May 1, 1997
Piping Plover Count: 25 - I guess the adults are all back from the migrations. Let the nesting begin!
I had the midday shift at the south end of the beach today. This is actually the first time I've done the full shift at the south end. Usually I'll get all set up and then get called back to the north because whoever is supposed to be there hasn't shown up. But today we had the full complement of plover wardens. Good thing too. It was a gorgeous day and everybody and his brother sister and grandchildren were at the beach. I talked to 16 people. I can only imagine how busy the north end was - south is usually slow because people have to drive 7 miles through the refuge to get to Sandy Point and most of it is dirt road. Anyway, it was a popular place to be today.
The people were all very nice, respectful, and considerate of the plovers. Nobody challenged me or told me I or the refuge policy was stupid. This is good. Makes it easier. Lots of questions today. Like:
You get the idea. Oh yeah, somebody asked about beach erosion and barrier beaches again. Remind me to write up my barrier beach speech.
In a rare moment with no visitors to contact, I was watching some coromorants come in for a landing when I notice some big white birds with black on their wings plunge diving headfirst into the water. They were pretty far out. Those 10x50 binoculars are really something. Anyway, I had to watch them for a long time before I could get a good enough look to determine they were gannets. I was surprised as gannets are usually much further out at sea. The wind had changed 'cause there was a storm coming so they probably got blown in a little closer to shore. I kinda wished I had my scope but I has having plenty of fun just watching them dive through the binocs. There were six of them. Way cool.
I didn't leave the beach until after 4:00 because there were so many people who needed directions and information. Then it's a long drive up the dirt road back to the gatehouse to return the radio and turn in my report. So by the time I left the refuge I was ready for dinner never mind a late lunch. I stopped in at The Tannery Cafe in Newburyport, next to Jabberwocky, one of my favorite bookstores. I had a nice lunch/dinner of veggie lasagna while two tiny femmes in leotards and tutus stared at me. They couldn't have been more than 5 years old. The tinier one was about 3. They were fascinated by me and my lasagna... go figure.
After supper I browsed at Jabberwocky for awhile and then headed home to feed the demented orange wacko before heading to Cambridge for my meeting. The predicted thunderstorms hit when I was about halfway to Cambridge. Jagged purple lightning split the sky. It was fun to watch but I would have enjoyed it more if I was watching it from home with a cup of herbal tea in my hand.
I was listening to the Red Sox game on the car radio and observed that the weather phenomena I was observing on the Cambridge side of the river seemed to hit Fenway Park a few minutes later. It was weird hearing them describe exactly the weather I'd just experienced. Anyway, the game went into rain delay and then got called.
I drove home in the pouring rain, called Nancy, cuddled the demented orange wacko, and decided it was too late to upload this to the net.