Ho Hum RV Park Carrabelle, Florida & Spawning horse shoe crabsThursday, March 8 found us traveling from Pensacola, Florida to the small coastal town of Carrabelle in the Big Bend of Florida south of Tallahassee. We stopped in Ho Hum RV-Park where we visited with long time RV'ing friends Det & Judy who are spending the winter in Ho Hum.
Sunset from Ho Hum RV Park near Carrabelle, Florida
Ho Hum RV-Park on US highway 98 a few miles east of Carrabelle is one of the last RV-Parks located directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Most RV-Parks on the Gulf have been converted to condominiums. As the sun went down I strolled out on the dock to take this picture.
Adult pelican in winter plumage at Ho Hum RV Park near Carrabelle
These pelicans hang around the dock at Ho Hum hoping for one of the fishermen to toss them a fish. Adult brown pelicans are in winter plumage this time of year and are showing some brilliant colors.
Adult brown pelican in winter plumage: Picture taken from dock at Ho Hum RV Park near Carrabelle, Florida
Adult brown pelican waiting on scraps from the fish cleaning table at Ho Hum RV Park near Carrabelle, Florida
Laughing gull at Ho Hum RV Park near Carrabelle
Laughing gull in winter plumage sitting on piling at Ho Hum RV Park near Carrabelle, Florida.
Spawning horse shoe crab at Ho Hum RV Park near Carrabelle
Det took these pictures of horseshoe crabs in the surf during their annual spawning ritual. Note how they deposit their eggs in the surf during this annual event and how the females are larger than the males. Despite their intimidating appearance, horseshoe crabs are not dangerous. The tail is used to turn themselves over when the surf flips them on their back.
Spawning horse shoe crabs on beach at Ho Hum RV Park
At the beginning of spawning season (early spring in this area) each female will be carrying about 80,000 eggs. She will return to the beach on successive tides laying 4 to 5 clutches of eggs with each tide. These clusters will represent about 4,000-eggs so each female will keep visiting the beach until she has deposited about 20-egg clusters.
Notice how barnacles have attached to the shells of some horseshoe crabs. Horseshoe crabs can live 25-years so the ones with large clusters of barnacles are older crabs. Generally, females will have more than one male fertilizing her eggs.
Spawning horse shoe crabs on beach at Ho Hum RV Park
Spawning horse shoe crabs on beach at Ho Hum RV Park Carrabelle, Florida
Notice how the female horseshoe crab on the right is missing part of her shell. She will regrow that shell.
Horseshoe crabs are an astonishingly adaptable. They are an ancient species as in over 25-million years, predating flying insects, dinosaurs and man.
Ho Hum RV Park from their dock
RV's parked on the Gulf at Ho Hum RV-Park.
Spawning horse shoe crabs at Ho Hum RV Park near Carrabelle, Florida
These pictures were taken on the beach directly in front of the row of RV's pictured above. Don't think that you are just going to arrive and see this. It is much more likely that you will never see a live horseshoe crab during your stay.
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Click here for our Florida travellogsUntil next time remember how good life is. Some Florida Forgotten Coast Adventures** ** More 2007 Travel Adventures Mike & Joyce Hendrix
Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures: Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page Travel Adventures by Year ** Travel Adventures by State ** Plants ** Marine-Boats ** Geology ** Exciting Drives ** Cute Signs ** RV Subjects ** Miscellaneous Subjects
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