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E.G.D.Beach Bird Watching (Looking into Looking Up)
Posted by E.G.D. on July 19, 2013
I was reading an article this morning about bird photography on the coast of Marco Island. Apparently, at the island’s Tigertail Beach, that sort of thing is a serious spectator sport, in that not only did the journalist seem to be watching the birds, he seemed to be watching the photographers, and he seemed to expect his readers to be as interested in the photographers as in the birds. He talked about the photographers and camera equipment, in fact, significantly more than he talked about the birds. This makes journalistic sense, in that the article was published in the Marco Eagle, Marco’s local newspaper.
This brings me, in a roundabout way, to my point. It seems to me that most beach-goers who are not bird photographers or birdwatchers are unlikely to go to the beach to seek out interesting avian life. We flock to boat tours for whale watching, or dolphin spotting. We squeal like children when we spot a sea turtle. We go snorkeling or scuba diving to see interesting fish. We brave the natural smelliness of seals to see them basking in the sun. Is it just me, or do we spend most of our wildlife energy on the beaches in looking down?
I’m a sheller. I’ll admit, I’m guilty as charged!
Beach Birding on the Texas Gulf Coast
Why don’t we, for the sake of shaking up our usual beach routines, spend a little time enjoying the wildlife that occasionally goes up? For those of you who are interested, here is a series of fun links concerning beach bird watching all over the U.S. :
Birding the Great Lakes Beaches (Tundra Swans, Bald Eagles and many more!):
Bird Watching at Waukegan Municipal Beach
Birding the Great Lakes Seaway Trail
Birding areas in the Great Lakes Bay Region
Birding the East Coast:
Birding Assateague Island National Seashore(Funny thing, I’ve actually been to this area, and I don’t remember a single bird. Not because the birds weren’t there, but because I wasn’t looking!)
West Coast Beach Birding – Santa Cruz, California
Birding the West Coast:
The Bird Guide (there are some good links on this site for the Pacific Northwest coast)
Birding Hawaii’s Shores:
Gulf Of Mexico Beach Birding:
Alabama Gulf Coastal Birding Trail
Birds of the Upper Texas Coast
Cool, huh? I’ve been looking up things to look up at all morning, and actually, most of them seem to spend quite a lot of their time wading. Still, aren’t they fun? Enjoy! -E.G.D.
~~~ Originally published Jul 27, 2011 ~~~
Please feel free to share your coastal bird watching experiences and/or your favorite beach birding site!
adinparadise said
I love to watch the seagulls pecking around in the sand at the edge of the surf. Their curious gait is very amusing.
E.G.D. said
They’re definitely a feature of most beaches I’ve been to! Thanks for dropping by and dropping a line.
raastha said
Nice pics!!! I did capture some birds in my recent trip to backwaters in Kerala. I have no knowledge about birds but probably started developing.
E.G.D. said
I don’t know much, either, but they are fun to watch. In happy news, there are so many birdwatching resources out there in case I ever feel the need to gain that knowledge!
kiwiskan said
It’s shelling that does it for me – the birds are usually incidental, although I enjoy them
E.G.D. said
I’m big on the shells, too. Really, though, there’s something for everyone at the beach, and there is a great deal of variety in things to do!
shazzarob said
I love spotting wildlife wherever I go. Just need to get to the beach more ! Planning a day out on the coast very soon.x
E.G.D. said
I could use a day at the beach, myself ^_^. Thanks for stopping by!