Thursday, January 16, 2020

Happy Thankful Thursday!


 Hello, Happy Thankful Thursday!


Dec 23rd it was our 2nd day in Florida. Yay for the sunshine! We headed to Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine Florida and stopped at various beach parks on the way back down the coast.  

We spent some time walking on the beach at the Anastasia State Park, had a view of the Saint Augustine Lighthouse, me and my shadow, flowers, Gopher Tortoise, Brown Pelicans, Osprey and the Great Egret.






The Gopher Tortoise likes sandy soil, dunes and coastal grasslands. They dig a burrow and spend most of their lives in the burrow. This Tortoise shares it burrow home with possibly as many as 360 other species including snakes, mice, fox, skunk, frogs, rabbits, armadillo, lizards and burrowing owls. Can you imagine  co-existing with so many different species? The burrow can be 52 feet long and 23 feet deep.





Me and my shadow on Anastasia State Park beach.  LOL, I look headless, my camera up to my face.






The Brown Pelican is one of my favorite birds, I love watching them in flight.






Heading back down the coast we stopped at the River to Sea beach.  I heard and saw a group of these birds before I found one of them sitting on a wire near the River to Sea Preserve. The Nanday Parakeet or also known as the Black-hooded Parakeet.







I am always thankful to be able to go on a road trip or any kind of trip.
I am always thankful for the sunshine!
I am always thankful for your visit and comments.
Live simple and be happy!  😊




Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday
Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday




Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!

70 comments:

magnoliasntea said...

Love the parakeet and pelican pics.
And I'm glad you and your shadow had a great trip.

Marit said...

Hello Eileen,

Beautiful photos! It looks so lovely there.
Happy Thursday!

Ella said...

When you love the nature you always have a reason to be thankful!
Have a nice day, Eileen!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

It's a lesson for humans that the Gopher Tortoise can get along with so many neighbours. Humans have never demonstrated the ability even to get along with each other.

R's Rue said...

❤️

Bob Bushell said...

Superb photos of nature, love them.

italiafinlandia said...

The Parakeets are simply splendid... but the Pelicans are fun!
I like them!
Have a nice Thursday, Eileen!

Tom said...

...beautiful scenes to start my dark day, thanks!

Marie Smith said...

Tortoises! Love them! The parakeet is quite beautiful. Great shot of the pelicans.

Hootin Anni said...

Beautiful parakeet...one I've never seen. I loved all your sunny day adventures & sightings!

MadSnapper said...

precious parrots, love that tortoise … glad you had sunshine to take these gorgeous shots

Rose said...

That photo of the pelicans almost makes me laugh out loud...not sure why. But it gives me joy to just look at it.

Marco Luijken said...

Hello Eileen,
So nice to see these pictures. Fantastic the flying pelicans. So very special.
And nice picture of the parakeet.

Best regards,
Marco

Debbie said...

the sun came out, yesterday and today and i am so thankful for that!! you got some great pictures eileen, the pelicans in flight is an awesome capture. the parakeet is a beautiful color, looking quite handsome against the blue sky!!

we are lucky to be able to take trips!!!

Gayle said...

The gopher turtle is interesting to learn about. The pelican formation reminds me of our son's NAVY days. Happy day.

Gunilla Teckenberg said...

Hi Eileen!

Jag älskar alla dina bilder från denna otroligt vackra natur med dess stora variation av liv.

Allt gott och en trevlig helg!

Jeanie said...

I don't see pelicans often (only traveing) but in flight is the best! A peleton of pelicans!

carol l mckenna said...

Beautiful photography ~ that turtle is eye catching ^_^

Happy Moments to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Bill said...

Excellent shots, Eileen. I love those pelicans and always smile when I see them flying. They remind me of a squadron out there in the sky searching for something. :)
Have a wonderful day!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you, I appreciate the comment. Have a great day!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Marit! Enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks, Ella! I wish you a nice day too!

eileeninmd said...

Hello David, I hope all humans are not this way. I try getting along with everyone.
Have a great day!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Bob, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Marie, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Anni, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

I Love the sunshine, thanks Sandra!

eileeninmd said...

I am glad you enjoyed my pelican photo. Thanks Rose, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Marco, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, Debbie! I am grateful to be able to take these trips. Thanks, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Gayle, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Gunilla, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Carol, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Bill, enjoy your day!

photowannabe said...

What a glorious time you had and seeing God's creation was wonderful too.
I'm so thankful for what the Lord has given us.

chica said...

Maravilha! bjs praianos,chica

Red said...

Road trips are like walks. You get all kinds of photo opportunities.

Tanya Breese said...

I love St Augustine! Those parakeets are so pretty!

Crownandcottage said...

Beautiful images and memories of your trip, and what a great reward to see so many different species.

RedPat said...

I'm always thankful to see your wonderful pics of birds and scenery, Eileen!

HappyK said...

All great photos.
The one of the pelicans in flight is really cool.

Sue (this n that) said...

That's a big burrow the turtles dig! Love seeing you and your shadow ;D) beautiful photos all through your post and, yes, I too love to watch the pelicans both in flight and the way they take off and land, quite spectacular! Cheers Eileen xx

Linda W. said...

Great collection of wildlife pics! I love the info about the tortoise.

Michelle said...

Nothing like some time at the beach. I love it and have enjoyed these photos. Thanks for linking up today!!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

How fabulous! I would love to see the Parakeet! WOW! Love all the different things you saw! You had FUN!

William Kendall said...

The tortoise is quite a sight to see.

Barbara Rogers said...

Wonderful pics. I loved the Florida beaches...lived a few blocks from Anastasia State Park...right on the island. Pelicans are a favorite of mine too!

Lea said...

Great photos! My favorite is the Brown Pelicans.
Have a wonderful weekend!

diane b said...

Lovely bird photos as usual. You sure do go on a lot of trips. Well done! Enjoy while you can.

baili said...

i am glad you found sunshine dear Eileen :)

lovely park and i absolutely loved you and your shadow term :)
blessings to your day!

Jenn Jilks said...

I'm always thankful for your critters! I've never seen a tortoise.

handmade by amalia said...

Beautiful photos and gorgeous birds, Eileen. Enjoy your blue sky, it is very dark and gloomy around here.
Amalia
xo

songbird's crazy world said...

the pelican photo is amazing

Natalia said...

Beautiful pictures ☺

The Padre said...

Happy Shadow - Excellent Photos

Cheers

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Hi friend!!!Beautiful series of collages and images... Have a great weekend...

Sondra said...

Another great road trip! Very handsome parakeet!!

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Some wonderfully sunny photos. There's not been much sunshine here so your photos are pretty uplifting. I enjoyed our time in St Augustine last fall! Thank you for sharing and have a grand weekend!

carol l mckenna said...

Great sky shot with our feathered friends ^_^

Happy Moments to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

What fun to see parakeets in the wild! Love that big burly turtle.

Spare Parts and Pics said...

The Gopher Tortoise and it's burrow look somewhat similar to the desert tortoise and it's burrow I see out here in the Joshua Tree area. Have a nice weekend!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Wow, I had never heard of gopher tortoises. Talk about being great diggers. That is quite a hole they dig and what a variety of critters they share their burrow with. I love that. I imagine some wildlife biologist actually climbed down in there cataloging all the various animals they found.

Thomas Lee said...

stunning Pelican fly pass

Susie of Arabia said...

I especially love the pelicans in flight!

ellen b. said...

Amazing to see parakeets in the wild!

Lowcarb team member said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Ana Freire said...

Adorei as fotos! Fiquei especialmente encantada com a formação em vôo dos pelicanos!
Mais uma bela série de imagens, que adorei apreciar por aqui!
Beijinhos!
Ana

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "A new year means a new chapter. I hope this one will be an incredible part of your...