SCENES FROM THE BEACH | by George Thatcher / APRIL 24, 2016

Shorebirds reveal that spring has arrived. Consider laughing gulls, our most numerous species. The annual darkening of plumage is a certain sign that the season has changed. Spring brings with it the wonders of nesting and mating. To make birds more attractive to the opposite sex, Mother Nature -- another name for God -- endows them with brilliantly white and starkly black feathers, red bills and softer voices. Enjoy these magical days; it is an ideal time to visit the beach. -- Diary, spring 2016

From the diary of beach walker George Thatcher / Email: fishcrow@aol.com

Collections of Mr. Thatcher's observations are available from Quail Ridge Press (www.quailridge.com or 1-800-343-1583).

This story was originally published April 23, 2016 at 7:08 PM with the headline "SCENES FROM THE BEACH | by George Thatcher / APRIL 24, 2016 ."