Amelia Island Nature: Sea Myrtle’s “Snow” Flurries, Red Holly Berries

It’s been flurrying “Florida snow” around Amelia Island, especially near Egans Greenway in Fernandina Beach. White fluffs, Sea Myrtle seeds, are blowing around in the breeze mimicking flurries.

Highlights of Late Autumn Changes, Fernandina Beach, FL
Sea Myrtle (Saltbush, Groundsel) at Egans Creek, Fernandina Beach
Sea Myrtle (Saltbush, Groundsel) at Egans Creek, Fernandina Beach

It’s been flurrying around Amelia Island, especially in the northside of Egans Greenway in Fernandina Beach.  Florida’s “snow,” the seeds of saltbush (Sea Myrtle), fly in the breeze. These white fluffs mimic snowflakes as they blow around. Locals living near the Greenway know they stick to doormats, requiring a good sweeping to remove.

In late November, Amelia Island’s saltbush “fluffs” went airborne, nature’s way of dispersing the seeds. These island shrubs, common in natural areas such as the Greenway here at the coast, have been blooming a blizzard. Under clusters of saltbush (also known as Groundsel), it looks a bit like a dusting of snow.

Florida’s Native Holly Trees

While palm trees pop into the minds of many when thinking about Florida, red berries abound on native holly trees during fall into winter. Did you know that Florida has 11 native holly species?

Take a walk in Fort Clinch State Park or Egans Greenway and even along historic Centre Street in Fernandina and you’ll see the common Dahoon holly and/or Yaupon holly. There are holly trees in front of the Palace Saloon and a few in the pocket park next to Centre Street’s “Christmas on the River” shop.

Florida’s state bird, the Northern Mockingbird, has been seen lately in Egans Greenway enjoying a meal of bright red holly berries.  Yaupon Holly leaves were used to make the “black drink” by Native American Indians (highly caffeinated and antioxidant-rich).   Also, “Spanish settlers steeped Yaupon leaves and twigs in hot water to make a stimulating beverage.” (Read interesting article by University of Florida about native Yaupon Holly published in 2009.) While Dahoon Holly leaves have a smooth edge, by contrast, Yaupon Holly’s leaves are darker green with “sawtooth” edge.

Another seasonal change in the coastal landscape is the glasswort turning from green to red this time of year, adding a pop of color low to the ground within Egans Greenway. (Glasswort is commonly found in salt marshes.)

Winged Migrants Arriving

There’s also been plenty of opportunity for birding enthusiasts to spot seasonal migrants. Just some of the visitors seen lately have been swarms of Tree Swallows, a variety of Warblers, Grey Catbirds, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Savannah Sparrow.  Any time now, flocks of Cedar Waxwings will be eating island berries. Hooded Mergansers also arrive this time of year for their seasonal visit. These small ducks prefer “wetlands, brackish estuaries and tidal creeks” for their winter habitat. Very timid, Hooded Mergansers can be spotted in Egans Creek (but approach as quietly as possible). The male duck is beautiful with its white-crested head, fan-shaped when raised.  Another type of duck, the Black Scoter, was recently spotted in the ocean near the shoreline of Amelia Island State Park.  Monarch butterflies have also arrived but seem sparse (adding credence to the massive decline of Monarchs this year in Mexico).  For more info, read New York Times article, “The Year The Monarch Didn’t Appear” (published in Nov., 2013).