Air Show

When I rode into Pensacola Monday, I was sad to learn that I had missed the Blue Angels in an air show the previous weekend.  Sort of... I've always loved aerobatics, but these days seem to appreciate them more in a non-military context.  Little did I know, an airshow would be staged, just for me in Gulf Shores, today!
  There I was, hanging out on the cabanna of the Hangout, eating my rice and beans and photo-documenting the English Sparrows foraging around my table... and I saw them.  Gannets!!! A group of Northern Gannets were in close to shore following some school of fish.   If you have never seen Gannets dive, you have to check them out (there are U-Tube videos).  These are large birds, pointy-winged, pointy nose and tails (i.e. 4-pointed), that somehow combine power, speed, size, and grace.  In an instant they go from a full overhead glide, drop a wing, roll and engage in a power dive, hitting the water at full speed with the grace and elegance of an olympic high-diver. Even more impressively, entire flocks will dive at the same time, hitting the water just inches from each other.  These are birds with lightening fast reflexes. 
Anyway, noone else at the Hangout seemed interested.  My own private air show.  Other birds of note today: Osprey, bluebirds, Sora rails, sharp-tailed sparrows, sanderlings, another unidentified small sandpiper, and lots of Monarch butterflies (presumably on their way to Mexico).  Oh, and of course, Brown Pellicans.  I'd have to write another whole entry to describe their diving prowess.