Heron on the utility pole was half the story.

photos: Dec. 25, 2023. Flying just above the surf, two herons battle raced the length of Long Beach taking a turn at the Cape Ann Motor Inn bend then looping straight back behind the cottages above Saratoga Creek. They came to a stop with one on the utility pole and the other at the water’s edge. Ben Hur-ons 🙂

COYOTES IN THE BLUE HOUR

Prior to dawn Monday morning, two Eastern Coyotes were spotted perusing Saratoga Creek and Good Harbor Beach. They appeared to be a pair; the huskier of the two was definitely the ‘alpha’ Coyote, with the smaller trotting after the larger. Before crossing the Creek, they both stopped to go pooh and pee in a pile of seaweed.

The larger (am assuming a male, but not entirely sure) has a more mottled snout with a black tail tip, while the smaller of the two has a very black snout and no black on its tail tip.