beach fence

beach fence, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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Nickerson Beach in winter

A snow/sand dune fence is there for protection from the winter wind.

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There is something so calming about the beach in winter.

No crowds, lots of birds, and only the sound of wind and waves.

The wind will blow and destroy the beach. 

The protective fences help, and add a certain "winter formal" look to an otherwise naked beach.

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Skimmers at Nickerson Beach

skimmers, originally uploaded by Alida's Photos.

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I went over to Nickerson Beach yesterday, Nassau County.....yes, I left my zip code!

Just kidding, of course!

I've been wanting to go there to see these beautiful nesting birds but waited until after Labor Day. During the summer, parking there is pretty expensive for non-residents, and it's not like I was staying all day. (The gas to get there was cost enough!)

I just wanted to see the birds.

*Nickerson Beach*

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If you had told me 30 years ago that I would be traveling to see birds, I would not have believed you. After all, I was a "Brooklyn girl" and the only birds I ever saw were pigeons and sparrows.

There are birds in the city of course, but I just never noticed I guess.

It wasn't until I moved to Long Island, and became an adult, that I realized the variety of birds that we have.

I always enjoyed nature, but I was young and too involved in my own world to realize the pleasure that birding can bring. My parents enjoyed nature also, and would take the family to parks and rivers. We would pick wild berries in the country and clams and mussels on the beach.

So, I knew from very young that I enjoyed being outdoors.

I now have a "life list" of birds that I've seen. I buy bird ID books and use binoculars to see the differences in the coloring and beaks to help with identification.

Yep, I never would have thought........

Our lives take different turns, and the journey is often unpredictable.

That's a good thing.

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