Summer storms in the backyard

Posted on October 22, 2020 by dinajohnston

Pictured above are some of the shots I took from the front yard and the backyard during the month of August. Usually taken late in the day or right before dark. The skies always light up this time of year with so many storms coming through. If the sun peeks out right before sunset then the clouds turn a bright orange. These were all taken with my phone and just cropped up a little.

In the above picture you can see the silhouette of an osprey on top of my neighbor’s sailboat. She’s been back again, sleeping there and then leaving at first light in the morning.

Summer at the beach

Posted on September 24, 2020 by dinajohnston

I got to Fort Desoto Park early on a Saturday morning in late July. The clouds were starting to roll in before the people got here.

I could see it raining over to the far left and was debating on how far to walk out on the Outback Key spit. I had my umbrella in my backpack but wouldn’t want to have to walk back half an hour with lightning.

I walked out a little ways but the storm was moving in quick.

I stopped in the little lagoon near the parking lot to get pictures of a spoonbill. It was drizzling on me but the sun was behind my back and I could see a faint rainbow.

Minutes later the storm had moved away and I headed over to the bird sanctuary.

After dinner walk on the water.

Posted on September 17, 2020 by dinajohnston

This summer I’ve been going for a long walk on Sunday nights after an early dinner to get out of the house and stretch my legs. Just me and my phone. I’ve been taking some short road trips to go somewhere other than my neighborhood (even my neighborhood walls are closing in on me). There was a good chance of rain but I still headed over to Dunedin (a little less than 30 minutes from my house) to walk along the intercoastal waterway. The sun peaked out a few times during my walk but the above are the shots I got along my walk. Most of the people were at the pier or on main street so the neighborhood street I walked on was quiet. This won’t be my last walk here.

On the way home, stopped at a red light, the storm was moving in.

“You’re in my spot”

Posted on August 27, 2020 by dinajohnston

It was fun watching the snowy egrets running around trying to catch the little bait fish along the shoreline at Fort Desoto.

At some point they started fighting over the best fishing spots.These two chased each other for a while. Or, maybe they were flirting. Nesting season is almost over so I’m sticking with fighting for the best spot.

Not only was it the best spot to catch the little fish, it was a great spot to watch the clouds roll in, even from the sandbar. Early in the morning in June it was quiet for a while.

The backyard in June

Posted on July 20, 2020 by dinajohnston

There’s a duck couple that’s been spending afternoons sleeping under our tree in the backyard. Sometimes I peek out the bedroom window to check on them but they are very skittish. They can see me barely move the blinds.

A few of the birds that have been visiting the bird feeder.

I looked out the window and saw something moving in the channel. I grabbed my camera and ran out to the dock to catch 2 manatees rolling around at the end of the channel. After I snapped the above they started heading out to the bay.

Some of the critters in the yard including this juvenile black racer that was climbing up the wall next to the front door.

A faint rainbow in the backyard. It’s the beginning of rainbow season with the summer rains starting in June.

An osprey on my neighbor’s sailboat mast just after the rain.

The sun was trying to peek out.

Skies on the way home

Posted on October 3, 2019 by dinajohnston

Heading home after work, I stopped at an office parking deck after I got over the bridge into Tampa. Storms were moving in over the area. I could see it raining on one side of the bridge and sunny on the other side. Typical Florida weather.

Driving into my neighborhood, it had just stopped raining and the sun was peeking out.

A rainbow in front of my house.

Later that week, we had other storms coming across our neighborhood. I was able to catch the lightning in the backyard with my phone.

SkyWatch Friday

Always looking up in the yard.

Posted on September 5, 2019 by dinajohnston

A few of the 4th of July fireworks from my driveway. Many of my neighbors were setting them off.

Lots of rainbows during the summer rains.

I was standing under the bismark palm tree trying to get some storm shots in the backyard and almost ran into the above. A harmless spiny orb, very common here but I really wouldn’t want to have to pull him out of my hair.

The sun was trying to peek out after a storm.

Dark clouds were swirling in the backyard right before dark.

Lightning shots taken with my phone in the backyard.

Standing on the Safety Harbor fishing pier, I could see a storm over my neighborhood across the bay.

I’m always looking up in the yard during the rainy season.If I hear thunder on one side of the house and the sun is out on the other, I always run outside with my phone hoping to see a rainbow.

SkyWatch Friday

No rain or sunset on Honeymoon Island.

Posted on September 2, 2019 by dinajohnston

Late on a Saturday night, Brett and I were heading to Honeymoon Island for a party at the end of June. Seeing the clouds on the way in, we were expecting rain.

The rain was far off in the gulf and stayed out there the entire night.

Crazy grackles hanging out at the pavilion we were at.

The sun peaked out right before it went down creating an orange glow.

A few more clouds rolled in right before dark but the rain held off all night.

image-in-ing: weekly photo linkup Our World Tuesday Graphic

The “snow” birds have arrived

Posted on January 17, 2019 by dinajohnston

I had heard the white pelicans had come down to south St. Petersburg for the winter. They had been recently sighted at Fort Desoto near the north beach tip. The big white pelicans only spend part of the winter in the area and leave in early spring. I headed down in mid-November to look for them and after looking everywhere for them I was about to leave. I stopped at the East beach turnaround before leaving to see if any new shorebirds were there. I noticed something white behind the tall overgrown mangroves. There in a small lagoon, hidden behind the mangroves was a small flock of them. They were busy feeding and didn’t notice me standing in the mangroves across the lagoon. I watched these big beautiful graceful birds feeding together. They would fly in and together, a small group would swim around scooping up the fish. I’m hoping I see them again before they leave.