Frost twinkles now in the morning hours. Starlings swirl and stand at attention after the noon whistle. Coyote paw prints march west along side low tide at the Big Club beach, while a Golden Eagle scouts the shoreline. A waning moon nears Jupiter.
Archive for month: November, 2012
Washed away from Who-Knows-Where
Forever tangled with rope and weed
Vibrant colors streak the natural tones
The beach’s party decorations
Upon the rocks and sand
The diligent try to untangle
But most just leave them be
And continue their beachcombing
– Anonymous guest poet
I appreciate the Island’s stillness this time of year-mostly because it cultivates an awareness of the marine environment around me. There are very few distractions.
Just standing still, and listening, one can sense a rhythm (or routine) whether it’s the lapping of waves at low tide, or Fish crows in a distant tree top bantering back and forth, I can hear the local ferry “Popeye” heading past Dock beach this morning, and an Amtrak train whistle across the Sound… hearing far off moments announcing another brand new day and I haven’t even left my driveway.
The daily, even rhythm I sense monitoring our different beaches does indeed have its invigorating and lovely moments. I find though that surveying consistently these same areas for trash strikes a different chord.
I see abundant masses of disposable plastic. The tiniest particles or objects remind me over and over again that in any pristine ecosystem, trash disposed of improperly is here basically forever.
Disposable cigar tips-I see them on every beach and in many coastal nooks and crannies. Made in China, one company offered online a minimum order of 50 cartons with 50,000 cigar tips in ONE carton. And I am disheartened to report that now they come in various colors-not just vintage Ivory. . .
November 27@ 6:29am: Getting up before the sun and heading eastward. I arrive at Isabella just in time to wake the chickadees up and enjoy their morning chatter among the pines. Weather across the Sound calls for light snow…red sky this morning has this sailor taking warning as I zip up my jacket and move on to monitor East Harbor.
7:20am @ Big Club Golf Course: Well, early birds do catch the worms I suppose-I spot the Golden eagle again. While I was surveying the sands in East Harbor it swooped down and landed in a small tree curiously close by. I followed it down the Course till it landed again and hoped for a photo.
Local Island residents have mentioned seeing a VERY large bird since late September, so I am not certain it arrived with Hurricane Sandy. I am certain though that it has figured out where to snack on a pheasant or two.
November 26: It’s after 2:00 this afternoon at Chocomount. Days are shorter, sunlight glistens on the sands quite differently now, the timing of sunset preoccupies my thought.
Tidal range appears more striking to me during the colder months, like the old rum runner “Thelma Pheobe” might just run aground again in ankle deep seas.
I move onward to the north side’s Hungry Point where 97 Harbor seals are counted on two rocky haul out sites today. From above the beach area I use my clicker along with binoculars attempting an accurate count. Don’t forget to include bobbing heads.
Friday November 23: Occasionally I monitor sites off Island as I did this day while visiting Napatree Point in Westerly, RI. I figure it is a good practice as I can note similarities in different areas. Here there is a clear view of eastern Fishers Island.
My walk starts off with thankfulness left over from the holiday. It appears our beaches and community sustained comparatively minor damages. Down the road and a few beaches over Misquamicut tells a different story. I note that like our own historic Fort Wright area there are gun emplacements here as well. I like the railings installed for the visitors.
The commercial fishing debris is very evident here whereas our southerly beaches collected a smaller version. I was gifted too, for my monitoring endeavors. Scouring Fishers Island for a very certain treasure after Hurricane “Sandy” I always came up empty. But here at Napatree beach I laugh as I look in the surf and spot a brick . . . Dig the “FI”on it!!
November 19 Morning: Island residents Mike Rogers, Chris and Sara Rafferty observe a pod of 8-10 dolphins fishing off Government Bell near the jetty outside Silver Eel Pond. This is very unique news. Some have said it been almost 30 years since dolphin sightings have been noted in the Long Island Sound.
Oh to be everywhere at once! I am sorry I missed this moment.
Tuesday November 13 near 9:15am: Island resident Geordie Loveday again sights whale spouting off Southside near Isabella Beach
Taken at Middle Farms Pond-I surprised the eagle and it flew into tree.
Armstrong’s “Hooverness” on November 8: My first travels in the Conservancy car-winds are strong. I have not been back to survey since “Sandy”. There is more driftwood debris and trash than ever here. I have noted that of the few sites observed on the north side of Fishers, this beach manages to attract the most diverse trash debris for such a small beach.
The car battery dies but thankfully Aaron Rice from FIDCO happens around the bend and rescues me with a jump start.