Here ya go... Another photo of my nemesis. This one, however, shall be forgiven, since he wasn't anywhere in the vicinity of our fish pond when I took the picture. Herons have a habit of "honking" at you when you get too close and stalk them with your camera. I figure it's payback for all the goldfish they ate from MY pond.
All in fairness, I wasn't too close. He stood on the roof of a building at the park, on a dock that led into the bay, and I thought he looked quite striking, surveying his kingdom in the clouds. I was mad at the guy who was harassing the dolphin, and in disgust, turned around, and there was old fish breath, posing in the wind.
Ft DeSoto lies on the southern tip of Pinellas County. In 2005, it's beaches were named #1 in the Nation by "Dr. Beach," the great Dr. Steven Leatherman, who has this really hard job of having to GO to beaches all over the country to RANK them in order of cleanness and whatnot. Caladesi Island, just north of us near Clearwater, was ranked #2 this year.
We were at Ft. DeSoto this past Sunday, looking for the right shelter to reserve for Samantha's 18th Birthday party (oh NO!), and we headed out to the docks to take in the view. I was fighting off the effects of a malodorous stomach ache after having consumed the last of the Thai Peanut Chicken Pizza and the 40 minute drive to the park hadn't settled my stomach nerves. That's the ONLY excuse for leaving my camera in the car. I was still woozy.
We headed to a dock with ferry boats leading to nearby Egmont Key. I was trying to ignore the whole Thai effect when we noticed a lone dolphin feeding nearby. Hub said he appeared to be chasing needlefish, which was really cool to watch. When threatened, the fish would turn around as if to strike back for all he was worth, but he lost every time. The dolphin was swimming fast, and every so often, he would suddenly swirl onto his back and take off at warp speed, amazed me how fast he could go on his back.
I was afraid I'd miss the whole show if I ran back to the car to get my camera. After several minutes, hub ran back and got it. Ain't he sweet?
But THEN, an idiot a guy on the beach noticed all the action and ran into the water, splashing and swimming almost to where the dolphin was. And of course... it swam away. I never did get a good picture after that. W#$@#@@#
When you see them in the wild, let them be.
OMG, that's an AWESOME shot of the heron! And how cool you can see dolphins just swimming around.
Posted by: Janet | September 13, 2006 at 12:05 PM
What an idiot to go running into the water like that!
Great heron shot against the cloud! :)
Posted by: Seamus | September 13, 2006 at 01:09 PM
How did I miss this post?? These are amazing shots, Ms. L! Gotta love Florida!
Posted by: Sara Sue | September 13, 2006 at 01:24 PM
Awesome photos! What a goober party pooper that guy was!
Posted by: InterstellarLass | September 13, 2006 at 05:33 PM
Ft. Desoto is such a beautiful place. Although I did get caught in a riptide there once. Luckily I remembered Mark Larsen from WFLA telling me to swim with the current and I got out of it in about a quarter mile. Still scary though. Dolphins Rock!
Posted by: tony | September 13, 2006 at 08:00 PM
Was it raining?
Posted by: floridacracker | September 14, 2006 at 09:18 PM
FC, nope...the storm was in the distance. (very astute observation! ) :)
Tony, I still get a thrill everytime I see them in the wild.
Sara, Lass, Janet and Seamus, Thankyouuuuu!
Posted by: Laura | September 15, 2006 at 07:02 AM
Awesome pictures Laura, but I would have gotten sick eating that Thai peanut chicken pizza. I hope it tasted better than it sounded.
Posted by: Sandy | September 16, 2006 at 12:34 AM