When my Walden kayak was stolen from Polpis Harbor Land Bank kayak rack in October 2022, I thought I might be at fault because I left it in the rack too late in the season. I loved that 30 year old kayak, purchased in Nantucket in the store that now sells Vineyard Vines clothes. I found that Walden kayaks had gone out of business, a victim of the pandemic. I bit the bullet and bought a new Eddyline Skylark kayak from REI for the 2023 season, complete with chain and lock. Excellent 2023 season kayaking out to Quaise and Pocomo Meadow to see baby oystercatchers, whimbrels, plovers, turnstones and other shorebirds.
Imagine my disappointment today when I went to take an Independence Day kayak at low tide at 6:30 am and my new kayak had been stolen! In frustration, I decided to hike from Wauwinet out to Coskata Pond in hopes of adventure. The hike was 4 miles, and I observed much erosion along the Head of the Harbor, ( I ignored all the 4 wheel drive vehicles heading out to Great Point.). At one point, Rosa rugosa bushes have died and a new inlet was formed.
 |
| Tricolor heron, Egretta tricolor |
 |
| Tricolor heron |
The willets were warning me away, but I observed a heron that from afar could have been a great blue heron, but didn't have the right shape or coloration. It was a tricolored heron foraging in the inlet. Apparently they are the newest heron to breed in Massachusetts. I counted 45 horseshoe crab shells, and saw thousands of hermit crabs scuttling. A family of 5 oystercatchers walked away from me toward Coskata. Bank swallows swerved dipped and careened around the fallen tupelos at the Coskata cliffs, where new holes revealed their nests. An osprey pair surveyed the pond while more oystercatchers and snowy and great egrets fed. Kingbirds hawked insects.
My consolation hike eased my frustration, and I headed back to a Fourth of July party at the Moldenauer’s.
No comments:
Post a Comment