Winter in the Sun

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Counting our blessings as we enjoy Winter in the sunshine.

 

 White Pelicans, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel

Unlike these pelicans, we're still trying to maintain some social distancing, which is a little harder to do here than at home in Oregon.  But fortunately the real Florida — the natural places — are easy to access and they feel safe.    These pictures are from some we've visited over the past couple of weeks.

 

Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Ding Darling 

Sanibel is a little bit of a distance from the Canal Cottage, but it's a lovely island and the Wildlife Refuge alone is well worth it.   There is a one-way wildlife drive with places to park and some walking paths.  We also saw a lot of birds we didn't get pictures of  including Roseate Spoonbills, shorebirds, ospreys, and the usual egrets and herons.   

 

Ibis under Cypress Tree, Franklin Locks Park

Franklin Locks is an easy neighborhood drive.  The park is well-maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers  with paths and views of the Caloosahatchie River and boat lock.  It's less "wild" than some of the other places I like to walk,  but the ease of access makes it worthwhile.    Traffic in this area this time of year is very heavy and access to Franklin Locks is along  familiar and relatively lightly traveled streets, so it is a comfortable fit.

 

Sky Reflections (Six Mile Cypress and Manatee Park)

Watching the sky by looking down is almost a Zen thing for me.   But you can do that just about anywhere around here.  You only need  water, blue sky and fluffy clouds –   all are in good supply.

 

Florida Snow (Richardia grandiflora) seen everywhere here 

This feels a bit like rubbing it in while everybody everywhere else is dealing with the real white stuff.  But that really is what this tiny little wildflower/weed  is called.  It blooms here in late Fall and early winter and blankets just about every grassy area.  (I think it's probably called a weed by anyone who wants a perfect lawn, but a pretty little wildflower by the rest of us.)  

 

Manatee Park, Fort Myers (with an old photo at the lower right)

 

Manatee Park is another neighborhood destination.  As  the name implies it is a hangout for these awe-inspiring water-dwelling mammals.   When the water in the Gulf is too cold, they hang out here because the water is warmed by a nearby power plant.   Their closest living relative is the elephant and they can get just about as big as one.  But it is very hard to get a good picture because they only surface for a few seconds every five or six minutes.  And of course when one does surface it will be nowhere near where it was first spotted.    So I threw in the bottom right photo from a long time ago (and from a different place in SW Florida) because it is the only one I've ever taken that actually shows its face.

 

Babcock Ranch  

 

Grateful for wildlife, sky, water,  winter color — and warm toes.

 

Linking this week to the following sharing opportunities.  Thank you to the hosts.

 

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS;  OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS; and  SATURDAY CRITTERS;