The masked birds and a gator

On August 22, 2026August 20, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Florida animals5 Comments

This guy greeted me when I started to walk down the trail at Possum Branch Preserve in mid-April. He was in the middle of the pond and looked like he was trying to take a nap in the water.

Blooming along the trail.

As he hovered over the pond, an osprey was doing his angel pose while he looked for something to eat

I made it to the big mulberry tree and I got lucky this trip. The tree was already full of cedar waxwings feasting on the berries. Sometimes I get here and there isn’t anything on the tree and it can be a long wait before they fly in. They fed for about 10 minutes before flying across the trail to the cypress trees.

They rest for 20-30 minutes and then fly back to the mulberry tree to continue eating. The waxwings are migrating birds and are here anywhere from January through April. Some years I will see them several times and some years I won’t see them at all. This year they hung out at this preserve for several weeks.

More berry eating.

As I was leaving the alligator had come up to the bank of the pond to take a nap. I walked on the far edge of the trail and kept an eye on him as I walked by. If they see anyone on the trail here they usually slip back into the water but you just never know.

Critters and color on the causeway

On August 19, 2026August 19, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights6 Comments

I was out early in the morning for a walk on the Dunedin causeway in April. It looked like work was still being done on the causeway from all of the damage due to the hurricanes in late 2024.

Looking right into the sun I could see a dolphin that had come close to the shore and the light was so bad but I still had to take some shots of it.

Even a bad dolphin video is a good dolphin video.

The willets and dowitchers were feeding along the washed up sea grass.

Two laughing gulls were walking along with me.

I found the footless snowy egret again.

Just me and my shadow.

Color on the causeway.

A walk along the St. Pete waterfront

On August 17, 2026August 7, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn flowers and plants, Tampa bay sightsLeave a comment

In mid-April Brett and I headed to the waterfront near downtown St. Pete for a long walk and than an early lunch. As we pulled into the parking lot we could see the orchid trees were still blooming (peak bloom is in the winter here).

When I got up close to get some shots I noticed a lot of the blooms around the bottom of the tree were full of bugs.

The hibiscus along the sidewalk were also blooming.

It was a great morning for volleyball.

The view as we rounded the sea wall and could see the pier.

We always take a detour to walk along the marina before getting to the pier.

We walked out on the pier and hiked up the back stairs to take a break before the long walk back to the car. It’s too nice of a view to not stop and take it all in.

Across the yacht basin you can see the Dali Museum.

The splash pad was just starting to get busy.

The view from our bench as we took a short break on the way back.

Sushi for breakfast

On August 15, 2026August 1, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

Less than a week after I had seen the tiny osprey babies at the Dunedin marina I came back with my camera and long lens early in the morning. I stood across the marina and was hoping to get better views of the babies. Mom sat up and started flapping.

She pulled up a fish that looks like it had been on the nest for a while. That woke the babies up. Both of their heads popped up.

She started pulling off pieces of fish and fed both babies for a while.

After a while she took off and flew around the marina and then landed back on the nest.

Meanwhile I was keeping an eye on the nearby purple martin nest boxes. More to come on them.

A sunny walk in April

On August 12, 2026July 28, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights5 Comments

The sun was bright on an early morning walk at one of my usual spots, Philippe Park. I was hoping to see dolphins up close but the tide was out too far for them to come to the sea wall. I did see pelicans far out though.

Pelicans were diving for the fish.

“Wait, come back!” They were in close for a while and then took off.

Another beautiful morning in central Florida, before it got too hot to be outside.

Birds at the beach

On August 10, 2026August 10, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights3 Comments

I was out at Sand Key Park in mid-April hoping to see some migrating birds. It was still a little early for peak spring migration and so far it was mostly a bust. Only a few birds dropping by, not a big fall out so far.

The beach sunflowers were blooming along the trails.

Many of the usual winter-into-spring birds were there including a white eyed vireo, a northern parula and a blue-gray gnatcatcher.

The only migrating bird I saw was a quick look at a prairie warbler.

Rabbits were everywhere.

An osprey eating in the middle of the pine trees.

Zooming in on his yummy fish.

A juvenile osprey was watching from a nearby tree. Probably the offspring of the one above, hoping for a snack but he’s old enough to be getting his own food. The young ones have white spots on the end of the their feathers and orange eyes.

An eastern kingbird was sitting high on a snag.

Looking at Clearwater Beach across the water. That view has changed over the years with so many high rise hotels.

While it’s quiet early in the morning, it will be packed by lunchtime.

It was still early for spring migration so there was still hope for a big fall out.

Visitors to the neighborhood eagle’s nest

On August 8, 2026July 24, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography2 Comments

It was mid-February and I was still spending a few mornings at the eagle’s nest in my neighborhood.

The babies looked fully grown but they were still practicing their flapping, building up those wing muscles.

There are so many other fun things to see at the nest. One morning a kestrel couple landed right in front of me and then started mating. She looked over at me like “Can I get some help here?”

Most mornings I see nanday parakeets, or at least hear them go screaming by. This morning a few of them landed on the wires and trees nearby.

They were chewing on the bark of an old pine tree. I couldn’t tell if they were eating the bark or eating the bugs off the bark.

They stayed a short while then took off across the field.

This was a special morning seeing a deer couple so close. They walked along the utility field but stopped right in front of me.

The beautiful buck started eating right in front of me. I did step behind a big oak tree when they walked up but he could still see me. We don’t get those big antlers often in our neighborhood.

After a while she ducked into the reeds along the utility field and he took off across the street.

April skies from the yard.

On August 5, 2026August 5, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights8 Comments

Sunset across the street from my house in early April.

The Pink Moon (refers to the blossoms blooming in April) from the front and back yard and taken with my phone.

Storms were brewing but we got very little rain in April.

A cloudy sunset over the pond across the street.

The sun going down on the gators across the street. Some nights there are two.

Reflection in the mirror

On August 3, 2026July 22, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography2 Comments

I got to Folly Farms in early April around 8am. As I got out of the car I noticed a bluebird sitting on a nearby car. He didn’t seem shy and stayed there as I walked over.

I think he was staring at himself in the reflection. I knew cardinals do this but didn’t realize bluebirds did. Where was his girlfriend? Probably still sitting on the nest waiting for him to bring in worms.

A starling posing on a tree. They look pretty when the sun shines on them.

Birds were scarce but I did see a cedar waxwing fly off and a yellow throated vireo was far away.

These grasshoppers were everywhere. They were still young ones (they turn yellow when they get bigger). They were eating through the plants in one part of the butterfly garden. I’m not sure if they will spray or just let nature take it’s course.

When I got back to my car the bluebird was on my car.

I waited a few minutes and he kept flying into the side mirror. Maybe he thought he was fighting off another male?

Osprey twins

On August 1, 2026July 22, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography2 Comments

I knew there was an osprey nest at the Dunedin marina. Right in the middle of the marina. The last time I was there I didn’t see any babies so a week later, in early April, I stopped again but only had my phone. After a few minutes I saw an osprey fly in but she didn’t have anything in her talons.

A quick video of her flying in. Once she landed I saw two babies pop up. They were awake now!

After a few minutes she dug around and found some leftover fish in the nest and started feeding them. That light in the post is now on for good. It’s on a sensor to turn on and the nest covers it up so the light thinks it’s dark all of the time.

I could barely see her feeding them. I knew I was going to have to come back with my camera and long lens.