Shades of Pink

A bit messy...slopping seagrass on that spoonbill, but nevertheless, those shades of pink are very pretty!  Spotted this roseate spoonbill Monday evening on Sarasota Bay -- a fun and unusual sighting in the summertime.  Typically, the roseate spoonbills have migrated north by this time of year.  Whatever the season, it's always a thrill to see one!

Monday Glow

Sometimes it's necessary to catch a sunset on a Monday. 

This was last night on Sarasota Bay.

 Hope your week is off to a good start!

Go Green

I'm not sure if I've ever seen seaweed this bright -- almost an electric green!  It washed ashore from the Gulf of Mexico onto Sanibel island during low tide, just as an afternoon thunderstorm was rolling in. 

And, of course, there were lots (and lots!) of seashells tucked in the thick seaweed.  Isn't Mother Nature amazing?!  I don't recall seeing this seaweed on the beach the next day.  I guess it washed back out to sea.  Or perhaps it turned a dull greenish/brown hue and I didn't notice it...

Island Scene

Love the moodiness of this scene on Sanibel:  Abandoned colorful chairs as beachgoers get one last  dip in before the storm arrives.  The patriotic bunting draped over the lighthouse was a nice touch for the Fourth of July weekend.

Fighting Conch

This is one of my favorite pics taken on vacation on Sanibel.  I was wading in the Gulf of Mexico with my Go Pro when I encountered this Florida fighting conch in the shimmering water with waves lapping over it.  (No staging!)  This is a pretty common scene on Sanibel, which is world renown for its abundance of seashells...and I never get tired of it.

Well Wishes

If you're a tennis fan or watch any sports news, I'm sure you've heard the news about the horrific knee injury American tennis player Bethanie Mattek-Sands suffered yesterday during a second round singles match at Wimbledon. I blogged about Bethanie after seeing her in action this past spring at the Miami Open. She was so much fun interacting with fans after the match that she quickly became one of my favorite players on the women's tour. I've been following her silly antics and serious tennis play on social media and was happy to see she was doing well playing singles.  And, as the #1 ranked doubles player in the world, she was on her way to hold all four grand slam titles consecutively.  Then...this awful injury.  Absolutely heartbreaking.  Praying for the best care and a full recovery!

Seeing the Light

Nothing like sunrise on Sanibel island!

Great time of year to be here as we get ready to celebrate America's birthday.

Theme Day: Motion

 

I hadn't visited The Butterfly Estates in Ft. Myers for a few years, so I was very happy to return last weekend and encounter lots of beautiful butterflies. This scene was quite interesting.  Several monarch butterflies were captivated by this plant...energetically flitting around, landing, and flapping their wings even more.  Lots of motion -- which (conveniently) is this month's theme day in the City Daily Photo blogosphere.  To see other interpretations of motion click here.