Have been trying to find some sun shots that would work, but no success.  It has been storming at sundown the past week.  (Not a complaint, we need the rain,) but no good sun pix.

Searching the archives, I found some that may work. 

Sunrise_St_Pete
Double_sun 
Catch_the_Sun 
Sunset_caught by clouds
Sunset_with_pilings 

 Will try to get more creative before the challenge is over.   

OK, so only 5 comments on the roses I posted over the weekend.  Let's try something different to pique your interest, (I hope)

Surf_Fishing 
Beach parties 
The Walkers 
Sebastian Inlet 
The_approach 

Most of these were taken at Playalinda beach.  We usually wind up there after shooting birds in the Refuge.

Comments and critiques encouraged.  Enjoy

Roses, to be exact.  Saw these at our local hospital this spring and just had to get them. 

Shaded_Pink_Rose 
Opening_Orange_Rose 
Lavender 
Pink_BiColor_Rose 
Bicolor_Orange_Rose 

Hope you enjoy them.  Comments and critiques are always encouraged.

The Alligator Farm is not just gators and nesting birds.  They also have some interesting captive birds as well, like these:

Crowned Crane  Hornbill_

Leaving the Farm, we passed a pasture full of these:

Spotted_Longhorn 

Outside the pasture were lots of interesting wildflowers:

Yellow_w_bee  Yellow_weed_  Pasture_post  Thistle_profile 

Remember: Beauty is where you find it, so keep looking.

BTW: the thumb is a Cassowary from the Brevard Zoo.

Looked into the archives and found some that will work.

Fishing_Dock 
Breakwater bridge rails
Bridge rail reflections 
Stormy_sky Rails from the end of our dock.

 Will keep looking to see what else will work.

Catching up on some of what we've been doing during our absence:

We took an eco-trip on the St. Johns River: St. Johns River Purple Gallinule 

Another trip to Merritt Island NWR: Swamp_rainbow, Fire in the Sky 

A boat trip with friends on the Indian River, saw some great old houses:  View_from_the_River Oldie_but_goodie 

Back to the Brevard Zoo for some pink posers: Drip 

And to the Alligator Farm for Gators, duh....Shiver notice the water vibration from his roars, (yes, he's an albino)  & Open_Wide_ another roar.

 Got lots of others to catch up, I'll catch you later. 

About the thumb:  it was the same night we got the blue sunset, posted earlier and the rainbow.  Strange night.

As promised, today it's herons from the Rookery.  First, tho, a couple to show a little of the scope of the place.  This is just one tree & it's packed with Wood Storks, Great Egrets and lower down, Snowy Egrets Nesting tree.  In the next one, you can see how the birds are used to visitors, guess the photog didn't know the real opportunity was behind him, You lookin' for me? 

Now for some herons:

Green heron  Blancing Green 

Little Blue  Immature Little Blue 

Tri color ballet  Tri-Color heron pair  Tri-color heron chick 

Hope you enjoy, maybe gators next.

Camera club results:  Lee got a 1st for his sunset, & I got 2 seconds, for "Red sunset w Grass" and this PurpleGallinule.  I really thought the bird had a chance, but I lost to Katster, another club member and occasional Photographican, so at least it was all in the family.

No more competitions for the summer, so I'll go back to what I seem to be drawn to the most.  If you guessed birds, you're a winner.

We have an Alligator Farm in St. Augustine.  Over the years, the birds have discovered that their nests are protected from predators by the 'gators underneath the trees.  Now more come back every year to breed and raise their young.  We've been there twice and will probably go again before the birds leave in July.  Won't post all at once and bore you, but just have to share the highlites.  The first bunch will be Egrets:

StAug_Touchdown 

 Backlit beauty 

Looks better over here 

Pretty pair 

So, what are these things for? 

Sibling Rivalry 

Hope you enjoy.  Next time:  Herons

I confess, I was one of those who went to the "other place" for a while.  It was fun, there were so many special interest groups, but it quickly became overwhelming.  When I heard about all the positive changes Cory had made, I knew it was time to come home.  I've missed the family feeling here, & I'm glad to see so many of y'all still around.

Confession over, I need help, again.  The camera club meets on Monday and the assignment this month is Sunsets.   So, do any of these work for you?

Red sun and grass 

PC070978_SunsetEWL 

Sunset from the boat. 

Clear water sunset, Merritt Island 

Red sun with grass 

IMG_0026_Blue_sunset 

Thanks in advance for your input, and a special thank you to Cory.  This is much nicer now.

These guys were overhead Flock
But these had gained Freedom from the crowd

Finally the little spider from last time is:growing up

The white pelicans were around and having fun
The Lunch Bunch Follow my lead
This brown pelican yawned and just about turned himself inside out Pelican yawn
An Osprey was having his lunch in the shade of a tree.Lunch

Hope to be able to get out more soon.  Meanwhile, enjoy these.

 Spider Purple somethings Blue wildflower Iris

Can't wait for Spring and lots more flowers.....