From Moon to Sun to Duck and Gators - oh my!

It's a brand new day and I have free time - the full "Pink Moon" is also calling me - so off I go....

I made my way to my neighborhood beach and arrived on time to see the full moon in all its glory only to be blessed with....

a brand new spectacular sunrise on the horizon - I ask you: "Is there a better way to start the day?" and I say: "I think not".

Of course it also happens to be Easter week and look at the amount of people out on the beach at 7:00 in the morning! I'll leave it to your imagination as to how busy it gets come 10-11 o'clock.....if you didn't get a parking spot by then - you're out of luck.

Okay, enough about people - especially since I came over to observe nature and the beautiful world as it wakes up - This Black-bellied Plover is getting quite colorful as the season approaches.

And the regular Snowy Plovers were busy chasing bugs and staying out of people's way. Shortly after I left to investigate a recent sighting at the Sanibel Garden preserve....

I was quite delighted to see that it was still here - a male Northern Shoveler in the company of Black-necked Stilt.

Flying above my head I spotted an Osprey carrying more nesting material.

Back to this breathtaking Shoveler - my photos does not do it justice - my position and the sun was not conducive for optimal colorful photo and I wasn't about to get in that water where the gators live - no thank you.

How often do you see those two together?

This pair of Black-necked Stilts made this day even more special.

A pair of Killdeer tends to hang out there too and I suspect they might have started the family ritual.

Up on the tower - this Black Vulture kept its eyes on anything that moved - probably waiting for something to stop moving - if you catch my drift.

A young Gator was savoring something while sporting an evil looking grin.

In the meantime I'm thinking and hoping that this Black-necked Stilt pair will be successful this year.

Well, time is rushing away from me once again and the 'errands' are calling - on my way out I counted the young gators - all 12 of them....given the law of averages, they should prosper to a long life.

Gulfside Park in Sanibel

I purposely took time away from the hustle bustle that the island has been experiencing with the spring break which of course brought in a lot of folks to enjoy our beautiful beaches and weather - I took an early beach walk and was totally entertained by the birds and distracted by the shells - what a great way to start the day!

I arrived just before sunrise and was able to capture the sun as it started to peek up from behind those buildings across the way.

Here's something that I don't see too often - an Octopi, unfortunately it expired.

A Ruddy Turnstone in its perfect environment.

An Eastern Willet

A Snowy Egret in the beginning stages of breeding plumage - its lores and feet are more orange and will turn even brighter to almost red.

A Lesser Black-backed Gull - they look so sharp with their 'tuxedo' and bright white shirt on.

The Sanderlings were feeding in quite a frenzy.

This one caught a small shrimp.

The perfect clam size for this Ruddy Turnstone.

A Black-bellied Plover.

And of course Gulfside Park wouldn't be right without its Plover enclosure.

I saw a total of 5 Snowy Plovers, two of which were banded.....

soon they will be mating and that's a good thing.

Bowman's Beach

It had been a while since I last visited Bowman's Beach and I thought I'd better get over there before it gets crowded. Come along and see what I bumped into.....

My first group turns out to be Short-billed Dowitchers, sweet!

As I turned around and looked to the East I can't help but fall in love with the sunrise.

Oh, what a nice surprise - my first of the season Common Loon is just a few yards away.

A nice group of Red Knots passed me.

This pair of Osprey is getting ready for their new family.

A Brown Pelican just chilling on a No Wake buoy.

More Red Knots by the sea shore.

One of many Snowy Egrets that I saw this morning.

The Snowy Plovers were all hanging out together...

Some Black-bellied Plover wanted to hang out with them too.

I love to watch the little Snowy form a bowl to sit in to rest and blend in.

A Cormorant was drying out after his fishing extravaganza.

I love his serious expression.

I got lucky to have all 8 Snowy Plovers in this frame.

Cute pair, no?

A not so lucky Sandwich Tern - on the other hand the Ghost Crab looks pretty smug.

Now that I work at the Shell Museum I can't help myself but pay more attention to the sea shells - especially when the mollusk is still alive within this beautiful Lightning Whelk.

Here's the pair - busy at getting the nest ready.

It's time for me to wrap it up but before I go - one more look at this beautiful vista.

I believe it's time for breakfast.