Thursday, February 6, 2020

Happy Thankful Thursday!

 Happy Thankful Thursday!

On December 26th we spent the day at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. We drove the wildlife drive and saw a beautiful rainbow. This was our last full day in Florida, we saved the best place for last. 

"There is a rainbow of hope at the end of every storm."



 "Nature always wears the colors of the spirit." Ralph Waldo Emerson

The birds seen were colorful too, the Little Blue Heron and the Roseate Spoonbill in the photo below. 



 "Colors are the smiles of nature."

 We saw lots of Tricolored Herons, White Ibis and the pretty Roseate Spoonbills.


 This Tricolored Heron posed nicely for me.




 "Nothing last forever, make every moment special."

 A bush full of Roseate Spoonbills.





 "Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud." Maya Angelou





At the visitor center we saw the Painted Buntings, the male is a beautiful bird with a rainbow of colorful feathers.




 A pretty sky and walk on the trail to the lookout tower.



 "Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make it's colors appear."

I am thankful to see a rainbow, I do not see them often.
I am thankful for the colors of nature.
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!

86 comments:

  1. We certainly have much to be grateful for, not only nature, but being able to get out and see it.
    Have a fabulous week and thank you for visiting my blog this week.

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    1. Thank you Jill! I appreciate the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, happy weekend to you!

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  2. Hello Eileen,
    As always very beautiful photos. I like very much the bush full of Roseate Spoonbills.
    Enjoy your day!

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    1. Thank you Marit! The Roseate Spoonbills are beautiful. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend ahead.

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  3. As cores da natureza tão bem mostradas por ti! LINDO! bjs, tudo de bom,chica

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    1. Thanks so much Chica! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend ahead.

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  4. I remember very well my first sighting ever of a Roseate Spoonbill, not the kind of bird you forget in a hurry. I have seen many since, but I suppose the first experience remains special.

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    1. Thank you David, the Roseate Spoonbill is beautiful, one I will never forget. Enjoy your day!

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  5. Precioso arco iris y esas aves de colores Eileen. Una entrada con muchos colores alegres.
    Te deseo un buen jueves.
    Un abrazo.

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    1. Thank you Laura, for the comment and visit. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend ahead!

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  6. Hi Eileen!

    I am sure that this trip to Florida was filled with special moments!

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    1. Hello, yes we had a great trip to Florida! Thanks and enjoy your day!

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  7. Oh thank you so much for the rainbow, and the great birds...all of whom just delight me. Even though it's pouring rain and at 7:15 when I awoke, there were birds chirping outside.

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    1. Thanks Barbara! It seems more like spring time when I hear the birds singing early in the morning.
      Have a great day!

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  8. What a day you had! The Roseate Spoonbills are incredible!

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    1. They are beautiful birds! Thanks so much! Enjoy your day!

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  9. We don't see the large wetland birds here so nice to see your photos.

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    1. Hello Red, the wetlands are great for the bird sightings. Thanks and enjoy your day!

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  10. Hari Om
    The colours, even among the grey feathers... simple beauty. YAM xx

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    1. Thank you Yam! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend ahead!

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  11. ...lovely quote and you captured a fabulous rainbow. No rain, no rainbows!

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  12. What a treat for you to see all these beautiful birds and a full rainbow to top it off. Lovely!

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    1. Thanks Ellen! The rainbow was a treat to see! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend ahead!

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  13. Love the rainbow & spoonbills most of all!

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  14. Gosh, wonderful sightings Eileen. Amazing to see those birds. I need to get down to Florida again :) Enjoy your day and weekend coming up.

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    1. Thanks Denise! Florida is a great place! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend ahead!

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  15. Those spoonbills are incredible with their spoons and beautiful colouration. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Thanks Marie! The spoonbills are a favorite! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend ahead!

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  16. Beautiful feather colours, and a great lookout, there is so much to be thankful for here too.

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    1. Thank You Jean! Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

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  17. Thankful for your beautiful and colorful photos of our feathered friends ~ another lovely place too. ^_^

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

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    1. Thanks Carol! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend ahead!

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  18. Replies
    1. I would think so, I hope you are feeling better! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend ahead!

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  19. Such beautiful pictures. Those spoonbills are just so pretty. Thanks for sharing. Looks/sounds like you had such a nice trip.

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    1. Thanks Vera! The Spoonbills are pretty. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend ahead!

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  20. Love the rainbow shot, the bush of Spoonbills and the colourful Buntings!
    Nice to see...
    Thanks for sharing. Have a nice rest of week!

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    1. Thank you! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend ahead!

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  21. Hi Eileen
    Beautiful series of Florida, I did love the Little Blue Heron and the Roseate Spoonbill very much.

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    1. Thanks for the comment Bob! Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

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  22. Fabulous. Your top shot dialogues with mine tomorrow! We are in the groove, my sister, E

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    1. Hi Cloudia, it is great to be in groove with you. The rainbow was a treat. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend ahead!

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  23. I love seeing the spoonbill. Haven't seen one in person and would like to!! Thanks for linking up and I hope you have the best weekend!

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  24. Wow! How amazing to see that much of a rainbow...what a sight! And the Roseate Spoonbill is my favorite FL bird. We rarely see it in the wild but it is gorgeous! Great photos!

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    1. Hello Diane, the Roseate Spoonbill is one of my favorite Florida birds too. Thanks for visiting. Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  25. Really pretty Eileen. I recognized the Merritt Island Road, it's so pretty there I heard it was closed due to people leaving trash I hope that changes...I did notice a lot of bank fishing is going on and they tend to leave a lot of trash behind!

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    1. Hi Sondra, it was the Manatee viewing platform (Haulover Canal parking area) that was closed for a few days. The volunteers helped to clean up the trash, maybe left behind from the fishermen? The whole wildlife drive was open as was the BioLab road. Both are great for birding. Thanks for the visit. Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  26. Oh, I love that Spoonbill Bush! Actually, I think you got some great shots here.

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    1. I loved the Spoonbills too, thanks Rose! Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  27. All the pictures are fantastic. Just couldn't pick out a favorite.
    What a wonderful color those Roseate Spoonbills are and that rainbow is gorgeous.

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    1. Thank you Karen! Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  28. A very nice variety of bird life, and beautifully photographed. I like how the Heron posed for you!

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    1. Thank you! Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  29. Looks like a wonderful trip. I enjoyed seeing your photos. Happy Thursday. Heather

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    1. Thanks for the comment and visit Heather! Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  30. Wow, a complete rainbow. I've only seen a few of those. I love the roseate spoonbills, such beautiful birds. I love how you are so in tune to your world.

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    1. Hello Yogi, the rainbow was a treat to see. Thanks! Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  31. How wonderful to see those Roseate Spoonbills Eileen! I was so interested... and then to see your photograph of a tree full - beautiful.
    The Buntings are gorgeous too - both the male and female.
    That's certainly a lovely spot to explore.
    Cheerio and great to catch up again, I really enjoyed your post xx

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    1. Hello Sue, thanks so much for the nice comment. The Spoonbills are beautiful birds! Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  32. Rainbows are always special to see especially a complete one Eileen. Love the second image of the 2 very different coloured birds. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Hello Margaret, the Rainbow was a treat to see. Thanks for the comment. Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  33. Pretty rainbow. Nice to see the bush full of Roseate Spoonbills.

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    1. Thanks Nancy! Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  34. Wow, a complete rainbow & colorful birds. Happy weekend.

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    1. Thank you Ritta! Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  35. Hello Eileen,
    What a nice post with beautiful shots.
    So nice to see that heron on shot 4. And what great pictures of the wonderful colored spoonbills. Fantastic.

    Greetings and have a nice weekend,
    Marco

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    1. Thank you Marco! Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  36. Very beautiful and colourful post on the rainbow and birds! Loved that roseate spoonbills on a bush top like a cluster of pink flowers.

    Have a great weekend

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    1. Thank you Jeevan! Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  37. love, love, love the quotes today!!! what a gorgeous rainbow, i have never seen both the beginning and the end of one!!

    the tricolored heron is stunning and the white Ibis so pretty. but the pretty roseate spoonbills are always a favorite for me. the bush filled with them is another stunning picture, they look like big, pink flowers on the bush!!! you shared gorgeous captures today!!

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    1. Thanks Debbie! I enjoyed seeing the rainbow, they are a treat to see. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

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  38. Love this pink bird, have a lovely weekend ☺

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    1. Hello, the spoonbill is one of my favorite birds. Thank you! Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

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  39. Great sky shot with the beautiful rainbow ~ ^_^

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

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    1. Thank you Carol! Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

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  40. Wonderful rainbow *like - also the birds!
    Happy weekend!

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  41. Hello Eileen
    beautiful that rainbow. that always reminds me of Jahnay :-))
    Those pink spoonbills are really cool to see and so special. I really like this one! Your other photos are great too and it was very nice to see the photos from your trip :-)
    Greetings, Helma

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  42. wow, those Roseate Spoonbills are really wonderful, I have never seen them (not even in a photo).

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  43. How lovely to see the rainbow, but you've given us a wonderful selection of photographs here.
    I do like the colour of the Roseate Spoonbill's.

    All the best Jan

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  44. We visited the Merritt Island refuge about twenty years ago. You got some great shots of the birds.

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  45. Que lugar incrível, para apreciar as maravilhas e a diversidade que a natureza tem a nos oferecer!...
    Uma daquelas publicações, para ficar apreciando e reapreciando!...
    Beijinhos! Bom final de domingo, e uma óptima semana!
    Ana

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Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

BTW, Anonymous comments unless a name is included will not be published. Also, comments with links will be deleted.

Have a happy day, Eileen

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