🎵 “Baby, you’re a firework” 🎵

On July 1, 2026July 1, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights5 Comments

These are all firework shots from my past. The two above were taken in 2020. Since we were all spending so much time at home I knew there would be a lot of people shooting off fireworks on the nearby Courtney Campbell Causeway. I got out on the causeway right before dark and was able to get a parking spot near the boat ramp. Luckily I was coated with 2 coats of OFF because the bugs were crazy along the water. People were shooting the fireworks right over my head in the parking lot.

I got a good spot on the water and set up my tripod and got shots of the fireworks going off all up and down the causeway.

Zooming out I could see the fireworks in my neighborhood to the left.

The next year I decided to go to the top open parking deck at the airport. I thought I would be able to see tons of fireworks from all over Tampa. Everyone seemed to have that same idea because the deck was packed. The football stadium was all lit up and I could see fireworks going off near there.

Most of the fireworks were very far away and you couldn’t hear the boom so that was a little disappointing but there was a nice breeze up there and not many bugs.

The next year I stayed home and stood in my driveway to see fireworks.

There were lots of parties in my old neighborhood in Tampa and everyone was shooting them off. Above is a quick video from my driveway.

In June of 2023 Brett and I were in Orlando staying near Disney. After dinner we got back to the hotel and could see fireworks going off (on the left) at one of the theme parks and nature’s fireworks (on the right) from our window.

This song by Rhianna will be one of the most played song this weekend:

“You just gotta ignite the lightAnd let it shineJust own the nightLike the Fourth of July

‘Cause baby, you’re a fireworkCome on, show ’em what you’re worthMake ’em go, “Oh, oh, oh”As you shoot across the skyBaby, you’re a fireworkCome on, let your colors burstMake ’em go, “Oh, oh, oh”You’re gonna leave ’em all in awe, awe, awe”

A cold foggy walk on the waterfront

On June 15, 2026June 15, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights1 Comment

I was out for a wet foggy walk at the Safety Harbor waterfront in late February. It had stopped raining before daylight but the boardwalk was still full of puddles.

I couldn’t see very far out in the bay and I certainly couldn’t see Tampa across the bay. It was a kind of spooky and I passed very few people, only the diehard joggers.

The grass in the park didn’t look well after the freeze but it came back by spring.

I stopped at nearby Philippe Park to walk the stairs to the top of the Indian mound.

If was foggy looking south in the bay but the sun was trying to peek out when I was leaving.

When you walk along the sea wall you can look up and see the top of the mound. This park is named after Odet Philippe, who is credited with introducing grapefruit to Florida. Grapefruit was grown in this park in the late 1800’s. The mound was built by Tocobaga Indians in the late 1500’s. There are several mounds in the area but this one is the largest one remaining.

Cold morning walks in January

On May 27, 2026June 8, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights5 Comments

An early January walk along the water at the Safety Harbor Waterfront Park. They still haven’t quite finished the fishing pier yet. It takes forever to get inspections and permits to do anything so I think they are waiting on an inspection before they can put the roof on the end. Then that has to be inspected so maybe it will be open by Christmas.

A few days later I went for a walk at the Dunedin marina area. It was cloudy and cool and when I got around to the jetti front I noticed an osprey nest in the light post. This osprey couple have a big nest in a tree right by the boat ramp that they have used for years but I assuming the construction from the sea wall rebuild right there had them move to this light post. The light sensor on the light post is covered up with nesting material and now that light stays on all day long.

There are several other osprey nests close by and I noticed a lot of them circling right over the marina.

Looking across the water I could see the Dunedin causeway to the right.

A week later I was out at the causeway for a sunny and cold walk. This guy had caught a small shark. He released the shark. This area of water is called “shark alley” and people with drones have recorded a lot of sharks here but everyone still gets in the water.

A ring billed gull was posing for me as I crossed the bridge.

A few days later I came back to the causeway much earlier in the morning and before I got to the bridge I noticed dolphins fishing close in. I was wishing I had my camera that morning.

A short video of them splashing around and then jumping in the air.

A week later I was walking in Dunedin and came across some some ibis and a great egret feeding in the low tide along the Weaver Park fishing pier. This pier is still closed due to damage from the hurricanes in late 2024 and is scheduled to be rebuilt in early 2027.

Watching the ibis bobbing for snacks in the muck.

It’s common to see stranded boats washed up here at the pier.

A foggy morning in the yard

On April 29, 2026May 7, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights6 Comments

I slept in a little late in early January and when I looked out the window I saw the fog. It was disappearing quickly so I ran out with my phone to get the above in the backyard. The sun was already up over the fairway but not quite over the trees.

Looking down the fairway, the fog was almost gone.

Then I ran out the front door and was walking over to the pond across the street when I noticed the sun coming through the fog and trees.

There was still enough fog along the water to cause a fogbow across the pond.

A January walk in Tarpon Springs

On April 27, 2026May 7, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights3 Comments

In early January I was out for a walk at Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs. I like walking here in the winter because I can walk along the water and the traffic to the beach is low since it’s too cold for most people to go to the beach. The tide was super low this morning. I could see the smaller Sunset Beach Park across the water.

This guy on a skateboard knew how to give his dogs a better walk with minimal effort.

Cormorants like to hang out on this small jetty on the causeway.

Pretty beach sunflowers on the beach.

Kayaks ready to go out. Maybe later.

Looking back when I’m almost back to my car.

I stopped by Craig Park on the way home and the Epiphany boats were still in the water. The city of Tarpon Springs celebrates the Epiphany in a big way here. You can read about my post when I attended the celebration in 2022 here.

Sunrise on the beach

On April 13, 2026May 7, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sightsLeave a comment

I was up early at the end of December, headed to Fort Desoto Park in south St. Pete. I’m usually lucky having no other cars behind me before going into the park and I can stop on the bridge and take a quick shot of the sun coming up behind the Skyway bridge.

The sun was already up past the bridge when I got into the park (it opens at 7am so you can’t get there in the dark except during a short window of time before the time changes). My first stop was the East Beach turnaround but since the sun was to the far right I drove over to the East Beach picnic area.

I could see lots of barges out in the water. Looks like maybe they were dredging there.

High up in the sky were 2 guys on motorized paragliders. They must have had a fabulous view coming over the bridge.

I made my way over to the bay fishing pier. The end of the pier was still closed off due to damage from the hurricanes back in late 2024 and the pelicans were enjoying the space.

The pier bumpers where the ferry comes in at was full of fishing line. There was even a fish caught on it.

I finally made it out to North beach and it was super low tide.

A sailboat was stranded on the beach.

I came to the park to look for some rare birds that I was able to see but more on them later.

A holiday sunset walk

On April 8, 2026May 7, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights6 Comments

We did not have family come into town for Christmas this year and the family that is local had gone out of town so after our late Christmas supper we headed over to the Dunedin marina for a sunset walk. It was a beautiful cool night and we were not alone. The marina area was packed although I was able to get the above pictures without anybody in them.

Going down behind the nearby dock. This dock was completely lost in the hurricane in 2024 and was just finished being rebuilt right before Christmas.

The marina with that pink and orange glow once the sun had gone down.

A sunny start to December

On March 18, 2026April 10, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights4 Comments

In early December Brett and I were back at Davis Islands for another afternoon walk. We were soaking up the cooler sunny weather.

It was a busy sailboat day and we sat for a while watching the boats go in and out of the yacht basin.

We found the perfect bench to sit and look for birds and dolphins.

This male grackle was showing off his pretty colors in the sun.

We also had a nice view of downtown Tampa from our bench.

A beautiful November sunset

On March 4, 2026April 10, 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, 2026April 10, 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.