Family Time on the Beach in August

Laughing Gulls -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

           Funny thing .... the cold weather arrives and we begin reminiscing about the warmer days of summer.  Of course, in late summer, after 2 months of sweltering heat and humidity, we impatiently sweat it out dreaming of cooler temperatures.  Personally, I am one who, in general, prefers winter over summer and I do not look back fondly on the hot, sauna-like weather that prevails.  I do, however, appreciate what Lowcountry summers offer in terms of wildlife observations and family events.   Certain days stand out as particularly happy memories due to special moments shared quietly, in community with those present. 

           Today, I am thinking back to one early August weekday morning that I spent on the Folly Beach at the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve.  Due to some oddball cool front, a strong northeast wind and bright overcast skies, the morning temperature remained in the low 80s during the 2 hour period that I was on the beach.  I had come out to the beach with the original intention of a vigorous walk.  I was unhappily contemplating returning to work in the next few days and I assumed a walk on the beach could help to elevate my mood.  With it being a weekday and perhaps because the skies were overcast, there was very little human traffic.  Initially, the beach seemed devoid of wildlife also.  But in short order, a family flock of laughing gulls arrived and settled down on the beach. 

Laughing Gulls -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

I too settled down on the beach to observe them -- so much for the walk.  By sitting still, unobtrusively, I could become an accepted part of their environment.  The birds would continue to keep a wary eye on me but as minutes passed, they appeared to become more comfortable with my presence.  The adult birds, in various stages of molt, looked tired.  

Laughing Gull -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Several began dozing just feet from me.  A few goofy talkative youngsters in the group kept things interesting though. 

Laughing Gulls -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Ah! .... all the follies of youth and the life lessons to be learned!  For example, this young bird was still learning the hard way the importance of facing into the wind.

Laughing Gulls -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Laughing Gulls -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

The wind caught his feathers a couple of times and nearly toppled him over!

          As the gulls reposed, a few Royal Terns began to fly in.

Royal Tern -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

        As I was photographing the terns, I sensed motion behind me.  I turned to see this female White-tailed Deer run a short distance across the salt flat.

White-tailed Deer -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

She stopped behind a clump of marsh grass.  Then, I saw that she was not alone!

White-Tailed Deer -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

She had twins! 

White-Tailed Deer -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Her children were learning life lessons also.   For example, .....

White-Tailed Deer -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

White-Tailed Deer -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

...... sand does not taste good!

         Mama deer was not as comfortable with my presence as the gulls had become and she trotted on leading her babies into the marsh and towards the woods.  She did stop long enough for me to capture this family portrait.

Family of White-Tailed Deer -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

       After the deer disappeared into the woods, I turned my attention seaward again.  Additional birds were not coming in but more people were beginning to pass by.  The quiet moment shared with the gulls was over.  I decided to leave knowing that soon the heat of the day would soon begin tapping down.  Before leaving though, I captured this family group of Brown Pelicans flying by the lighthouse.

Morris Island Lighthouse taken from Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

         I decided to return to my car by way of the front beach.  It was not long before the wildlife stopped me again.  I enjoyed watching the silhouetted willet fish in the surf. 

Willet --  Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Willet -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

As I rounded the bend near the jetties, I noticed that gulls and terns were beginning to settle down on the front beach here.  I began to photograph them as well.

Royal Tern -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

 

Sandwich Tern -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Royal Tern -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Sandwich Tern -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Next, I noticed an extra large gull down next to the far jetty going after a prey in the surf.  It was a Great Black-backed Gull!  I soon figured out that he had a crab!  A thieving Laughing Gull also soon figured it out. 

Laughing Gull harassing a Great Black-backed Gull -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Eventually, the Great Black-backed was able to eat his meal and then honored me with a fly-by!

Great Black-backed Gull -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

I also noted a late-arriving , amourous Sandwich Tern hoping to coax another Sandwich Tern with a fish. 

Sandwich Terns --  Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Initially, she seemed interested.

Sandwich Terns -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

But, I suppose that early August is just too late for that kind of chemistry in the Sandwich Tern world. 

Sandwich Terns -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Most Sandwich Terns are at that time preoccupied with schooling their fledglings.

       I noted the arrival of more human beach-goers.  In the summer, people love to wade at the water's edge.  Unfortunately, by doing this, they disturb the birds that are resting there.  With the gathering flock of gulls and terns settling down to roost near me, I decided to sit and stay put with my camera pointed in the direction of the birds.  The tourists took the hint and left the water's edge so as not to keep the photographer from getting her shots.  Nice!  What they do not know is that I did it to keep them from bothering the birds.  If only they could be as concerned about the birds as they were about my "art."  I did benefit from the close proximity of the birds as they again became accepting of my presence.  

Laughing Gull -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

 

Royal and Sandwich Terns & Laughing Gull -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Next, I noticed some terns unlike any I had seen before.  With a quick check in my Sibley's birding guide, I verified that these were Sandwich Tern youngsters! 

Juvenile Sandwich Terns -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Family group of Sandwich Terns -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

They, like the juvenile Laughing Gulls, were rather expressive to each other and to their parents.

Young Sandwich Tern expressing itself to its parent while Royal Tern listens in -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Ah, the patience required of the parent of a teen!  Can't you just imagine the conversation!?

Young Sandwich Tern talking to his parent -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Interestingly, I noted that one of the young ones was banded!  The band appeared too corroded to read.

Young Sandwich Tern -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Drawn in, I presume, by the relative calm of our collective corner, eight Common Tern came winging in! 

Common Tern arriving with Sandwich Tern in the foreground -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

Common Terns strolling on the beach -- Folly Beach -- Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -- August 5, 2013

          What a great morning for observing family interactions on the beach!  For awhile, the wildlife had accepted my presence.  As the tide continued to recede and more people arrived, the terns and gulls in my corner left for sandbars out in the inlet.  Though my original goal of a vigorous morning walk had fallen by the wayside, I felt happily renewed by the experience of sharing a space on the beach with the birds and the deer.  And I felt privileged to have been allowed a window into the intimacy of their family lives.  It is a summer beach memory that I have cherished all this Fall.