Bird-watching brings peace. The mind's chatter stops. Wild birds teach me something too deep to articulate.
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| Snowy egret fishes in waters shaded from the noonday sun. |
Fort DeSoto Park, encompassing five barrier islands on the west coast of Florida south of St. Petersburg, is a bird sanctuary. The green-blue shallows with schools of fish and white sand beaches lined with mangroves and palm hammocks invite birds.
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| After consultation with the bird book, I'm inclined to identify this as a little blue heron. |
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| Sanderlings never seem to stop skittering from the waves. |
With a surge of delight I notice a large bird perching on a nest of sticks atop a tall cement chimney next to the old fort. A closer approach confirms it is an osprey.
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Ospreys' nest
Another adult osprey approaches the nest, and the parent lifts its wing. The ospreys seemed unconcerned about the photographer far below. |
When I walk around to the other side of the chimney, I see three osprey chicks perched close to the edge. In the photo below, two of the youngsters hide their heads.
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| Osprey chicks |
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| The white ibis' long beak allows it to dig deep in the sand. |
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| I got out the bird book for this one, too. I believe it is a willet. |
