TIGERTAIL BEACH AND SAND DOLLAR SPIT, MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA

While still on Marco Island we visited Tiger Tail Beach and Sand Dollar Spit, which is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail and a Local park.

We had no idea what to expect but we paid our $8 for parking and wandered in . Since we were not going to walk across the lagoon (and get wet) the woman at the gate suggested we park in the farthest parking area and walk around the lagoon and once around the corner leave the highrises behind.

After the board walk there was the lagoon.

A great blue heron was there to welcome us while the shorebirds were looking for lunch.

We went around the lagoon and what a beautiful sight - miles of empty beaches, a ton of shells and peace and quiet, except for the music of the waves on the beach.

It was a windy day and the Gulf was wild. There was an Osprey eating a fish on top of the sign above. We thought it was a hawk but john on Gather.com said it was an Osprey - thanks John.

We enjoyed our hike along the shore looking for sand dollars and we're wondering what bird this was?

Isn't this Osprey beautiful soaring above us.

This Osprey was just standing on the beach watching us watch him. He's beautiful.

Over the week I picked up dozens of shells but never saw a sand dollar - I thought I might find one here. I did but only in pieces.

It was an interesting hike and I'm glad we did it.

For more information about this wilderness among the highrises on Marco Island just click Here and Here.

My Camera is a Canon Powershot A720IS