Reflection in the mirror

On August 3, 2026July 22, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photographyLeave a comment

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.

Dad was nearby watching from the top of a boat.

More shots of the damaged fishing pier being torn down.

Behind the hotel at the marina I could see laughing gulls diving for bait fish up against the sea wall.

A walk through the park

On July 29, 2026July 28, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography6 Comments

In early April we were in a drought. Some of the ponds at Chesnut Park were dried up and choking with vegetation. The swampy areas along the back boardwalk still had some water but not much. You could see fallen trees that have been there for a long time.

The sun was out but most of the boardwalks here are shaded.

We had some rain the night before and the resurrection fern was in full green early the next morning. It really makes the old oak trees pop but the ferns will turn brown by the next day until it rains again.

All of the usual birds were there including a singing Carolina wren, a juvenile little blue heron and a coot with a snack hanging out of his beak.

Purple gallinules were close to the dock this morning.

They eat the blooms on the spadderdock.

The red winged blackbirds were eating bugs off the leaves in the lake.

Another hot sunny day!

Color around the yard

On July 27, 2026July 27, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, flowers and plantsLeave a comment

There were so many things blooming in the yard by mid-March. The gardenia bush blooms only for a few weeks here. I wish it continued through the summer since it smells so good by the front door.

The bluebirds were still working on a nest. That silly lady couldn’t understand why she couldn’t get those long sticks through the holes.

Mr Bluebird was nearby, shaking his head and probably laughing.

Northern parulas were always in the backyard. They have such a distinct sound and that bright yellow chest is easy to spot.

I was outside in the back and saw an osprey fly by and land on a tree across the fairway. I grabbed my camera and walked a little closer and he took off. I think he was looking to catch some fish in the tiny pond nearby.

A swallowtail kite flew by as well.

White ibis come through the yard often. They are always pecking around in people’s yard and many locals call them “Florida chickens”. Someone is feeding them nearby because they will come up to the back door if they see me in the window. They are always looking for a handout.

Beneficial little green critters in the backyard. Both the Mabel’s Orchard Orb Weaver (in the first two shots) and the long legged fly are good at keeping tiny pest at bay.

We don’t often get cloudscape sunsets in late March since there isn’t a lot of rain but this night was perfect.

Close up with manatees

On July 25, 2026July 25, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals3 Comments

The bushes were in full bloom during my visit to Zoo Tampa at the end of March.

Unfortunately these guys were all over the railings. These are tussock moth caterpillars and they can give you a nasty sting or rash if you brush up against them. I’m assuming the zoo doesn’t want to spray chemicals all over with animals nearby but maybe they could hose down the railings in the morning? You had to watch were you leaned. They are only around for a week or two.

Fun birds in the aviary.

The flamingos were very active. I couldn’t tell if they were flirting or fighting.

They were honking pretty loud.

The baby colobus monkey was playing.

The manatees were eating right under me. There was a young one on the left.

The duck was being lazy while eating, sitting on the back of the manatee.

Here was the main reason I came this morning. The underwater viewing building had just been remodeled and reopened up after being closed for several months. I got to the zoo when it opened and headed straight for the building because I knew later in the day it would be packed. I was able to see them eating right in front of the windows.

Watching a manatee eating that yummy lettuce.

A turtle came right up to the window. I think we had a moment together.

The water and the windows were so clear. All of these manatees are rescues and are rehabilitated here and then released. Most are injuries from boat strikes or cold stunned (that make them sick) during exceptionally cold winters like the one we just had.

They now have a live webcam of the underwater viewing area and you can watch them swim around here.

Have you ever seen a duck eating lettuce from underneath? It was funny to watch her beak bobbing up and down in the water.

A foggy start to my bike ride

On July 22, 2026July 8, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography7 Comments

At the end of March I woke up to a foggy morning and almost didn’t go out for an early bike ride. I went out anyway and when I got to the north end of the Pinellas Trail the sun was already coming out of the fog. As soon as I got on the trail I saw a nice fogbow on one side of the trail and the sun coming up over the trees on the other side.

The sun was peeking through the trees along the horse pasture.

The fog made the spiderwebs stand out.

The sun coming up over the barn.

I could see a turkey far out in the pasture. He was strutting around but the ladies were too far away.

Is the grass really greener on the other side? Or maybe it just tastes better?

I love hearing the sound of the meadowlarks.

The grackle’s colors really stood out in the sun.

On the other side of the cow pasture I could see the 2 juvenile bald eagles. One was really flapping his wings.

Farther down the trail I saw another bald eagle. This one looked to be about a year old with those white spots, probably born here last winter.

A kildeer was sitting on eggs in the dirt. These guys nest on the ground.

Walking at my favorite spots.

On July 20, 2026July 21, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography2 Comments

I was out at the Dunedin marina in mid-March for an early morning walk. The city is finally fixing the pier that was damaged from the hurricanes in late 2024. They were taking the entire pier down before rebuilding it. They’ve been working on the rebuilding the sea wall along the marina for months but it seems to be slow going.

When I got out in front of the sailing center I could see dolphins far out in the water.

Watching a pelican dive for food.

A few days later I was walking along the waterfront in Safety Harbor. The fishing pier here is almost finished.

Reflections in the water.

When I first got to the waterfront I could see a crab trapper going by. The pelicans usually follow them hoping for a handout when they pull the traps up but I doubt those guys give up a single crab.

Back at the Dunedin marina a few days later and the purple martins were busy working on their nests in the nest condo.

The osprey were busy with their nest and I think they were sitting on eggs.

A warm morning walk at Chesnut Park

On July 18, 2026July 6, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography5 Comments

The welcoming committee as I drove into Chesnut Park in mid-March.

I saw many ladies this morning. This one looked like she had something wrong with her fur. Mange or maybe she was just shedding. This was the first time I had seen one look like this at this park.

Walking along the back boardwalk. The sun was trying to peek through the trees.

I noticed a least bittern right up near the edge of the lake. They are usually tough to spot but this one was sitting in front of the reeds, out in the open.

Birds out on the dock included a grackle and an anhinga.

This turtle was covered in algae. I took this with my phone since he was so close.

It was getting hot fast as the sun came up over the trees.

Sidewalk fun

On July 15, 2026July 15, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography7 Comments

Bright colors just after sunrise during my mid-March walk in Safety Harbor.

I usually walk along the waterfront but this morning I headed down Main Street. The sun was peeking through the old trees. The first tree is behind the library and the 2nd tree is the 350+ year old Baranoff oak tree. The tree is named after Dr. Salem Baranoff, who is known for owning the Safety Harbor Spa Hotel and a community leader. He died in 1977 at the age of 90 but his tree lives on.

The sun was coming up down Main Street this Monday morning and the reason I was walking here was because the Sidewalk Chalk Festival was the weekend before. It’s always fun to walk the street and look at all of the artwork left behind.

The above 2 were on boards instead of the sidewalk and I think that parrot was my favorite one.

Just a sample of the 40 drawings on the sidewalk. I was drawn to the Florida themes this morning.

I noticed this old building for sale. There’s a gift shop in the bottom floor. It was built in 1914 as a hotel and was one of the few buildings that survived the fire of 1917 that burned most of Safety Harbor and survived the destructive hurricane of 1921. It will be interesting to see what happens to it after it’s sold and if you’re wondering, it’s $4M!

Around the yard in early March

On July 13, 2026July 13, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography5 Comments

Bluebirds were working on a nest in the nest box in early March like they have done the past few years but they haven’t actually nested in it. Next spring I’m going to move it much higher and to the other side of the tree.

A juvenile red shoulder hawk was sitting right outside the window.

I slowly opened the back door to get a shot with my camera and he flew off and landed on the cart path. He quickly ate what looked like a cricket and then took off again, flying so close that I cut him off.

I heard cedar waxwings in the trees in the front yard and ran inside to grab my camera. I saw some birds flying across the street (next to the pond) and when I walked over I realized they were brown-headed cowbirds. We don’t see them often here.

After snapping the cowbirds I heard the waxwings again. I turned around and saw them flying towards me.

They landed in a tree right over my head and stayed for a while. It was such a treat to see these beautiful birds right on my street. They only come through in the spring and some springs we don’t see them at all.

Things blooming in the yard in early March.

I bought a small basil plant thinking I would be cooking more but I forgot about it and it grew quickly and started blooming. I’ve heard that once they bloom the leaves become bitter so I haven’t used them. It smells good when I walked outside though.

Green lacewings are highly beneficial feeding heavily on aphids, mealybugs, thrips, and mites. I usually don’t see them until the middle of summer so this one was early.

Inside flowers from Valentine’s Day.

I was still spending quite a bit of time at the pond across the street watching the black bellied whistling ducks. It was fun to watch them all fly in at the end of the day.

Swallow tail kites had arrived.

The clouds in the back turn bright orange when the sun sets.