Anna Maria Island, Florida - Week 2 May 09

Night heron in early morning sun	The yellow crown is visible on this adult	Watching you!	The great egret has green eye liner!
Pelican silhouettes	Bright flowers	Visiting Florida in May for the first time we saw different flora and fauna	Anna Maria City Pier
Towards the shore	Black skimmer	Catch! His head tilted downwards as he caught and ate a fish	Enjoying the view!
Skimming!	Fish in beak!		Beak trail
	Royal Ponciana	Sun sets behind Bean Point	Dawn colours
Before sunrise	Flight
		Pelican flight
		Dawn display
Fly past			On a very calm morning we were watching the dolphins playing (including the baby), when this boat went past.
The playful dolphins...	..started surfing!	...and then one leapt! AWESOME!	Great blue heron - drying his wings?
Tarpon swimming past the pier, as we have our breakfast!	Tarpon circling	Scary fish!	Ibis
Mmmm ...loving the beach!	Coquina Beach	Sun dog	Sun dog close up
What a beast!	Young cormorant	Preening	Red bull mini!
Baby dolphin leads the way	Blow hole!	Dolphins just off shore	Cheeky dolphin
	Towards Egmont Key	Baby dolphin	Baby blow hole
Perfect beach	The sea was full of live sand dollars!	Crossing the Skyway
	Roseate spoonbill	The spoonbill has a cheeky look!	The first time we have been close enough to get a photo of a wild spoonbill. We noticed they seem to hang out with wood storks!
Still not quite in line!	Tampa Bay Devil Ray	In the shallows by the City pier
	Sarasota	Sarasota sculpture	City pier
Fish and Gruffalo!	Lively baby!	Gruffalo bravado	Magnificent frigate bird
We call these the pterodactyls, but their real nick name is 'pirates'!	Black skimmer	Synchronised skimming!
Over the dunes - a walk before breakfast	Shelling	More skimmers!	Sparkling
Jackie's birthday - manatee swims towards the rod and reel pier	You can see white scars where he has been damaged by propellers	Happy Birthday Jackie!	So close
	One of the yellow crowned night herons appears at our back door	Unusually rough sea on the island
	City Pier	My adopted babies!
		Looking down canal towards Roser church	Skimmer on sand
	Water spout forming off Egmont Key	The spout spins across the key	Up in the clouds you can see the top of the tornado
Sheltering on the pier	After the storm	Dramatic	Trying to land something big
Who will win?	Still battling!	Sunset behind the Rod and Reel Pier	Heron leads the boat
Moon rising	Spotting the shape of a manatee!	Sunshine Skyway