We have stayed close to home for the last month partly because of the humidity and heat. This last week, while it hasn’t been humid, we’ve had high winds and rain just about every day. We walk the boardwalk every day however, between the raindrops, usually in the morning.
Recently, children in the Wild Child Program spent days along the boardwalk, under the trees in one area and along the shoreline, on the grass or on the sand dunes at low tide.
It looks like a great experience for the kids, exploring the environment and playing as kids do.
My early experiences on the beaches and in the woods of Newfoundland make me smile when I see children today enjoying nature as they did in this camp. However, I continue to enjoy time in nature to this day as I hope those children will continue throughout their lives.
Meanwhile, the shorebirds continue their visits to our shoreline as they journey south for another year. We spend time every day watching them, birds of various sizes as they feed along the shoreline.
Recently, a flock of twenty plus Ruddy Turnstones fed among the seaweed piled along the beach.
These pretty birds breed on the Arctic tundra and stop here to fatten up as they journey south. They poke around the seaweed, exposing food, and appear to enjoy the waves breaking on the shoreline around them.
The herons have been absent for some weeks but this past week they were back again. One hid among the bulrushes in the salt marsh one morning and startled us when it took flight. In the photo below, one fed along the distant sandbar at low tide and was lucky enough to catch a flounder for its breakfast.
A young Great Black-backed Gull was crabbing along the shoreline at low tide with some success as well. Bonaparte Gulls are wading behind it.
I have tried all season to take a good photo of the Common Grackles which spend several months every year along the boardwalk. This Grackle, after it procured a peanut, hopped along the bridge before it took flight.
The chipmunks are gathering peanuts from visitors too. This perfect specimen was watching in case we offered one.
It was hard to see but we heard this Grizzly Locust as it landed nearby. This insect makes a sound like a burning sparkler as it flies. Landed on this hard surface, it almost disappears.
Many of the wildflowers are past their prime now but the scenes along the shoreline as pretty though more autumn-like now.
Finally today, the neighbourhood crows have introduced us to the new additions to their murder. Below, one is waiting around for a chance to play a bit of basketball with the neighbourhood kids.
