(no subject)

[ourspecial]

I never really thought of myself as a beach person, because it was always unhappy vacations with my family, expensive parking, hot, brutal sun, crowds, sand sticking to my wet skin, etc. Not my scene at all. When we moved to Rhode Island, I'd take like, one overcast day in October and go down to one of the big beaches and sit and watch the waves for a few hours, and that was nice.

But going to check on this osprey on this little spit of tucked away shoreline (in the middle of an HOA community that *aggressively* doesn't want people to know that there's public access) has kind of changed my relationship to it. It's close, I can stop by for 15 minutes in between other errands. It's quiet. I'm getting to know the cast of characters: the two osprey, the flock of brants that hung out there in spring before continuing their migration, the eastern cottontails, the catbird pair in the woods. Sometimes Ellie comes with me and wades in the shallows. It feels more like a real environment, and less of a commercial destination.

Comments

[ribirdnerd]

Yes fight for those public access rights!

[ourspecial]

Yayyyy public access! I'm watching the Gaspee Point nest, MAN those HOA people don't want you in there! They provide exactly five parking spots if you want to get down on that beach.

[mxroboto]

Ooof, I understand that, I shied away from beaches for similar reasons, especially the commercial aspect. I love that you're getting this new outlook on it!! Changing it from this big, tiresome thing to a little rest spot in nature sounds good for the soul. Thank you osprey <3

and I'm with the other commenter, make use of that public access!!!