Fort De Soto park consists of five interconnected islands, which are home to beach plants, mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, hardwoods and scores of native plants, plus more than 300 species of birds.

This morning, I enjoyed watching the sunrise over Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Then I followed the sound of camera shutters to the spot where a posse of birders were photographing two young owls. I also spotted four occupied osprey nests