While it was such a treat to see that the Piping Plovers were back for the summer, it was even more of a treat to see them courting on the sand. “The male approaches the female, stands upright with neck stretched, and rapidly stamps his feet with an odd “high-stepping gait.” (Click on blog link for more photos.)
It was so cool to watch the two of them. And then the female settled down in the sand where I presume their nest would be. Maybe we’ll go back today and see what’s going on. We’d never seen that ritual before. Have you?
In the last photograph, you can hardly see where she is nesting in the sand.
We saw our first Piping Plovers of the season yesterday at Coast Guard Beach. What a treat! I was hoping they might be back! It was a glorious day for a walk on the beach… sunny and in the 50s, just perfect!
We noticed that all of the stakes and string was up all the way down the beach to deter people from disturbing the Piping Plovers nests and behaviors. It wasn’t until we heard their distinct sound of the “courtship whistle” that we saw them up high on the beach in the sand.
Stop by tomorrow to see more photos and a cool story!
I do not know much about mushrooms but I thought these were pretty cool growing on the side of the tree. Does anyone know what kind they are? Love the vibrant colors!
I love the Red Maple Swamp Trail at Fort Hill which has a boardwalk where you walk over the bogs which are especially wet this time of the year. (Click on blog link for full photo.)
“First Encounter Beach is a place with historic significance in Eastham on Cape Cod. It was so named because it is the site of the first encounter between Native Americans and the Pilgrims prior to their settling in Plymouth. A tablet on the knoll at the north end of First Encounter Beach marks the location of this first encounter between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans on December 8, 1620.”
Pretty cool history, don’t you think?
Cape Cod daily articles on the wonderful Cape Cod places to hike, experience and photograph. A Cape Cod Outdoor Adventure Series.
