Speak the truth with kindness
Ahhhhhh, the morning was soft and peaceful with a gentle breeze and calm ocean. The world felt quiet, like it was still waking up. But once the flock flew in, that peaceful hush turned into a lively chatter with joyful voices greeting the day.
The sun rose from behind a thin cloud, sending out warm rays of golden light that wrapped around us like a hug. The flock danced around the sun as if celebrating another beautiful sunrise gifted to us by Mother Nature.
On my walk back across the boardwalk, I met someone new, a Catbird. My very first Catbird. She perched with a serious look, leaning in as if she had a very important message.
She said, “Catbirds are communicators. We teach the power of voice. Choose words that carry truth, but season them with kindness, for yourself and for others.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Catbird
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode: Nesting, Snacks & Playtime
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode: Nesting, Snacks & Playtime
Skylar, our resident osprey, was busy today—like mama-on-a-mission busy. She spent the morning searching for long sticks and hauling them one by one back to her pole. I’ve known Skylar since 2018 and I’ve never seen her nest-building before.
Over the last two weeks, several new ospreys and even a few bald eagles have flown in for the winter season. This means Skylar has been doing a LOT of screaming lately. Every time another bird of prey dares to enter her airspace, she lets them know loud and clear, “Get off my lawn! This is MY territory!”
Normally she would chase them off with a dramatic aerial show, but today she had more important things to do—nest first, drama later.
Meanwhile, Charley and M stopped by, Whisper and Ocean cruised through, and Cliff arrived with two friends. They grabbed lunch, played with mangrove seeds, and enjoyed some relaxed hang time—just another beautiful day in the lagoon.
Stay tuned for more tales!
Got bugs?
Mother Nature used fog to paint a dark and sultry sunrise today. First light slipped in gently with purple and red tones before the fog rolled in, wrapping the shoreline in a salty, mysterious blanket. When the sun finally rose, half-hidden behind the horizon, it felt like we had been transported to another world: quiet, moody, and beautiful.
The flock flew in chatty as usual, ready for our daily connection time. One of the laughing gulls sauntered over to say hello. I noticed a few little bugs below his beak and asked him about them.
He said, “I don’t feel like getting squeaky clean today. When we’re tired or not feeling our best, we sometimes avoid self-care, even when we know it will help us. I’m here to remind you—those are the days it matters most.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Your heart is your beauty
45 minutes before sunrise, pink rays of light streamed into the sky and wrapped around Venus like a cosmic embrace. The chatty flock flew in, wings and hearts open, ready for our daily bath time.
When the sun finally rose from behind the cloud on the horizon, it looked like a light volcano — white light bursting from the top and spilling into the morning.
After sunrise, a solo pelican flew in to hang out. With his wings stretched wide he said, “Look how beautiful I am with my wings and heart wide open. Showing off your heart is the secret to being beautiful."
"And if you don’t feel like spreading your wings just yet, that’s okay — give yourself a little shake, reset your energy, and soon you’ll be ready to lift up, open and feeling free.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Shake it like a Polaroid picture
Enjoy the stillness between breaths
Mother Nature brought us a serene and soothing sunrise to start the week. Subtle rays of white light streamed from behind a cloud on the horizon, gently waking up the sky.
The waves called to the surfers to come play while the flock gathered in the shallows for bath time, getting squeaky clean and ready for the day.
After sunrise at the lagoon, a familiar winter visitor glided in after sunrise, the graceful blue heron. He joined Spot the egret for a little breakfast hunt and a quiet moment of connection.
The blue heron said, "I’m a reminder to find balance. Take your time today. Be patient with yourself and gentle with others. Slow down and enjoy the stillness between each breath.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
make space, something new is ready to flow in
As I walked to the beach, the waning moon and Venus glowed close together in a soft pink sky, ushering in the energy of a new day. A chatty flock of laughing gulls, sandpipers, and ruddy turnstones flew in for their usual morning ritual bath time.
Among them was One Legger, looking strong and beautiful as always, balancing life with grace. Today, One Legger, the waning moon, and Venus came together to share a message today.
One Legger said, “These last few days of the lunar cycle are powerful. The waning moon helps us release what no longer serves us, and Venus brings love, beauty, and harmony. Just like our bath gets the bugs off, this cosmic energy gives you an extra boost to cleanse your life—inside and out. Let go. Make space. Something beautiful is waiting to flow in.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Lead with an open heart
Lean in
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode- Male Dolphin Fish Fest
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode- Male Dolphin Fish Fest
Ocean a male dolphin was enjoying mullet and a snook!
He was in the lagoon with his bestie.
I'm often asked how to identify the dolphins. Their dorsal fin is their fingerprint. Ocean has a rope entanglement scar near his blowhole and a bit lower as well.
Stay tuned for more tales!
Mullet
Mullet
Snook
Stay steady to navigate the waves
The ocean was churned up this morning, wild and moving with purpose. Waves tumbled in hard, crashing over themselves as if releasing pent-up energy from deep within.
The sky wore a wintery dramatic blanket of clouds, layered in shades of slate blue and silver, letting only a sliver of golden light peek through along the horizon.
A pelican looked for breakfast in the waves while the laughing gulls chatted it up on the beach.
The pelican said, “Yes, the waves are strong, so I remain calm inside and go with the flow. Staying steady is how I navigate the strong waves. Even when life churns around you, trust your inner guidance—you’ll always find your way."
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Trust and connection
The wind was whipping, the ocean was churning, and the clouds and sun came together to create a dramatic, stunning sunrise.
The flock was quietly resting on the beach until one of them suddenly signaled, “It’s go time!” In a whoosh, they took flight.
They said, “Listening to your gut about taking action is key. We don’t always know why we need to move, but we trust it and go.”
After sunrise, 2 male dolphins, Charley and M were in the lagoon enjoying breakfast. Charley swam over to connect — not through sound, but through presence. He reminded us how communication comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s not words, but a feeling… a knowing. The quiet connection that says, “I see you. I feel you. All is well.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Connection
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode - Lagoon Lullaby
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode - Lagoon Lullaby, Dolphins Resting
This is one of my favorite videos. Daniko and Jasper are best friends, together they hunt, hang out, and rest.
Dream Big from your heart
As I walked to the beach in the pre-dawn sky, I could see the shimmering remnants from the latest launch — shaped like a heart just below brilliant Venus.
Gusts of wind gave the flock the zoomies as they darted off and back several times. When the sun finally rose, we all headed into the ocean for bath time.
Pelican Highway floated above the glowing horizon, wings spread wide, using the wind to hover and scan the waves for breakfast.
The heart-shaped remnants, Venus the planet of love, and the golden streaming light came together bringing us the message today.
“Let your heart shine bright. Let your imagination go wild. Passion and creativity flow from your heart, the same way someone once dreamed of sending a rocket to space, you too can dream big and manifest the what you think is impossible into reality.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
A beautiful handwritten note from Wyland, the world-renowned Artist of the Sea.
When one of your artistic heroes celebrates your work…
I’m deeply honored and humbled to receive this beautiful handwritten note from Wyland, the world-renowned Artist of the Sea.
“Shelley Lynch has written and illustrated an amazing, timeless adventure story for kids of all ages. Thank you for inspiring us all!” — WYLAND
THANK YOU, Wyland, for your kind words and for inspiring millions to love and protect our oceans through your breathtaking art. Knowing that you found Pip’s Fishy Adventure amazing means the world to me.
Learn more about Wyland and his incredible work at https://www.wyland.com/the-artist/
You can find Pip’s Fishy Adventure on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com
May Pip continue to remind us all that kindness, courage, and connection make waves that ripple far beyond the shore.
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode -Baby Love
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode -Baby Love
This little nugget is sure to melt your heart. Along with playing with his friends he seemed to enjoy his very own photoshoot.
Stay tuned for more tales!
PS ~Wednesday sunrsie is previous post
Self Care helps us thrive
With rain approaching, Mother Nature was able to squeeze in a sunrise before the rain. The chatty flock of gulls, terns and sand papers were already at the edge of the ocean ready to get squeaky clean.
As the sun came up we headed into the ocean for bath time. As the gulls were flapping their wings I asked them about bath time.
They said, “Daily bathtime is an important part of self care for us. You see, we take a bath to get the bugs off which keeps us healthy. Rain or shine, cold or hot, we know self care is how we thrive.”
“We highly recommend slowing it down and enjoying a moment to get the bugs off! As you can see it helps us feel renewed and look beautiful.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Open wings and hearts
Divine timing brings alignment
Ahhhhhh, the sun rose bright and golden, wrapping the morning in warmth and light. Golden sparkles shimmered across the ocean, soaking up the day’s first glow.
The beach was full of life — laughing gulls, sandpipers, ruddy turnstones, and royal terns all flocked together for self-care and rest time. Pelican Highway traffic was heavy heading southbound.
A reddish egret couple danced down the beach, gracefully catching breakfast together. One paused and said, “I’m a reminder to ground into your feet so you feel centered in the present moment. I don’t rush the tide or chase what isn’t ready. I wait, I watch, I trust. Divine timing brings everything into alignment then I move with patience and grace.”
Wishing you a beautiful day, friends.
Hello!
A golden Pelican Highway
reddish egret couple grabbing breakfast
Be the safe place for others, trust your instincts
Ahhhh, the morning began with soft pink rays streaming through the blue sky, welcoming the day with calm beauty. The flock arrived early, ready for connection and bath time.
The sun rose unencumbered, bright, bold, and golden, casting sparkles of red and gold across the waves as they rolled toward shore.
Today’s message comes from a gull perched confidently on my camera and a pair of pigeons resting high on a boat’s radar.
Together they said, "Be the safe place for others. Lean into your inner GPS to know who you can truly be yourself with. Some souls will meet you where you are; others are simply passing through. Trust your instincts—they always know who feels like home.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode- More Dolphin Play!
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode: More Dolphin Play!
Can you ever have too many baby dolphin videos?
This one begins with Laguna, the newest calf in the lagoon, playing alongside a slightly older youngster. Soon, they’re joined by a playful adult male and a gentle momma — and together they enjoy a joyful group snuggle session.
Stay tuned for more tales!
Use motion to feel expanded and lifted
The rain has passed, leaving behind cooler air, a strong breeze, and a beautiful sunrise.The flock was already gathered at the edge of the ocean when I arrived to a scene almost black and white.
Pink hues emerged to the west, and then almost as if someone flipped a switch—golden streaming light filled the horizon from behind the clouds.
Waves rolled toward the shore, and with the help of the wind, sent sparkling spray into the air, each droplet catching the sunlight as it floated skyward. It felt as if the wind, golden light, and waves were in perfect collaboration, creating a living, moving sunrise.
The waves bring us a message about the power of movement. “Yes, stillness holds its own wisdom, and movement carries magic too. The ocean reminds us that life ebbs and flows, from calm to turbulent, each phase serves its purpose. Let motion help shift you from feeling stagnant to feeling expanded and lifted.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode - Sunset Shenanigans.
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode - Sunset Shenanigans.
We had just a hint of sunrise this morning — soft blue and cream colors graced the sky for a few fleeting minutes before the rain returned.
So instead, I’m sharing last night’s sunset party! A playful pod of six dolphins gathered in the lagoon, enjoying each other’s company. They tossed mangrove seeds, played with branches, chased fish, and of course—shared plenty of snuggles and smooches.
My favorite part about sunset dolphin time is capturing their breath. The power and beauty of that exhale reminds us to pause... and simply breathe.
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
www.shelleylynchphotos.com
Powerful Exhale
Just Breathe
Playing with a branch
Mangrove seed playtime
Turtle Rescue and Information
This little washback was spotted by a daily sunrise runner who quickly let me know — teamwork in action!
If you find a washback sea turtle (a small post-hatchling washed back by waves) in New Smyrna Beach, here’s what to do:
Drop-off location:
Beach Safety Headquarters
291 Buenos Aires St, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
(near where Flagler Ave meets the beach)
Steps to help:
Gently place the turtle in one of the provided bins.
Either call the posted rescue numbers or notify a Beach Safety officer on site.
Every rescued turtle makes a difference. Thank you for keeping watch and helping our lagoon and ocean friends!
Stay tuned for the sunrise post!
