I lost 323 calories today. F***king seagull stole my snickers bar. (unknown)

My husband was embarrassed when I pulled out the camera to photograph a few gulls on Naples beach in Florida. They are pretty dime a dozen. I'll give him that. But a beach day certainly wouldn't be as entertaining without them.  And there are so many varieties.  This one was just strutting along.

O.K. This one is probably not even a gull. It's gull darn hard to tell. He looks like a Willet or Sand piper.  I guess he should have piped up that I was mislabeling him.  But he is too sleepy.

Now it's this guys "Tern" to be mislabeled just a gull.  

Here's a laughing gull.  Their call really is a hoot. I'd be happy too, if I spent all of my days flocking and frolicking on the beach.

 I sure had a lot of gall labeling all of these beach goers just a gull.

You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now- and nothing can stand in your way! Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull

It's my true writing self, me, myself and maybe even Irene over at The Chorus of the Crows Be sure to fly over and scavenge up my post on Dangerous Minds!

Saturday's Critters

Bird d'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

My World Wednesday

Image-in-ing

Duluth

fish eye lens

I love the movement in this photo. I went on a Duluth waterfront photo safari while my husband was doing a 26.2 mile inline Marathon along the North shore last Fall.  It was a beautiful crisp morning.

Sunbathing

There is no shortage of gulls to photograph.  This one caught my eye because he chose to sleep in the middle of an empty parking lot all alone.  

What lies beneath...

Can you guess what these are?  They light up the iconic lift bridge at night.

Some local color.

Something old.

I had some fun framing the lighthouse inside these loops.

A pigeon in a puddle.

Yikes!  This spider was even scarier in person.  In fact, I didn't even know Minnesota had such huge spiders.  He was at least 3 inches across.  Luckily, I'm on a new photo safari with the hubbs in tow.  At J. Cook State Park.  Hopefully he can save me from spider attacks.  Uff da.

Jungle shrooms.  O.K.  Minnesota doesn't have jungles or tarantulas.  But our woods are just as thick.

Raging Mountain rivers.  O.K. we might not have Mountains either.  Darn.  But we can be Minnesota Wild.

P.S. You can also find my favorite Duluth photos at my Up to the Duluth category over at My 3rd Eye  And just scroll down for more Duluth photos!

Saturday's Critters

Bird d'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

Sea Gulls at Sunset

I love a good sunset.  Who doesn't?  And the Naples pier is one of the best places to see it.  First we walk on the beach.  There is actually nothing I like better in life than walking on firm sand with my bare feet as the warm tides brush back and forth over them.  Heaven.  And you know life is good if you can enjoy a heavenly sunset after.  People are happy after a warm day in the sun.  The birds are happy as well.  The pelicans can steal fish scraps from the fishermen.  And the gulls can steal snacks from unwary tourists.  It's a win, win for everyone.

These shots are so great because there is no filter or photoshop work.  Just different shades of gold as you zoom in.

I like how the gulls line the rim of the roof.

Down she goes in a blaze of glory.  

Where is your favorite place to watch sunset?  Mine is on what we call our upper lot in Dominical, Costa Rica.  A lot we will probably never own.  But it will always be ours in our hearts.  For more sea birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday

Birds of a feather don't necessarily roast together.

I actually wasn't sure what to post this week. But turkeys popped into my head for some strange reason. And since eating local is so popular these days, all of these photos were taken in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The only 2 states I've ever called home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My new business cards have arrived. And at least the front sports a bird to fit today's theme. Although the squirrel cuckoo probably can not be found locally. Both illustrations are from my fiction project journal http://arthousecoop.com/users/sharonrwagner which can now be found at the Brooklyn Art Library.