Top nature photos from around Sarasota, Longboat Key, East County in 2025-26
By
Observer Staff
| 10:00 a.m. February 13, 2025
| Updated 10:32 a.m. December 3, 2025
Sarasota
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Go to YourObserver.com/weather to submit a photo or several photos! Each week, we will choose a photo to run on the weather page of our print edition.
All submissions will be entered for the 2025-26 Weather and Nature photo contest. Beginning Feb.13, 2026, you will vote for your favorite photo, and the submission with the most votes will win a $500 gift card.
Gordon Silver photographed a young alligator enjoying a nap along a lake bed in Country Club East of Lakewood Ranch.
Billy Gillispie took this photo of a powerful sky over the Gulf of America.
Gordon Silver snapped this up close and personal photo of an adult sandhill crane in Celery Fields.
Gordon Silver captured this female sandhill crane sitting on her nest with a newborn colt while waiting for her second egg to hatch near University Parkway.
Donna Jablonski took this photo of these cotton ball shaped clouds over Longboat Key.
Gordon Silver captured this photo of a Wilson’s snipe taking a break in the shallow waters at Celery Fields.
David Ondocin captured this photo of two deer on high alert in Watercrest.
Donna Jablonski took this photo of a pink toned sky over Longboat Key.
John Sims captured this photo of a painted bunting at Celery Fields Gazebo.
Tatiana Dorenko took this photo of the sun rising over a long along Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and Palmbrush Trail.
Julie Klick took this photo of an early morning sky in her backyard on Longboat Key.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a group of sandhill cranes gathering at Celery Fields on a chilly weekend morning.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a male cardinal taking a break in a palm tree in Del Webb.
Donna Jablonski took this photo of a large cloud formation moving in over Longboat Key.
Stacey Frederick captured this sunset from Bayfront Park looking out to the Ringling Bridge.
Darlene and Mark Edelman took this photo of a freshly bloomed hibiscus in Riva Trace at University Park.
Gary Wise took this photo of gorgeous sky from Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub on Longboat Key.
John Sims took this photo of a blue-headed vireo in Red Rock Park in Sarasota
Gordon Silver captured this bobcat strolling alongside a lake in Del Webb of Lakewood Ranch.
Billy Gillispie took this photo of Sarasota Bay from Longboat Key.
Gordon Silver captured this photo of a female hairy woodpecker searching for insects on a tree branch at Celery Fields in Sarasota.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a female cardinal in a Del Webb of Lakewood Ranch preserve.
Gordon Silver captured this shot of a gator emerging from the water covered in algae in Myakka River State Park.
Joan Silinsh took this photo of a lily at the now closed Mote Aquarium on City Island.
Thirteen-year-old Wyatt Anderson captured this photo of a warbler outside his grandparents’ house in Central Park, Lakewood Ranch.
Christopher Harrington captured this photo of a white ibis posing for a portrait in Sarasota.
Cory Jones took this photo looking out at the Gulf from Longboat Key.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a Sandhill crane and a colt checking out the camera along University Parkway.
Cory Jones took this photo of an incoming storm cloud from Buttonwood Cove on Longboat Key.
Michael Graham took this photo of an anhinga getting ready to enjoy its catch in Celery Fields.
Gordon Silver took this photo of an alligator enjoying a prize catch in a pond near Lorraine Road.
Michelle Pakulak took this photo of a sunset on Longboat Key.
Christopher Harrington captured this photo of a Cuban tree frog nestled in a leaf in Celery Fields.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a bald eagle flying over Country Club East in Lakewood Ranch with its catch of the day.
Anita Pelgen captured this photo of a group of ibis walking the beach.
Christopher Harrington captured this photo of a white heron soaring over a lake in Celery Fields.
Darlene Edelman took this photo of the reflection on the Braden River as it winds through Riva Trace in University Park.
Angela Bennink captured this photo of a perfect sunset to end the day on Longboat Key.
Christopher Harrington captured this photo of an osprey catching a fish in Celery Fields.
Suzan Nahas captured this photo of a family of screech owls on North Longboat Key.
Darlene Edelman took this photo of a turtle sunbathing on a log in Riva Trace of University Park.
Christopher Harrington captured this photo of a green anole blending in with the leaves in Oscar Scherer State Park.
Gordon Silver captured this photo of a Hong Kong orchid tree in full bloom in the new Del Webb Catalina in Lakewood Ranch.
Doreen Steinhauser captured this photo of a male peacock displaying his tail on Longboat Key.
Christopher Harrington captured this little blue heron with a snack in Celery Fields.
Gordon Silver captured this photo of a bobcat strolling along in Del Webb in Lakewood Ranch early in the morning.
Linda Hargreaves spotted this roseate spoonbill at Bay Isles Marina on Longboat Key.
Christopher Harrington captured this photo of a sneaky gator trying to camouflage itself in Celery Fields.
Gordon Silver took this photo of an egret scouting a pond for fish in Del Webb.
Gary Wise took this photo of a very hungry caterpillar on Longboat Key.
Scott Veix took this photo of a hummingbird feeding on a firebush in Braden Woods.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a sunset view from Del Webb in Lakewood Ranch.
Donna Jablonski took this photo of a stunning cloud formation over the Gulf of Mexico on Longboat Key.
Scott Veix took this photo of a honey bee feasting on sap from a fallen tree in Braden Woods.
Dan Hamilton took this photo of an alligator on a morning patrol at Kingfisher Lake at Waterside Place.
Donna Jablonski took this photo of an egret hanging out on Longboat Key.
Mark Dimitroff took this photo of one of the many flamingos who reside at Jungle Gardens in Sarasota.
Darlene Edelman captured this photo of an egret hiding in the trees off of University Parkway.
Donna Jablonski took this photo of a pink glowing sky on Longboat Key.
Darlene Edelman captured this photo of an egret hiding in the trees off of University Parkway.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a blue mistflower in bloom along a walking path in Del Webb in Lakewood Ranch.
Donna Jablonski took this photo of a pelican, known to locals as Peter, on Longboat Key.
Gordon Silver captured this photo of a common gallinule in a pond at Celery Fields in Sarasota.
Phil Pape captured this photo of a misty morning on Lake Uihlein in Lakewood Ranch.
Donna Cassesse took this photo of a supermoon from Longboat Key over Sarasota Bay.
Erin Petraites captured this photo of a group of seagulls at sunset on Siesta Key Beach.
Gary Wise took this photo of flowers on Longboat Key beach.
Michael Graham captured this photo of a group of sandhill cranes and wood storks grazing in a lake at Bobby Jones Golf Club.
David Ondocin took this photo of the sunset over Lake Uihlein in Lakewood Ranch.
Karen Diamond captured this photo of a water lily at Selby Gardens in Sarasota.
Anne Leone took this photo of a pair of egrets creating a nest on Longboat Key.
John Budzynski took this photo of a white ibis searching for food in Lakewood Ranch.
Brian Wamback captured this photo of a vibrant sunset on Longboat Key.
Gordon Silver captured this photo of a blue Egyptian water lily in full bloom at Selby Gardens in Sarasota.
Gordon Silver captured this photo of a bald eagle carrying some nest building materials along Lorraine Road.
Ken Adelsberg took this photo of a calm evening sunset on Longboat Key.
Michael Falcone captured this photo of a dragonfly mid pose at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.
John Budzynski took this photo of an egret with a fresh catch in Celery Fields.
Donna Jablonski took this photo of a mountain shaped cloud on Longboat Key.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a pileated woodpecker launching from a tree to explore the territory around him along University Parkway and Lorraine Road.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a red shouldered hawk taking a break from the heat in a palm tree in Del Webb.
Ken Adelsberg took this photo of a Longboat Key sunset.
John Budzynski took this photo of a brown anole lizard drinking from the morning dew at Celery Fields.
Marilyn Kessler took this photo of a colorful dragonfly in Greenbrook East.
Russell Custer took this photo of a pair of white pelicans while kayaking in Sarasota Bay along Longboat Key.
John Budzynski took this photo of a anhinga posing at sunrise at Celery Fields.
Carole Sullivan took this photo of a tree frog doing some window watching at a Jazzercise class in Lakewood Ranch.
David Nevills took this photo of an osprey having a bite to eat at the Harbourside Golf Course on Longboat Key.
John Budzynski took this photo of a great blue heron flying over Celery Fields in Sarasota.
Gordon Silver captured this early morning sunrise from a drone high above Del Webb.
Gary Wise took this photo of a vibrant sunset off Longboat Key.
Jaime Coppola-Natale took this photo of an illuminated sky pre-hurricane Helene off of Siesta Key.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a pair of black bellied whistling ducks enjoying the lake in Del Webb.
Erin Petraites took this photo of seagulls settling down for the evening on Longboat Key.
Becky Edwards took this photo of a group of ibis taking a bath in Myakka State Park.
Marty Franssen took this photo of a turtle sunbathing at James Patton Park in Lakewood Ranch.
Doreen Steinhauser captured this shot of bald eagles on Dream Island Road rebuilding their nest post-Hurricane Milton.
Samantha Solum took this photo of a bioluminescence thunderstorm over Siesta Key.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a bird of paradise in full bloom in Del Webb of Lakewood Ranch.
Agnes Thambynayagam took this photo of the sun setting off of Longboat Key.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a water hyacinth in full bloom at Celery Fields in Sarasota.
David Ondocin took this photo of two black-bellied whistling ducks captured on Lake Uihlein in Lakewood Ranch.
Gordon Silver caught this shot of a loving touch between a mother deer and her fawn along a pond in Del Webb.
Donna Jablonski took this photo of a golden sunset on Longboat Key.
Anne Marie Keane took this photo of the sunset from Del Webb in Lakewood Ranch.
Leighton Allenby took this photo of a coconut sprouting on Longboat Key.
L.M. Little took this photo of a post-stormy sky in The Meadows.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a peacock butterfly enjoying the many flowers in bloom in Del Webb of Lakewood Ranch.
Wendy Bond took this photo of the sun setting over Beer Can Island on Longboat Key.
Dan Creek took this photo on a clear morning in Myakka State Park.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a blue Egyptian water lily in full bloom at Selby Gardens in Sarasota.
Agnes Thambynayagam captured this photo of a Farmers Moon on Longboat Key.
Robert Frank captured the sun setting over a lake near Lakewood Ranch Town Hall after an afternoon rain storm.
Gordon Silver captured a full moon over Del Webb.
Donna Jablonski captured this photo of cloudy sunset on Longboat Key.
Gordon Silver took this photo of a trumpet vine in bloom high in a tree at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota.
Gordon Silver took a photo of this young fawn taking a break behind a home in Del Webb Lakewood Ranch.
Shannon Yoder captured this photo of an incoming storm over Whitney Beach on Longboat Key.
Christopher Harrington took this photo of a water lily at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in downtown Sarasota.
Gordon Silver captured this morning sunrise while flying a drone high over Del Webb.
Vi Sulewski took this photo of a cherry-colored sunset on Siesta Key Beach.
Gordon Silver captured this night heron finishing off a freshly caught snake in a Del Webb pond.
Leslie Combs captured this photo of a white egreat soaring over the ocean near Islands West on Longboat Key.
Gordon Silver took this photo of an algae-coated turtle in a pond at Celery Fields in Sarasota.
David Ondocin took this photo of the sunset over Lake Uihlein in Lakewood Ranch.
