Our first walk at Robinson Preserve

On April 30, 2025May 11, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights3 Comments

In early February Brett and I headed an hour south of us to the Bradenton/Palmetto area to take a walk at Robinson Preserve and have lunch afterwards in the nearby Cortez fishing area. It was cold so we got to the park a little later, around 9am. It was sunny when we first started walking the trail and got to the tall observation tower.

On the top floor we could see all around the area. It’s a large preserve that sits on the bay and the back area facing Sarasota was pretty dried up. In the summer most of the area in the bottom shot would be under water and swampy.

Fiddler crabs covered the little beach area at the bottom of the tower. It was funny to watch them running around chasing each other. They are usually shy and run to their holes when people are around but these did not scatter when I walked up. They are really pretty when the sun hits them, showing off the pink and purple.

We followed the trail around the small lagoon and by the time we got on the other side the sea fog had started to come in.

We made our way out to the beach and the fog kept getting thicker. The Sunshine Skyway bridge was out there somewhere.

The birds were pretty scarce and we only saw a few ibis and snowy egrets feeding out in the fog. We had a long walk back to our car and were starving so it was off to lunch.

Sunrise over old Florida

On April 28, 2025May 11, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights3 Comments

I love coming up to Chinsegut Wildlife Area early in the morning to catch the sun coming up over the trees.

Sunrise here is what I think old Florida looks like. Lots of tall old trees and fog.

There were lots of birds behind the nature center including the female painted buntings that were in the platform feeder.

There’s a large red headed woodpecker population here but I’ve never seen them come to the feeder area until this morning. This one posed nicely for me.

Then he flew down to the suet feeder and snacked for a few minutes. This is the closest I’ve seen one and there were a lot of people standing on the deck behind the center so he wasn’t shy.

After spending an hour at the nature center feeders looking for the Scott’s oriole (see previous post), I headed out for a walk on the trails.

I made my way down to the lake which is mostly choked up on this side and there isn’t much water here. It’s all grown in and I would have to walk much farther down to the end of the preserve to find the real lake.

The sun coming up over the wild stuff growing in the water.

The sweetgum trees were finally turning to fall colors in late January.

Linking to A Stroll Thru Life.

A cool foggy walk on the waterfront.

On April 14, 2025May 11, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sightsLeave a comment

The mild winters in central Florida almost make up for enduring the heat for 9-10 months. It was cold (50 degrees) when Brett and I went out for long walk down on the St. Pete downtown waterfront in mid-January. We parked at the far end of North Shore Park and walked our way around to the St. Pete Pier. It was cloudy when we first got there.

The sun was trying to come out as we made our way around by the municipal marina.

A view of the historic airplane statue from the other side. It’s a replica of the first commercial air flight from St. Pete to Tampa.

Making our way to the end of the long pier. The small building houses a coffee shop, a restaurant and a bar at the top.

Shots from the end of the pier looking towards downtown. First left, then right.

We took a break and sat on the stairs at the split in the walkway.

As we got back around to the mainland I noticed the sea fog rolling in.

I could barely see the pier through the fog.

As we made our way around Vinoy Park and back to North Shore Park it was not as foggy. What a weird morning. Although it was cool it was still sticky. That stranded boat on the small beach was still there from the hurricanes. We stopped at one more park before heading to a big late breakfast but more on that park later.

Linking to A Stroll Thru Life.

Foggy walks

On March 12, 2025March 14, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights14 Comments

In mid-December I was out for a walk at the Safety Harbor waterfront. The sun was trying to come out but it never did fully appear. My first stop is always the remains of what’s left of the fishing pier. I miss walking out on the pier and seeing the manatees but they are going to rebuild so one day…

The birds love having the pier to themselves.

Later in my walk I could see a dolphin far out in the water (top left corner of the water).

The sun was still trying to break through.

Sites on Main Street include the 300+ year old Baranoff tree (bottom picture), named after the original owner of the Safety Harbor Spa Hotel. Everyone was glad the tree survived the 2 hurricanes.

A few days later I went out for a foggy walk on the Dunedin causeway. The tide was low and you could see the different colors of the seaweed that was left on the sand.

The sun was trying to break through here as well.

Foggy season was starting

On February 10, 2025March 7, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights4 Comments

I woke up early one morning on Thanksgiving weekend and it was super foggy outside. I got ready and headed out for a walk hoping to get some fog shots. It was a slow drive through the fog but when I got to the Dunedin marina there was hardly any fog.

The sun had broken through and I could just see a little fog across the water over towards Clearwater beach.

I was driving home after my walk and 10 minutes later I hit the fog again so I stopped at the Oldsmar pier. I could barely see the end of the pier.

The fog on land was starting to lift but it still looked creepy with the crows flying towards me.

White ibis were busy feeding in the grass along the water.

The sun was starting to peak through and the tide was far out. I love foggy mornings in the winter. It makes it feel like winter here. I like going for walks in the fog but driving around on a busy street in heavy fog is not fun.

Linking to A Stroll Thru Life.

Stop and smell the flowers

On April 27, 2023April 2, 2024 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography9 Comments

I got up early for the almost 2 hour drive to Bok Tower Gardens in central Florida in early March. The weather called for sunny and warm but halfway there the fog started. The closer I got to the gardens, the foggier it got. I was a little bummed but I figured it would lift sometime in the morning. It was still foggy when I started my drive into the gardens.

You pay at the gate and then drive for 5 minutes up to the where the gardens start. Part of that drive is through orange groves. I had my windows rolled down so I could smell the orange blossoms. The smell was strong and I pulled over for a few minutes and snapped the above with my phone. Nothing screams “central Florida” more than ripe oranges and orange blossoms together on the tree.

There’s always a lot blooming here, even in the winter.

You can see the spider webs in the fog.

I’m not sure what this pink tree was but it was almost past it’s peak.

The sun was just starting to peek out after I had been there for an hour.

The azalea bushes were still blooming with the color popping in the fog.

This was a fun trip and it was great to be out and about (even though I was riding a rented scooter). The fog eventually lifted but it kept things nice and cool.

Rolling in

On March 2, 2023March 3, 2023 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights6 Comments

I had to get out of the house so I went for a short mini walk in late January at the Dunedin marina and the fog started rolling in. It started out sunny but got foggy pretty quickly.

Standing on the pier, looking back into the marina, I could see the sun trying to stay out. It cast a sleepy glow back on land.

Out in the water I would see a fog bow.

The usual docile birds were hanging out on the pier.

The sea fog kept rolling in and getting thicker as I was leaving.

Walking through a shower

On February 2, 2023January 27, 2023 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights3 Comments

I love these foggy winter mornings. It’s quiet and most people stay in when it’s like this. Right after Christmas I went out for a walk at the nearby Oldsmar pier. It was so damp that if felt like I was walking through a cool shower.

I then headed over to the Dunedin marina for a quick walk. The fog was almost gone but dark clouds had moved in and it started to drizzle.

I stopped at the Safety Harbor fishing pier on the way home (a slightly long detour) and the sun was trying to peek through.

I have been to the fishing pier at Safety Harbor a million times but I had never been in the hotel next door. I pass it as I’m doing my walk but I never stop in. I had heard their Christmas decorations in the lobby were pretty so I decided to check it out. It’s a fairly small lobby but still had a lot of history in it. One of these days I might have to eat at the restaurant here.

A foggy morning

On January 23, 2023January 14, 2023 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

Another foggy walk along the Dunedin causeway in early December. I thought the sun was going to break through when I first got there but it seemed to get foggier as the morning went on.

After my walk I pulled my camera out of the car and walked down near the edge of the water. The tide was low and there were a few shorebirds feeding or sleeping. I caught a lone marbled godwit flying in to nap with the laughing gulls.

I stopped by the marina before heading home. I could see a bright red Santa on top of a boat, really popping with color in the fog.

The usual birds (a pelican and great egret) hoping a fisherman will show up to steal his snacks.

The sea fog rolling in.

On March 31, 2022March 19, 2022 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography8 Comments

I love being out in the fog so when I peaked out the window in mid-February I got ready quickly and headed out the door for a walk on the Dunedin causeway. It kept getting foggier as the morning went on. I guess the sea fog was rolling in. The tide was super low which made it even cooler.

I had my camera in the car so I pulled it out to get some shots of the oystercatcher couple that was feeding along the causeway. Someone walked up behind me and spooked them to fly to the other side of the causeway.

A few of the other birds included a sanderling, a snowy egret, a marbled godwit and a young ring billed gull feasting on a dead fish.

Later I saw the oystercatchers again and snapped a few more pictures before leaving. They seemed to be having a lot of luck with whatever they were eating (tiny crabs?).