Saturday Sunset

 

Pulled myself away from the newly discovered eagle nest for a sunset last night on the Gulf of Mexico.  Can't go wrong with either one, really.

And Then...

 

...there were two!

Right on Time

 

This guy is right on time! He arrives about 30 minutes before sunset with just enough sunlight for me to snap a few pics.  So considerate!  When I downloaded this pic, I noticed the incredible camouflage with the eagle's feathers and the tree bark.  Almost indistinguishable -- amazing!

Howdy, Neighbor!

 

Last week, while taking an evening stroll in the neighborhood, a bald eagle buzzed right by me! Seriously.  It was probably 25-30 yards away and just 25 feet in the air.  No mistaking it.  A short while later, I spotted it sitting in a tall pine tree, which I strongly suspected was its nest. So, this past Monday, I ventured out on my evening walk toting my camera, long lens and tripod.  I didn't have to wait long at the nest before I heard a familiar swoosh/thwump -- and voila! -- the eagle has landed!  So exciting! Once the summer rains start, the leaves probably will fill in enough to hide the nest, so I have to enjoy this awesome slice of nature while I can.  And, as far as I can tell, no one else has found it...which explains why, as Editor in Chief, I've issued an order for the entire SDP staff to keep mum.  Ssshh!

Black-crowned Night-heron

 

Spotted this black-crowned night-heron roosting at the Tony Saprito Fishing Pier in downtown  Sarasota patiently -- and hopefully -- awaiting a handout. I suspect he knows he's handsome -- bloodshot eye and all.  What do you think?

Back in the Saddle

 

I'm back in the saddle after my amazing adventure in the Pacific Northwest!  I've been enjoying some nice sunsets here (along with the pleasant spring weather we've been having).  I caught this sunset on Sarasota Bay last week after work. (Love working just blocks from the water!) This is the Ringling Bridge in downtown Sarasota which connects to the barrier islands, including Lido Key and Longboat Key.  Just before I moved to Sarasota, there was a big controversy whether to replace an old drawbridge with this one. Hard to imagine...because now, this bridge is iconic -- featured in most scenic photos of downtown -- and very popular with runners and walkers.  Can't imagine downtown Sarasota without it.

SDP Meets SDP

Well, this is what happens when Sarasota Daily Photo (left) meets Sequim Daily Photo in Sequim, Washington.  Would you expect anything less?!  The entire SDP team was given a very warm welcome by Kay and her DH.  What a pleasure to meet both in person!  They were hospitable and gracious, welcoming us (chilled) Floridians with tasty homemade soup before we ventured out for a tour of the area (cameras in hand, of course).  Although it was overcast and drizzling on and off while we toured, the sheer natural beauty of the area was evident.  Almost immediately, we spotted bald eagles -- much to our delight.

This is an adult bald eagle with two juveniles.  (To me, the two juvies looked like vultures, so it was very helpful to have Kay and DH's discerning eyes.)  Then, a short distance away...

....we encountered this guy hanging out in a tree along the road.  He didn't mind us walking up quite close.  He appeared to be having a good stare over the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

This is the general area the eagle was watching over.  As one who adores lighthouses, this part of Sequim fascinated me.  This is the New Dungeness lighthouse.  You can get there by hiking five (5) miles across, what I believe Kay and DH said, is the longest natural spit in the U.S.  Wow!  Had time permitted, the SDP team would've happily taken on that challenge!

We visited several places that Kay has blogged about, like the Dungeness Recreation Area and Port Williams (shown here).  The bluffs, driftwood, flat stones (good for skipping!) and grey skies here  reminded me a lot of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan.

During our outing, Kay and DH gave us the inside skinny on what's going on in the community such as a proposal to possibly privatize John Wayne marina.  Sure hope it remains publicly owned at the very least.  It seems like a wonderful community asset.

I kept saying, 'Oh, yeah...I saw this posted on your blog!'   Case in point:  this lovely bucolic scene.  

Our time was limited, but we made the most of it, visiting many areas in Sequim and enjoying good conversation.  Before departing, the entire SDP team even was treated to a behind the scenes peek at the other SDP global headquarters.  Nice!  Thanks again for the hospitality -- very enjoyable!

On the Move

The SDP team has been on the move and is fresh back from an incredible visit to the Pacific Northwest, which included a wonderful meet-up with a fellow City Daily Photo blogger. More on that tomorrow! 

But, first, let's check in and confirm that all's well in Sarasota. With Easter in the rearview mirror, it seems many of our seasonal residents have returned up north (probably much to their chagrin based on the snowy conditions I'm seeing on the news) and the roads and beaches here are a bit easier to navigate.

I stopped by Lido Beach after work last Friday night and seeing the above scene, my curiosity was piqued (again): What is it with boys and seabirds?  It seems they can't resist chasing a flock of birds resting on the beach.  In this case, though, these were black skimmers which are protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Florida threatened species list. So, after watching this large flock of skimmers being startled into flight, swooping around, and landing only for the cycle to repeat itself several more times, I began contemplating whether I should explain to the boys that their playful exuberance was probably quite stressful for our feathered friends. Fortunately, another beach goer interceded.

 

The boys reacted good naturally, taking it all in stride, and leaving the birds to roost contentedly in the sand.  Hope everyone in the Blogosphere has been doing well.