Too Wet and Windy for the Shorebirds Today

Starting today, the 23rd, we're in the 5-day window for PIPL (piping plover) surveys on the north shores of the Perdido Key, Santa Rosa and Fort Pickens areas.



Though the day started with brilliant blue and white skies, it just wasn't fit weather for our feathered friends.



Normally, we'd start at one end of the beach, and count all the shore birds, like this semi-palmated plover, between the first sand bar and the vegetation line on the north shore.



I really tried hard to do that this morning, and had a good time counting birds in the first two miles of Fort Pickens. It was hard to find them though as they all hid from the wind! The photo is a little fuzzy as the birds continually tried to smooth their ruffled feathers.



Once I reached the asphalt pile, it was time to turn back. Though the tide was receding, there was standing water in the road corridor...



And the surf was kicking in the Gulf. I wouldn't mind getting stuck out at the west end of the beach, but I was pretty sure my boss had other tasks in mind before the end of the day. That just gives me a great excuse to head back out to the beach in the morning, as long as it stops raining by then!

(* No, I don't avoid the beach in the rain. That said, it is hard to use binoculars to id shorebirds in a downpour!)