Skies over Tampa bay - Skywatch Friday

Yes, that's an osprey sitting on the top of the boat. I wonder if he left any fish guts behind.

Another abandoned boat. Kay, a fellow blogger, made a comment recently about abandoned boats. They are everywhere here. I guess in this economy, people can't afford them anymore. Some are still in good shape and I think must have just gotten loose in a storm and it takes a while for the owner to find out and get it back. But, there are so many that are stranded that look pretty bad. And they sit there for months. The big one stranded across from Fort Desoto is still there. That's been sitting there for several months. It's really sad.

Beautiful skies over Tampa Bay.

Clouds over Tampa, from across the bay.

Another stop at the Safety Harbor fishing pier on my way home from work. It was a rare night that it wasn't raining. I thought the summer rains were suppose to stop by the end of September but it keeps happening here. I try to get out after work and most days its either pouring or about to. I wish I could get a really big fan and blow the rains across the gulf to Texas.

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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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Big Tampa Bay sky - Skywatch Friday

Pictures from my drive home from work recently. Lots of clouds are now moving in during the late day hours. My goal this year ( I said this last year as well) is to get some great storm pictures. I have to force myself off the couch on a rainy Sunday afternoon and get out there to take the pictures. Hopefully, I can get some during the storms that happen on the way home from work this summer.

For more skyscape photography from around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

Skywatch Friday - Clouds on the causeway

One day last week after work I was coming home late across the Courtney Campbell Causeway. The sun was just coming down. It was so bright but kept trying to hide behind the clouds. I had my camera with me so I stopped off on the access road and parked. There were lots of people out fishing along the causeway. It would have been a nice night out if it hadn't have been so hot. As the sun was getting lower it hit a wall of haze so it lost it's luster. The below juvenile night heron kept me company while I was taking pictures. He just stood there and watched, probably thinking "Why doesn't this fool go home and have dinner in her air conditioned house?".

For more skyscape photography from around the world, visit http://skyley.blogspot.com/.

Skywatch Friday - storm's a comin!

Summer storms are starting to come in. Above is the view coming home from work the last 2 days. I love it when it rains and cools off, but I hate sitting in traffic twice as long because it rains so it's a love/hate thing. My goal this summer though is to get more storm pictures. We'll see if I enough sense to come in from the rain!

For more skyscape photography from around the world, visit http://skyley.blogspot.com/.