In 2019 Long Beach reinforced the barrier beaches with new sand dunes and  new stone jetties.  The sand dunes run parallel to and almost equal in elevation to the boardwalk.  I bicycle ride along the boardwalk and I noticed that the beach grass on the dunes are now home to shore birds.  

Being close as 12 feet away from these birds in their habitat is special for me.  I would always see the local  Oyster Catchers flying by, over the bays and salt water mashes and I would always hear their screatching eeking call eeeek.  I would see them at ease near the inlet sitting on mossy rocks that have  barnacles and mussels bearing their face above the lowtide water line.  But today, on the boardwalk, with winds 30 knots from the South, the boardwalk was empty and the Oyster Catchers were hunkering down.  

I stopped and observed an adult oversee a juvenile and usher him back to the safety of their domain, behind the year old beach grass, to their place of refuge.

SRH 07112020