Sunshine and Seagulls

Oh, what a glorious morning!

After a much-appreciated good night’s sleep in our cozy cocoon of an RV, with no crows waking us at an ungodly hour, Ronni and I were ready to face the bright new day by 7:30 am.

And what a beautiful day it was! The entire week has been enjoyable, but this day greeted us with brilliant sunshine right from the start.

Coffee mug in one hand and Ronni’s short, 6’ leash in the other, we walked the few steps to the edge of the beach.

The vastness of Cook Inlet lay at my feet, quiescent as a mill pond. Across its quiet, blue surface, you could actually see the vague reflection of the massive Iliamna volcano, one of several volcanos visible along the far coast.

By 10:00 am, after coffee, breakfast and a long walk, Ronni and I settled in for a bout of sitting outside and enjoying the sunshine – and more coffee. It was just delicious. ☀️

This whole past week, I’ve tried to get out as early as my ‘vacation’ schedule allows to take in the antics on the beach at low tide.

On several occasions, I’ve counted as many as eight bald eagles and their adolescent offspring amidst the fray, powerful wings flapping and sharp beaks grabbing gobbets of fish away from the forever squabbling gulls and ravens (or crows … I remain undecided there).

Occasionally, an eagle with a beak clamped on its prize would break free of the group, spread its massive wings and soar across the sand, swooping low enough overhead to have me hugging Ronni close as the bird swept by and off to its nest on the nearby cliffs.

Much as I love watching the eagles, it’s the gulls who remain the comic relief along the shoreline. Gulls are such gregarious, contentious creatures.

All through the day, I’d look up and see, along with the many sea birds always patrolling the water’s edge, huge rafts of gulls floating by my campsite with the ever-moving tide.

Depending on the direction of the tide, the entire flotilla will be facing and drifting one way – an army of little ships, heading off to sea.

Later in the day, all the bobbing gray, brown and white bodies would drift back into sight, just as fixedly floating the other direction. I’d find myself whimsically wondering if it’s the same group … and what the plan is?

And then suddenly, without warning, they’ll all take wing simultaneously in a huge flurry of excitement.

Whatever the reason, I smile as I watch them take flight in a mad scramble, all B-lining for whatever it is. I’m reminded of the seagulls in “Finding Nemo”, all raucously shouting “Mine! Mine! Mine!”