The past two days we’ve been back to the Wildlife Refuge and then the beach. Both places were opportunities for the perfect shot.

I’m not a professional photographer, but sometimes I get a very good, if not perfect shot. It never starts out being the mission, and that’s why I’m not a pro. But sometimes, I get a shot that makes me proud. I guess my philosophy is that if I try for it, I’ll try too hard. I like my way better for now.

So yesterday, we went back to one of my favorite places her, The Leonabelle Birding Center and Wildlife Refuge.

ok, maybe it’s a nature preserve.

We were there to walk off some bloat, observe any birds that we could, and see how different things looked since May when we were here and visited. If you remember, we saw a rare warbler on that visit. Well, summertime is NOT the optimal time to catch many birds. There were a few ducks, some egrets, and a smattering of little water birds like coolies.

What surprised me was how different the water looked. Being so much warmer, there is less oxygen in the water. There’s also more decomposition of plants and animal material. As we walked out on the walkway, the water nearest the water treatment plant was brown like tea. As we got to the end, it was light and dark greens and yellows. Even Boots the resident crocodile was hiding somewhere cooler.

I checked the birding identification boards again and sure enough, there are very few birds that visit in the summer.

We got to the beach around 10:30 this morning. We had not been for a while because it’s been very crowded since the 4th.

Dave went out to try to catch some bait after we got set up and I surprised myself by capturing his perfect toss of the cast net.

I wasn’t sure when I took two or three shots whether I caught it or not until I sat back down and looked. I was pleasantly surprised. I enlarged the shot before showing it here so y’all could see the net and it’s details.

I guess I’m getting too comfortable here, I broke two of my own made up rules today. Number one, I popped a top before two. And two, I didn’t reapply sunscreen after playing in the waves several times, therefore I burned my nose again. I try very hard not to let my face get burned because I burned my nose so many times as a kid. I’m so mad at myself, but I did put on some aloe Vera type sunburn gel and I won’t be burning it again. It’s just that I like to ride waves and you have to take your hat and glasses off to do that, or the get lost at sea. Normally, I reapply at least once in between sessions. Today I did not. Shame on me, I know better having worked many years at a cancer treatment center!

Lesson learned so now you know, always reapply after time in the water if you don’t want to look like this: