We are Never Home

The other day we took an early morning walk on Fort Myers beach and saw both the sunrise and the setting of the full moon over Bowditch Point. One of the resident Osprey was also waiting for the sun to come up.

The butterfly garden was beautiful in the bright moonlight but we didn't see any of the Gopher Tortoises that call this home.

The tide was very low as we walked around the Point. Right at the end we saw a dolphin playing in the surf not far from shore - but he had other things to do and places to go so he didn't stay long enough for me to even try and take a picture. I just enjoyed seeing him swimming in the water.

On the other side facing west, just as the sun was starting to come up in the east, this beautiful Great Blue Heron was hunting for breakfast in the light of the full moon.

Success!!

Now to try and swallow it!

He almost looks like a Pelican as he swallows the fish whole.

Yum - that was good!

We enjoyed our walk on the beach and left just as the rest of the island was waking up.

I wanted to take one last trip to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary before we head back to Colorado at the end of the month. The air plants are starting to bloom and they are gorgeous!

Very exotic.

This is an immature Little Blue Heron - which is apparently easily confused with an young Snowy. After seeing this bird and having him identified by a guide, I wonder if I am mixing up some of the smaller white birds.

The Yellow-crowned Night Herons can't be confused with any other herons or egrets.

This is a rare sight! I always thought Armadillos, like Opossums, were born dead on the side of the road - since that's the only place I've ever seen them. It was hard to get a good picture of his head because he kept digging in the dirt looking for insects.

Tomorrow I am going on an all-day field trip to the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge with the Caloosa Bird Club and on Tuesday we will celebrate Saint Patrick's Day by going to the Naples Zoo followed by a traditional Irish corn beef and cabbage dinner at Mike and Mel's.

Beachcombers

For the last two days low tide has been early in the morning, so Bill and I have gone to the beach to walk.

Just after sunrise, we headed south to Lovers Key. Bill took the camera and got some fabulous shots while I picked up shells. We had the beach to ourselves and it was wonderful.

We both love the way the salt water has weathered the wood on these dead trees.

Bill stood on the beach with the camera for a long time waiting to get a picture of this Osprey returning to the nest. The Osprey has a stick in his talons. The female is patiently waiting.

Another couple who was out early to gather shells stopped and took our picture. We look like a couple of beach bums.

This is an American Oyster-catcher. What beautiful birds!

My finds of the day!

Early the next morning we walked the beach from Times Square up to Bowditch Point. Along the way we spotted this nesting pair of Ospreys along one of the nature trails. Not to be outdone with the picture Bill took yesterday, I too wanted one of the Osprey returning to the nest.

We worked together. Bill watched while one of the birds took off to gather twigs. I stayed at the nest with my camera ready to get a shot of him returning. Bill yelled when he saw him heading back.

It was quite windy and this branch was almost too big for him to handle! It was amazing to watch him fix it in the perfect position for his nest.

Around the point there was a pod of dolphins playing in the surf. Because it was low tide, they were very near to shore. I probably took 30 pictures and got lots of pictures of fins - but was just not quick enough to get a perfect picture of them jumping.

This is my best shot.

Bill brought along his kite and flew it.

As we were heading back to the car we saw this bike. Obviously recovered from the ocean, it was covered with barnacles and was an interesting piece of art - "For Sale, Best Offer (over $100!)."

Bill is off flying his RC plane this morning and I'm getting caught up on projects here at the house.

Tomorrow, bright and early, we are heading to Orlando to attend the FUN Show - one of the largest coin shows in the country. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of my friends.