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| Spoon Bill at the Seabird Sanctuary |
During A's visit with us, we took a five mile walk along the shore to the Seabird Sanctuary and Avian Hospital
and found the trained staff have been busy with the rehabilitation of the Northern Gannets that arrived at the sanctuary from the panhandle oil spill areas.
It is set up to immediately triage,
stabilize, and administer fluids to malnourished or injured birds.
Photo
right by Scott Patterson: One of several rehabilitated Northern Gannets
from the panhandle oil spill areas was released by the Sanctuary
staff. These beautiful birds were at the Sanctuary for several months
recuperating and now fly free again.
The Seabird Sanctuary has free admission. There is a donation box
Here are some of the birds we visited
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| white pelicans resting in shade |
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| Always exciting watching the birds being fed |
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| My new best friend |
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| He is now showing off |
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| "A" always has an eye for a pretty bird |
Many of the birds who are released back, once healthy hang around the Sanctuary and visit their inmates
Lunch beckons us and we head for Cafe de Paris, at Indian Rocks Beach, owned and operated by the personal and welcoming French family, Xavier, Valerie and their son Luigi. The croque monsieur being my fabourite, the crepe du jour for A and quiche and salad for Mary Rose
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| Baker Extraordinaire, Valerie from Cafe de Paris |
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| Perhaps we shall dine here |
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| Artist Mary Rose and Valerie - what are they laughing about? |
How do you feel about birds? Do you have a favourite?
What a happy post, Helen and what a wonderful organization! We really could have used their help this past winter when we lost so many flamingos to the winter storm. It was so heart-breaking to see.
ReplyDeleteAnd it looks like you are quite fortunate to have a real French bakery so close to home. Yes, I love Croque Monsieur but because I am extra piggy, I get Croque Madame--with an egg on top!
Bon weekend!
Hello Heather
DeleteThe Seabird Sanctuary is a very special place and they do tremendous work. They even have a nursery for newborn chicks.
Crowue Madame is already served at the French Bakery and is delicious.
Have a wonderful week
Helen
The Sanctuary is a great place. The people over there must sincerely be dedicated to their work.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite bird is the swallow. We are expecting the first one (s ) any day now. They build their lovely nests in our stable, are excellent flyers, and cope well with the life in the stable.
We enjoy to see their life during the summer months and feel sorrow when they migrate in early September. The summer is definitely over, as the last bird leaves for the long trip.
Hello Mette
DeleteThe founder of the Sanctuary had a vision and also it is all possible by the marvelous work of so many volunteers and donors.
Your barn swallows sound precious and so much fun to watch, no doubt. I can understand melancholy creeps in when September dawns.
Wishing you a week full of joy
Helen xx
I love birds in the wild and have many favorites...hummingbird has to be #1 followed with eagle...canaries, cardinals, egrets...I don't like to have them in the house because of the mess...I used to have finches and parakeets and parrots and canaries...I wish I were in that cafe right now. Wishing you a beautiful weekend! xx
ReplyDeleteHello Mona
DeleteI also like your selection of birds. I am like you and prefer birds to be in the wild as opposed to be caged in.
The hummingbird has amazing energy
To a great week
Helen xx
Hello Helen:
ReplyDeleteWe always find it distressing to see wild creatures caught up in man made disasters and it is so marvellous to read about organisations which are there to give assistance in just these kinds of circumstances. They really do deserve all our support.
The colour of the feathers of the Spoonbill are extraordinary. They remind us of a bright 'knicker' pink which we used to use on items placed around the garden to surprise unsuspecting garden visitors!!
And, what a joy to have the Café de Paris right on your doorstep. It looks as if it has been lifted straight out of the Left Bank!
Happy weekend!
Hello Jane and Lance
DeleteThe oil spill was a disaster, also fishermen are careless with lines and the pelicans go after the bait and become entangled in the mess. The Sanctuary has excellent support and it seems to touch the heart of many and there is an excellent volunteer staff too.
I can imagine your garden and the knicker pink colour hee hee.
You would enjoy cafe life at Cafe de Paris. The food is delicious and the owner personable.
Wishing you a great week
Helen xx
I'm happy to know of this sanctuary. I follow a lot of birds when in Florida but I'm not sure I can say one is my favorite. I love them all.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, Helen.
Hello Becky
DeleteI believe you would enjoy the Seabird Sanctury. I love all the shore birds and they are all highly amusing.
Wishing you a great week
Helen xx
Hello Helen, What an interesting visit to the sanctuary. I do love birds- mainly the English garden songbirds- Thrushes, Robins and especially Blackbirds, as I raised a fledgling Blackbird to adulthood as a teenager.Jane xx
ReplyDeleteHello Jane
DeleteHow great that you raised a blackbird from a fledgling. That must have been interesting and I am sure you were very connected to the blackbird. Did it fly away?
Have a great week
Helen x
Helen, I love all birds...large or small. I spent many years in Louisiana and have a soft spot for pelicans. I am always heart broken when I see the devastation caused by oil spills...the wild life are so hard hit. The trip looks fun and informative. Bonnie
ReplyDeleteHello Bonnie. Pelicans are beautiful and always look so confident. Yes, the oil spills are horrible and it breaks my heart too to see the birds and fish suffer.
DeleteThanks for stopping by
Helenxx
I'm so glad someone takes care of our creatures like this. My niece is doing this very thing in Mississippi and I have great admiration
ReplyDeleteI have great respect for your niece to be doing what she does.
DeleteIt really is great that there is an organization such as the Sanctuary on the Gulf.
Hope your week is very special
Helen xx
Nice that you follow me...i follow you back of course...three blogs !! wowwww.....have a nice weekend darling....love Ria...xxx..
ReplyDeleteHello Ria and a warm welome to my blog. I write on two blogs (I am trying to remove one from my list and with new blogger I am having difficulty) I write under "helentilstonpainter.blogspot.com and www.pleinairecottageartsts.blogspot.com, the latter is the 3 member group I paint with.
DeleteWishing you a joyful week
Helen xx
What a wonderful place, Helen. We do so much damage to the wild birds, and must repair it. I'll think of the sanctuary when the seagulls soar over our houses here during the windy days, happily unaware of any danger.
ReplyDeleteHello Mise
DeleteThose Galway Gulls have no idea how good their life is, as they soar in the wind. There actually were a few seagulls in the sanctuary. The most amusing was an injured mockingbird, who mimicked every bird. Such fun.
Helen xx
What an interesting life you have - and 3 blogs!! I showed Boy 2 your pics of the birds, he really liked the pelicans. Thanks for your comment x B
ReplyDeleteHello Blighty. Thank you for following and as of now I just have 2 blogs, this one and www.pleinairecottageartists.com
DeleteHappy your Boy 2 enjoyed the image of the pelicans.
To a great week
Helen xx
What an interesting life you have - and 3 blogs!! I showed Boy 2 your pics of the birds, he really liked the pelicans. Thanks for your comment x B
ReplyDeleteCiao, Helen!
ReplyDeleteWe have birds sanctuaries here in Norfolk (UK) and the Norfolk Broads, and beaches, where rare breeds nest and live.
I love birds and was brought up by a father who was a bird lover. I'll never forget the time my aunt went away on holiday and left her canaries with us. The female (obviously!) had laid some eggs and, one morning, three tiny birds chicks out of them! They were so tiny, cute and... naked, bare... except a bit of fluff on top of their heads! I've never seen anything as cute as that!
I love feeding the birds in my garden, though they DO eat all my cherries!
A PRESTO!
ANNA
xx
Ciao Anna
DeleteI love your story of the three eggs hatching and it must have been wonderful as children to witness this.
Anna you follow the beautiful example of St. Francis of Assisi in caretaking the birds in your garden. How wonderful you have sanctuaries in Norfold.
Wishing you a week of joy and I hope the rain has subsided
Helen xx
How nice that there is a place where the injured birds can go and that it's nonprofit too. I thought the one with the pink was the prettiest.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite bird is the cardinal. They mate for life. We've watched one pair with their eggs in the nest in our azaleas right in front of our dining room window when we lived in Mississippi. It was fun to see the birds feed their babies and then see the babies leave the nest.
Sam
Hello Sam
DeleteThe cardinal is absolutely stunning, particularly the male. I was not aware they mated for life and now I love them even more. How fabulous that you had azaleas and can watch the birds nest. We had a pair of mourning doves nest in our ficus trees, just outside our door. Their babies were almost fully grown before they decided to leave. We loved them.
Have a wonderful week
Helen xx
I am so very glad that there are places such as this Helen.
ReplyDeleteI happen to love birds, and have several African Grey rescues.
Each one is so special.
Thank you for taking us along on this visit.
Your images are wonderful.
Wishing you a beautiful weekend.
xo.
Hello Lisa
DeleteHow exciting - I am unfamiliar with the African Greys and shall be researching them next. It is always a pleasure to visit the Seabird Sanctuary and each visit differs.
Thanks for visiting and wishing you a week full of joy
Helen xx
I like the Spoonbill and his dog food bowl. I would have expected his feeding dish to be smaller and much deeper. What a great place to visit. There is an owl rescue near me called the Raptor Trust.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
Your are observant. Many donate to the Sanctuary and there seems to be a mixture of feeding dishes. The birds are so well taken care of. There are several owls at the seabird sanctuary too. They are so special. It is great that you have Raptor Trust in your area.
DeleteThanks for visiting and may your week be very special
Helen xx
What a great place...love roseate spoonbi;;s!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda
DeleteThe Seabird Sanctuary is great and hopefully your travels will bring you there one day. The roseate spoonbills is magnificent
Thanks for stopping
Helenxx
Oh Helen, I LOVE BIRDS. I chuckled as I spotted that first photo of the pelican; those webbed feet make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy all sorts of birds from raucous parrots to sweet little blue birds. They fascinate me and I could continue to use them in my art in various ways and I could write endlessly about their flying powers. My least favorite but yet most interesting are CANADIAN GEESE!!!!!!! Their attitude is one to be examined and be amused by. I almost got GOOSED by one at the zoo and while I was driving to work one day, a GAGGLE of them were in the middle of the road. They would NOT move. I honked my horn, and would you believe that the leader of the pack HONKED BACK AT ME WITH HIS/HER WINGS SPREAD OUT! What nerve! :)
Thank you for your kind words yesterday. Teaching is a bit TOO tough for me and I am so glad to be getting out. The only thing that I will sorely miss are those darling kids with whom I could be creative and watch grow into their creativity. Such is life...c'est la vie.
BLESSINGS! Anita
Hello Anita
DeleteThe Sanctuary is a very special place and so many interesting birds and many very unique and with lots of personality and attitude.
One Gannet kept trying to jump up and peck my camera. How funny of you and the flock of Canada Geese in a stand-off.
I know you will be very well as an artist.
My best
Helen xx
Magnificent photos of a wonderful place, Helen. I especially like the first of the single pelican. Lovely sense of whimsy with that angle.
ReplyDeleteWhat is a croque monsieur?
Hello Suze
DeleteThanks for stopping. The pelican you refer to walks quite wobbly, he must have had a foot injury. He seems happy and quite the boss of the area he lived in.
Recipe by Julia Child as printed in the Boston Globe, Aug 2004
2 thin ( 1/4-inch) slices fresh white sandwich bread of best homemade-type quality
2 to 3 tablespoons clarified butter (melt and skim butter, then pour the clear liquid off the milk residue; have a small saucepan of it for several sandwiches)
2 thin ( 1/8-inch) slices mozzarella cheese or rather soft Swiss
1 thin ( 1/8-inch) slice cooked ham, cut in the same dimensions as the bread
1. On your work surface, lay one slice of bread, brush it with butter, cover with a slice of cheese, a slice of ham, and another slice of cheese. Brush one side of the second slice of bread with butter and lay it, buttered side down, to top the sandwich. Press the sandwich together firmly, leaning on it with the palm of your hand. Trim off the crusts and press down again on the sandwich.
2. In a frying pan, add 1/8 inch of the butter, heat it to bubbling, and brown the sandwiches rather slowly, 2 to 3 minutes on each side, so the cheese will melt. Add more butter as needed. For appetizers, cut the sandwich into quarters or eighths.
Note: If done ahead, arrange on a baking sheet and set aside, covered with plastic wrap. Uncover and heat in a 375-degree oven for 5 minutes or so before serving.
For Croque Madame...Cook a fried egg and serve of top of Croque Monsieur
Enjoy
Helen xx
I love seeing organisations like this Helen..it is a wonderful thought to know these birds are being looked after. Stunning birds. A great spot for lunch too! Thanks for your comment today..as always, very much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Helen.,
Jeanne xx
Hello Jeanne
DeleteWelcome back from Paris.
It is indeed reassuring to know "someone is for the birds".
They are quite exotic birds. The location is spectacular, right on a white sandy beach.
Wishing you a great week.
Helen xx
Well, Helen, I must admit I don't know too much about seabirds, but unlike Anita, I love Canadian Geese! Their migration over the fields of our farm is a beautiful sight to see, and their "honking encouragement" to each other brings tears to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your recent visit to F@H. I took a cue from you, [ merci] and answered you there!
Just love your portrait in the previous post! I'm sure your client was delighted, too!
Have a creative week, dear,
xx
dawne
Hello Dawne
DeleteIt must be quite exciting to hear the Canada Geese migrate and thanks for reminding me that their honking is encouragement.
Thanks for your kind words on my portrait and I am happy to say that yes the client is very pleased.
Thanks for your kind wish and I wish you a week of creativity too.
Helen xx
What a great organization to help injured birds! I wished they are more organizations like this. Beautiful creatures.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week, Helen! Thanks for your visit.
Jessie
www.mixandchic.com
Hello Jessie
DeleteIt is indeed wonderful when one person has a vision and sees it through to fruitition, such as the founder of the Seabird Sanctuary. It takes many great people to run such a sanctuary and I have tremendous respect and admiration for the workers.
Have a lovely week
xx
The spoonbill is a beautiful bird! We love to take our binoculars and go bird watching in Florida...so many birds and so many varieties! It's almost May! Enjoy your week, Helen!
ReplyDeleteHello Diane
DeleteNice to see your smiling face, I have not visited your blog as often as I would like (skipping off and having too much fun!!! hee hee) I am sure you see some wonderful birds in your area of Florida too.
Have a wonderful week
Helen xx
Hi Helen, What a Godsend to have a place for these injured birds. Such wonderful people who care for them. They are all so beautiful! Lunch looked like it must have been delightful and a great cafe. I can almost smell and taste those french pastries!
ReplyDeleteHope your week is off to a great start Helen.
~Emily
The French Hutch
Hello Emily
DeleteA Godsend is right. When one sees how many birds inhabit this sanctuary, it certainly gives cause for concern.
Cafe de Paris is a very special place. Valerie also makes the most unusual decorated wedding cakes and all decorations are edible. Again a Godsend to us.
May your week be very special
Helen xx
HI Dear Helen
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to see communities giving back to nature.. we as humans take so much and forget that we are intruding.... Great shots.. and love the bird showing off...
Have a lovely week.. you've got me thinking about pastries now!! ciao xxx Julie
Hello Julie
DeleteThanks for your compliment on my photography. It is great that the founder of the sanctuary had such a vision. Places like this do not get the exposure they deserve.
May your week be very special and the pastries scrumptious.
Helen xx
These people at the sanctuary definitely do an important job! I am especially sad that these birds become injured due to oil spills. I like to observe birds when going to the forest and I like to hear them early in the morning when they twitter and seem to call and answer each other! The Café looks very inviting and Croque Monsieur is always a good choice! Have a good week! Christa
ReplyDeleteCiao Christa
DeleteThe twittering of birds at dawn always brings us joy too. One can be amused trying to decipher what they are saying.
The Sanctuary is a favourite place for us to visit. For about ten years they had a "talking crow" who would yell out
"Hello" and a few other words. He certainly elevated the birds of the crow world.
Hope your week is full of joy
Helen x
It's good that there are places like this. We have them in Holland too. Not only for birds, but seals as well. Places where the animals are nurtured back to health, before going back to sea or the sky again.
ReplyDeleteHappy new week!
Madelief x
Hello Madelief
DeleteI admire Holland so much for for what seems to us to be a very high standard for caring for life and living. Your live and let live attitude is most admirable.
Have a week of joy and I hope you are in your garden.
Helen xx
Dear Helen,
ReplyDeleteIt is so good that we have organisatiuons such as The Sanctuary, isn't it ? They do such good work.
Your photographs are wonderful....I love the white pelicans resting against the fence!!
I love all birds but, on returning from Amsterdam at the weekend, a pigeon had fallen down the chimney and resided in one of our bedrooms for five days !!!! You can imagine the mess !! My husband was clearing up after the pigeon and another one had fallen down the chimney !!.....the joys of living in an old house. They flew off, none the worse for wear although a little thirsty and hungry !! XXXX
Hello Jacqueline
DeletePigeon's squatting in your absence. My oh my. What a surprise. I can just imagine how much work that created.
Glad it wasn't a pelican that came down the chimney! Hee Hee
Thanks for your compliment on my photography. I have a new Canon Elph 300 which is fabulous, lightweight and tiny with a wide angled lens.
Hope the rain has stopped.
Helenxx
Such beautiful pictures!! Thank you Helen for the sweet comments on my blog!! BTW, my favorite bird probably has to be flamingos!
ReplyDeleteHello Jessica
DeleteThe famingo is a stunning bird. They can be found south of Indian Rocks Beach in a zone which is a little warmer. They amaze and to think they were born with those feathers.
Thanks for visiting and your kindness
Helen xx
Such a nice story, Helen, and beautiful pictures. I am not that familiar with shore birds, but have been a backyard birdwatcher for many years. I particularly like chickadees and tufted titmouse--such happy little birds.
ReplyDeleteHello Sanda and a warm welcome to my blog and thank you for joining. Your backyard variety of birds are also just as charming. They are music to the ears.
DeleteHelen xx
And I have joined this site as a follower. Looking forward to future posts!
ReplyDeleteHello Sanda
DeleteMany thanks for joining my blog and I also look forward to your visits
I'm for the birds too! How rewarding and life enhancing for God's beautiful creations. Love learning about this great sanctuary. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning
DeleteIsn't that a wonderful slogan they have on their tee shirts!. I have ran in the 5K race which supports the Sanctuary and we received such tee shirts.
The are a great organization. Hope your week is going great
Helenxx
My first pleasure of the morning is listening to the birds....they do bring a lot of happiness, don't they ? ..and lucky you to have a French bakery nearby ! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Helen for your lovely visit xLala
Hello Lala
DeleteI share your morning delight in listening to the birds and savouring those first moments of the day.
Yes the French Bakery is authentic. The owners came to the USA almost ten years ago and had ran a similar business in a village in France. They are a delight too and always happy and a cheerful word for all.
Have a beautiful day
Helen xx
Dear Helen,
ReplyDeleteplease forgive my tardiness in leaving a comment on this lovely post.
What a great cause to give money too.
The poor birds suffer so much with these awful oil spills. the company owners of the ships , should pay to help recouperation of these wonderful birds.
How i wished i could have a coffee at Cafe de Paris... it looks great and Mary Rose sure looks happy with valerie.
Happy days Helen
val
Hello Valerie
ReplyDeleteI love and value your comment and please don't ever feel they are tardy. On the contrary, they brighten my day enormously.
As you well know, the oil companies have major power and can tie up the battle in court for many years, without regard for life and least of all the birds. It is great that the founder of the Sanctuary had such a vision and put it in practice and continues to work to foster the birds during their illness.
It is always a delight to visit Cafe de Paris. Valerie has a wonderful sense of humour and likes to laugh, she is also very witty, as is Mary Rose so the combination is magical.
Wishing you a great weekend
Helen xx