Exploring Jekyll Island, GA

Kelly and Carol on Driftwood Beach

We've been having a marvelous time exploring Jekyll Island.  Driftwood Beach is a magical experience.  I could post countless pictures of these majestic dead trees, but I picked just a couple to give you the idea.  Driftwood Beach is a quick bike ride from the campsite, and one of the first places we visited this trip.  Click the link for some exquisite sunset photos on the Golden Isles Georgia website.

Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island

 

Driftwood Beach

We were very fortunate to have a few days that were warm enough to be beach days.  There are 7 different Jekyll Island Beaches.  We visited four of those: Driftwood Beach, Glory Beach, St. Andrew's Beach and Oceanview Beach Park.  We did not visit Great Dunes Beach Park, South Dunes Beach Park, or Corsair Beach Park.  Something to look forward to next time.  I did go in the water once up to my knees, and something bit my toe, so I high tailed it back to the shore.  The water is very muddy and not very swim friendly anyway.

Oceanview Beach Park

At St. Andrew's Beach we saw several groups of people "seining".  Two people would each hold a pole with a net attached that looked very much like a volleyball net and walk through the water.  They walked parallel to the beach and then the person who was out further would swing in and they would bring the net up and lay it on the beach.  Then they would walk around the net and pick up the shrimp that were caught in the net to put in their bucket.  They repeated this over and over.  It was very interesting to watch.

Seining for shrimp at St. Andrew's Beach

St. Andrew's Beach

St. Andrew's Beach

In addition to beach visits, we took several bike rides.  Many of these were on paved bike paths, but this path to Horton Pond, which is behind Horton House, was a woodland dirt path.  There is a small viewing area on the edge of Horton Pond.  From the viewing area we could see several turtles sunning on a platform in the distance, and one was swimming close by.  

Biking into Horton Pond

Biking in to Horton Pond

Horton Pond

Softshell turtle in Horton Pond

A bonus feature of this spectacular island has been the chance to share it with our friends, Jerry and Sherry, and their cutie pie pooch, Pinky.  Jerry and Sherry were our neighbors at Tamiami Village RV Park in Florida last winter.  We had told them stories about how much we loved Jekyll Island after visiting last year, so they decided to book a campsite at Jekyll Island Campground this year too.  We've had a grand time sharing this fantastic location with them.  In fact, in no time Sherry became a local expert telling us about must see spots such as the Amphitheater Ruins.  We all love this place so much, we've already made our reservations for next year! 😀

Jerry, Sherry, Kelly, Carol and of course, Pinky 🐾 at the Jekyll Island Beach House 

In the center of Jekyll Island is the Historic District.  It was once an exclusive, secluded club for the uber wealthy known as the Jekyll Island Club.  Many prominent families had cottages on the island.  We biked past many of these magnificent cottages, but did not stop to take pictures.  A goal for another time, as they are lovely and would be worthy of a blog post all their own.  The Jekyll Island Club Resort is an operational resort offering high end accommodations on the island in grand Victorian mansions.

Jekyll Island Club Resort 

Crane Cottage, part of the Jekyll Island Club Resort

We did stop to photograph some unique and captivating butterflies and moths on a bush on the grounds of the Jekyll Island Club Resort.  Sherry told me about iNaturalist, which has an app and website to help with identification of all things found in nature: birds, butterflies, plants, flowers, bugs, animals, etc.  iNaturalist is a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. I downloaded the free app on my phone, uploaded these photos and it quickly identified all of these and provided a brief overview of information about each.  I LOVE this app.  Thanks Sherry!

Zebra Longwing Butterfly

Gulf Fritillary or Passion Butterfly

Polk-Dot Wasp Moth

There are four golf courses on the island.  Three are 18 hole public golf courses, and one is a 9 hole course.  Carol played the 9 hole Great Dunes course.  She loved the ocean views from some spots on the course.

Great Dunes Golf Course

I mentioned that Sherry got a tip about visiting the Amphitheater Ruins.  The ruins themselves were very cool, but they are on the way to a nesting area for Roseate Spoonbills.  These are a relatively rare wading bird from the ibis and spoonbill family.  The amphitheater and pond was a bit difficult to find.  There is a small parking area near the intersection of James and Stable Roads, just before the fire station.  Park to the right, and look for the frame indicating the beginning of the path to the amphitheater.  The distance to the amphitheater is only a few hundred yards.  Walk to the left around the back side of the amphitheater and the path will lead to the ruins.  Walk down the amphitheater steps towards the stage.  You can see the pond in the distance.  Walk left towards the pond.  As you approach the pond there will be spots along the edge of the pond where the vegetation is less dense and you can see across the pond to the nesting area.  

Beginning of the path to the Amphitheater Ruins

Looking down towards the amphitheater stage

Beautiful old railing at amphitheater ruins

Graffiti at the amphitheater

Funky stencil graffiti at the amphitheater

Roseate Spoonbills (taken by holding my phone up to the binocular lens)

Roseate Spoonbill in flight

Roseate Spoonbills nesting area on the pond behind the Amphitheater Ruins

We also visited the pond at the Tidelands Nature Center in hopes of seeing more wading birds.  We did see one perched in a tree that took me some time to identify.  Viewing through the binoculars I could see a 4-5" bill, a white tufted crown, framed in black, a gray neck and spectacular long spiky neck plumage on a black and white body.  I was baffled.  After some research I discovered that this is a great blue heron.

Kelly & Carol outside Tidelands Nature Center

Great Blue Heron in Live Oak, Tidelands Nature Center

Today we took a lovely bike ride.  We discovered this trail that goes from the Jekyll Island Campground, across the street and down the road to Clam Creek Picnic Area across a small bridge and through the marsh to Driftwood Beach.  The variety of places to explore by bicycle is one of our favorite things about this island, and there is so much to love about this island.  

Biking from Clam Creek Picnic Area to Driftwood Beach

Snowy Egret taking flight as we approach on our bikes

We ended the day with our friends watching the sunset.  We are truly grateful for each moment of this grand adventure - life!  As Thanksgiving approaches and we all focus on what we have to be thankful for,  I hope we will remember that Gratitude turns everyday into Thanksgiving.  It is not joy that makes us grateful, but gratitude that makes us joyful.  Wishing you and yours a joyful Thanksgiving.  😃🍁🦃💖

Kelly, Carol, Sherry, Jerry and Pinky watching sunset on St. Andrew's Beach

11/20/20 Sunset on St. Andrew's Beach, Jekyll Island, GA