SCENES FROM THE BEACH | by George Thatcher / MAY 22, 2016

At noon, frothy waves roll ashore onto the beach, sending channels of salty water toward the seawall. Gale-force winds keep most shorebirds from flying. Only Least Terns fly in agitated distress, as seawater nears their nests. Mere depressions in the sand, tern nests are scantly furnished with twigs, weed fronds, a couple of seashells and two eggs. "Zeek, zeek" is the tern's shrill, distressed cry. If the nests are flooded today, there is fortunately time for the birds to nest once again this season. -- 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 May 21, 2016 at 7:32 PM with the headline "SCENES FROM THE BEACH | by George Thatcher / MAY 22, 2016 ."