City Life

The SDP Editor-in-Chief made an executive decision to interrupt the Sunshine Skyway photos (which were interrupting the sunset photos) to bring you twilight in Sarasota last night.  This is a lovely spot right in the city limits along Sarasota Bay.   According to Google maps, it's 12 minutes from my house. Amazingly, though, I managed to slide into position within a cool 9 minutes (in high tourist season whilst adhering to the speed limit).  There wasn't much of a sunset, but twilight made up for it!  As if on cue, a bright sliver of moon appeared over the bay.  And, fish started jumping….which many times means they're trying to flee a predator.  Sure enough…about 25 yards away, a dolphin was slowly swimming around the cove looking for dinner.  It was so quiet on the water I could hear water blasting through the dolphin's blowhole as it surfaced.  Great evening….very peaceful and relaxing.  

2 Ospreys & 1 Bridge

This is what the great egret in yesterday's photo was looking at: two ospreys roosting on a channel marker in Tampa Bay. Oh…and maybe that bridge back there too.  That incredible span is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which connects Pinellas and Manatee counties.  It was a beautiful day to shoot the bridge when I was there, so I'll have a few more pics to share in the near future. (And, perhaps by that time I will have looked up some interesting factoids about the Skyway.)

Great Egret

We're taking a brief break from the sunset photos. I encountered this great egret recently in TierraVerde

 on the way to Ft. DeSoto.  He was standing on a bridge having a good stare. 

And, with a view like this…who wouldn't want to enjoy a good stare?!  (I know I did.)  The egret is looking at Tampa Bay. Behind him (on the left side of the photo) is the Gulf of Mexico.  Beautiful area.  More pics to come from this photo shoot!  (By the way, this is the vicinity where the new SDP banner pic was taken.)

Shipwrecked

Was the crew aboard this sailboat so distracted by the breathtaking beauty of Sarasota Bay at sunset  that they ran ashore?  Um…no.  This boat apparently came loose from its mooring during the deadly storms that rolled through Sarasota in January.  It looks like someone has cast some lines and tied it down, to prevent Mother Nature from pushing it elsewhere or sinking it and causing potential environmental issues and navigational problems for other boaters.  I took this shot last night at the base of the Ringling Bridge heading toward St. Armands Circle -- beautiful evening with an unexpected (and pleasant) cold front.  Believe it or not, I pretty much had the place to myself.  Have I mentioned how much I love to shoot the winter sky in Sarasota?  The steady diet of sunset pics shall continue!  

Peek-a-Boo Sunset

It was dusk at Myakka River State Park last night and I was all packed up, leaving the birdwalk after enjoying a pretty tangerine and cotton candy pink sunset.  Pausing at my car, I noticed the sky had suddenly transformed and now was a swath of deep orange glowing across the horizon.  I knew there was an oak tree nearby with a low hanging branch.  So, off I hoofed into the darkness (yes -- darkness!) and safely set up my tripod next to a park bench. I steeled my nerves by reminding myself (1) it's too cold for snakes to be slithering around; and (2) surely, park rangers wouldn't place a bench where gators like to roam. It took me a few minutes to figure out the proper f-stop and ISO. And then…voila! Spectacular evening.  Happy Saturday, everyone!

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!"

Theme Day: Where I Belong

When I contemplated today's theme day -- Where I Belong -- several possibilities popped to mind.  But, this is a significant place where I belong:  the outdoors.  Since I can remember, I've always loved to be outside exploring and having an adventure.  Not much has changed over the years.  I don't require palm trees, the beach or even warm weather.  But, I do (strongly) prefer blue skies -- which makes it perfect living in the Sunshine State.  Yep…this is where I belong.  To see other entries from the City Daily Photo community for today's Theme Day click here.