Dinner for One

If you're going to dine alone at Lovers Key State Park, you might as well do it in style.  I love how this osprey maneuvered his fish dinner within this split tree branch so that it's wedged in there snugly.  That way, when feeling peckish, the osprey doesn't have to clamp his talons onto the fish to keep it in position.  Rather clever, I'd say.

Lovers Key Beach

It's not that easy to find a desolate beach in Florida.  So, I was thrilled when I strolled around the corner at Lovers Key State Park and saw this deserted scene.  I encountered one other person on this stretch of beach and he was doing what I was doing:  meandering along taking pictures with his DSLR.  (If you zoom into the middle of the photo you can see him.  Otherwise, he blends into the background quite nicely.)  This is a wide shot of the area where I took the last two photos I've posted.  You see how close the green treetops are to the Gulf of Mexico?  That's what makes this area so inviting to ospreys.  Tomorrow we'll take another up close and personal view of this popular bird of prey.  

Lovers Key Hunter

Hunting is banned in Lovers Key State Park unless, of course, you're an osprey.  As it turns out, ospreys adore this park.  I spotted at least half a dozen nests lining the beach less than 30 yards from the Gulf of Mexico.  (Apparently, they subscribe to the adage 'location, location, location'.)   They can sit in a tree high above everything, then soar a very short distance to hunt for some sushi. This handsome fellow cruised right overhead as he was heading out to look for dinner. Those intense yellow eyeballs  and sharp beak are rather formidable, wouldn't you say? 

Lovers Key

At Lovers Key State Park….channeling Clyde Butcher, Florida's modern day version of Ansel Adams.  Over the next few days, I'll share more photos from this heavenly slice of paradise in Ft. Myers Beach. Have a nice Saturday!

Theme Day - Stylish

It's Theme Day in the City Daily Photo world!  This month's theme, courtesy of Grace at Perth Daily Photo, is stylish.  I had a photo in mind at the end of last week, then everything changed when the Tampa Bay Lightning, our National Hockey League team, won game 7 of their conference playoff series last Friday night to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.  I think the SDP Editor in Chief  could be heard all the way in Tampa yelping, 'Stop the presses!', just so we could accommodate the most current example of stylish.  Everything with the Lightning logo is very stylish right now in the Tampa Bay area.  How stylish?  This was the fourth sporting goods store I went to before I could find some Lightning garb.  The other places were picked over and sold out.  The Lightning players are speedy and fun to watch on the ice…and I'm looking forward to a good series against the Chicago Blackhawks, which starts in Tampa this Wednesday.  It's June and we're playing hockey in Florida -- how great is that?!  It will be tough, but I think the Stanley Cup is coming back to Tampa.  Go Bolts!  To see other stylish photos from CDP participants click here.