Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Other Opinions

SCENES FROM THE BEACH | by George Thatcher / NOV. 15, 2015

JAMES EDWARD BATES/SUN HERALD/FILE
JAMES EDWARD BATES/SUN HERALD/FILE

The Mississippi Coast is blessed to have various shorebirds. The laughing gull (Latin name, Larus atricilla) is a species often neglected because of its abundance. Ho hum, another laughing gull. If you see a handsome gull on your beach walk, it is likely a laughing gull, simply due to their vast numbers. A friend commented, "God must love laughing gulls; he makes so many!" We see them today, occupying every sandbar in sight, their webbed feet getting wet as the tide rises.

-- Diary, fall 2015

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 November 14, 2015 at 5:22 PM with the headline "SCENES FROM THE BEACH | by George Thatcher / NOV. 15, 2015 ."

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER