Fort Pickens, located on Pensacola Beach on the Gulf Islands National Seashore, was one of my favorite birding spots when I lived in Pensacola. The Naval Air Station that is the home base of the Blue Angels is only a couple of miles from the fort. The segment of Pensacola Bay closest to the pass into the Gulf of Mexico separates the Fort and the Naval Air Station. I had many opportunities to photograph the Blue Angels during their practice sessions when I was birding at Fort Pickens.