Since July 31 when Friendly Seal was in the Bay teaching her pup how to fish (www.dailykos.com/...), I’ve been watching for them there. A week after that session she returned to the Bay and I’ve seen her most days but I have not seen Two-Rings again. I have to assume her pup has graduated to weaner-dom, and is now hanging out at the haul-out site with other weaners. I’ll keep watching for Two-Rings though since the little seal knows how to get here now.
Friendly Seal has been fishing pretty steadily, on the surface briefly and then diving for 3-10 minutes at a time. Rebuilding her body mass after all that nursing. Whenever she surfaces she looks around to see what’s up in the Bay. If I’m in my kayak, I look around too. What have we been seeing recently?
Osprey watches me watching it. Creatures on shore are less wary of me in a kayak than when I’m walking on the beach.
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Killdeer, most likely a family with new youngsters, feeding on sand fleas and such at the tide line.
This juvenile Great Blue Heron has been hanging around the Bay recently.
While Friendly Seal has not been as friendly as she used to be, all grown up now, she is still distinctly different from any other seals I know. She prefers to fish in this Bay, and fairly close to shore. She also shows a marked interest in what’s happening on the beach. Even now, fishing almost non-stop, she still watches the shore.
Friendly Seal checking out the action on the beach.
I’ve noticed she has a particular interest in kids. There are often kids on the beach, as you might expect, especially in summer.
These are some of my neighbors. Either Mom or Dad brings the little girl down to the beach often, Dad this time. Friendly Seal swims close to shore to see them (not in this photo frame tho).
A couple of days ago Friendly Seal got a big surprise. She was swimming along as usual, checking out the beach, and did a sudden flip ‘n splash! Stared. Evidently she’s never seen a horse on the beach before!
Friendly Seal watches a horse on the beach. She’s seen otter, mink, raccoon, many kinds of birds, even deer, but — a horse? Whoaa!
Mr O lands his kayak on the beach and chats with our neighbor. She explained that this is her new horse, a 25-year old rescue. He’d been neglected and abused. She’s fattening him up and giving him exercise. The beach is a good place, both for all the interesting new sights for him and because the sand is easier on his legs. These days the ground in the pasture is rock-hard with drought.
After a good long look, Friendly Seal resumed her fishing. It’s late summer in the Bay, and we are all making the most of it!
Friendly Seal catching a breath before her next dive.
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Time for you to share what you’re seeing in your natural neighborhood . . .
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