Sunrise on Pensacola Bay

What's for Lunch?

Meredith got this photo of a friendly great blue heron fishing along the shoreline in the Gulf Islands National Seashore, near Pensacola Beach.

Tranquility

Skywatch Friday - Gulf of Mexico Sunrise

Margaret was wading into the surf early Sunday morning to capture the sun rising over the Pensacola Beach highrises. A lovely photo for Skywatch Friday!

Sunrise on the Beach

Since 13-year-old Margaret is the most frequent contributor to this blog, I thought a photo of her would be appropriate today. This was taken this morning as the sun was rising in the Ft. Pickens Area of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Margaret and I have made sunrise on the beach a tradition for the two of us, enjoying the peaceful beauty of the coastline when no one else is around except the shore birds (below) and sand crabs.

At sunrise and sunset, the waters of the Gulf of Mexico change hues every few seconds. It is impossible to convey in photographs the hundreds of shades of blues and greens and grays... but we try.

Breakfast at... Shoreline

This great blue heron was fishing for breakfast Sunday morning at Shoreline Park South, and didn't seem to mind the two young girls 5-10 feet away snapping pictures. These serene creatures, some of whom nest and hunt in our neighborhood, are quite accepting of people... as long as we don't get TOO close.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

It is a picture perfect morning in Gulf Breeze, for seagulls, young photographers, and everyone else enjoying the water in Santa Rosa Sound.

Hiding in plain sight

These utility lights overlooking the baseball fields at the Gulf Breeze Recreation Center are home to a pair of Osprey (look closely on top of the righthand set of lights). Walking through the park on a quiet afternoon, one can hear the chicks chirping as they are fed. These large raptors eat fish almost exclusively, usually mate for life, and obviously adapt well to urban settings.

Great Blue Heron

Lunchtime at Wayside Park, which is a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch on the southern shore of Pensacola Bay. Today, a great blue heron is scoping out the bay from a fishing pier, not bothered in the least by a photographer standing a few feet away. A majestic creature, at a bit over 3 feet tall...