Gulf of Mexico

Live, Love, Laugh, Sing, Dance, Be, Do

By |2023-08-11T15:23:09-06:00May 18th, 2023|Categories: Anclote Key, Florida, Pasco County, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I saw this quote that aligns with my philosophy of Live, Love, Laugh, Sing, Dance, Be, Do and thought I would share a post about the reason I like the quote.

When Life Gives You A Twisted Neck Just Go With The Flow

By |2023-03-08T03:15:10-07:00March 8th, 2023|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Great Egrets, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I took photos of this Great Egret with a twisted neck and buggy eyes at Fort De Soto I didn't think I'd still be laughing at them fourteen years later.

Winter California And Herring Gull Comparison In Utah

By |2023-03-27T03:47:22-06:00November 8th, 2022|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Box Elder County, California Gulls, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Herring Gulls, Pinellas County, Utah|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Since I frequently get asked which is which I thought this would be a good time to do a winter California and Herring Gull comparison and ID feature post.

Willet, Sunrise And The Gulf Of Mexico

By |2021-09-07T05:15:29-06:00September 7th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Willets|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I look at this photo of a Willet in the waves of the Gulf of Mexico I can almost hear the sounds, taste the tang of salt in the air and feel the warm water on my skin.

Resting Ruddy Turnstone

By |2021-05-17T06:20:46-06:00May 17th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Ruddy Turnstones|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Twelve years ago today I was on the beach at Fort De Soto County Park focused on photographing a male Ruddy Turnstone resting on the warm sand with the Gulf behind him.

Brown Pelicans And Memories

By |2021-08-07T03:58:20-06:00January 6th, 2021|Categories: Birds, Brown Pelicans, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Eleven years ago this morning I had an amazing time photographing flocks of Brown Pelicans plunge feeding in the Gulf of Mexico.

If You Used this Search Term: How Much To Feed A Juvenile Brown Pelican

By |2021-07-04T15:00:48-06:00November 14th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Brown Pelicans, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Wildlife Ethics|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Please, please, find an authorized and licensed bird or wildlife rehabilitator in your area immediately.

How An American Oystercatcher Ruined A New Pair Of Pants

By |2023-11-22T17:10:48-07:00November 6th, 2020|Categories: American Oystercatchers, Birds, Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Today's post is about an American Oystercatcher image taken in 2009 at Egmont Key in Pinellas County, Florida and the story behind it.

Great Egret In Front Of Stormy Skies

By |2021-04-12T15:22:48-06:00July 8th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Great Egrets, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One of the birds I found that summer morning was a Great Egret perched on a stump that the waves of the Gulf had deposited on the shore of the beach.

Photographing A Foraging American Oystercatcher In The First Light Of Dawn

By |2022-08-15T05:43:06-06:00May 16th, 2020|Categories: American Oystercatchers, Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The soft light of dawn has a special quality to it and I believe that it is evident in both of these American Oystercatcher photos.

Fun Photographing Reddish Egrets In Florida

By |2021-10-09T04:10:38-06:00January 25th, 2020|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Reddish Egrets|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had so much fun photographing Reddish Egrets when I lived in Florida and could see them nearly every time I went to Fort De Soto County Park's north beach.

Photographing The Earth’s Shadow With A Great Blue Heron

By |2021-04-17T18:12:42-06:00October 27th, 2019|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Great Blue Herons, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Because I arrived at twilight that morning and had a clear sky I knew that I could take photos of the Great Blue Heron with the blue colored Earth's Shadow and pink Belt of Venus behind it.

When the S___ Hits the Fan, Go To a Happy Place

By |2018-03-07T06:44:11-07:00March 7th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Great Egrets, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

The sun hadn't yet come up when I spotted this Great Egret in the tidal lagoon with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the background and it looked like the water was on fire.

Spread-eagle Red-winged Blackbird at Fort De Soto County Park

By |2023-11-05T04:37:27-07:00February 23rd, 2018|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Red-winged Blackbirds|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

In Florida I most often photographed Red-winged Blackbirds at north beach of Fort De Soto County Park where I could reliably find them in the sand dunes, sea oats, spartina and mangroves all year long.

Black-bellied Plover Bathing In A Tidal Lagoon On The Gulf Coast

By |2018-02-15T05:48:25-07:00February 15th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Black-bellied Plovers, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

After taking the quick bath in the tidal lagoon the Black-bellied Plover flew off towards the shoreline of the lagoon to shake and fluff its feathers until they were dry.

Foraging Semipalmated Plover in Florida

By |2021-10-29T05:30:07-06:00January 28th, 2018|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Semipalmated Plovers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Among my favorite plovers to photograph when I lived in Florida were Semipalmated Plovers, I only saw them during their nonbreeding season where they spent time along the Gulf coast.

Short-billed Dowitcher Foraging in Sargassum on the Wrack Line

By |2024-01-13T02:51:41-07:00January 23rd, 2018|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Short-billed Dowitchers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This Short-billed Dowitcher slowly made its way through the Sargassum on the wrack line as I laid in the damp sand photographing it and the other shorebirds that were searching the seaweed for food.

Sleeping Juvenile Sanderling On The Beach At Fort De Soto

By |2022-12-28T06:50:21-07:00August 12th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Sanderlings|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

When I look at this photo of the juvenile Sanderling I see a bird that was so relaxed that it fell asleep while I photographed it because it was comfortable with my presence and I felt honored that it was.

Gray & Windy Day Great Blue Heron Portrait

By |2021-04-17T18:31:46-06:00July 30th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Great Blue Herons, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

This Great Blue Heron wandered past me one December morning at Fort De Soto County Park's north beach on a gray, windy day and because it was close I simply had to take a photo of the large wading bird.

Strolling Yellow-crowned Night Heron – Thinking Back on Brighter, Warmer Days

By |2017-01-20T07:56:51-07:00January 10th, 2017|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Yellow-crowned Night Herons|Tags: , , , , , , , |

This morning my mind drifted back to June of 2009, to a bright, warm day on the Gulf coast of Florida and a strolling Yellow-crowned Night Heron that I photographed as waves churned up behind it.

Black Skimmer in a Fog over the Gulf of Mexico

By |2022-04-24T06:46:52-06:00December 24th, 2016|Categories: Birds, Black Skimmers, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Whenever I view this photo of a lone Black Skimmer in flight on a foggy Gulf shore I feel a wave of joy and peaceful feelings wash over me.

Sunrise ~ Sunset

By |2016-12-11T07:34:01-07:00December 11th, 2016|Categories: Beaverhead County, Centennial Valley, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Montana, Pinellas County, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: , , , , , , , |

I feel worried for the future and I am filled with angst right now and I know I am not alone. However; I do know that even when times are difficult life is good. The sun rises after every sunset.

It is Tricolored Heron Not Tri-colored Heron

By |2020-01-19T04:22:27-07:00November 27th, 2016|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Tricolored Herons|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

I must admit I get a little bonkers though when I see images of birds where the name posted for the species in the photo is incorrect, for instance, it is Tricolored Heron not Tri-colored Heron.

Juvenile Brown Pelican Portrait on the Shore of the Gulf

By |2021-07-04T15:07:04-06:00September 24th, 2016|Categories: Birds, Brown Pelicans, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

It was wonderful to be close to the juvenile Brown Pelican and to be able to take portraits of it plus I also enjoyed being able to see all the fine details of its plumage, the texture of its bill and look into its dark eyes.

Red-breasted Merganser floating on the Gulf of Mexico

By |2023-12-04T05:50:29-07:00September 14th, 2016|Categories: Birds, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Red-breasted Mergansers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I photographed this Red-breasted Merganser floating on the Gulf of Mexico on an April morning from the shoreline at Fort De Soto, Florida in April of 2008.

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