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.

Down time

I've been pretty busy lately and have seen hundred of people - I was due for some peace and quiet and what better place to be than on one of those quieter beach spot on Sanibel, come along and enjoy the scenery.....

As it is customary for me - the earlier the better in order to catch the sun rising.

I wasn't the only early riser - several Snowy Plovers were already scouting the beach.

Those tire tracks reminded me that it's almost turtle time and soon I will be riding on the beach looking for their crawls.

A pair of Wilson Plover were using some of those tracks in the sand for resting.

Some raucous diverted my attention....I'm not sure what the Eagle was up to but the Osprey wouldn't give him a break.

Back for a second look at those Wilson Plover.

What a beautiful paradise I live in - I can't get tired of this view.

Four Willets hanging together by some driftwood, blending in and out of sight.

More Ospreys - there must have been a dozen in this particular area.

Great view for an Osprey to spot its prey and what a perfect spot to find a

Scotch Bonnet!

Soon after I spotted a Spotted Sandpiper around some brackish water.

Well, I think it's time for me to go and get a meal too....thanks for joining me.

New year - new beginning

A new year has begun on so many different levels for me and a lot of it has been challenging. One of those moments happened when my computer and monitor died after serving me well for 7 years, but I thought "fear not" I had religiously backed up all my photos. Though when I went to retrieve them I sadly realized that it had stopped backing up 1.5 years ago. I realize that I could have checked it along the way - so my bad - and for that I feel a lump in my throat especially when I think about those life birds that were captured but more importantly my grandson's sweet face. Gulp, it is hard to let go and start all over again.

So, brushing up and moving on - I'm working with a new PC - a challenge in itself, but at last - my camera is still working and I was able to download my photo editor Picasa to get my photos ready for this blog...so without further ado....come along and visit the Lighthouse area of Sanibel....

I arrived just in time to see the sun rise along with the Black Skimmers

A Snowy Egret slowly waking up to this new day

The Brown Pelicans on the other hand were already hard at work taking advantage of all those school of fishes that were present this morning.

This Ring-billed Gull had a mourning call, I wish I understood Gull talk.

The same call was going on when another Gull joined in

In the meantime I almost missed these Ruddy Turnstone by my feet - they blend so well with their surroundings.

I came to the conclusion that this Gull likes to gather attention and why not - it's worthy of many looks.

A Great Egret was quite comfortable on the railing of the new fishing Pier.

A live Lightning Whelk was on the edge of the gulf and slowly making its way back in.

This fishing vessel had me chuckle when I noticed its given name....how appropriate!

"Maybe there's a Brown Pelican's vessel out there".

More Egrets!

And our regulars - the White Ibis with their baby blue eyes.

I bet that Snowy is thinking about those Sand Fleas that the Ibis are consuming.

Ha! Look who arrived! A Lesser Black-backed Gull.

And then in the blink of an eye - an Osprey swooped down to gather some nesting material...

something nice and soft for those new chicks....now, that's something to look forward to for the new year.