Signature Sanibel!
Phaedra and Zoe here on Sanibel Island:
Ding
Darling National Wildlife Refuge hasn't changed too much since we left
it last year. Unless you want to count the endless stream of
"off-islanders" who come over the bridge every day. Sometimes, the
bridge is bumper to bumper from Fort Myers to the Refuge which is way too
long to even think about. Our friend, Vicki, sat in her car for 45
minutes with the engine turned off because she thought she would run out
of gas. And this was just to go two miles to her house. Steam was
coming out of her ears! But, you know what - it's worth it for us.
Today it's 80* and we are heading to the beach.
The
birds here haven't changed at all. Even if Papa and Mama won't let us
chase the birds - we heard it's illegal to do that sort of stuff -
sometimes those silly Ibis come around and we have a good game of tag with
them. They don't
like that too much and always fly up into the trees
near our place - cowards! I wouldn't hurt them! Well, maybe I'd
collect a few feathers but that's all! Zoe never gives up a chase, either.
Wait a minute - when did we get Flamingos at the Ding? There's got to be a story behind this, don't you think?
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| Maybe the birds have changed a tad. |
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| Must be the parents. Look at the feet! |
The winter's been different this year. But, it wasn't too cold for them to
leave us at home and go down to the beach. Who gives a flying flip about collecting seashells? Parker and Anne do and even Mama went. Not us, that's for sure. We are so much more talented than some old seashell that's been washed up on the beach, right?
Friends from the North have visited, too. They're not dumb to escape all that white stuff that freezes our paws, that's for sure.
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| Mark and Sherree from Madison. |
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| Anne and Dave from Maryland. |
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| Niece Audrey from Michigan |
Company!
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| Beaching it! |
We love company. You never know what's
going to happen when someone new meets us. They always love us dearly, too!
PARTIES!
What's with old folks? All they want to do is party - on the beach, at a bonfire, for New Year's, celebrating birthdays! Give it a rest for a while! OR, let us join you all!
And, then there's Jimmy with his own chair. Come on! Seriously???
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| Bonfire building collaboration |
How about work? Or that's what they call it...
Time is never lacking for seeing wondrous sights, though. Here are a few of the many that Papa and Mama like to show people.
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| Checking on banded cuckoos and lusting after Rachel's logo. |
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| Ha! No catching THIS Mangrove Cuckoo |
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| Sunset on a Gulf beach |
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| Adult Bald Eagle |
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| Green Heron giving us the eye |
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| A Burrowing Owl staring back at us |
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| Baby Great Blue Heron having a bad hair day |
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| Kayaking with Patsy and Bob |
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| Little Blue Heron eating shrimp scampi |
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| Siesta time for this Eastern Screech Owl |
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| Sushi for male Hooded Merganser |
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| Black Mangrove Snake |
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| Roseate Spoonbills with American White Pelicans |
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| Playful River Otter |
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| Reddish Egret getting it's blue breeding colors |
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| Woodstork and Friends |
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| Great Egret in breeding plumage with its green lure |
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| The only Crocodile on Sanibel |
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| Little Green Heron looking for dinner |
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| Alan feeding a Florida Scrub Jay |
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| Closeup of Florida Scrub Jay |
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| Yellow Crown Night Heron |
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| Roseate Spoonbills |
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| Male and two female Hooded Mergansers |
The
birds here haven't changed at all. Even if Papa and Mama won't let us
chase the birds - we heard it's illegal to do that sort of stuff -
sometimes those silly Ibis come around and we have a good game of tag with
them. They don't like that too much and always fly up into the trees
near our place - cowards! I wouldn't hurt them! Well, maybe I'd
collect a few feathers but that's all! Zoe never gives up a chase, either.
We've had fun with visitors this winter. It also gives us an excuse to have parties. When Parker and her mom came to visit, we had great fun: parties, cruises, beach time. It was really chilly on this cruise. Best of all, Parker loved riding her bike and did rides as long as 8 miles! We couldn't have walked that far, for sure. We wish she would stay longer. Plus, she's really great about making sure we get treats, too. I really loved getting on the bed with Anne this time. I'd put my feet on her shoulder and snuggle down. "Heaven!" 
leave us at home and go down to the beach. Who gives a flying flip about collecting seashells? Parker and Anne do and even Mama went. Not us, that's for sure. We are so much more talented than some old seashell that's been washed up on the beach, right?
