Birding From the Cockpit

Yesterday was for the birds. We were waiting in Apalachicola so that our arrival in Carrabelle Florida would correspond with slack tide. High tide in Carrabelle was 4:42 PM. Slack tide was slightly after that. We planned on leaving between 12:30 and 1:30 and cruising at a sedate pace up St. George’s Sound.

Breakfast was over and the dishes washed. The boat was wake proofed with lockers and drawers latched, the ice maker on the floor and wine glasses stowed under the forward berth. In general, everything that could fall or break should we encounter waves or wake was made fast.

While waiting for the tide, I spent several hours watching the sandbar across from the boat. A succession of different birds paraded by as the tide crept up the banks. The shorebirds – who I didn’t take the time to identify – were followed by gulls pacing the shore looking for creatures displaced by the rising tide.

Then a flotilla of American Coots inched along, circling together as they hunted. Until they suddenly became the hunted. A Bald Eagle swooped down talons out looking for a mid-morning snack. The Coots scattered into nearby grasses too dense for the eagle to follow. Perching on a tall stump, the eagle waited – not too patiently for the coots to re-appear. No luck so after 10-15 minutes it took flight looking for a more productive spot.

Brown Pelicans are fascinating even if they have a face only a mother could love. A flight arrived for their morning ablutions. They glided in with their hefty bellies just inches from the water. They coast an amazing distance without a wing beat or flick of a feather. Once settled in the 5-6 inches of water now covering the bar, they bobbed and splashed. Dunking their heads and sloshing water over their feathers. Fun to watch!

On the dock, there was a succession of song birds. Boat-tailed Grackles strutted around in separate flocks of male and female. Robins hopped through occasionally. Mocking Birds came to look and flitted away. Laughing Gulls and Terns did fly-bys hoping for handouts. A murder of Fish Crows heckled everything from the roof-tops and wires.

A Yellow-dumped Warbler has been visited the boat each morning to collect gnats.

Who needs internet when this type of entertainment is just outside the cockpit.

We cast-off around 12:30 and started the leg to Carrabelle.