All the birds are hungry!

Osprey got his prize fish.

The juvenile laughing gull grabbed a fish but then dropped it. I think he needs more practice.

The above great blue heron stealing a fish from a man standing in the water fishing.

Note to people in the Tampa Bay area - don't leave food sitting out uncovered. I've seen gulls steal a sandwich off a blanket at the beach with a person sitting right behind it. I've seen them take a potato chip out of a kid's hand when the kid was about to eat it. They are very aggressive at stealing food and fish from fishermen. Hubby and I always eat our lunch sitting under the beach umbrella. It keeps the attack gulls away.

On our walk around Sand Key Park recently we saw lots of birds feeding. The osprey and gull were fishing for food under the big bridge where the small fishing piers are. For once I was paying attention and was able to get some decent shots of the osprey with a fish. The great blue heron was watching a man fishing for a while on the beach. That bird was smart. Once the man walked back in the water, the bird walked up to the bucket and grabbed a fish. Then the man got smart and came back on the beach and covered the bucket. Hey, everyone's got to eat, right?

Skywatch Friday - Birds at Sand Key Park

A recent trip to Sand Key Park shows just how beautiful the beaches are in the Tampa Bay area. It was suppose to be rainy but hubby and I went anyway just to get out of the house and walk around. When we got there the sun came out and was beautiful most of the time we were there. The above laughing gulls were sitting on a ridge in the sand that really showed off the blue sky and water.



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Laughing gull had an itch.

Osprey was flying high overhead.

Gull in flight.

Great blue heron was hiding in trees by the big bridge. I think I woke him up. He was a little wind blown.

Willet was coughing up something. Probably a piece of fish.

There's always a lot of snowy egrets hanging around the fishing piers at Sand Key.

A walk around Sand Key

Laughing gull's gotta an itch. Most of the laughing gulls are getting black heads now which means breeding season will be starting soon for them.

This ring billed gull is taking a nap. I like the bright pink that outlines their eyes. I have read it is part of their breeding color.



Up close great egret. He was very pretty but looked too skinny.


Prancing around the fishing docks looking for a handout.

A recent walk around Sand Key Park was a little disappointing. It was very windy and a little cold. There were not too many birds around. I spoke to a fisherman on the fishing dock under the big bridge and he told me not too many fish were biting. It's going to take a while before they rebound from the big freeze in January. I guess most of the birds are still staying south looking for food. I did notice that the gulls are starting to show their breeding colors. A lot of the great egrets are showing their lime green around the beak. The one above was just starting to get his.

Birds of Sand Key

Royal tern posing on the beach. Nice toupee.

Snowy egret on an uncomfortable fence.

Great Blue Heron walking along the seawall.

Looking for fishermen who might be giving handouts.

Late last Sunday afternoon was so nice I went for a long walk at Sand Key Park. The small fishing piers below the big Sand Key bridge over to Clearwater beach had a diverse group of birds hanging around. All were hoping for a handout from someone fishing. Most of the people fishing were just ignoring the birds. I'm sure they don't want the birds to get their bait. It's a pretty view when standing under that big bridge. You can see all of downtown Clearwater and the causeway. I was hoping to see dolphins going by, maybe next time. There were a few nice sailboats going by though, like the one below.