Really the only thing this boat picture and the bird photos below have in common is that they both make us happy. Our poor boat has been in the "boat hospital" (the mechanic) all season but now at last it is well and at home on our dock. (And now the only thing that is poor is our wallet.) We do hope we can use it often for the rest of the time we're here. This picture shows the improvements we made to the dock — that was one of our projects last year. It's nice to have the step and rails to make it easier to get on and off — and easier to dock when we get home from a trip.
The rest of the post (all birds all the time) is more from our Everglades excursion earlier this month.
This is the Gulf of Florida shoreline near where we camped at Flamingo. And just part of the huge bunch* of Black Skimmers we spotted.
* I'm quite sure that "bunch" is not the term that a real birder would use. But in spite of being able to help the people I met at the Osprey nest near here (HERE is that post), I am really an eternal amateur.
I am very happy with this close-up because it shows his (or her) eye. Black on black makes them very difficult to see. The first one I ever spotted a few years ago was resting on the grass and I actually thought it had suffered some terrible injury and didn't have any eyes at all. (HERE is that post.)
I admit to being a little obsessed with Skimmers – but aren't they gorgeous looking? Also, there really is something special about seeing a large flock of any bird. It kind of makes me feel like there is something right with the world!
Skim on over to OUR WORLD on TUESDAY; WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY and WEDNESDAY WATERS and click the links. There are so many interesting stories and so many wonderful photographers who link to each of these fun memes. SPECIAL THANKS to all of the hosts.
We appreciate all visitors and commenters! Thank you.