I love Bunche Beach ....
.... and Bill for going there with me on Valentine's Day. Especially because he would rather walk on boardwalks than on sand. I'm not a Beach person either, in the way that many Florida natives and snowbirds are -- neither of us enjoy lazing about on the beach, getting a tourist sunburn. But unlike my significant other (of over 60 years), I do love a quiet beach where I can walk for miles (or yards), occasionally dipping my toes in the water.
And it's even more perfect when I find birds! This is a Reddish Egret. They are fun to watch because in addition to being beautiful, they put on a great show, kind of dancing in the shallow water to stir up prey.
This season, Little Blue Herons seem to be the bird that shows up everywhere we go. That's OK with me -- I am happy observing birds no matter how often I've seen them. And it's nice when they pose prettily with their reflection.
A couple of pictures to show size perspective. On top, brown pelican with terns. I can't ever get over thinking it looks as if the big gawky pelicans are watching over the smaller birds .... but really, I'm sure it was just a good resting spot. The lower picture is a Little Blue Heron and a Reddish Egret ignoring each other.
It was a perfect Valentine's Day (at least in my opinion!).
A couple of catch-up thank-yous from earlier posts: Last week, I asked if anyone could identify these edible red pods that were for sale at the Immokalee Farm Market. Denise of An English Girl Rambles did the research I should have done and identified them as Guaje Seed Pods.
Guaje Seed Pods
Click here to go to the link that Denise provided. The plant is native to Oaxaca Mexico and its seeds can be eaten raw or used in cooking. If you go to the link, you will see that the pods are identical to the ones in the picture. Thank you again Denise (and if we go to Immokalee again when Guaje Seeds are still in season, I will try them and let everyone know how they taste.
This bird was one of those we saw on a rainy-day drive a few weeks ago. I thought maybe it was some type of sandpiper but learned from several comments that it was a Yellowlegs (either Greater or Lesser). I hope I see one of these guys again soon, so I can identify it on my own and then it will count as a first-time bird! Thanks to Phil of Another Bird Blog and Anne of Creative Cornucopia for pointing me in the right direction.
Thank you to everyone who reads these posts, especially to those who take the time to comment. And as always thanks to the hosts of the sharing sites that make it so much easier to connect.
NATURE NOTES; ALL SEASONS; THROUGH MY LENS; MOSAIC MONDAY; OUR WORLD on Tuesday; TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS; SAY CHEESE; WILD BIRD Wednesday; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; THANKFUL THURSDAY; SKYWATCH FRIDAY; FRIDAY BLISS; SATURDAY CRITTERS; and RATHER B' BIRDING
Congratulations on 60+ years with your hubby! My hubby and I celebrated our 40th this year. Bunche Beach looks like my kind of place.
Posted by: Laurie | March 12, 2019 at 10:58 AM
I love the beach and would happily walk and sit and read a book.....Michelle
Posted by: Michelle Banks | February 27, 2019 at 09:53 AM
How awesome! I see why you love it so much! Thanks so much for linking up to My Corner of the World!
Posted by: betty - NZ | February 24, 2019 at 05:05 PM
I am pretty sure this was last week's, but I can't find your new post.
Thanks for sharing your day with us birders at I'd Rather B Birdin!
Posted by: Anni @ I'd Rather B Birdin' | February 24, 2019 at 01:57 AM
Hello Sallie, love your beautiful birds and photos. The Reddish Egret is a favorite. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your day. Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Eileen Wise | February 23, 2019 at 03:42 AM
A walk along a quiet beach was a perfect way to spend Valentine's Day. Great photos of the different birds that you saw.
Posted by: Linda P | February 22, 2019 at 06:20 AM
Nothing like a walk on the beach. You captured the birds so well and I like seeing the pelican in comparison to the other birds. Thank you for linking up today.
Posted by: Michelle | February 21, 2019 at 04:36 PM
Nothing better than a beach walk! Beautiful photos.
Posted by: Peter B. | February 21, 2019 at 03:38 PM
I especially enjoy walks on the beach when it's isolated.
Posted by: Photo Cache | February 21, 2019 at 02:49 PM
I love your bird photos! You take really good ones
Posted by: Linda Brown | February 21, 2019 at 02:04 PM
Wonderful! You have such amazing birdlife down in Florida. I hope we get to see it again one day. We are not beach people either in the strictest sense of the word. I love to walk on it and look out at the ocean, see the birds scurrying back and forth, but that's about it. Great post Sallie!
Posted by: DeniseinVA | February 21, 2019 at 12:54 PM
Great shots.
Posted by: Jim, Sydney, Australia | February 21, 2019 at 11:52 AM
Happy to share with you this beautiful Valentine's day and these beautiful birds. Here we have not seen one bird around the mengers, except two Turkish turtledoves. It's so sad. I hope they found something to eat in the bushes all around. But it's looks like a mystery for me.
Posted by: Annie | February 21, 2019 at 06:28 AM
Although I'm not a big ocean person and don't care to swim in it I like walking the beach, wading, looking at shells, and birding. You are fortunate to have the option so near by.
Posted by: Gaelyn | February 20, 2019 at 08:13 PM
That pelican makes me smile.
Posted by: William Kendall | February 20, 2019 at 02:19 PM
I'm really liking the Reddish Egret, it even looks in motion in the heron photo, kind of like the old Keep On Truckin' poster. Congrats on spotting the Yellowlegs although it sounds like a taunt that the other birds made up to tease it. That pelican looks as if it's feeling a bit superior or maybe just looking for a snack.
I think you're in a lot better shape than me because I would plant my tired old arse on a sturdy chair next to a wheeled cooler full of refreshments close to or in the water, waterproof Bluetooth speaker on top of a box of pudding cups and camera in hand. I'll be the one taking your picture with a Twizzler hanging out of my mouth as you two walk by.
Posted by: Jeanna | February 20, 2019 at 01:36 PM
We don't often sit on a beach.
I love the birds, myself!
Posted by: Jennifer Jilks | February 20, 2019 at 08:36 AM
Love Herons and the beach! Have a great week!
Posted by: Kelly Anne Rothaermel | February 20, 2019 at 05:24 AM
Lovely photos, I love all birds but am particularly fond of pelicans. I do like the photo of the large pelican with the smaller birds. Fun.
Posted by: Carol | February 20, 2019 at 03:24 AM
It looks like a lovely beach and your photos - again- are great . I especially like the one of the Egret and the Heron.
Posted by: mick | February 19, 2019 at 09:29 PM
That's the best way to enjoy a beach!
Posted by: Linda in Virginia | February 19, 2019 at 07:21 PM
The beach looks gorgeous
Posted by: KB | February 19, 2019 at 05:05 PM
Your bird photos are wonderful Sallie. I always enjoy walking on the beach in the winter months.
Posted by: Lois | February 19, 2019 at 10:46 AM
Isolated beaches in the Outer Hebrides are my favourites, but your variety of birds are fantastic to see-great shots!
Posted by: Hazel | February 19, 2019 at 09:20 AM
Pelicans, terns and heron/egrets are always great to photograph. I really like that long thin shot.
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
PS: glad you were able to link in to WBW - sorry for the change - beyond my control!
Posted by: Stewart M | February 19, 2019 at 02:46 AM
I love the bird with the massive beak, never seen one like that.
Posted by: Amy Franks | February 18, 2019 at 10:23 PM
Amazing shots! A quiet beach is my favourite too. Love love that pelican!
Posted by: Lady Fi | February 18, 2019 at 09:49 PM
Love the pelican.
Posted by: Jim, Sydney, Australia | February 18, 2019 at 08:35 PM
I'm going to imagine that the pelican is the lifeguard for that section of the beach. He (she?) looks to be doing a grand job. I have a hazy recollection of seeing a cartoon of a pelican wearing a sleeveless teeshirt (with LIFEGUARD printed on it)m swimming trunks, and a cap. If he didn't have a whistle hanging around his neck or in his beak, then it should've. :-)
Posted by: Su-sieee! Mac | February 18, 2019 at 06:38 PM
Loving it! That one of the brown pelican, I adore!
Posted by: Hootin'' Anni | February 18, 2019 at 01:04 PM
The last time I saw a tide rippled almost white beach like that was in Fuerteventura where the temperatures were similar to your own. Sigh!
I think those terns are Caspian Terns but more local bloggers may correct me. Forgive me Sallie, but us sad birders just have to put the correct name to absolutely everything.
Posted by: Phil | February 18, 2019 at 12:50 PM
Walking along a beach is very enjoyable. Beautiful images, Sallie.
Have a wonderful day and new week.
Posted by: bill burke | February 18, 2019 at 12:46 PM
Walking along a sandy beach in bare feet ahhh. Joy oh jo.
Posted by: Fun60 | February 18, 2019 at 12:32 PM
Walking on beaches is a wonderful way to get exercise and enjoy the world. You do have lovely places to walk in Florida. Love seeing all the birds. Have a wonderful week, Sallie.
Posted by: Lorrie | February 18, 2019 at 12:25 PM
Like you I love walking on a beach but not sitting and tanning. Lovely photos of the birds, the reddish egret is a very handsome bird
Posted by: craftygreenpoet | February 18, 2019 at 12:17 PM
I can walk on the beach or laze on the beach. I love them either way.
Posted by: Alan Bates | February 18, 2019 at 09:25 AM
I never heard of those beans, which goes to show that we never stop learning new things in life, Sallie!
I am not a "sit on the beach and tan" type person either. Never was, and thankfully that fact has saved my fair skin so many years. I also like to walk along the shore and look for interesting shells and driftwood pieces.
You do see so many interesting birds there, and now a new one for the books!
Posted by: Pat | February 18, 2019 at 08:57 AM
Lovely shore shots and shorebird photos too!
Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Posted by: A ShutterBug Explores | February 18, 2019 at 08:43 AM
That looks like a lovely beach. I don't enjoy just lying in the sun either, although that was different when I lived in a cloudy place...
Posted by: Al | February 18, 2019 at 08:16 AM
Happy you got info on the seed pods.
Luv your birds today. Happy Mosaic Monday
Much🌻love
Posted by: gillena | February 18, 2019 at 07:10 AM
Wish we had a beach close by to take photos at. we are over an hour away and if it is sunny the traffic is bad!! Have a good week Diane
Posted by: Diane | February 18, 2019 at 03:38 AM
Hello, Sallie. I love the beautiful Reddish Egret and the Little Blue. Pelicans and terns are favorites too. I like walking on the beaches. Love the photos and mosaic! Wishing you a happy day and new week ahead.
Posted by: Eileen Wise | February 18, 2019 at 02:44 AM
We have never celebrated Valentine's day, it simply didn't exist. Riccardo only knows that Al Capone was murdered this day, and that's not very romantic !
I love to walk barefoot in the sand but not with shoes, then you get all the sand inside and that hurts !
Posted by: Gattina | February 18, 2019 at 02:26 AM
Your collage is lovely - tranquil colors & full of zen. Happy MM.
Posted by: riitta k | February 18, 2019 at 12:13 AM
I love beach walking especially in the early mornings and evenings when it is not hot. Nice birds pictures from your beach walks. Have a happy new week!
Posted by: Nancy Chan | February 17, 2019 at 08:54 PM
What a fun post. Happy Valentine's Day.
Posted by: Mary Jo | February 17, 2019 at 08:30 PM
Happy it was the perfect Valentine's day for you and sharing what you saw with All Seasons! Love to walk on the beach, but I'm glad that since our nest is empty we don't have to stay for hours. I actually like the harbor just at well. So many things to photograph:)
Since our son in Holland paid a surprise visit the week before, we did all our going to special places with him.
Have a lovely week, Blog Friend!
Posted by: Junieper/Jesh StG | February 17, 2019 at 07:52 PM
I'm definitely a walk on the beach kind of gal and not a lay in the sun and get a tan kind of girl. I love to come upon seabirds of all varieties. I enjoy seeing what you see since we are hours and hours from the seashore these days. Glad you had a good Valentine's Day!
Posted by: ellen b. | February 17, 2019 at 07:38 PM
oh sallie, i feel the exact same way that you do about the beach. i love it, spring, fall and winter, i don't go near the place during the summer!! i live in a summer tourist area and the town and beaches are mobbed during the summer!!
LOVE the egret and the heron....and denise, she is the best!!!
ps...your pictures are amazing, i think you are doing a fine job!!!
Posted by: Debbie | February 17, 2019 at 07:14 PM
Sallie - so excited to have you back at Mosaic Monday, and with a lovely stroll on the beach, to boot! Anytime I can be out and about on a walk with my hubby is a Valentine's Day! I laughed at your observation about the pelicans - they do look a bit like a playground monitor during recess!!! Enjoy your week ahead!
Posted by: Angie | February 17, 2019 at 04:44 PM
I share a liking for the way you use the beach, Sallie. On our recent trip to Costa Rica we walked the beach early in the morning, before the heat of the day, and walked in the water on firm sand. It was delightful. And as you might well imagine, I was happy to have the company of birds too.
Posted by: David Gascoigne | February 17, 2019 at 03:35 PM
Oh, I do love shorebirds. We took a little birding trip along the Texas Coast a couple of weeks ago and had a lovely time identifying shorebirds.
What a lovely way to spend Valentines Day. Glad you had fun.
Posted by: Florence | February 17, 2019 at 02:10 PM