I haven’t run since Sunday and today is already Tuesday. So out I went around lunch time in the 32 C/90 F heat. Partly cloudy, high humidity and no breeze to talk about.
The beach was fairly quiet. But the nature reserve was busy. The resident birds were mingling with visitors. And I met a real bird photographer! He was standing still on the trail closest to the marsh shooting pictures of the Roseate Spoonbill. I’d need to be a weight lifter, not just playing with my 10 pound dumbbells, to handle that huge lens.
I stopped to take pictures as well, like of this Snowy Egret, and we had a nice chat. He knew all the birds. No kidding! Needless to say I was impressed. And realized how much I still have to learn.
After our informative chat and a few more pictures, we said our good-byes. I headed into the forest part of the reserve to see if papa osprey would be perched on his favorite palm trunk. No such luck today.
So I decided to walk home by the way of the street. As soon as I reached the sidewalk, I noticed what I thought might be an osprey on the lamp-post little further north. Heading home would need to wait.
When I came closer, I saw there definitely was an osprey eating his lunch. It was not papa osprey, but “the other male” I had seen around earlier. He was eating a big fish!
Then, feeling strongly for a cold shower and a light lunch, I headed home. On my way I had to pass the Marriott hotel. I discovered a little black ‘n white spot high up on the bay-side corner of the roof. I had seen papa osprey perched there previously, when he had a mate and a nestling to feed.
Just when I passed the hotel on the other side of the street, I snapped a picture of the bird. Later, much later, I loaded up the pictures and realized it indeed was papa osprey. He had moved to Marriott!
I’m sure he’ll move back to his favorite palm trunk once the bills start to bite.
I hope your week is going well. Be good now.
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
Great shots!
Thank you! I’m happy you enjoyed them.
Amazing how you were able to get the osprey shots. Well done!
Thanks David. I got lucky today.
I love that you are following papa osprey. And you’re pictures are stunning my friend, huge lens or not lol
Thanks Jackie! The photographer (with long experience of FL birds) told me that papa osprey may stay here to watch his territory throughout the summer and fall until the next nesting season in January. We’ll see if that’s the case, it would be cool…
Fantastic captures – I had to laugh when I saw where PO was hangin’ these days – Miss Roseate Spoonbill shall always have my heart though as she is GORGEOUS! 🙂
Thanks Joanne. PO was well positioned to see all that was going on, maybe even bigger fish in the bay. Miss Spoonbill was beautiful as always, but not very cooperative today…The visiting photographer was waiting for her to turn to face us, but she had her own plans and they didn’t include posing today 🙂
The joys of photographing animals and children huh, lol?! 🙂
I know 🙂
Delightful! Papa Osprey is moving up in the world, at least temporarily. 😉 Maybe it will give him extra status as a mate.
Yes, he’s definitely moving up, up! I hope I can see his “proposal dance” to Mama Osprey next January…the Osprey male proposes every year before they start building/renovating the nest 🙂
Impeccable manners.
fantastic bird shots!!
Thanks! Happy you liked them.
Fabulous pictures sweet Tiny! Interesting you met the bird photographer. Even with his huge camera lens I don’t see how the pictures he took could be any better than the ones you take. You gave me a giggle with your description of the big lens. 🙂 Hugs!!
Thanks Maggie! He had some kind of “harness” around his right shoulder, tummy and back, where the huge lens was hanging…I haven’t seen his pictures, but his knowledge of birds was great! have a wonderful day, hugs!
Kudos to you for running in the heat and humidity. I can’t do it — treadmills for me at this time of year!
Lovely photography once again, Tiny!
My hubby called to check on me after about 90 minutes…my outing lasted over 2 hours thanks to the chat stop with the photographer…and the ospreys. Hubby recommended treadmill for today…said I didn’t look too good yesterday 🙂
Midday in the South Florida heat, you had quite the outing! Maybe you should have cooled off at the Marriott, too. 😉
I was not looking very presentable at that point, quite the contrary 🙂 And PO represented us both in style!
What gorgeous shots, Tiny! You have quite the variety of friends here!