A team brings ease and a witness
A crisp and clear morning with a deep array of colors. The flock of seagulls flew in with amazing acrobatic maneuvers just as first light was filling up the sky with an orange glow. High in the sky there was a perfect cloud circle that felt like the Enterprise from Star Trek would fly through at any minute.
Just before the sun came up it looked like a fountain of golden light coming up out of the ocean. When the sun was about half way up, a face appeared on it, looking like it was wearing a mask.
The wind brought a chill to the air but that didn’t stop the flock from getting squeaky clean during our daily bath time. The skimmers joined us for a little rest in between dashing off for short flights in front of the sun. They were in perfect unison, so in tune with each other they were flying as one unit with ease.
They bring us the message teamwork. They said, “Just like a choir, we listen to each other to be in synch. The power that comes from our unison is powerful. Together, we fly with less effort and we have the added bonus of having a witness to the journey.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Cloud circle
Flock of seagulls
Mask on the sun
Incoming skimmers
Skimmer sunrise
Tales from the lagoon ~ Episode- Baby River Playtime
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode- Baby River Playtime
Oh my goodness this little nugget is such a cutie pie! I know who she is because she is accompanied by her mom who has a rope entanglement scar. Over time I have watched a handful of babies (calves) play and from what I can tell they love they love to play with anything but they have their favorite toys.
Gypsy loves to play with the pelicans. Indy loves a good leaf, he can play with the same leaf for 30 minutes. Ruby loves to play with her mom, a mangrove seed and the other kids. She is very social.
River, she is so joyful, she loves the mangrove seed and little green pods. She showed me her belly on December 3 confirming she is females. Females have a division sign, while males have an exclamation point on their lower belly. You can see the 3 slits looking like a division sign in the last photo.
Today she played with the pod for 20 minutes, just tossing it up then chasing it and doing it again. Here little nose (rostrum) and mouth would pop up out of the water wide open with the seed in her mouth.
It was like watching a toddler get a case of infectious giggles giggles while playing. I hope you can feel the laughter and joy through the photos.
Stay tuned for more tales!
Keeping an eye on her nature toy
zoom zoom
It’s a girl!
Lift above the trauma to Inspire others
What a lovely sunrise Mother Nature brought us the morning. The wind was less but still blowing the top of the waves. The waves were rolling on close together looking like a mountain range.
The flock of seagulls, skimmers, royal terns, sandpipers, sandwich terns, a solo egret and willet all flew in to enjoy time together, grooming, resting and snacks. It was fun to watch the different birds hang together.
Piper and her flock were grabbing food. Piper said, “I bring the message of slowing it down to enjoy the moment. You see this moment is creating your next moment, so it’s purposeful to be savor the now.”
A flock of skimmers flew in barking. They said, “We are tired from our journey. We know rest is one of the ways we stay strong and healthy. Balance of movement and rest is necessary for our immune system to be mighty. If you see us in a flock, please don’t run into us to make us fly, we are pooped and need some quiet time.”
And lastly a seagull with a recent injury said,”Join me in lifting up above the trauma to inspire others. Together we are stronger.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Seagull sunrise
Rise above to inspire others
Pelican Highway heading south while Skimmer Street heading north
Slowing it down Piper style
Zen Piper
Flock of skimmers with Hook the seagull in the mix
Sleepy Skimmer
A sign of hope and new beginnings
With huge fluffy clouds to the north the light stayed low giving us a cozy vibe. The flock of seagulls were full of energy this morning, hanging in place for long periods of time. Without warning they would dart away then float back as if they were one graceful unit.
Light rain came on and off adding to the wintry feeling and giving us a full rainbow too! Dolphins were relaxing in the lagoon under the rainbow. How wonderful our message is the combo rainbows and dolphins! Rainbows are a universal sign of hope and abundance and for most people dolphins bring joy and happiness.
Together they both speak to our hearts reminding us fresh, new beginnings filled with wonder and joy are all around us.They encourage us to keep the faith and be open to abundance and blessings.”
Mikey the great egret stopped by to stretch with a king fisher just above his head. King fishers also bring the message of abundance! A double message of blessings!
Wishing you an abundant day friends!
Dolphin teasing a cormorant
Mikey giving himself a shake. A kingfisher in the background above his head
Tales From the Lagoon ~ Nursery School is in session
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode- Nursery School is in Session
Just after sunrise before the sun was shining on the river, a maternity pod came into the lagoon. A maternity pod of dolphin is a group of moms and their calves making up a dolphin “nursery.”
This morning it seemed the moms were having class time with valuable lessons on proper technique to toss a fish, navigate fishermen nets and hungry pelicans. School started with the calves practicing their tossing skills with a mangrove seeds.
After about 15 minutes of warming up with the seed they moved on to fish. The moms stayed close like they were giving tips. “It’s like this sweetie, hold the fish in your mouth, turn your head a little to the right then as you turn your head left, toss the fish at the same time.”
It was so cute to witness the little ones hold themselves up and toss the fish, It felt like I was watching a joyful child take the training wheels off her bike and ride solo with giddy excitement.
The moms were also closely watching the nets from the fishermen and the encroaching pelicans. The pelicans were close with the moms on their side. The pelicans managed to swoop in and pick up a flying fish. After that it appears the mom and calf took some quiet time to nurse and rest.
So much to learn! The calves seemed to love being in school, I hope we get to see more. Stay tuned for more tales!
Nursery school is in session.
Mom said, "Just turn your head to the right, then when you turn back release the fish."
Like this!
Warming up with a mangrove seed
Pelican is eyeing the mullet….mom is close by to assist if needed
Getting closer….
Pelicans made their move and stole the fish.
A celebrity returns
Weeeeeeee, another windy sunrise today with gusts blowing sand southbound. Remember that childhood song, “One of these is not like the other?”
As I was looking at the flock of seagulls hovering in place, I noticed a gull standing out in the crowd. With a closer look I realized it was Tiger the Heermann’s Gull has returned!!
He showed up this time last year as a young nugget, surprising us all because he is from California! He is grown up and looking beautiful! He was always a confident bird but he seems like he has truly stepped into his regal, celebrity status.
He brings us the message of standing out while being a part of the flock. He said, “I bring the message of confidence to stand out in a crowd yet be a part of the group too. It’s a balance to blend and join in the flock while keeping your individuality.”
After sunrise a pod of momma dolphins and their calves came in to play, feed and learn. It seemed as if the moms were teaching their kids today, more from them later today. The little one said as she tossed up the mangrove seed, “Play is an important tool in learning. Tossing up the mangrove seed is super fun and it helps me strengthen my skills so I can toss a fish when I’m ready.”
Wishing you a day filled with beautiful connections and play!
I’m all grown up. :)
HI! I’m Back!
This is how he looked last year this time.
Support, alignment and rest
Mother Nature bought a sweet and simple sunrise using the wet sand to give us lovely reflections. The flock of seagulls was a bit smaller but just as loud when they flew in for bath time.
Pelican Highway was jamming in both directions using the waves as the roadway. When they were lining up they said, “We bring the message of knowing eventually things align, sometimes it just take time and patience. Things are working behind the scenes to support you, trust in the timing.”
After sunrise I had the pleasure of joining a couple adult dolphins for a siesta. They were just chillin’ until one started to play peek boo. Then he rolled over on his back with his mouth open, no fish or toy just being playful. A couple pelicans came in for a few minutes but were more interested in stalking the fishermen.
Later a mom and her calf came in to nurse and relax enjoying the calm and warm water. The dolphins bring us the message today of rest and relaxation. They said, “It’s important to enjoy downtime, giving the body time to recharge. It’s Monday so even a better reason to steal a moment of rest will help get your through the day.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Mom and her calf relaxing
Peek a boo
Rolled over being playful, no fish or toy just playing
Morning Light
Widen the scope of possibilities
Weeeeeee! The wind was whipping this morning! It’s always fun to watch the flock of seagulls use the wind to hang in place for minutes. After hang time, we enjoyed our regular scheduled bath time as the sun came up. As the sun came up golden rays of light looking like fingers jetting in the sky give us a happy and hopeful vibe.
The warm ocean was churning like a washing machine feeling energizing and full of vitality. Pelican Highway traffic was light, flying high in the sky rather than just above the ocean.
After sunrise I ran into a local osprey who hangs out at the docks, spending much of her time on a Garmin wind sensor. She sits on the sensor and as the wind blows, the sensor turns giving her a 360 view with no effort. Ah, being in the flow with ease. Brilliant!
She said, “I use the elements and resources around me to my advantage. Thinking outside the box widens the scope of what is possible, giving me even more opportunities to be successful.”
Wishing you a day of ease!
Daily bath time
Flying in hot slamming on the brakes with grace
Wind making textures in the water
Pretty Bird
Sitting on a Garmin wind sensor letting the wind turn her giving her an effortless 360 degree view.
Turn Turn Turn
Tales from the lagoon ~ Episode Danika the dolphin makes art
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode- Danika the Dolphin Makes Art
The dolphin I call Danika came into the lagoon about 45 minutes before sunset. I named after her love of speed and hydroplaning. When she came into the lagoon, she went to the back part to grab a few fish but mostly just to be still for a few minutes.
We hung out like that for about 20 minutes before she came a few feet away, then swam fast from right to left and back again. The sun setting as the backdrop gave her the perfect scene to make amazing art. Check out the perfect circle in the first photo, amazing!
Stay tuned for more tales!
A perfect golden circle
Almost a liquid heart
Protected yet vulnerable and sensitive
A beautiful day of reflections with cotton ball clouds dancing across the sky courtesy of the wind. The mirror reflections gave us an expansive and heart opening feeling.
The flock of seagulls and skimmers took off in a wave, peppering the sky with their wings in front of the sun. The rambunctious flock were full of life and vitality.
A horseshoe crab came up in the waves just after sunrise, she said hello, then turned and went head first into the waves and disappeared into the surf. Her short but powerful visit brings us the message of expecting the unexpected.
She said, “I am a reminder to keep negativity from taking root in your thoughts. Keep your focus on what inspires and energizes you. My hard shell protects me from the elements, yet underneath I am vulnerable and sensitive. The combination keeps me balanced and healthy, able to take on waves head first."
Wishing you a balanced day friends!
Tales from the lagoon ~ Episode - Relaxing with friends
ales from the Lagoon ~Episode- Relaxing with Friends
Not everyday at the lagoon is a party. The wildlife also come in to rest, eat leisurely, nap and teach the young dolphin the ropes.
Yesterday was a day of relaxation at the lagoon. 2 dolphin, Whisper and Charlie were in and out. Although they hang out a lot, they were not spending time together yesterday. Charlie, who I have known since 2018 was definitely in a for a day of chilling. I’m not sure if Charlie is male or female so I went with a name that could be used for both.
I used to confuse her with Momma, the first female dolphin I met with a rope entanglement scar. Charlie has a similar rope scar but hers is around her blow hole as well.
She is a very sweet being. She is kind and gentle yet able to be alpha if necessary. Yesterday we spent a long time just being still and enjoying the calm beautiful weather. She occasionally grabbed a fish but was interested in napping.
The pelicans were floating around enjoying the beautiful weather too with an occasional fish catch and rest on the nearby dock. More from the pelican and seagull connection tomorrow.
Stay tuned for more tales!
Charlie, A very, very sweet being
A better photo of her rope entanglement scars from the past.
Overcome fear of uncertainty and dive in
Mother Nature brought us a soft and wispy, moody bluesy kind of sunrise. The wind was from the west giving us a very calm ocean with perfect surfing waves. As the sun came up from behind the wall of clouds, warmth and golden light filled the air.
The flock of seagulls flew in when It was still dark to enjoy our regularly scheduled bath time. Pelican Highway traffic was jamming in both directions as they enjoyed using the energy of the waves to glide easily down the coastline.
After sunrise we had 2 very powerful messengers show up. A kingfisher and a leaping young dolphin! The kingfisher is a mighty little bird with a huge message. He encourages us to overcome fear of uncertainty. He said, “Even though you might feel anxious of fearful, I recommend diving into new ideas or experiences. I am the messenger of abundance and wealth of all kinds, listen to your intuition and follow your dreams to find your heart's desire."
Two dolphins appeared literally for 20 seconds, leaped then disappeared. It’s not unusual for them to that but I was hoping they would stay and play. They bring the message of unexpected, quick interactions bringing joy. They said, “Stay open to snippets of laughter and play.”
Wishing you an abundant and playful day friends!
Kingfisher
Self Care keeps us healthy and Happy
A sweet day of reflections brought to you by Mother Nature. The wet sand was soaking up the gorgeous sunrise giving the morning an expansive feeling. So many colors today filling the sky and ocean giving light to a new day.
Waves in the ocean churned toward the shore. The temperature of the water is warmer than the air and felt good on as the current brushed up against my legs. The flock of seagulls joined me for some much needed bath and hang time.
A solo pelican was quite chatty and shared the importance of self care. As he was pulling out old feathers and bugs he said, “Sure self care is time consuming, but I know if I don’t take time to pluck the old feathers and get off the bugs, I get grumpy and I don’t feel as healthy.”
“Did you know I can scratch my head with my wing? And oooohhhhhh it feels soooo good. You know, that scratch that just makes you feel happy because it feels so satisfying. And look at how handsome I give myself a good shake. A little self care and I’m ready for the day.”
Wishing you a groovy and bug free day friends!
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode - hang time
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode- Hang Time
This sweet dolphin popped up out of the water, we made eye contact and it was like he was frozen in time. He gave a little kick with his fluke, popped out a tiny bit more and seemed to hang in place again for the longest time before splashing down.
The joy of slowing time down to savor each minute! So fun!
The last photo was a dolphin posing with lunch. :)
Stay tuned for more tales!
Diving deep to know what we need and want
Mother Nature started the morning with dark grey clouds and just a hint of gold. When the sun was coming up, light rays started peek through the dark clouds filling the air with hope and wonder. It felt like Mother Nature was showing us how the light always finds a way through the darkness.
The flock of seagulls flew in at their usual time while hundreds of skimmers took over Pelican Highway. They were flying in huge flocks, rising high and low like a fluid melody. They stopped and joined the seagulls for a few minutes before they all took off, leaving a palpable quiet in their absence.
Our messenger is a beautiful cormorant who was fishing near by in the waves. Cormorants are fiery and very capable. They enjoy alone time as well as being with the flock. They are able to dive deep to catch their snacks bringing us the message of diving deep into ourselves to know what our heart truly wants.
She said, ”Once you know what you need and want, you can take action and glide above the turbulent waves, enjoying the ride.”
Wishing you a day filled with love and light.
The light always finds a way through the darkness
Cormorant preparing for take off
gliding above the turmoil
Tales from the lagoon ~ Episode- More from New Years Day Playtime
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode- More from the New Years Day Party.
It seemed all the moms and their calves came by to play on New Years Day. The babies were having a blast with each other, rolling around, splashing and teasing each other. The adults got in the mix too! Definitely a hands on kind of parenting enjoying playtime just as much as the kids.
They were all popping out of the water catching a little air, enjoying our warm temperatures. The joy was infectious, onlookers enjoyed the joyful play too! Thank you sweet dolphins for spreading the happy vibe!
The pelicans and seagulls were in the mix too! More from them later. Stay tuned for more tales!
Enjoy practicing
I wasn’t sure we would have a sunrise with rain and overcast skies leading up to sunrise. Much to my surprise it was a breathtaking and heart opening start to the day. The glistening light, whipping wind made for beautiful Florida snow blowing off the top of the waves.
The flock of seagulls flew in a very tight formation, using the wind to hang in place for long periods of time.
They know how much I resist the wind, so they came up really close and said, “Resistance is futile, instead, use the elements to assist your journey. The wind makes it possible for us to hang in place with little effort giving us more time to connect.”
Everyone was feeling playful today! Dolphins surfed the waves, leaped out of the water and grabbed snacks. A spinner shark even leaped out of the water on the horizon. If that wasn’t enough excitement, an osprey went for a fish in a wave. She looked like the wave gave her a good smack, she was tossed around a bit, came up without a fish, gave herself a good shake and went again. Very inspiring!
The osprey and the dolphin image bring the message of timing. They said, “It’s ok if your timing is off just a bit, don’t give up. Have fun practicing, enjoying the journey is the fun part.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Soar, despite the distractions
Mother Nature brought us another beautiful sunrise with a calm ocean and slight breeze. My lungs filled with the salty layer of salty fog hanging over the shore. The ocean looked like it was wearing a velvety orange blanket as it soaked up the color show. The textures on the sand and water were breathtaking.
The flock of seagulls, along with skimmers, royal terns, ruddy turnstones and sandpipers all flew in to enjoy taking a bath and watching the sun come greet the day.
So many messages today!
The flock of skimmers were resting rest with the royal terns. A skimmer said, “A quick cat nap helps reboot the battery. Being in the flock gives me a sense of safety, making it easier for me to relax. Even though we squabble, we bring each other comfort as a group and warn each other of danger.”
A ring-billed seagull walked over to say hello. She said, “When checking under the hood for bugs, it gives the opportunity to see things from a different angle. Clarity can come from different viewpoints.”
A seagull feel overhead with her wings and heart open. I could see she had quite a few bugs around her neck. She said, “Bath time is an important part of self care. You see, bugs can be pesky, so bath time is necessary to remove the negative distractions so I can soar with my heart and wings open.”
Wishing you groovy day friends!
Skimmer sunrise
Ring-billed seagull saying hello
Checking under the hood for a different perspective
Flock flying in hot!
Open hearted, wings spread and ready to hug
Sleeping Skimmer
Royal tern landing in the flock
The sunrise is now on Youtube
A friend encouraged me to turn the sunrise post into a video for Youtube. I may not have time to make them everyday but am hoping to share a few days a week in case you have any friends who like Youtube and want to share. Let me know what you think.
THANKS! Shelley
Celebrate, gratitude, play and laughter
As I walked to the beach I wondered what message Mother Nature would bring us to start the day. My body relaxed the minute my feet hit the cool sand and saw the pink hue filling the sky. Golden rays of light jetted from the clouds on the horizon just before the sun peeked out.
The flock of seagulls flew in at their usual time feeling frisky and chatty and enjoyed a group bath getting the bugs off.
I could’t believe it! As I was photographing the sun, dolphins started to fly! As they swam northbound, they were enjoying lots of affection and play. They swam closer to shore and leaped out of the water together!
They bring the message of celebration and play. They encourage us to celebrate and share moments of joy with others. They went on to say, “It’s not how we fall but how we rise up. Let’s start the new year with leaping gratitude, celebration, and joy. Please join us in moments of spontaneous play and laughter.”
Wishing you a happy day friends!
