Fun morning at the zoo

On March 14, 2026March 14, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals2 Comments

In early December Brett and I made another trip to the zoo. The weather was too nice to be indoors and we had so much fun on our last trip. The gibbons are always a hit at the zoo and the young one was having fun swinging while the parents watched from the ground.

A quick video of the penguins swimming right in front of us.

Brett had never taken the buggy ride and since we were there early we hopped right on. The Marabou storks were walking around and kept stopping in front of the buggy so we were stuck there for a few minutes.

A type of gazelle in the elephant area.

That was one big fat lazy gator. I’m sure he’s popular with kids.

The mallard thought this manatee was just a big floating pillow.

Watching a manatee and mallard eat their breakfast.

The zoo was decorated for the holidays. This certainly said “Florida Christmas”.

The big critters were out playing.

I think I could fall asleep watching these giant tortoises eat their breakfast. It must take them all day.

A cold morning at Morningside Nature Preserve

On March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Atlanta4 Comments

While Brett and I were in Atlanta before Christmas we had a few hours to kill before meeting up with my sister and her husband so we went back to a preserve that we had found during our trip last year. Morningside Nature Preserve is located in an older intown neighborhood and backs up to a busy street.

This creek area is known as Atlanta’s “dog beach” but it doesn’t look like much in the winter. Dogs are allowed off-leash here and in the summer it’s a busy place.

We walked after lunch and it was a balmy 38 degrees but there were shallow spots along the edge of the creek that were in the shade and still frozen as well as frost on the leaves on the ground.

The leaves weren’t as pretty as last year’s visit but we still managed to find a little bit of fall color along the trail.

I could see a hawk high up in the tree.

The sun was on the other side of the trees as we climbed back up the stairs to get to our car.

The holly bushes in the parking lot were full of red berries. It made the lot look like it was decorated for the holidays.

A cold pre-Christmas trip to Atlanta

On March 9, 2026March 10, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Atlanta1 Comment

Brett and I headed up to Atlanta the week before Christmas week. It was going to be much colder (high of 40 and lows in the teens) than last year’s visit but we brought plenty of warm clothes. My sister and her husband came over for a night and we spent a morning at Stone Mountain Park. I had not been to the park since 2011. It was really cold so there wasn’t a lot of people here (and it was a weekday).

One of the attractions here is the carving into the mountain stone of several Confederate figures as well as the big beautiful wooded park. You can read more about the carving here. There’s a lot of controversy over the carving and the history that the park represents. There are groups that are trying to change that but it’s been a slow process. You can read about it here.

My sister and I posing on the lawn. Many years ago when I lived in Atlanta I climbed the mountain several times. There’s a winding path up one side of the mountain to walk up.

There’s a small (tourist) village in the park that was all decorated for Christmas. Even the dinosaurs were decked out in holiday scarves. Since it was a cold weekday the village was closed but it was nice to walk around in the quiet.

It’s beautiful here in the park, right outside of the city. There’s hiking trails and a big lake for swimming in the summer. After lunch nearby, Debbie and her husband were on their way back to Birmingham.

After lunch Brett and I went out looking for some new parks to walk around for the afternoon. We found an old one that we had never been to. Just off a busy road in Atlanta, the Blue Heron Nature Preserve was a small pretty park with Nancy Creek running through it.

We were working our way towards downtown to try a new pizza place but still had an hour to kill so we found another “new to us” park on the way. The Reservoir Overlook at the Bellwood Quarry was a small park but we were able to walk around for a while and got a view of downtown right before sunset.

We spent 4 days hiking around in the cold weather so more to come.

Critters on my November walks

On March 7, 2026March 7, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography3 Comments

In early November I was out walking along the Safety Harbor waterfront. The fishing pier that was destroyed by the hurricanes (in late 2024) was getting close to being finished. On this morning they still had to put the rails up and finish the end but the birds were enjoying the pilings.

This anhinga was trying to chill on the boardwalk so I took a quick video from far away and left.

Another morning I was out at Philippe Park, climbing the stairs. Those rock piles in the top picture (just above the railing) are man-made oyster beds that were installed to help the oysters grow here and help with erosion. Oysters are natural water filters and will help keep the water in the top of the bay clean.

I’m finding these little shells all over the place.

Another morning I was out on the Dunedin causeway and stopped to watch the shorebirds flying back and forth. It looks like these are sanderlings.

I was able to catch some of them landing. These are mostly ruddy turnstones and short billed dowitchers.

Another morning and I’m out at the Dunedin marina. I walked north towards the Weaver Park fishing pier. The pier is still closed due to damage from the hurricanes (the end was torn off). It is slated to be rebuilt in 2027.

Walking back to my car I could see an immature eagle (he still had a lot of brown on his head). He was chasing an osprey with a fish. I was wishing I had my camera.

The eagle and osprey went behind some trees and somehow the fish was taken from the osprey. The eagle landed in a nearby tree and was trying to eat his prize.

Both the osprey and crows were diving at the eagle. It’s not like either or going to get that fish from the eagle. The eagle moved farther into the tree and started to eat.

My last view of the eagle before heading back to my car. I don’t see this often.

A beautiful November sunset

On March 4, 2026February 23, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights5 Comments

Another beautiful sunset in late November. We decided to swing by the causeway at the last minute so we only caught the last of the sunset. It was a little chilly this night and we only got out of the car for a few minutes.

A 3 park walk and a little bit of history

On March 2, 2026March 4, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn flowers and plants, Tampa bay sights4 Comments

It was mid-November but you would think it was spring at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo. It was still warm and butterflies were all over the butterfly garden. Brett and I were out for a walk through the gardens and then to Heritage Village next door.

Red things were still blooming.

The sun was coming through the holly tree.

The banana trees were loaded. I wonder if the squirrels eat them.

A soft shell turtle hiding under the duckweed.

A moorhen and turtles in one of the ponds. I’m sure there’s an alligator hiding underneath there.

Brett had never walked through Heritage Village which is a part of the botanical gardens here. The village is full of old historic homes from the Pinellas county area that were moved here to be preserved. You can read about the homes here.

The historic village had recently been donated a relic from the old Tiki Gardens theme park/restaurant on Indian Shores Beach back in the 60’s. Seeing the big statue brought back many memories of going there with my family when I was growing up. You can read more about the history of this restaurant here.

Our last walk of the morning was at nearby McGough Park to see the turtle pond. There are so many turtles that live here and you can feed them. On the this morning kids were already throwing in the pellets for them to eat.

Shots from the yard in early November

On February 28, 2026March 6, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography6 Comments

We had the usual visitors to the yard in early November (with one new one). The cute yellow pine warblers were visiting the suet feeder. They would line up on the oak tree and the feeder stand waiting their turn.

Bluebirds were still coming through because I had the dried mealworm feeder up for the first week in November.

Yellow throated warblers are winter visitors. They eat from the suet feeder and stop for a drink from the bird bath. They like to look for bugs under the palm fronds.

A new visitor to the backyard was a yellow bellied sapsucker. He only stayed for a few minutes. I’ve seen this type of woodpecker in the parks but not often.

A pileated woodpecker also stopped by for a few minutes.

Brett yelled “There’s an eagle in the backyard”. I jumped up and grabbed my camera. He was on the other side of the fairway so I was able to sneak outside and catch him before he took off. I thought he had caught something but he didn’t have anything in his talons when he left.

A blue jay sits in front of the window. I think he was telling me the feeder was out of bird food.

Squirrels getting frisky on the patio chairs. I took this through the window.

We had heard that the Northern lights might be visible as far south as central Florida. We went out after 10pm and this is what I caught in the neighborhood. I’m not sure if they really count at as Northern lights but the sky looked different and had a little bit of color that night. People an hour north of us got some brighter pink and purple in their shots.

A stroll down my street.

On February 25, 2026March 6, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, flowers and plants5 Comments

In late October I was out for a walk in my neighborhood. The sun was just coming up over the trees. I had walked to the utility field hoping to see some critters hanging around.

Taken with my phone, I could see a bald eagle sitting high up on the tower.

Native bladderpod was going dormant for the winter but there was still a few green pods on the plant.

Rattlebox starts out with beautiful yellow flowers, then turns in bean pods that are highly toxic. Originally they were planted to help with erosion and they grow like crazy but were later found out that the beans were bad for critters to eat.

I’m not sure what these are but they were in the same area.

A red shoulder hawk was sitting on a light post, looking around for a snack.

A crawly critter on the sidewalk.

There are several bird of paradise plants along my walk.

When I got back home I could see a tiny alligator out in the middle of the pond across the street.

Hibiscus blooming in my front yard.

My favorite walking spots in October

On February 23, 2026March 6, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography1 Comment

The sun was trying to peak out when I went for a walk just after sunrise at the Safety Harbor Waterfront in Mid-October.

It had gotten even cloudier when I stopped by nearby Philippe Park to walk the stairs.

As I was heading for the stairs I caught a pair of little blue herons chasing each other. I’m not sure if they were fighting or flirting since they flew off together.

A night heron sits in the oyster bed.

A few days later I was walking at the Dunedin marina.

The water was low and clear along the seawall and I could see several horseshoe crabs along the rocks. I don’t remember seeing them here before.

I was walking through a neighborhood near the marina and noticed this cactus that was growing on a palm tree was blooming. I did some digging and found out it was dragon fruit. I’ve never eaten it but I see it at the grocery store. The plant was loaded with it. I hope the owner ate all of them.

A few days later and I was at the Dunedin causeway.

I was getting to the bottom of the bridge and noticed this great egret trying to eat a fish. There were several guys fishing along the seawall so I’m not sure if he stole it from them.

I noticed a laughing gull with a missing foot. I’ve seen him several times (at least I think it’s the same one).

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) at Image-In-Ing.

An early morning walk

On February 21, 2026March 6, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography5 Comments

There was a mist over the wetlands as I walked out on the trail at the Roosevelt Wetlands. It was mid-November and a cold morning although it warmed up fast. The mist and dew made it easy to see the spiderwebs.