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Bald Eagle captured on video on Western Lake in South Walton County

A Southern Bald Eagle scans the waters of Western Lake in South Walton County Florida on Dec. 22. Locals and visitors have been enjoying the unusual sightings of the bald eagles the last few weeks. Local Jamie Conley first captured a great photo of an eagle last week perched on the same tree. According to park service specialists at Grayton Beach State Park, the raptors have been fishing on the northern portion of Western Lake since the outfall to the...

Driftwood Estates County Park opens

Ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Nov. 12, 10:00 a.m. Walton County District 5 Commissioner Cecilia Jones and neighborhood leaders of Driftwood Estates in Santa Rosa Beach will officially open the new Driftwood Estates County Park on Thursday, November 12 at 10:00 a.m.  The ceremony will be located on the grounds of the new 10-acre park located on East Shipwreck Road in Santa Rosa Beach. Construction of the $181,167 park began in April of 2008 and includes a basketball court, multi-use field,...

It’s scuppernong time!

Called a scuppernong or muscandine, the wild grape (Vitis rotundifolia) is valued for its edible, tasty fruit. Wild grape grows from Texas to south Florida, north to Delaware, and west to Missouri. Currently bearing fruit along the Panhandle, the grapes are a favorite food source for white-tailed deer and other wildlife also eat the fruit, including black bear, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, and opossum. Songbirds such as cardinals, mockingbirds, robins, cedar waxwings, consume the fruit...

Ugh… the dog flies have arrived in the Florida Panhandle

Dog flies a nuisance to both humans and pets from August to November When fall comes to our area, those refreshing weather fronts will move through from the north bringing lower humidity, lower temperatures and the infamous dog fly. The stable fly, known as the dog fly in Northwest Florida, is a blood feeding fly that is a nuisance to man, pets, and livestock. From August through November the dog fly congregates on the Florida Panhandle beaches. This fly originates...

Loggerhead turtle lays eggs in broad daylight

Typically, loggerhead turtles lay their eggs at night, but one special mother turtle decided that the morning hours of July 23 was her time. The loggerhead was discovered by a local beach goer, Ray Combs who called Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). FWC  then called South Walton Turtle Watch Group who were able to document the event, and mark her nest. The turtle was able to lay her eggs and return to the Gulf of Mexico without incident....