, 2010)

A powerboat goes airborne during the Englewood Beach Waterfest on Sunday afternoon along Manastoa Key.  The Offshore Powerboat Associaation made a visit to Englewood for the 2016 World Championships which took place on Saturday and Sunday.  Be sure to check back later for more photos from the races.  (Photo: November 20, 2016)

Englewood, Florida: For the second straight year, the fast racing action of the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) descended on Englewood Beach for Englewood Beach Waterfest.  As a result of a cancellation of the Ocean City event, Englewood would be the host of both the OPA National and World Championships. The OPA World Championship was a culmination of two days of action packed races.  The teams earned points during a race on Saturday and a race on Sunday.  The team with the highest points at the end of the weekend went home with a World Championship. Here are the results for the 2016 OPA World Championship: Class 2  1st - 211 Bat Boat Class 3  1st - 302 2nd Ammendment Super Vee  1st - 306 Strictly Business 2nd - 3-V1 Wazzup 3rd - 3-V7 Repeat Offender II Class 4  1st - 441 Saris Racing 2nd - 411 Perdition 3rd - 455 Nick's Creative Marine 4th - 407 GetRubberMulch.com 5th - 466 American Outlaw Class 5 1st - 546 Reinforcer...

A pair of Great Horned Owls sits in their nest at Stump Pass State Park on the south end of Manasota Key. As the babies sat in the nest, mother was not far away watching from a nearby tree. The owls are a popular resident of the coastal park (Photo: March 5, 2013)

Two baby owls sit in their nest at Stump Pass State Park.  The Great Horned Owls nested as the southern end of the park.  (Photo: March 5, 2013)

A gopher tortoise crosses the hiking path at Stump Pass State Park on the southern end of Manasota Key in Englewood. The 245 acre park is home to plenty of wildlife as well as great aquatic activities on the Gulf of Mexico and Lemon Bay. (Photo: March 5, 2013)

A fledgling Great Horned Owl peeks out of the nest at Stump Pass State Park. The nest located near the end of the nature trail is home to two fledgling owls and their parents. You can see more photos of the nest in my Stump Pass State Park photo gallery by clicking her e. (Photo: March 5, 2013)

The calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico meet the shores of Stump Pass State Park. Located on the southern tip of Manasota Key, Stump Pass offers visitors miles of natural Florida beaches. (Photo: August 10, 2010)

Englewood, Florida: At the southern tip of Manasota Key lies a stretch of natural Florida coastline known as Stump Pass Beach State Park. The mile plus strand of unspoiled coastal land is a favorite to locals and tourists alike. Many flock to the park for the great beach, shelling and fishing. The park is made up of three islands sandwiched between the Gulf of Mexico and Lemon Bay. The main portion of the park is located on Manasota Key and is accessible via the Tom Adams Bridge. Here is the gulf beaches, picnic areas, bath house and nature trail. As you head further east you encounter the uninhabited Peterson Island and Whidden Key which are also part of the park and only accessible via boat. The body of water separating the islands is known as Ski Alley and is a popular local water recreation area. At the southern end of the park is Stump Pass, one of the few passes in the area that allow you to enter the Gulf of Mexico from the Intercoastal Waterway. The water activities are...