No Whales on My Watch but [Ocean] Life is Good

While I didn't spot any whales it wasn't just another day at the beach. I don't think any of us, while spending our whale watch duty by her side noting the weather, the bird and dolphin patterns as well as the wind and tides, take her majestic beauty and the abundance of life dependent on her for granted. I was thinking this while scanning the waters from the Granada Estates walkover because my instincts were telling me I wouldn't see a whale today - at least not here. With the red fishing boat unusually close to shore (possibly due to engine trouble?) and a number of others just beyond the whales were likely further out or further South I thought. So I packed up just after 10am and moved down to Clicker Beach. 


The wind kicked up a notch making the feels-like temperature drop and now I could see the diving birds that were missing from their typical earlier arrival. They were farther out than usual and as I kept scanning I was quickly mesmerized at the number of birds I was witnessing - it seemed beyond comprehension. A streak as long as I could see filled the sky and splashes were peppering the surface of the water. I tried in vain to capture this event on video but they were just too far out. I imagined a large school of something really yummy was jetting beneath the surface and making for easy prey. 


Then I caught the alert that a whale had been spotted south of Flagler Pier and about 2 miles out (hmmm gotta trust those instincts don't you think?!) and thus too far to get photos. Anyway, soon after I was engulfed in fog and almost zero visibility and thus my watch was over. And thank goodness - I was suddenly freezing! 


P.S. Here are a few photos from my watch and a video link of a red shouldered hawk I met up with just south of Marineland today to cheer you. Watch on!

And if you like this Red Shouldered Hawk check out the video I captured of him here: Hawk's Business Video on You Tube