Three days of winter has me thinking

Of the wonderful Island of Sanibel and WARM temps! Back on the beach again today, I sure enjoyed walking about 75 steps out to the beach and feeling the sun warm me.
Today a couple of bird shots; this is a cormorant drying its wings. And then an evening shot up the beach; from where we were the sunset was not visible due to the curve of the island. A drive up the island was required to watch the sunset - but then as I said in an earlier post, how do you tell a sunset from a sunrise?!

Evening snacks!

Do you ever wonder

how someone's life will turn out? We have opinions but nothing really prepares us for the reality of what life has for people. What's your opinion of this person?

More birds

I had time to go back through some of my bird photos from the last trip through the refuge and try some different crops and settings. When I match up settings to the crop and the composition, I exclaim "boy is that beautiful" or something like that. The words come unbidden and then I know I am on the right track, for me at least.
I learn as I try things out of my normal routine - and often adapt my routine to at least check those settings with other photos. See what you think..is there one that just jumps out at you?

Anhinga drying wings - they do not have waterproofing for wings

Herons Crossing

Anhinga again

White Ibis

Yellow crowned night heron with crab

Beautiful.

Last trip through Ding Darling

We had a bit of time before having to head to the airport today, so we took one last trip through Ding Darling Wildlife Management Area. We were well rewarded as you'll see. Little blue herons, yellow crowned night heron, anhingas, great white egrets, and osprey were among the major attractions. Despite a large number of people there were a large number of birds - probably because of it being low tide.
Currently sitting in the Houston airport waiting on our next flight home, so here are the prizes from today.

Great white egret and little blue heron pass, ibis in the background.

Regal Osprey

Anhinga drying her wings.

Yellow crowned night heron - he caught a crab a minute later.

Last sunrise on Sanibel

We pack up and fly back to cold country today, although not as cold as my hometown of Ely (-35). This time has been a wonderfully relaxing respite for both of us and we were especially glad to visit with Diana's son and family!
A few photos from the morning to carry us on.

Is it time for coffee yet?

Jewels in the sand

Day 7 at Sanibel!

Today was our last full day of vacation. Tomorrow we pack up, clean up and drive to Ft. Myers to catch our flight back to SLC. We are very relaxed, have done everything we wanted to do and some of it twice, ate at excellent places, some of them twice, and sat in the sun and drank champagne on the beach. What more could you ask of life?

Diana shopped today, since she is headed to Hawaii for a week just after we get home so I wandered the area behind the shopping center and found a red shouldered hawk and a monstrous turtle! No alligators tho'!
Tonight's photos are a potpourri of various items from the day - the hawk, turtle, Diana showing how relaxed she can be, sand on the beach and a wonderful flower.
Enjoy!

This baby was at least 3 feet long - shell. See head and tail!

I believe this is a red shouldered hawk, but not certain.

Beauty - classic

This was at the animal rehabilitation center - so true! 

Sand on the beach

Are we relaxed or what!!

Birds and sunrise

Sat out on the beach yesterday afternoon reading a book and watching the birds playing with the shells. They inspect, roll them over and around to see if anything worth eating is in them. Then they scurry off to their next target. When you are just sitting they will come very close to you.
This morning it was 46 on the beach with a strong wind - my eyes were blurry as I focussed the camera. A few classic shots for the files.