Watery Wednesday: Reflecting Anglers

These two guys left their cans of beer on land and waded into Sarasota Bay to do a little fishing.  The water was so still close to shore it really looked like a mirror. By the way, autumn might be arriving early this year! It was 90 degrees in the early evening when I took this picture, but with a light breeze and low humidity it felt like a delightful 80.  To see other Watery Wednesday photos from around the world click here.

Watery Wednesday: Perfect Day

So, four seagulls, one egret and a pelican were all hanging out on the roof of the fish filleting station at New Pass.   Sounds like the start of a joke, doesn't it?  They were waiting for fresh fish.  I was waiting for this shot.  **snap**  Picture perfect day.  Click here to see other Watery Wednesday photos from around the world. 

Watery Wednesday: By Air and Sea

We're "in season" here in Sarasota.  That's what we call this time of year when everyone battling cabin fever in the north descends upon the area to enjoy the gorgeous warm weather and environs.   I was taking a photo of this sailboat cruising under the Ringling Bridge when I noticed an airplane descending into SRQ (that's the airport code for Sarasota which I explained further in this post last June).   Yep, they're traveling by air and by sea to be in Sarasota.  (And one or two might be arriving via automobile.) By the way, this is post #300 for SDP -- whoop!  Click here to see other Watery Wednesday pics.

Watery Wednesday: Beasts in Boats #1

This guy was on Sarasota Bay, puttering inland, with his best furry friend tagging along.  Not sure, but maybe it was a little Jack Russell.  Whatever it was, the hound sure looked like he was having a good time, sitting up high with the wind in his face, staring straight ahead with his favorite human at his side.  (Enlarge to see what I'm talking about.)  For a few weeks, I've been contemplating starting a series about pampered pooches in boats.  Then, over the weekend, I saw so many canines cruising Sarasota Bay, I've decided it's a done deal.  Consider this photo the first in an ongoing series entitled "Beasts in Boats".  (I feel better about the generic word 'beast'....you never know...I could encounter a confused cat, bird, pot bellied pig or other furry, friendly beast.)  Click here to see other Watery Wednesday photos from around the world. 

Watery Wednesday: Drama Queen

Mother Nature can be such a drama queen!  This was one of the most dramatic sunsets I've seen in a long time.  A couple of weeks ago, I showed you this shot from the same sunset taken about ten minutes earlier on Turtle Beach on Siesta Key.  It was one of those cloudy skies where I thought  there was no chance of a pretty sunset and then seemingly out of nowhere Mother Nature put on quite the impressive show. She whipped out her pallet and suddenly pinks and melons were streaking through the clouds....followed by lavenders and greys tentacling across the sky...and then...the piece de resistance....flaming oranges and reds backlighting the scene and reflecting off the Gulf of Mexico.  Wow.  By the way, this is straight out of the camera.   To see other Watery Wednesday photos from around the world click here.

Watery Wednesday: Sarasota Bay Sunset

After I snapped yesterday's post, I spun my camera and tripod around approximately 180 degrees and waited.....for this.  We've been having some beautiful sunsets recently.  That's the Ringling Bridge spanning Sarasota Bay.  From base to base, it's exactly one mile and a popular place to run or walk.  To see other Watery Wednesday captures click here.

Watery Wednesday

Take your pick:  soar above the azure water of the Gulf of Mexico or flop down in it.  Either way you can't go wrong on Siesta Key Beach.  Happy Watery Wednesday!  To see other photos from around the world click here.

Watery Wednesday: Sail Away

Bird Key Park near downtown is a popular launch site for wind surfers.  While it looks carefree, I think I lack the balance for something like that.  Especially in the middle of the bay far, far away from land.

Watery Wednesday

I encountered this mother and son kayaking on Sarasota Bay near downtown early in the evening.  They were all smiles talking to each other.  What a great way to spend some quality time together.  Click here to see more Watery Wednesday photos.

Watery Wednesday - Easy Livin'

A perfectly peaceful summer evening moored in Sarasota Bay just off S. Lido Key beach.    To see more Watery Wednesday photos from around the world click here. 

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.

Watery Wednesday - No Oil

Perfect day to enjoy the bright blue sky and sugary white sand at Siesta Key beach.  Still no oil here, even after Tropical Storm Bonnie buzzed through last Friday.  I'm growing more confident with every day that we might just avoid it.  **(fingers crossed)**  To view Water Wednesday captures from around the globe click here.

Watery Wednesday: No Oil

This 11-year-old boy was visiting S. Lido Park beach with his family from Bradenton, just north of Sarasota.  He was absolutely captivated with this seashell.   As it turns out, a large crab was living inside it.  His mother told me he loves seashells and spends most of the time at the beach searching for them.  Once he discovered this shell was someone's home, he gently placed it back in the bay, which is still oil free.  To see more Watery Wednesday captures from around the world click here.

Watery Wednesday: No Oil

Despite some blobs of oil making landfall in northern Florida earlier this week, it's still beautiful and pristine here in Sarasota.  Hotel cancellations have leveled off, so the tourists seem to be getting  accurate information -- and that's good news since this area is so dependent on tourism.  It almost looks like this Great Blue Heron is a watchman keeping a close eye on its environs on Sarasota Bay.  This shot was taken on City Island looking east toward downtown.  One of the primary wildlife responders to the oil spill, Save Our Seabirds, is located right down the street.  Check out others participating in Watery Wednesday.