Early December walks

On April 6, 2026March 18, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography2 Comments

Love locks on the Safety Harbor waterfront boardwalk. This trend that started in Paris has made it’s way here. The problem here is that too many locks weigh the wires down and cause them to bend and pull out of the wood so unfortunately they get cut off and thrown out periodically.

I stopped by Kapok Park in mid-December and almost missed the fall colors on the bald cypress trees. The small lake is surrounded by them and it’s pretty when the leaves change.

One of my favorite trees at this park is a large oak tree that was pulled up during a bad storm many years ago. The tree still thrives and has adapted it’s shape to grow along the ground.

I was out at the Dunedin marina on a foggy morning. Kingfishers are common here in the winter and this was my first sighting this season of one. He was hovering for a long time looking for fish to catch.

Another foggy morning I walked on the causeway. Above is the view from the top of the bridge.

An osprey was watching me.

On a sunny morning on the causeway I saw a fisherman trying to keep the birds away from his bait fish that he had just pulled up. I noticed the snowy egret (in the bottom shot) was missing a foot. He could still fly so he was getting around well.

Willets and dowitchers were feeding along the shoreline.

A herring gull with a tasty snack.

Critters on my November walks

On March 7, 2026April 10, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography3 Comments

In early November I was out walking along the Safety Harbor waterfront. The fishing pier that was destroyed by the hurricanes (in late 2024) was getting close to being finished. On this morning they still had to put the rails up and finish the end but the birds were enjoying the pilings.

This anhinga was trying to chill on the boardwalk so I took a quick video from far away and left.

Another morning I was out at Philippe Park, climbing the stairs. Those rock piles in the top picture (just above the railing) are man-made oyster beds that were installed to help the oysters grow here and help with erosion. Oysters are natural water filters and will help keep the water in the top of the bay clean.

I’m finding these little shells all over the place.

Another morning I was out on the Dunedin causeway and stopped to watch the shorebirds flying back and forth. It looks like these are sanderlings.

I was able to catch some of them landing. These are mostly ruddy turnstones and short billed dowitchers.

Another morning and I’m out at the Dunedin marina. I walked north towards the Weaver Park fishing pier. The pier is still closed due to damage from the hurricanes (the end was torn off). It is slated to be rebuilt in 2027.

Walking back to my car I could see an immature eagle (he still had a lot of brown on his head). He was chasing an osprey with a fish. I was wishing I had my camera.

The eagle and osprey went behind some trees and somehow the fish was taken from the osprey. The eagle landed in a nearby tree and was trying to eat his prize.

Both the osprey and crows were diving at the eagle. It’s not like either or going to get that fish from the eagle. The eagle moved farther into the tree and started to eat.

My last view of the eagle before heading back to my car. I don’t see this often.

My favorite walking spots in October

On February 23, 2026March 6, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography1 Comment

The sun was trying to peak out when I went for a walk just after sunrise at the Safety Harbor Waterfront in Mid-October.

It had gotten even cloudier when I stopped by nearby Philippe Park to walk the stairs.

As I was heading for the stairs I caught a pair of little blue herons chasing each other. I’m not sure if they were fighting or flirting since they flew off together.

A night heron sits in the oyster bed.

A few days later I was walking at the Dunedin marina.

The water was low and clear along the seawall and I could see several horseshoe crabs along the rocks. I don’t remember seeing them here before.

I was walking through a neighborhood near the marina and noticed this cactus that was growing on a palm tree was blooming. I did some digging and found out it was dragon fruit. I’ve never eaten it but I see it at the grocery store. The plant was loaded with it. I hope the owner ate all of them.

A few days later and I was at the Dunedin causeway.

I was getting to the bottom of the bridge and noticed this great egret trying to eat a fish. There were several guys fishing along the seawall so I’m not sure if he stole it from them.

I noticed a laughing gull with a missing foot. I’ve seen him several times (at least I think it’s the same one).

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) at Image-In-Ing.

The crazy sunrise people

On January 28, 2026January 28, 2026 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights6 Comments

In late September I was at the Safety Harbor waterfront early enough for sunrise. My husband always thinks I’m the only one crazy enough to get up early to go see sunrise but when I got to the park there were a lot of other people. I managed to get a shot of a dolphin coming up on the far left in the above shot. I didn’t see him again after that shot.

Getting photo bombed by cute dogs. That one dog was more interested in what I was doing vs. watching the sunrise. He was ready to play.

Watching the sun come up as I walked along the waterfront. It was a warm morning and the water was calm.

I stopped at nearby Philippe Park to walk the stairs on the back of the Indian mound. The sun was still making it’s way up.

Halfway up and the view from the top of the mound.

A hot humid walk

On January 7, 2026December 26, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights9 Comments

It was a hot calm morning in late August when I was out walking along the waterfront. Not a puff of wind and not a ripple on the water. The humidity was high and it felt like I was walking in a shower. You could see the humidity in the clouds.

It’s been interesting to watch the pier being rebuilt. On this morning most of the posts had been put in and by now the walkway is done and they are finishing the end. I miss seeing the manatees at the end of the pier. Hopefully they will show up again when it’s finished.

I made a quick stop at the Oldsmar fishing pier before heading home. The end of the pier here is closed due to the hurricanes but you can walk about 3/4 th of the way down.

Christmas on Main Street

On December 24, 2025December 21, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights5 Comments

The side of a realtor office on Main Street in Dunedin changes murals with the seasons. Whoever the artist is does a really good job capturing the spirit of the town.

The businesses in the area decorate the light posts along Main Street each year. Some are the same every year but many change it up. These are a few of my favorites although I think the flamingo is my favorite.

On the other side of Pinellas county, Safety Harbor also decorates along their Main Street. The last 2 are in front of the Bassano Cheesecake Cafe. During the holidays you may catch the owner walking around in a Grinch costume and they do have the best cheesecake in the Tampa Bay area.

Well said, Grinch!

Above are some shots of a few of my favorite houses in a nearby neighborhood that really goes all out. They have long lines to get into the neighborhood on the weekends before Christmas. Brett and I drove through early this year on a weekday.

Me sitting with Santa on a recent trip to Atlanta to spend some time with family. Brett and I found 4 new parks to hike around this trip so more to come on those.

I want to thank everyone who stopped by this past year and hope you stop by again in the next year. I’ve got more pictures to come. Have a great Christmas!

Another “this never gets old” treat.

On December 20, 2025December 3, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn Florida animals4 Comments

A sliver of sunrise was peeking through the clouds at the end of August on my walk at the Safety Harbor waterfront. After a short walk I headed to nearby Philippe Park to walk the stone stairs on the back side of the Indian mound (I was prepping for all of that walking and stairs on the Italy trip coming up).

Right as I walked out on the walkway on the waterfront this dolphin popped up in front of me. There were 2 feeding along the seawall and I spent half an hour watching them swim back and forth in front of me.

It was high tide this morning so they were herding the fish into the sea wall.

I took so many short videos with my phone and these were the best ones. At this point there was a small crowd also watching.

This was one of those “it never gets old” treats that we see here in the area.

The dolphins finally moved down the sea wall and towards the open bay so I started my stair climbing while it was still cloudy.

No breeze in the middle of summer

On November 5, 2025October 31, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography11 Comments

The water was calm on my walk at the Safety Harbor waterfront in early July.

A night heron was sitting on the branch in front of the boardwalk.

This was the first time I’ve seen a kildeer here. There were two of them running around the grassy field. I could hear there distinct call across the field.

It was hot this morning and there wasn’t any breeze.

I left the waterfront and stopped at nearby Philippe Park to walk along the sea wall there.

Hiking up the Indian temple mound from the back stairs. It’s the largest remaining mound built by the Tocobaga Indians. You can read more on the history here.

The view from the top.

I tried not to disturb this couple making hanky panky as I walked back down.

I was getting back in my car and saw this pileated woodpecker fly into a hole in a tree in the parking area. I zoomed in with my phone and was able to catch him banging away. He didn’t seem shy at all.

Watching the storms roll in and out

On October 29, 2025October 18, 2025 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.

Fish for breakfast

On September 22, 2025October 15, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography2 Comments

I was out for one of my usual morning walks in early June at the Dunedin Marina and parked in front of this mural which is on the front of the small restaurant that sits on the marina. It’s a good central place to park and I always look for manatees and dolphins before my walk. From here I can walk in 3 different directions. South towards Clearwater is on the water but there’s no shade so I usually take that route on cloudy days. East takes me through downtown Dunedin and north takes me along the water through neighborhoods with lots of old oak trees.

The north route has lots of blooming things to look at.

A bunny along the grass.

A Momma duck and her 2 tiny babies walking across the street.

I got back to the marina and saw 2 osprey chasing each other. They were heading for the osprey nest in the big pine tree.

One of the osprey had a fish with him and landed and started to dig in to his freshly caught breakfast. They have a big nest in this tree and hang out here all year. Nesting season for them won’t start again until mid-winter but they are still here. I guess there’s good fish in this marina.

A few days later my walk started at the Safety Harbor waterfront.

Someone had tied a flag to the railing in front of the closed pier.

After my walk I was standing in front of the pier before leaving and saw an osprey fly in with a fish. I ran back to my car and got my camera and he was still eating. It looked like he was struggling a little in the wind and the poor fish kept flopping. Osprey, also know as fish hawks, only eat fish so they can be found along the water. Osprey were almost completely wiped out due to the wide use of DDT (a pesticide) that made their egg shells too thin to develop. The pesticide was banned in 1972 and these guys have made a big rebound although now mercury from the fish they exclusively eat has caused concern. When I would come down to the Tampa Bay area to visit my parents in the early 90’s I rarely saw an osprey and now I see them everywhere.