Thursday, July 21, 2011

Storms across the bay - Skywatch Friday


Found: lost boat with weird writing on the bottom.


Manatee coming up for air.


Tampa from across the bay.


Storms heading my way.


Clouds over the bay.


Feisty crab shaking his one claw at me.


Two crabs fighting over the same hole.

I decided to go to the grocery store on the way home instead of a park since the rain was moving in. Since I had my camera in the car, I decided to stop at the fishing pier in Safety Harbor. It gives a good view of the storms around the northern end of the bay. I ended up staying a while since those nasty storms were coming from where I needed to go to the grocery store. There weren't any birds around except for a few pelican flybys. There were, however, a few manatees swimming right under the pier. The water was dark from all the recent rain so you could only see them when they came up for air. It's fun to see the reaction of tourists who are seeing manatees for the first time. I don't think people realize just how big some of them are until they are standing over them.

The tide was low and there was no water around the seawall along the parking lot. As I was walking back to my car I noticed movement in the sand. I realized there were tons of these little crabs running around. As I walked up to the seawall, they ran into their little holes. I stood there for a few minutes without moving and they started to come out of their holes. I think they are a type of fiddler crab. They only had one claw. I thought they were cute and loved the pink color. It was starting to get dark so I headed to the store.

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15 comments:

  1. the boat is rather odd. :) loved the little crabs shaking their one fist at you. :)

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  2. Hi, I'm over here via FC at Pure Florida. Your photos are amazing and inspiring. I'm back from a vacation in Idaho and I'm a little disappointed in a lot of my pictures, but this makes me want to get out there are try harder!

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  3. hah! the message on the boat is bizarre. love your skies. and the crabs too :)
    happy SWF.

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  4. Lovely series of photos, Dina! I love the shot with the sailboat. The crabs are neat, great captures. Happy skywatching!

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  5. Dina - this looks like most afternoons here in Florida in the summertime! I just love watching those clouds come in. I like the crab shots, sometimes you have to be so patient with them. Funny they're fighting over the same hole!

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  6. The clouds with the sailboat is my favourite of these. I'm not usually a fan of insects, or things like crabs, and I almost quickly scrolled past it, but I held my breath and looked at him. He really does have a funny, menacing look about him!

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  7. Beautiful shots, Dina.
    I've never seen a manatee. Wow!

    —Kay, Alberta, Canada

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  8. the storm shots re something special. Like it.

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  9. Wow, great skies--very pretty. And, always fun to see those animals that you "throw in". Have a nice weekend. Mickie :)

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  10. Wish I lived close enough to ocean to stop by on my way to the store.

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  11. I just love your scenic ocean shot.
    Joyce M

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  12. Great as usual, Dina. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  13. We had a manatee come up in our canal at our home in Anna Maria. They are a lot larger than you ever expect. He loved the fresh water we gave him and actually got to lean down and touch him ... that he did not like!

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  14. I found a few manatees going down a drainage ditch around Apollo Beach the other day. Pretty neat!

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