The sands of time...

My initial interest in taking the top photo of the lifeguard stand was the yellow-crowned night heron who may have been applying for the summer job as lifeguard. However, I'm using it as a demonstration of what the shifting sands of the beach can so quickly do to any stationary object (see photo two.) It didn't take but a couple of extra high tides to bury another lifeguard stand a foot or more. I'm awed and humbled by how the sea can change the landscape so effortlessly, and so quickly.

Then low and behold... an elf bench. Created by humans, made the proper height by the sand and sea. Perfect for an elf or leprechaun who just wants to sit and enjoy our beautiful and ever-changing shoreline.

Quick as a... crab?

We used to say quick as a rabbit, or quick as a wink. Well, whoever first said those idioms apparently had never witnessed a sand crab on the beach. There has been an abundance of them lately and I've been fascinated with how fast they can run, and they run sideways at that! Amazing. Trying to capture one with a digital camera is quite a challenge and people on the beach have been giving me sideways glances as I remain poised and very still over a crab hole... usually with no luck. They dig diagonal holes in the sand and seem to have earth moving equipment second to none! The photo above of a crab hole and the sand deposited around the entrance is just one of hundreds I see during my walk each day.

Though there's plenty of evidence of these cute critters which measure only about 2 to 3 inches, I rarely see the crab itself. Usually just a quick flicker as it is speeding lickity split across the sand. Lucky for me I captured one little guy (probably because its back was to me) before it could move like greased lightning down the beach or back into its home.

So with all those phrases that mean quick... as a speeding bullet, as a flash, at a good clip, in the fast lane etc., I wonder why no one every says quick as a crab?

I kind of like it.

Three thrills before 7 a.m.

It doesn't take much to thrill me nowadays and the way the sun was hidden behind the clouds this morning with its rays soaring both skyward and towards the sea was just simply stunning and helped start my beach walk with a smile. Then, when I saw from the distinctive tracks that a turtle had come ashore during the night to lay her egg it became a double thrill for the day. As I was taking the second photo above a young couple strolling the beach came up and asked me what the tracks were and I got to give them a nature lesson. They were vacationing here from Tennessee and were happy to learn about our sea turtles and their nesting habits.

Feeling quite satisfied with myself I continued on my way and came across another turtle track. This poor turtle instead of coming straight out of the surf and heading inland, trekked about 30 yards across the sand heading south from her point of entry. She had to dodge the pole from a volleyball net but in what I could assume from her tracks, finally made her nest then headed back the way she came — due north! I was glad to see an abrupt right turn that took her immediately to the surf and back out to the ocean. Phew!

A stunning sunrise, two new turtle nests all before 7 a.m. There isn't, in my opinion, a much better way to start the day.

Dentist needed

The sand sculptures that people now create on the beach are always interesting, often tell a story or they are just plain funny. I got a good chuckle out of the guy above who is definitely in need of some good dental care. However you look at it... it's always nice to start any day with a smile.

Celebrity Skimmers

About 10 days ago I once again saw the delightful looking black skimmer on the beach. See my "new bird on the beach" blog entry in January 2009. I took the top photo above but didn't publish it because the quality wasn't what I wanted it to be. However, this morning's local TV news featured what I'm sure is this pair -- they have become famous by making their nest on the beach in front of one of the larger hotels just 6 miles south of here.

I have since learned that this species is endangered because their habitat has been encroached upon by us humans and because they build their nests right in the sand which is subject to tides and storms as well as human traffic.

These birds are striking in their coloring. Black wings with white underneath and white bellies. The bright red band around their long bills is outstanding and eye catching in the contrast to their black and white coloring. They are called skimmers because with their very sensitive longer lower mandible they skim low just along the surface of the water scooping up fish as they go!

Sorry my photo doesn't do them justice, but check out the link below for a view of their outstanding feeding practices. Amazing! If you Google Black Skimmer you will also find a plethora of information. The best part was my delight at seeing these guys become TV celebrities.

http://www.bird-friends.com/BirdPage.php?name=Black%20Skimmer

Turtle Trek

Officially May first is the beginning of "turtle season" when the sea turtles come ashore to make their nests and lay their eggs. This year has been disappointing to me since there is only one nest in the four miles of beach I tread each day. Here it is mid-June and only one nest to be seen.

My mind was running in overdrive. "Where are the turtles? What could cause them to not be nesting? Will the old wives' tale be true that says no turtle nests means greater hurricane threat? Have the turtles been snared in huge trawling nets?" Woe was me until I stopped one of the Turtle Patrol volunteers and asked questions. Apparently our ocean water is a bit cooler than normal for this time of year and most of the nests are north of here in the state park area where there are fewer people and no lights to distract the nesting turtles.

With that in mind, the next day I headed up the peninsula for my morning walk and lo and behold... turtle nests galore. Within the first mile I counted nine nests. Farther along and taking note of the nesting dates, I realized that there were eight new nests in one day! What a sight it must have been that night along the shore! (Turtles nest at night guided by the moon and the hatchlings break forth also at night some 2 to 3 months later.)

The Turtle Patrol marks each nest with tape (neon pink for May, blue for June, etc.) and notes the date and nest-count number. I was thrilled to see the large nest outlined in May pink and right beside it coming a month later, the smaller nest marked by June's blue.

My faith in turtle power was renewed, my fear of a bad hurricane season diminished, and I enjoyed a wonderful walk along the beach exploring an integral part of the life cycle of one of the sea's most magnificent creatures. Life is good!

Digital plights and delights

Digital cameras are truly wonderful and I often ponder my years of picture taking without benefit of a digital camera. The amount of money spent of film and developing alone is simply mind boggling. The little inexpensive digital camera that I take to the beach is very handy but does have some foibles. Notice the photo of the sunrise above. Do you see the pod of dolphins frolicking just beyond the breaking waves? Of course not. Though I took many, many photos, that tiny digital shutter delay had my dolphins disappearing below the surface before the camera captured the moment. Drat! There were several people enjoying the same playful dolphin sighting and a couple of digital cameras trying to capture the occasion, but the dolphins proved elusive. Nice sunrise though, huh?

However, that same hesitation in shutter speed did let me capture the fleeing snowy egret you see above! I was attempting to take a shot of it fishing at the edge of the surf when it suddenly decided to depart. If it hadn't been for that slight delay in the digital shutter speed, I would have missed that lovely winged departure and what a shame that would have been. 

180 degrees of spectacular

The edges of the sunrise peeking above the cloud bank were spectacular this morning and I snapped the above photo to prove it. Satisfied, I turned to check the nearby flag to see which direction the breeze was coming from since that determines whether I head north or south on my walk. Much to my delight the moon was still out and hanging just beside the American flag. What a picture! What a day! 

Facing one way... a spectacular start to a new day. Turn 180 degrees and I'm reminded of my wonderful country and the glory of a practically full moon. Doesn't get any better than that!

Maybe rain

It was threatening rain this morning as I headed to the beach, but what a sight I captured above with the sun just sneaking out below the clouds. 

Although it was dead on high tide, I had a glimmer of hope that conditions wouldn't be too bad for walking. They were. Unfortunately my formerly broken right foot — which didn't heal correctly due to a misdiagnosis — gives me some pain when I walk on the soft sand. Doesn't do a lot for my hips and legs either... all in all soft sand takes a lot of work. So I ended up with a nice bike ride and managed to get home just as it started spitting rain.

It reminded me that early yesterday when I saw my neighbor at the beach, he said what a nice day it was. I told him that at my age, any day that you can get out of bed is a nice day. He laughed... I was serious. So today is indeed a nice day and I missed getting rained on.

Framed herons

What an exquisite photo these two great herons made framed as they were between the trees. They were absolutely picture perfect until I got close enough to snap a shot. One look at me and those long legs with the big feet and backward-bending knees were taking Mr. Heron away as gracefully as a dancer moving off a stage. 

I could see fish jumping in the water where they were feeding on the golf course, which is still sodden with water after all the recent rains. Before they could take off, I decided to take off on my trusty bike and leave them to enjoy a good feast.