My View of Life on the Dock
motif Monday photo: view across the marsh at the back of Good Harbor Beach
photo: portrait of David Cox at MFA, Boston, Rothko exhibition 2018
photos same morning, minus Rothko effects: sunrise motif with signs; when even the parking lot…
A grand Great Egret has been hanging out at the Good Harbor Beach marsh. He has been dining on small fish mostly. The photos are from Sunday but I didn’t spot him either yesterday or today; perhaps he has moved on.
The long breeding plumes are called aigrettes.
Cape Ann is part of the Great Egrets breeding range, particularly House Island. This Egret is in full breeding plumage, advertising to a potential mate how fit and desirable he is to other Great Egrets. These same beautiful feathers, and humanity’s indiscriminate killing of, are what caused the bird to become nearly extinct. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the long breeding plumes, called aigrettes, of many species of herons and egrets were prized as fashion accessories to adorn women’s hats. Thanks to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, it is illegal to hunt or harm in any way gorgeous birds such as the Great Egret, and egrets and herons are making a comeback.
Fine dining in the marsh
Dagger-like bill
A sewer pipe in Essex broke over the weekend, spewing raw sewage into the Essex River Salt Marsh. I am so very sorry for our local clam diggers–just as the season was getting underway–devastating. The clam flats will be monitored, at a minimum, over the next 21 days before any determination about reopening will be made.
Essex River Clammers
About the Great Marsh
“In Massachusetts, the North Shore’s Great Marsh is the largest continuous stretch of Salt Marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Great Marsh includes over 20,000 acres of marsh, barrier beach, tidal river, estuary, mudflat, and upland islands extending across the Massachusetts North Shore from Gloucester to Salisbury. In recognition of these extraordinary resources, a portion of this area was designated by the state in 1979 as the Parker River/Essex Bay Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The Great Marsh is an internationally recognized Important Bird Area (IBA) as it contributes to the preservation of many breeding and migratory birds. This unique complex of natural systems add ecological, economic, recreational, and cultural value to our daily lives both on the coast and inland where land is connected by river and stream networks.” Read more about the Great Marsh Coalition here.
Marveling at the tenacity of coastal towns- Cape Ann public works after winter storms are no joke.
Rockport, Mass. The many access stairs for the Long Beach pedestrian walkway are put back each spring. Some years, the landing platforms on the sand side need repair. The 2018 winter storms pummeled each and every access point. Landings on sand and up top, the railings, and treads were entirely stripped. The rebuild for a few of the staircases will remain on hold until their immediate seawall areas are tended.
From there to here: popples and rocks from the decimated barrier wall between Long Beach and Cape Hedge Beach were deposited along Long Beach.
Spring 2018, the ocean is several feet deep at the rip rap line every high tide
Continue reading “Repairing Long Beach Rockport Mass after storm damage|Busy New England DPW crews”
2:15PM slush pond roads and closed by Witham and Thacher and Good Harbor Beach parking lot. Power outages this way.
GOOD HARBOR BEACH
Ocean is up on the deck outside the Good Harbor Beach Inn snack bar, though not to the street
LONG BEACH
There go the staircases
**Video coming when power-wifi back**
I have never ever in my life been more ferociously attacked and eaten alive by mosquitoes as I did this morning capturing this shot. I drove past it at first but had to loop back. The water was so still, the tide was just right, the light just beginning to peek through.
The mosquitoes were insane I tell you. I’m still itching. Hit this one up larger. I love the reflection of the house and the clouds in the sky reflecting in the water. No brainer, had to get out of the truck and set up the shot, right?
click for the larger version, you won’t be disappointed.
Good Morning Gloucester 