Went for a wonderful sunset cruise recently out of Tarpon Bay (nestled within Ding Darling NWR) Sanibel, FL, run by Tarpon Bay Explorers. We saw birds going to roost at sunset and this spectacular moonrise (taken with Canon SX 50 HS camera, photo not cropped. All photos were taken with this camera.)
Tarpon Bay (the setting for the Doc Ford novels by Randy Wayne White) stretches out before you. The pontoon boat we took is at the dock.
We passed this nesting pair of Ospreys atop a pole with a nesting platform.
Then out to the rookery islands out in the bay where there were hundreds of birds, especially pelicans,
both White Pelicans,
and Brown Pelicans.
The birds were settling in for the night.
The closer it got to sunset, the more birds flew in including may White Ibis, Snowy Egrets, other herons and more. The birds find safety at night on the islands and also a place to nest.
It was magical as the sun got lower.
and we had a spectacular sunset,
then moonrise. It was awesome being out in nature and experiencing the night ritual of the birds. Just us and them. Go if you can.