Sea Oats and Six-Egg Plover Nests

As usual, the day started before the sun, on a darkened beach, searching for turtle crawls.



Sunrise was hidden by clouds, but the sun light soon broke through, illuminating the first 'elephant' cloud of the day, trunk raised to the sky -- I saw a couple. They reminded me of Dumbo, my pink-and-white security elephant. Yes, I do still have it :)



After moving the sea turtle nest on Perdido Key, I had to check on the six egg snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) nest.



I still can't believe she has six eggs!



She's doing a great job protecting them,



pretending she has a broken wing,




and hovering over them to shade from the sun.



I couldn't spend all day on one nest though.



A great blue heron (Ardea herodias) stalked the north shore.



A common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) sedately sat on the asphalted sand dunes.



We even helped rescue a Northern Gannett (Morus bassanus) that was tangled in fishing gear. Thanks Leslie!



And sea oats (Uniola paniculata) danced in the wind.



Even with the clouds, it was a postcard perfect day...



on the sea



and in the sand...



and even in the distant rainy sky. What a beautiful place to 'work'.,,