Tag: crab trapper

Some hot summer walks

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

I started my early walk in September at Philippe Park. I was still climbing the stairs to the Indian Mound, trying to get in shape for my trip to Italy. The flaming torch bromeliads were blooming along the stairs.

I have been seeing this crab trapper out in the upper Tampa bay for at least 10 years. He must have just started out this morning because when he starts pulling up the crab traps and dumping them in his storage bin the pelicans start to follow him.

I stopped by the Oldsmar pier before heading home and it was high tide. My timing was perfect because a dolphin came right up to the pier as I walked out. He circled around the area for a short time and then headed out to the deeper area of the bay.

The next morning I walked at the Dunedin causeway and stopped to enjoy the sunrise before it got too hot.

I could see a blue crab along the sea wall. He better watch out for those traps because this is what the crab trapper pulls up during the crab season.

A laughing gull takes a break in front of my car.

Saturday's Critters

 

Watching the storms roll in and out

On By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights8 Comments

It was mid-June and the summer rains were in full swing. I love to walk on mornings like these unless the rain keeps me indoors. I could see the rain far south of me as I started my walk at the Safety Harbor waterfront. I walked around the area in short circles and stayed close to the car in case the weather turned quickly, always keeping an eye out for lightning. I did not see any this morning and the rain had already passed my area and was moving farther south.

When I looked north the sun was already out and had a halo around it.

The storm looked like it was getting bigger as it got farther away.

A week later I was back out there walking and the storm was moving in.

The shelf cloud took over the entire waterfront.

The crab trapper came back into the marina quickly and got his boat on the trailer. It started to drizzle after this and I headed to my car right as it started to pour.

SkyWatch Friday

Not that early in the morning

On By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights4 Comments

I wasn’t up and out of the house that early in the morning. But, early enough to catch the sun before it got too high in the sky. The Safety Harbor fishing pier is one of the best spots to see a sunrise in Pinellas County. There is usually a crowd but this weekday morning wasn’t too busy.

I lingered for a while on the pier watching the sun go up.

As I was leaving and driving down Main Street I realized that they had recently held the sidewalk chalk festival. I stopped and snapped a few shots before heading out.

I stopped at the Oldsmar pier before home and they were getting ready for the weekend carnival at the park. It was late March so I was assuming this was a spring break carnival. I walked out on the pier and could see the workers finishing the set up.

I turned around on the pier and saw my favorite crab trap guy out in the water. This time he was close to the pier and I could see him emptying the traps more clearly this time. I’m hoping one of these days I’ll get to meet him. I think he saw me taking his picture and he was probably thinking “What is she doing? I have a permit for these traps.” But I really just think it’s cool to be out in a small boat with tons of pelicans following him.

SkyWatch Friday