Death from Above

I came across this scene in The Selby Gardens of Sarasota Florida during the orchid show. The blue heron was overheard saying,” I told you to shut up about that damn insurance.” I turned to my friend Jerry saying I didn’t know that herons ate geckos. I think of them as fisher birds. He replied with a shrug, “Well somebody has to eat them.”

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Death from Above

Death from Above

Portrait of a Pelican

If you read my blog you know that one of favorite subjects is the pelican. The Florida Brown Pelican has a wingspan of up to nine feet and weighs 30 pounds. The white pelican is even larger and the second biggest bird in North America after the California Condor. They are actually bigger than the Bald Eagle and much more plentiful. I love these birds because in flight they look a little like Pterodactyls as they glide through the air. This one was actually nice enough to sit for a portrait.

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The Florida Brown Pelican

The Florida Brown Pelican

Ooops!

We were visiting Selby Gardens in Sarasota Florida when we took a break to watch the sea birds. I saw this sail boat and was admiring it until I realize its keel must be stuck in the mud. We were wondering how it stood upright and then realized it must be really embedded in the mud to not have keeled over.

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Oops!

Oops!

Sunset Beach

Gulf Boulevard runs along the Gulf of Mexico before it turns into Blind Pass at St. Petersburgh Beach. After a while it begins again and runs towards the end of the St. Petersburg peninsula. Where it turns into Blind Pass in Treasure Island there is a small spur called Gulf Boulevard West that runs along the Gulf before it ends at Boca Ciega Bay.

This sour is known as Sunset Beach and is a small community within Treasure Island.It is a tranquil Gulf community that is mostly residential with only two restaurants/bars and few other businesses. When the sun sets people come out on their decks and stroll along the beach. It is not crowded but as the sun falls into the Gulf you can hear cheers and applause along the beach.

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Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach

Birds of a Feather

The Florida Brown Pelican has a wingspan of up to nine feet and weighs 30 pounds. The white pelican is even larger and the second biggest bird in North America after the California Condor. They are actually bigger than the Bald Eagle and much more plentiful. I love these birds because in flight they look a little like Pterodactyls as they glide through the air. This group near John’s Pass in Madeira Beach Florida almost seems like they are flying on a line.

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The Pelican Line

The Pelican Line

Long Boarders

Every night the sunsets at the beach would bring something a little different. On windy nights the surfers were out and the whipping wind provided photographic challenges. But calm nights would bring out the long-boarders and gentle sea breezes made for a pleasant relaxing photographic experience on Sunset Beach.

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Long Board at Sunset Beach

Long Board at Sunset Beach

The Funky Mailboxes of Sunset Beach–Part 2

Treasure Island and adjacent to St. Petersburg. Sunset beach is a little dead end barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico and primarily made up of houses and small condos. There is little traffic, only two restaurants and a magnificent beach and small boardwalk along Boca Ciega Bay. Although we did most of our walking on the beach, we also walked through the community and noticed that many people had really special mailboxes. Here are a few of the better ones.

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The Funky Mailboxes of Sunset Beach–Part 1

For the last 5 weeks we have been in Florida and spending much of our time on Sunset Beach which is a residential beach community with the city of Treasure Island and adjacent to St. Petersburg. Sunset beach is a little dead end barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico and primarily made up of houses and small condos. There is little traffic, only two restaurants and a magnificent beach and small boardwalk along Boca Ciega Bay. Although we did most of our walking on the beach, we also walked through the community and noticed that many people had really special mailboxes. Here are a few of the better ones.

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The Funky Mailboxes of Sunset Beach

The Funky Mailboxes of Sunset Beach

Camo Turtle

There were three turtles sitting on a log near a seven foot alligator. This turtle was closest to the gator and covered himself with all this gunk as if to hide himself from the predator. It seemed to be working.

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Camo Turtle

Camo Turtle

Winter Joy

Visiting the Phipps Conservatory of Pittsburgh is nice any time of year but I like it best in the dead of winter. When your skin is dry and you are cold and chilly it is wonderful to spend an hour or two in warm humidity smelling the blooms of orchids and other fragrant flowers. It’s almost as good as a spa treatment. I have no idea what the actual name is of this orchid but it brought me joy in the cold of winter so to me it is Winter Joy.

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Winter Joy

Winter Joy