At dawn

"The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you; Don't go back to sleep..."

~~ Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207 - 1273), 13th century Persian poet

Another blue heron

I hope you don't get tired of these photos. Great blue herons are such graceful birds and I enjoy photographing them on my sea turtle patrols. This was taken at Ft. Pickens. The other stretch of beach you see in the background is Perdido Key, just across Pensacola Pass.

More fish!

Looks like we have another redfish dinner in our future. Look at this beauty Sarah caught today.


The whole family enjoys fishing and are out nearly every day while here. Sometimes they go out early in the morning; sometimes they go out late at night. They're hoping to have enough to take back to West Virginia with them next week, but we're not doing very well at saving it.


Derek wanted to pose with his mom's fish before it got filleted!

More swimming lessons

Eleven year old Mariah is turning out to be a very good swimming instructor.


Derek is floating more comfortably.


And now he's starting to paddle around a bit. Mariah is very patient with him. He'll be swimming as good as she does by next year.

A trashy topic

People were very happy when Ft. Pickens reopened to the public and many people have been taking time to visit the old fort, enjoy the beaches, and do a bit of fishing from shore.

Unfortunately, people who do not respect our beautiful island have been given the same access to these pristine areas which have rebounded with wildlife in the years the park has been closed. Now, in addition to the elegant herons, osprey, and playful dolphin, I'm also seeing large amounts of trash.


On the Sunday morning Ft. Pickens patrol there is always more trash than I can possibly pick up in my Mule. Plastic bags are everywhere - some full of trash, others blowing around on the sand until they end up in the Gulf of Mexico or Santa Rosa Sound.


A large percentage of the trash I pick up is plastic bottles.


Oddly, I've been finding a lot of fireworks. At the site of the photo above I picked up around 60 pieces. About half were bottle rockets. The other half were larger displays. Is there any wonder the poor sea turtles are frightened away from shore when they are looking for an area to nest?


Empty packaging of the smaller fireworks are strewn about also.

Some people are wonderful about picking up after themselves and even go out of their way to help when they see trash left behind by others. They are setting a good example for the next generation. Still, it's sad to realize there are other people who have such little regard for our environment.

If you are interested in Ocean Conservancy or would like to learn more about International Coastal Clean-up Day (September 19, 2009), please click HERE. You may also be interested in checking out the website of Emerald Coastkeeper, a local Waterkeeper Alliance Member, by clicking HERE.

My special thanks to those who go out of their way every week to help keep our beaches clean and trash-free.

Tracking turtles - Another False Crawl

Just before 6:00 a.m., about three miles into my patrol, I came across a false crawl of a loggerhead sea turtle. Something must have frightened her away, or perhaps she didn't like the look of the area where she came ashore.


You can tell which way she was going by the tracks of her flippers as they pushed back the sand, slowing pulling her large body back into the water.


It's not uncommon for the tracks to ramble around, but not this one. She left behind a perfect half circle.

Maybe tomorrow a nest will be found!

Osprey

A large osprey in the Ft. Pickens area of GINS takes a break from fishing, but keeps a watchful eye on the Gulf of Mexico.

No other life but this

"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this."

~~ Henry David Thoreau

Driftwood

If only we knew its history.

Hazy days

A Great Blue Heron looks out over Pensacola Pass on a hot, hazy summer day.

Dinner!

My beautiful stepdaughter Sarah is proudly holding up the Redfish she caught today! This, plus a couple more that her husband Joe caught near our dock are being prepared for dinner as I write. Couscous, grilled vegetables, and french bread round out the menu.

Oops, I forgot to mention the fabulous mango salsa from a recipe Chef Angela Miller shared with us recently at a Distinctive Kitchens event. We think it will go great with the fish. Thanks for sharing, Angela!

Swimming Lessons

Why is Derek smiling? Because his big sister, Mariah is giving him a swimming lesson today!


First he has to learn to float.

Oh, he got scared and water got in his face! Mariah comforted him, "You can do it Bubby."

"Just relax....and pretend that you are light as a feather."

"Close your eyes. Forget the water. Pretend you're laying on your bed..."

{{{Shhhh...don't tell Derek that Mariah has let go.}}}

Yea! Derek just got through his first lesson! He learned to float. What a great sister he has!

Fishing for breakfast

A blue heron checks out this young man's fishing technique - perhaps hoping he'll share.

Pensacola Pass

On my sea turtle patrol days, I enjoy watching the fishing boats and charters heading out to the Gulf through Pensacola Pass. In the photo above the Pensacola lighthouse is seen behind the 'Entertainer'.


I generally make it to the old fort by 6:30 a.m., That generally coincides with the timing of Pensacola Beach charters which pull out of the marina around 6:00 a.m.


Avid fishermen may arrive even earlier and it's not usual for me to see boats dotting the horizon as the sun rises.

This is the place I enjoy stopping for a quick cup of coffee before continuing my run. I think you can see why.

Sunrise Silhouette

A blue heron stands atop the dunes overlooking Pensacola Pass.

Sunrise over Bob Sikes Bridge

The sun rising through a heavy haze over the Robert Lee (Bob) Sikes bridge this morning. I was well under way on my turtle patrol before sunrise.

Dance with me

"Don't be afraid, take my hand..."


"Forget the world. Will you dance, dance with me..."


"As time fades away, my arms will keep you safe..."


"Dance with me; I'm dancing with you..."


"For this moment in time my dreams have come true."

~~ Drew Seeley, Selected lyrics from 'Dance with Me'

The photos above were also taken last night at Evenings in Old Seville Square.

Eric Jenkins is owner of Just Dance at Berryhill. If you are interested in dance lessons, you may contact Eric 850-910-2747 or e-mail justdanceatberryhill@yahoo.com.

The beautiful (and extremely limber) lady dancing with Eric above is Mrs. Charline H. Ruttan of Pensacola. She is now my hero!

By the way, Mrs. Ruttan is 88 years old.

Evenings in Old Seville Square

JUNE 18, 2009 - Swingin' Dick Tracys



I love Evenings in Old Seville Square, but if I had to choose only one date to attend out of the whole summer, it would be to hear the Swingin' Dick Tracys! I absolutely love this band and all the swing dancers that come out for the evening.


Their playlist includes great swing, jazz & standards and the crowd loves it.


Hey guys! So good to see you and those beautiful smiles.

Little Macy Drees plays with a couple of friends in Fountain Park while her grandparents Morrie and Mary Drees enjoy the music.

Look closely at this photo! There is a large amount of young people in the area who are passionate about swing dancing and they are a true joy to watch. You can feel the energy.

Very talented dancers doing the Curly Shuffle!

And little ones are transfixed.

Learning the steps!

Friends practice together (Sienna Miller and Savannah Dalrymple are very good, too!)

What a dip!!

Dancin' in the 'aisles'.

WOW! Calling me effusive is generally an understatement, but Dylan Dalrymple and Sienna Miller were fantastic!!!!

Ahhhh, look at those little cuties.

Josh Bohannon and Amethyst Stickland in a perfect pose.

It was my favorite evening of the summer so far!

For those of you who would like to know more about swing dancing, click HERE to visit the Pensacola Swing website. They have forums, video lessons, photographs, info on Saturday night swing dances, and even swing apparel!

Capt. J.R.

Meet Captain J.R., owner of Blue Marlin Water Taxi! He can pick you up at your dock and deliver you to The Fish House for dinner or any place around the Pensacola area with docking facilities. He also had one of the few charter boats available to take folks to Ft. Pickens via his water taxi before the road was reopened to the public recently. I've even seen him pull up at my own neighborhood dock to take a group of girlfriends out for a special birthday surprise!



I met Capt. J.R. through the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce last year. Quiet-spoken and professional, it's a pleasure to see his business grow.


This week he surprised Shelley Johnson, editor of the Island Times, and me with an invitation to come aboard the Royal Indulgence for a cruise from the Santa Rosa Yacht Club to the future site of the Maritime Park in Pensacola. Unfortunately neither Shelley or I were able to make it for the trip, but both of us showed up to see them off!

Thank you, Capt. J.R., for thinking of your island friends!

Bands on the Beach

JUNE 16, 2009


Poor little Lakin! From the look of those bandaids, she just got some shots. Hopefully the music of Dr. Breeze will cheer her up.


Beautiful smiles.


The crowd grows larger each week...


In fact, people were spreading out all the way back to the lifeguard stations!

We had a nice breeze which cooled things off a little, but these folks came prepared. Look at their portable fan.

Other came prepared with some shaded seating, but unless this gentleman put on some sunscreen he's going to be a redneck tonight for sure!

A few peel 'n' eat.

I've even noticed some of the Swing Kids coming out to the concerts the past two weeks. I'm looking forward to seeing them in Pensacola at Evenings in Old Seville Square this Thursday evening when the Swingin' Dick Tracys perform.

By the way, Dr. Breeze and his band was very good. I noticed on his website that they will be performing again on Pensacola Beach at the Quietwater Amphitheatre, August 22, for part of the Sounds of Summer Concert Series. You should mark it on your calendar!

Ospreys at Ft. Pickens

Though not a good photo, this will give you a look at one of the ospreys you can see within Ft. Pickens area of Gulf Islands National Seashore. He or she is on the look-out for fish to take back to their chicks. I saw one on Sunday flying back to the nest with a large fish in its talons.

There are several nests beginning about five miles into the park. Their large nests are atop tall pine trees killed by Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis and they are easily spotted.

If you drive into the park, pull into the old country store which is still closed. Facing the store, look up and about 90 - 100 degrees to your right and you will see a large nest. There is currently one (maybe two) osprey chicks in the nest, so an adult osprey is generally perched on the edge, standing guard. You can frequently see the chick's head pop up to look around.

I would not suggest getting out of your vehicle to get closer right now since mom and pop can get a bit testy. Just take binoculars and roll down your windows for a pretty good view.

[UPDATE: I just had a comment from PJ, another local photographer I've mentioned before. PJ has fantastic photos she posted just yesterday of what appears to be the same nest I wrote about above! Please click HERE to check out photos of both the nest and the osprey bringing home a large fish. Also check out two of PJ's blogs, "Daily Pensacola Photo" and "Under a Tin Roof Sky", which I have linked under my Blogs I Read column!]

Evening breeze

We had a beautiful evening on the beach yesterday. The humidity dropped a bit and there was a nice breeze. One of the good things about living on the beach is that it's always a little cooler out here than on the mainland in late spring and summer when temps get warmer.

This photo was taken on the beach between Avenida 10 and 11.

Courtship

On the second half of my sea turtle patrol this morning, I witnessed an amazing performance by these two Great Blue Herons. My only conclusion is that it must have been a mating ritual, though it seems a bit late in the season.


Rounding the tip of the island at Pensacola Pass, I saw two Great Blue Herons about 100 feet in front of me. I stopped the Mule just long enough to pull out my camera, but realized I was still too far away for a good shot. I pulled forward another 25 feet or so, fearful that I would startle them into flying away.

Suddenly, in unison, both herons looked skyward, extending their necks. I moved the camera away from my face and looked up to see what had grabbed their attention. There was nothing in the vicinity which I could see.


The heron in the first position seemed to go into slow motion, walking alway from the shoreline and toward the dunes in a march. The second heron continued looking up and fell in behind the first.

Again, I moved the camera away from my face and looked up to see what had their rapt attention. No planes, no osprey, no gulls, no other people in sight - just two herons in a trance.

Continuing their march in slow motion...

What the heck is up there, guys?

Never wavering, he just looks toward the sky in a hypnotic state.

Oops, something happened, but I don't know what.

Then immediately went back to his strange, slow march across the sand.

I would love to hear from some of my blog followers who are birders. This was a fascinating event to witness.

Taking flight

"O lyric love, half angel and half bird,
And all a wonder and a wild desire... "

~~ Robert Browning (1812 - 1889)

Carolina Sea Turtles site

Here is a link to a wonderful site I found: Carolina Sea Turtles.

Check out photos of their Island Turtle Team, the South Carolina Aquarium and its Sea Turtle Hospital/rehab facilities, as well as nest statistics for the Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island.

You can also see awesome photographs of rehabilitated sea turtles being released! I'm very envious of both their website and Sea Turtle Hospital!

Evenings in Old Seville Square

JUNE 11, 2009

Evenings in Old Seville Square is a Thursday evening event in the Seville Square Historic district of Pensacola. It kicks off in May and generally runs through Labor Day. They have a very nice line-up of bands and entertainers this year.


There was a good turn-out to hear Kitt Lough and her beautiful performance of songs like "Cry Me a River", "Someone to Watch Over Me", and so many more blues and jazz favorites. The photo above was taken toward the back of Seville Square at the beginning of the evening. By the end of the evening it was packed!


Mama and her sweet baby girl enjoyed an evening in the park...


While this little fella had fun chasing bubbles floating by on a warm summer breeze.


Tables set up in style...

And people of all ages danced in the square. Next week will be a great week to come out and watch who I refer to as the 'Swing Kids' in action. They are at their best dancing to the music of the Swingin' Dick Tracys who are scheduled to perform on June 18.

This little cutie was absorbed in watching the dancers too!

Smiles...

and more smiles when there's good music and room to dance.

Hey, there's Morrie and Mary Drees, enjoying Kitt's performance!

Ah, there's that big smile.

Little ones love Fountain Park which is adjacent to Seville Square. They have more room to run and play, but parents can still enjoy the music.

Cousins, Sarah and Bela, dance the night away. Notice the beads they're wearing, caught at the Fiesta Parade earlier in the evening.

'Uncle Jim' dances with Hannah, one of his beautiful nieces.

Bela and Briana think Pensacola Beach is the best place to visit! You can dance at Bands on the Beach Tuesday night, then head in to Pensacola for Evenings in Old Seville on Thursday night. They really appreciate the city having a parade for them too!

See ya next week at Evenings in Old Seville Square!

Tracking turtles - A nest is found

A Nest is Found

I was excited that my friend, Melanie Waite, a long-time sea turtle patrol volunteer, found her first nest of the season on Monday morning while patrolling the Santa Rosa section of Gulf Islands National Seashore. It was a loggerhead nest.

Melanie called me around 6:30 a.m. to come observe the process of relocating the nest which was too close to the water and in a very flat section of the island where washover was almost inevitable. She knew I had been anxious to see this event and learn more about our sea turtle conservation efforts.


Mark Nicholas, a biologist for the Gulf Islands National Seashore; Vickie Withington, a bio-tech for the park; and Melanie began the process of locating the nest within the body pit.

Only those who are trained, experienced and have proper permits are allowed to relocate nests now. You will note above that Mark is probing with the use of his hands only, no shovels or other tools are allowed for fear of accidentally damaging the eggs.


Once the nest is located and uncovered, Mark begins the delicate process of moving the eggs into a cooler in which several inches of sand from the nest itself has been placed. Sudden movement can cause the fragile embryo to break away from the shell, and the egg will not be viable, which means it will not survive.


In fact, the relocation process itself should take place within twelve hours of deposition, another reason for us to do patrols at or slightly before sunrise. After that point, the "movement-induced mortality" rate rises rapidly.


See how gently Mark places the eggs in the sand-lined cooler? The eggs are being carefully placed in order so that they can be placed in the same position in the new nest. Eggs removed from the top of the nest will be on top in the new nest. Eggs from the bottom will go back on the bottom of the new nest. They also make sure the eggs do not roll or turn, but keep the same orientation that they had in the original nest.


Sea turtle eggs look just like ping pong balls, don't they! This nest turned out to have 138 eggs.


It is around 7:30 a.m. by now and as the sun climbs higher, Vicki Withington shades the eggs while Mark continues to remove them.

Melanie has a big smile on her face because she just discovered a nest. We've had fewer than normal so far this year, so each nest is very important. She heads out to find a safe new location nearby for the nest.

How do you like our mule? It's a Kawasaki 610 and has replaced many of the ATVs. This is also what I drive on my Ft. Pickens patrol.


Mark and Vickie walk toward the new location which is at a higher elevation and protected by dunes in order to reduce the likelihood of washover during summer storms. Since the site was close to a bird colony, everyone walked very carefully in each others footsteps to avoid disturbing the birds which are also endangered.

Mark digs a new nest for the clutch of eggs. The nests are approximately 18" deep, the opening is narrow, but the base is scooped spherically, like the rounded bottom of a vase or a small soccer ball. The eggs are carefully placed in the new location and moist sand from the old site that lined the cooler in which they were moved is gently placed back on top of them.

As you can see, it is a lot of work to help save this threatened species, but those of you who have witnessed tiny hatchlings emerging from a nest and rushing to the sea know how quickly you can be converted to their conservation.

What a lovely new site for the nest. In about two months we'll be nest-sitting at night, waiting for the emergence of 138 tiny loggerhead turtles and shepherding them as they make that long march to the Gulf of Mexico.

Mark and Melanie measure distances and mark the nest. A bio-tech will return later to mark the site with a GPS unit.

Note to my young readers: If you would like to help save our turtles, there are specific things you can do! Many of us want to help the turtles, but don't realize our actions can be harmful to them.

Did you know a very harmful thing for sea turtles is balloons. Yet so often we see balloons on the beach, marking the site of a party or a wedding. Most people don't know that when balloons get into the Gulf, sea turtles can mistake them for jellyfish and ingest them. The balloons can then suffocate or strangle them, or block their digestive system and also cause their death.

One of the main items we look for on our sea turtle patrol are deflated balloons and ribbons. We always stop and pick them up and dispose of them. If you see deflated or forgotten balloons and ribbon on the beach, you could help us by disposing of them before they get into the water. Or if you have friends who are planning to use balloons on the beach, try to come up with an alternative.

The Krewe of Wrecks announced their decision not to use balloons in Mardi Gras celebrations this year in order to do their part for our sea turtles and birds. One by one, small changes are made and big impact can be felt.

Bands on the Beach

JUNE 9, 2009


Wow! What happened to our 'little' Bands on the Beach crowd! It has taken off in a BIG way.


Obviously there isn't a bad seat in the house with all that soft white sand to dig your toes into.


The featured band last night was A Touch of Gray and folks really enjoyed their music.


Bella Bela! I just love her smile and beautiful dimples.

Don't you love to see people holding hands?

One thing for sure, this band knew how to get folks up and dancing!

Well, almost everyone. It's a bit difficult to dance and text at the same time.

Ahhh...the good life.

I'm tellin' ya, Hank, that fish was this long!

Oops, the purple flag is up. That southerly wind must be pushing some jellyfish in.

This little cutie, Finn, lives right here on the island. He loves music and Cheetos!

One of my favorite island couples, Jim and Lynda Knell are the nicest folks around. They are very involved in the community. Jim is the founder and organizer of the Pensacola Beach Military Fishing Expedition which took place last month. Lynda is the current president of the Pensacola Beach Women's Club.

This is our rubberband man! If I was half as limber as he is on the dance floor, I'd be in good shape -- or spending half my time at my chiropractor's. You will see him here nearly every Tuesday night.

Now how did Sarah manage to color coordinate her outfit with the sunset. We had an incredible tangerine sunset last night. Sarah's cousins, Bela and Briana, love spending time with her because....

she's such a great dipper!

Briana Kennedy praying for this vacation to go on and on forever!

Hey, Hannah! Are you going to try a little surfing this year?

"Come on, baby, let's do the Twist(er)"

Bela and Briana Kennedy with their older cousins, Sarah and Hannah Stendebach are all visiting Uncle Jim and Aunt Lila Cox and enjoying their time together. Look at those sandy feet! I'm sure you all know if you go home with sand in your shoes it means you'll come back again.

Big love bugs were out last night and ...

little love bugs, too. Alice Ripley from Island Style enjoys Bands on the Beach with her adorable little granddaughters.

What a fun evening! Come early next week, bring a chair and join us!

Hasta luego, Elcano

The lovely Elcano sailed out of Pensacola this evening. Such a beautiful ship. I had hoped the sails would be hoisted once they cleared Pensacola Pass, but winds had shifted out of the south. Her last visit to Pensacola was in 1959, so perhaps we may never see this occasion again in our lifetime. Hasta leugo, Elcano!

Tracking turtles - False Crawls

FALSE CRAWLS

Some of my young blog readers have been curious about my turtle patrolling duties, so here are recent photos I've taken, along with information for my younger friends.


This is a photo of a false crawl I found this past Sunday morning on the beach within the Ft. Pickens section of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. A false crawl is when a sea turtle comes ashore but for some reason gets startled or unhappy with the area and returns to the sea without making a nest or laying her eggs.

This sea turtle did not come very far ashore - only 20 ft. - before turning back. You can see that her tracks go over the tracks of the patrol vehicle from the day before, so I know they are new.

The false crawl was very near the old Ranger's house. You wouldn't think there would be any lights or activity to frighten the turtle away from this spot since the house is unoccupied and the park is closed at night, but we do know that light pollution, also known as urban glow or sky glow, can be enough to confuse them. This is why we ask people to please turn out their lights and close their curtains during the nesting season.

When sea turtles leave the water to lay their eggs, instinct guides them toward dark areas which would normally be land, and away from light which would normally be the moon shining on water. As they come ashore, if they see glowing lights in the distance, they may say "Uh oh, wrong way," and sadly head back out to sea without nesting.

Some people say, "My neighbors keep their lights on, so what good does it do to turn mine off?" The reason is that everyone who leaves their lights on contributes in some small way to sky glow. Changes that you make, even turning out a few lights or your outside lights, can be very helpful.

Here is a closer photo where you can see the sea turtle's flipper marks in the sand as she turned around. Can you imagine how much effort it takes for a 200+ lb turtle to drag herself ashore with her flippers? So graceful and buoyant in the water, they are slow and cumbersome on land.

This photo shows you how we determine what kind of sea turtle tracks we're looking at. Notice that the flipper tracks are alternating - sort of like when you look at your own footprints in the sand. The fact that they are alternating, combined with the width of the tracks (36"), tells me this is a loggerhead sea turtle.

Sea turtle trivia: Did you know that 80% of all loggerhead sea turtles in the United States can be found in Florida?

Pensacola Beach Sand Sculpture Contest

The Beach Community Bank Sand Sculpture Contest took place at Casino Beach yesterday. It's one of my favorite events on Pensacola Beach. Below are some of the photos I took, heading east to west.


Skull and crossbones.


The contest had several divisions: Youth, Teen, Adult, and Open Pro.


So what do you think the gas mileage is on this sporty entry?


If only I had a wide angle lens..


A sea turtle!

I loved this sculpture with all its sea creatures.

The kids did an excellent job on their shark and other creatures. I especially loved the way they used sea shells for shading on their sculpture.

Looks like someone took a bite out of this Hershey bar...

A creepy-crawly - look at its tongue sticking out.

I would never be creative enough to add dimension and the appearance of movement.

Yikes! Dead man's chest.

Excellent job! A wonderful sand sculpture of Tristan de Luna, in celebration of our 450th anniversary!

Do you recognize this? Hint: it sailed into port last week! This recreation of the Juan Sebastian de Elcano was sculpted by Sarah and Hannah Stendebach, visiting nieces of Jim and Lila Cox

That's quite a castle!

Fiesta of Five Flags!

And of course we all recognize this famous beach icon!

Oooohhhh....it's the Loch Ness monster!

Ahhh...King Neptune and his sea creatures. Unless you're Greek, then it would be Poseidon.

This was one of my favorites, sculpted by Kevin Nail and Mark Flynn.

I loved the arches in the castle!

The Great Pyramid and the Sphinx!

I think I might be able to learn how to build castles this way, but don't bet the farm on it.

Ah ha! So they keep spraying it down with water to keep it from drying out and crumbling!

If I stick around long enough, I might learn the tricks of the trade.

The kids enjoyed having their own class and worked very hard on their sand sculptures.

What do we have here? It appears to be a sort of shark submarine hybrid. Would that be called a sharine or a subark?

Another one of my favorites is the sweet couch potato -- or should I say a couch sweet potato. [Note from a blog visitor, 'Barefootnikki': This is actually Patrick Starfish, a friend of SpongeBob SquarePants. Thanks, Nikki!)

The creative artist found a way to make the cup of coffee 'steaming' hot. Excellent!

I'm sorry I didn't stay around long enough to get the names of all the winners for you, but getting around on the sand was not easy in this cast, plus, I managed to get it wet while photographing one of the sculptures close to the water. Still, I wouldn't miss this event for anything!

A B.I.G. thanks to Beach Community Bank for sponsoring the contest.

Shore birds galore

About half an hour into my patrol this morning, shore birds were abundant. I even got to see an Osprey fairly close up, but didn't get my camera out quickly enough. I'm discovering how difficult it is to get good photos while on patrol. The (Kawasaki) Mule produces a lot of vibration...


so I have to work fast to stop the Mule, get the camera out, turned on, the lens cap off, and hold the camera as steady as possible...


But oh how sweet to see the shore birds, even if they are a bit blurry.

Life doesn't get much better than a perfect day which starts like this.

Sunrise in the park

A beautiful sunrise at Ft. Pickens this morning, shortly after I started my patrol.

DeLuna Landing Ceremony

Who knew so many boats and people would show up at the DeLuna Landing Ceremony this afternoon!


Parking was at a premium!


What a difference from just a couple of days ago when I dropped by Quietwater Beach early in the day!

The dock was very festive with all the flags posted. You can also see the big water slide in the distance and get a better appreciation for how tall it is.

Juan Sebastian de Elcano

The Elcano, with its beautiful lines, makes me wonder what it would have been like in the days where clipper ships ruled the seas.

Wouldn't it be fabulous to see those sails unfurled at sea? Hmmm...I wonder how many photos I'd have to sell in order to afford a cruise on a tall ship?

Quietwater Beach

Quietwater Beach, located behind the Boardwalk, is a lovely place to take a few photos or enjoy some quiet time early in the morning.


Before the shops open up you almost have the whole Boardwalk to yourself...


Quietwater Amphitheatre.

Did I mention...

I love living on Pensacola Beach!


Our iconic water tower at Casino Beach.


Around 9:00 a.m., the umbrellas and chairs are set out on beach near the pier.

Juan Sebastian de Elcano Tall Ship

The Juan Sebastian de Elcano, the world's third largest tall ship, sailed through Pensacola Pass into Pensacola Bay around 7:00 a.m. You can see the Pensacola lighthouse behind the tall ship.



The "Elcano" is the official training ship for the Royal Spanish Navy and will be in port through June 9, to help commemorate Pensacola's 450th anniversary. To learn more about the Juan Sebastian de Elcano's visit to Pensacola you may click HERE.


Many people drove to Ft. Pickens and watched from the top of the sea wall or the fishing pier as the Elcano sailed past.



To learn more about this 82 year old, four-masted schooner, click HERE.

Shorebirds

“To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years, to see the running of the old eels and the young shad to the sea, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be.”

~~ Rachel Carson, (May 27, 1907 – April 14, 1964)