My Favorite Day at the Beach

Royal Tern

On my favorite day at the beach I didn't even have a swimsuit.  Don't take that the wrong way.  I had long pants, shirt, shoes, hat, camera, and binoculars, but this past Saturday I had a fantastic time at the Canaveral National Seashore.  Even though I was only there a couple hours (I went elsewhere on Merritt Island too), it's probably my favorite two hours of beach birding, rivaled only by beautiful Ft. De Soto.

Eastern Kingbird

Upon arriving I was greeted by two Eastern Kingbirds.  A Loggerhead Shrike was also there west of the parking lot, and I heard the beautiful call of an Eastern Towhee, though I never saw it. I walked to the beach to find very few people there, and it felt like I had the beach to myself.  Shortly after beginning my walk, I began seeing small shorebirds along the shoreline.  Semipalmated Plovers were there, and I enjoy watching them hunt for food.  But then I saw one plover that was much lighter in color.  Could it be?  Yes, a Piping Plover was there  keeping company with the Semipalmated Plovers.

Piping Plover

Semipalmated Plover

As I continued northward, I saw a cluster of Terns.  As I approached, I noticed that most of them were Royal Terns.  One was being rather noisy.  I located it, and it was an immature Royal Tern begging mom for food.  Mom would not hear anything of it.  She was content to preen herself.  I think at one point I heard her say, "You're big enough, get your own food!"

Royal Terns

There was a Sandwich Tern there too, the first I've found on the east coast of Florida.  Then a couple Black Terns presented themselves.

Sandwich Tern

Black Tern

 A couple Black-bellied Plovers were also there, both in different stages of returning to their basic plumage.

Black-bellied Plovers

Black-bellied Plover

Did I mention that the immature Royal Tern wanted to be fed? The silent treatment / stare down tactic wasn't working.

Royal Terns

I also found a couple Sanderlings.  One of them still had the remnants of his alternate plumage.  They were not happy with each other either.  I loved watching them interact.

Sanderling

Sanderling

Often when I see a Common Tern, upon closer inspection it turns magically into a Forster's Tern.  This one was kind enough to remain a Common Tern for me, and I was grateful.

Common Tern

A Willet was also nice enough to pose for me. This one walked by me not much more than 12 feet away.

Willet

And another Sanderling found some food.

Sanderling

Of course, the Royal Tern was still very interested in being fed, but trying from a different angle just wasn't going to work.

Royal Terns

After all, what would the neighbors think?

Royal Terns

Scott Simmons

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