I went for a walk over the dunes at Sandy Hook again this morning. Through the holly forest and into the locust grove to look for spring migrants. Then I headed to the shoreline, turned right at the surf and retraced my steps through the dunes and sat to savor the blooming beach plums and flirt with sunburn. Then back to the bay to watch the osprey pair and be greeted by a pair of willets.
The beach was still winter-empty, but for the birders and a dandelion yellow kite invisibly anchored among a small group of school kids. Twin Lights lies behind towards home and ahead in the haze is the NYC skyline. All around me are the beach plums, humming with happy carpenter bees. The harsh calls of common terns compete with the laughing gulls and the throaty noise of brant lingering on the bay. There are hawks overhead and the rumor of a phalarope on the salt pond at the end of the fish
erman’s trail. There’s only an hour or so before I need to think about getting to work to see clients and decide I’d rather spend it here in the dunes instead of chasing some bird I’d hardly recognize without my scope and a field guide. It feels today like spring is edging closer to summer and I have my ritual visit with the beach plums to attend to. There’ll be time for chasing birds another day; now I just want to sit and admire the way they ornament an otherwise still mostly barren wash of dunes… and the sun, I want to feel the sun work its magic on me.
Such an emotional diorama – makes we wish, more so than usual, that I were not stuck in this backwater of nescient minds. Enjoy what you can, when you can, Laura – true contentment is fleeting at best. Interesting touch with the monochrome pix – kudos to you.
This is a beautiful post, Laura. Wish I was beside you.
I love beachplum jelly! Think I will have some on my toast this morning, and think of sitting in the sun beside the bush that it came from.
Isn’t it wonderful when the beach is winter-empty? I think you made a good decision to sit and enjoy.
You are one of the best d… writers.
“a dandelion yellow kite invisibly anchored among a small group of school kids.”
Fantastic post. Thanks for sharing your walk with us.
Heather
Wayne, PA
Ditto what Heather said. I’m always amazed by your poetic sensibilities and writing style.
dr. know: B&W is fun once in a while and makes a so-so pic a bit more interesting, I think.
I feel pretty lucky to have the beach so close and the chance sometimes to escape there, if only for an hour or two in the middle of the workday!
Bobbie: Oh! Do you make your own? I did that a few years ago and it was so delicious!
ncmountainwoman: yeah… it won’t be empty for much longer.
;-(
Heather: Hey! Thanks for saying such a nice thing. I love the beach… wish everyone could have it closeby too.
Delia: Aw thanks.