Theme Day: Photo of the Year

My goodness...where did 2016 go?!  On this first day of 2017, I'm pleased to report the entire staff at Sarasota Daily Photo is healthy, whole and ready to contribute to the city daily photo blogosphere! 

It's always difficult to root through one's archives and select the best photo of the year. So, the SDP editorial board added a requirement:  the best photo of the year in the Sarasota area that hasn't been published yet. This shot of the Sunshine Sky Bridge was taken at dusk last February -- one of the best times of year for sunsets in Florida.  The Skyway connects Pinellas County and Manatee County and spans over Tampa Bay.  Great views when you're driving across! And, when conditions are right, you can capture a nice panoramic from Ft. DeSoto Park, which is where this was taken. 

Wishing everyone in the CDP community a healthy and prosperous 2017 filled with many awesome photo opps!  Happy New Year!  To see other theme day submissions click here.

The One That Got Away….Almost

As I strolled to the end of the bird walk at Myakka River State Park last Friday night, I caught a glimpse of a great blue heron with a sizable catfish in its beak.  I set up my camera and for ten minutes, I watched this bird play with its pending dinner. It picked up the fish, dunked it in the water, proudly displayed it in its bill, then dropped it back in the muddy water. This happened over and over again. One would think the fish was long dead after enduring so much. Well, not so fast!  

Roll the video….!

You can also watch the video on YouTube.

Too bad it was so windy….making it difficult to hear my commentary.  After regaining control of the situation, 20 minutes passed…. and that heron still hadn't eaten the fish!  Not sure what it was waiting for…but, unfortunately, I lost all daylight.  So, I don't actually know if the bird ever enjoyed its sushi dinner.  I can only hope so (and hope that fish was put out of its misery).

Hunting

 

It wasn't until I downloaded this photo and looked closer that I realized the little dark blob just in front of the Great Blue Heron is actually a big flying insect.  Imagine that!  At the time, I just thought the heron was enjoying a good stare into space while he waited for an unsuspecting meal to happen by --- perhaps a lizard or small rodent.  Little did I know (according a bird website), the  GBH will "eat nearly anything within striking distance".  Hmmm…I don't recall him snapping at the air.  But, now I wonder if that blob could've been appetizer.

Stealthy Observer

Great Blue Herons can be quite stealthy, especially considering their size.  When I was at the New Pass Bait & Grill recently taking pictures of egrets, I turned around and was a bit startled to see this large guy standing a few feet behind me near a picnic table.  I guess he was patiently waiting for his close-up.  Here you go, Mr. GBH!

Playful Heron

When it started raining quite hard at Myakka State Park, I was surprised to see this great blue heron standing in the parking lot getting soaked.  Then, things got really interesting when he started dancing. Yep, dancing in the rain! 

This bird hopped, jumped, flapped its wings and pretty much let its guard down and just had fun in the downpour.  I was tucked inside my car and couldn't believe what I seeing.  What a goofy bird! But, when he finished dancing he wasn't done having fun. 

He found this stick and starting playing with it...tossing it up and down.  When I mentioned the bird to a park ranger he immediately knew who I was talking about and where he was located in the park. Apparently, this great blue heron has quite a reputation for silly behavior.

2nd Anniversary

To mark the 2nd anniversary of Sarasota Daily Photo, I offer a photo which encompasses a little of everything that most people were interested in based on our recent poll: beaches, wildlife and a surprise. (Thanks to everyone who voted!) This picture was taken on South Lido Beach in the early evening on a week night. Lido Key has the only beaches within the Sarasota city limits.  That beautiful body of water is Sarasota Bay which flows into the Gulf of Mexico (just to the right out of frame). You can run along the beach, go boating, check out the shorebirds and then be in St. Armands Circle for fine shopping and dining within a matter of minutes. The great blue heron tucked in the foliage on the beach is real. He was rather funny because he seemed to act as those he was completely camouflaged and no one could see him people watching.

I've enjoyed blogging for the past two years and meeting so many different people in the City Daily Photo world and blogosphere.  Through your terrific posts and thoughtful comments, I feel as though I know many of you although we've never met in person.  One of my goals with SDP was to improve my photography.  Some days I think that's happened. Other days I don't know what I was thinking when I snapped a picture!  My ornithological knowledge definitely has increased as I try to figure out what the birds are that I'm shooting. Without SDP, I never would have had the fantastic experience of documenting Henry and Henrietta and their family (a SDP follower tipped me off to their nest) or the bald eagle family.  Thanks to everyone who visits SDP and comments.  I wish I could post every day, but unfortunately, Sarasota daily life gets in the way.  I've read about some CDP bloggers who quit posting because they become overwhelmed with trying to continually find good photo opps and write about them.  I don't want SDP, which I started as a fun hobby, to turn into a chore.  The content ultimately would suffer.  So, if you don't see a post for a few days or don't see me commenting in awhile, please know I haven't disappeared for long.  Happy blogging!

Nothing To Lose Your Head Over

I encountered this great blue heron fishing near the Siesta Key bridge and I was rather perplexed when it caught this fish sans body. After a few minutes of watching the bird (which seemed equally perplexed and aware that something was missing), I realized some nearby fishermen probably had chopped off the heads of their catch and tossed them in the bay. He seemed to want a whole fish --- and a live one that would put up a bit of a fight --- because over the course of the next 15 minutes, it couldn't decide what to do: eat it...or leave it? Time and time again, it pulled the head out of the water, shook it, and walked around with it, only to drop it back in the water with an air of disappointment. Finally, though, it must have figured the fish head was at least an appetizer and **gulp** down the hatch it went, in one big, disturbing swallow. Wow.

Sushi Appetizer

Some of the more lackadaisical birds here in Sarasota like to hang out at the Saprito fishing pier and gobble up any handouts that might come their way.  This great blue heron scored a tidbit when an angler tossed some bait to it.  I've seen great blue herons swallow an entire large fish in one gulp.  So, this morsel really must have been just an appetizer.

Heron, Party of One

I spotted this great blue heron standing guard near a drainage fence and pipe at the celery fields.  He was very intent on staring at the water, although it didn't seem like the best place for a fishing expedition.     A couple of times, he wandered a few yards away, only to return several minutes later and resume staring at the water once again.  Perhaps he was aware of something I wasn't.   While observing this somewhat agonizing process, I just kept thinking, 'I'm glad I don't have to hunt for my dinner tonight.'

Nesting

The other night I was at Ken Thompson Park on Sarasota Bay when I heard a loud flapping sound behind me.  It was this great blue heron landing right next to me.  Since it was almost sunset, I figured it was there to hunt for a nice meal.  And, camera in hand, I was ready to tag along on the hunt!  Slowly, it wandered along the shore.  But, it really didn't appear to be looking for anything.  Then, it snapped up this twig and within seconds it was airborne.  I'm sure she's building a very nice nest.

Bird's Eye View

I haven't posted a bird picture for at least a couple of weeks....so, here we go!  Here's a Great Blue Heron hanging out, looking for dinner in the distance.  I really do love the birds here in Sarasota.  I hear an effort is underway by the local Audubon Society chapter to turn an old vegetable field into a County park because exotic birds migrate there.  Sounds like a pretty cool idea.

Lighthouse

This is a different kind of lighthouse!   Every time I go to the Saprito fishing pier near downtown, I see this great blue heron (or one of its friends/family) sitting atop this street light.  I can only imagine the view he has up there, gazing off into the distance over Sarasota Bay.  

Watery Wednesday - Dinner Time

                               

I spotted this great blue heron at the Saprito Fishing Pier near downtown at 6:15 last night  --  dinner time.  A large, unidentifiable fish was protruding from its beak.  Not only was  this bird a good fisherman, it seemed to be following an I-just-caught-a-big-fish-for-dinner ritual.  After displaying its prize for all to see for several minutes, it flew to a nearby secluded alcove where it dunked its meal in Sarasota Bay not once but twice (pausing each time to enjoy the anticipation of  a hard earned meal) and then -- **gulp** -- down the hatch!  One bite.  That's some kind of dinner.   To see more fish dinner pics check out my Flickr page.  And, more Watery Wednesday photos from around the world are posted here.

Clumsy Heron

This great blue heron at the Saprito Fishing Pier had been sitting quite agilely, with its large claws wrapped around the aluminum railing, watching over Sarasota Bay with an air of regal authority -- until this young fisherman approached.  The bird was so startled that it lost its balance and nearly fell right off its perch.  The boy's expression was priceless:  "You're a bird.  What are you doing?!"

Aerodynamic Hunter

I discovered this Great Blue Heron a couple blocks from downtown soaring low over Sarasota Bay hunting for dinner.  I love how its legs are fully extended.  Even its claws are stretched to be as aerodynamic as possible.