October 14, 2022
Silent Sunday: Sunrise
Tag Archives: Ocean
Tortoise on the Beach
At first I thought this was some kind of debris, then realized it was moving towards me, and at a pretty good clip.
I expected he would be heading for the sand dunes behind me: tortoises don’t swim.
Instead he made a turn and continued on at the water’s edge.
Talbot Islands State Parks, Florida
April 27, 2021
The gopher tortoise is one of five North American tortoise species and is the only tortoise naturally found east of the Mississippi River. Its range includes the southeastern Coastal Plain from southeastern Louisiana east to southern South Carolina, and south to Florida. ~ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Willets in the Surf
A small flock of Willets stood at the edge of the surf, inching their way inland every few minutes as the tide moved in.
I thought they might take flight, showing off their snazzy wing pattern. They were content to walk, run and hop through the rising water keeping their wings at their sides.
American Oystercatcher Flying Over Surf
This American Oystercatcher had been standing in the surf. He got a running start then smoothly took off with one full beat of his wings.
It was just after dawn and he was flying directly into the sun, which I think must not affect birds’ eyes the way it does mine.
The incoming tide created a nice series of waves behind the bird.
He let out a squawk for good measure before he disappeared down the beach.
Ruddy Turnstone: Driftwood Framing
My position and timing were big factors in capturing these images of a Ruddy Turnstone exploring a barnacle covered tree.
The incoming tide was pretty calm, creating just a small splash behind the bird.
The bird was in almost constant motion, not waiting for the perfect combination of splash, his position, and my readiness.
Botany Bay Island, SC, August 4, 2019
Incoming Tide, Boneyard Beach
The sun was fully up, the tide was coming in, and there was a lot to look at. I only took two shots of what I now can see I could have spent more time on.
Shell on the Beach
An empty shell on the beach, just as nature left it with the outgoing tide.
Splashing Ocean
We went to the end of Folly Beach to shoot the rising moon. At 98.5% full it could have been spectacular coming up out of the ocean.
The moon was a bust due to low clouds on the horizon and the setting sun didn’t give a show either, but the waves and splash on the jetty were fun to photograph.
Not bad for a moon substitute.
Storm Is Brewing
Perched near the end of Sullivan’s Island, SC, overlooking Breach Inlet, these homes had a ring side seat as the sky and water reacted to approaching Hurricane Irma.
Taken 9/9/2017 — two days before Irma hit Charleston as a Tropical Storm with a storm surge higher than experienced last October during Hurricane Matthew.