Tag: Philippe Park

Fun in the sun

On By dinajohnstonIn Uncategorized6 Comments

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Yes I took these right into the sun. I was standing on a sea wall looking for ducks and heard a splash down near the beach area at a park in Safety Harbor. The black dog ran in and was barking at the brown dog to come in. They splashed around and played for a while. They looked like they were having the best time in the cold water. The brown dog got tired and went back on the beach and the black dog seemed to stand there like “Come back, it’s not time to leave yet.” He finally shook off and headed back to the beach.

Orange beak duck and the red-eyed devils at Philippe Park.

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography8 Comments

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After leaving the Safety Harbor fishing pier, I headed over to Philippe Park to see what was swimming around the inlet there. First thing I noticed was the red breasted merganser. This is the first one I’ve seen this winter.

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She was alone but there were a few horned grebes a little farther out.

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The red-eyed devils had arrived for the winter. They were my  first horned grebe sighting this season. They were swimming far out in the water.

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Last winter they hung around the fishing pier but this winter they seem to be farther north.

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From the park, I could see a lone eagle sitting far out in the middle of the bay on top of a utility tower.

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Is that a burp? Yawn? Was it calling for its mate?

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Later I saw the above fly over the trees away from me.  I hope it’s the same eagle as the one on the tower and the mate is off sitting on eggs.

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It was a beautiful weekend before the holidays.