Oystercatcher

Who can resist the the bright orange beak and orange-yellow eyes of an oystercatcher? Not me! Such a unique seabird. I spotted this guy this past weekend during a relaxing day at Lover's Key State Park near Ft. Myers Beach.  Oystercatchers prefer environs south of Sarasota, so it was fun to encounter this one....who appeared to have his head cocked and ready for his closeup.  Nice!

Lone Trees

As I mentioned in a previous post, several dead-looking trees line the beach at Lovers Key State Park near Ft. Myers Beach.  The evening I took this photo, the sky and Gulf of Mexico were quite colorful, but I couldn't resist converting this image to black and white.  Moody! The entire SDP staff will be taking a brief respite  from the blogosphere -- off to Key Biscayne (Miami) for the annual tennis tournament and then, if the weather holds out, to Everglades National Park.  Looking forward to it.  So many photo opportunities await!  

Reaching

I'm not sure if the trees along the beach at Lovers Key State Park are dead, but I always enjoy photographing them.  I tried to glean some information about the trees and learned this from the park website:  This side of Lovers Key was so thick with mangroves, bushes, and pine trees it essentially was inaccessible -- until Hurricane Charley hit in 2004. The damage to the area was so severe beach restoration was necessary.   Trees were removed and the area cleared, creating a 2 mile stretch of open beach.  Although the original environment is gone, I think this new area is pretty special (even more so, now that I know the history with Hurricane Charley).  By the way, I snapped this photo just before the fiery orange ball I posted yesterday.

Sunset Cruise

After a few days of fog photos, we're back to sunsets (as promised).  This was a stunning one at Lovers Key State Park a few weeks ago.  Several miles up the road, the beaches are packed with students and families enjoying Spring Break.  But here?  It's just enough of a hike to scare people away … and, after a short (and beautiful) walk, I was rewarded with a deserted beach.  As I watched the sun expand into a glowing orange ball and sink into the Gulf of Mexico…that silhouetted boat puttered by, almost on cue.   I posted this photo of what the sky looked like that evening when I was hoofing back to the park entrance.  Slowly but surely, the SDP staff is circling back to an array of sunset photos and, yes, more Sunshine Skyway pics are still on tap.  So much to share!  Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.

Overheard: Sandpiper Trio

Spotted along a deserted stretch of the Gulf of Mexico at Lovers Key State Park:

Sandpiper #1:   "We're lost."

Sandpiper #2:   "We're not lost, Mildred."

Sandpiper #1:   "Of course we're lost, Clarence.   Look around!  Where are the snowbirds?!"

Sandpiper #3 (teenager): "I'm so embarrassed!"

Sea Oat Sunset

Sundown last night through the sea oats at Lovers Key State Park near Ft. Myers Beach. This is my favorite time of year to photograph sunsets in the Sunshine State. So, consider yourself officially advised that SDP might be glowing with more sunset photos than usual in the coming posts.

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!

Solitude

Nothing like a peaceful burst of sun along the Gulf of Mexico late in the day.  It's been a sultry summer in Florida. But, it was tolerable when I headed out to Lover's Key State Park near Ft. Myers late yesterday afternoon.  Even with a pleasant sea breeze keeping the air somewhat pleasant, I didn't encounter any wildlife and very few people -- just a few fisherman, including the one in this shot who was packing up his equipment.  I guess everyone is staying tucked in as much as possible.  

This was the first time I've been out and about shooting since I last left you (rather abruptly) three months ago.  Gosh, it felt good to be back at it!  I've been swamped producing a couple of personal video projects.  One video is done and the other is nearing completion.  When those are in the rearview mirror, hopefully, I'll be able to round up the entire SDP staff once again and spend more time with the blog.  **fingers crossed**  

In my last post back in May, I showed a photo of a beautiful field of wildflowers and promised more information. (Note:  I didn't say how long it would took for the SDP staff to provide the info.) The  field was located at Myakka State Park in Sarasota and the flowers were coreopsises, which happen to the State of Florida flower.  Hope everyone in the blogosphere is doing well!

Sunset Surprise

Rounding the bend at Lovers Key State Park in Ft. Myers is like stepping into a different world.  It's a desolate beach covered with seashells, and seabirds pecking for dinner.  The last thing you'd expect  is for a park ranger to pull up in a four-wheeler and tell you the park is closed…please go away.  ((sigh))  At least I nabbed this sunset shot before my plans were washed up.

Dinner For One

At Lovers Key State Park, near Ft. Myers Beach, a hiking trail runs parallel to Estero Bay. I was walking along that trail over the weekend when the SDP Junior Editor simultaneously gasped, pointed and motioned for me to look up. An osprey was atop a tree devouring dinner!  Serendipitously, the trail forked at that spot.  Quietly, I was able to maneuver around the corner (with the osprey pausing to keep an eye on me) in order to get an incredible close up view of him enjoying his dinner.  Based on his methodical pecking (with the occasional ripping), and the size of the fish, that meal probably went late into the evening.  What a catch!