Birds II + New Smyrna Beach

Here is the osprey across from us at Titusville yesterday.  He brought back a fish right
after I posted the blog.  He was quite the enthusiastic eater.

I am still enjoying, relishing really this time with shore birds.  The osprey above was fascinating to 

watch with binoculars as he tore bits of fish and ate.  

This morning I met a fisherman who was pulling in hand-sized silver fish for homeless cats downtown.  He said he needs about 15 to feed the cats.  Right behind him was the large wood stork from yesterday, watching and waiting.

Just south of Haulover Canal Bridge there were lots of white pelicans sitting on a beach.  The brown pelicans were resting in the trees on the same small island.  

Each of those white shapes is a white pelican.

The day began with three rain storms crossing us while we were still tied up in Titusville.  We were patient and didn't leave the dock until 10:30 am.  We traveled 32 miles through Mosquito Lagoon and past Oak Hill, FL, to get to New Smyrna Beach.  The weather was dry but cloudy.  Just as we got to New Smyrna Beach, the temperature dropped to about 60 degrees, and the wind picked up.  After we got into the marina, George and I went for a walk around town.  

I saw this sign and laughed.

We went into the Little Drug Co. and had a chocolate milk shake.

Delicious!  

The sun is out, and we are inside the boat, so we are toasty warm.  Tomorrow we are going just 16 miles to Daytona to see Judy Schwarz and Hugh Saxon.  They are visiting family, Beth and Tony Saxon.  We want to get to Daytona with some good sunshine, so we can clean up the boat before company comes aboard.