Hurricane Sandy: when nature bats last

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Unbelievable.

Yes, climate change is real, spawning monster storms now being called the new norm. 

Above is a photo of the salt marshes I took three years ago in early October just inland from the Jersey shore near Avalon, very close to where Hurricane Sandy came ashore last night.

Today the entire area, indeed the entire Jersey coastal region from Cape May to Sandy Hook, has been devastated. 

I wonder if the snowy egret got away.

 NBC Nightly News: Jersey shore

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Avalon 8

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Farther along, another snowy egret—a male or a female, I'm not sure, they are not as forthcoming as cardinals.

Sleek. Statuesque. Vigilant. Something in the distance has caught its attention.

At this time of the year, it's probably not looking at a potential mate. The area of the upper bill, in front of the eyes, is yellow indicating it’s non-breeding season. When it’s time to mate the facial patch turns red—perhaps blushing by what's on its mind—and it'll grow long shaggy nuptial plumes, like baby's breath or snow or Gandalf's beard.

- Photo taken near Stone Harbor in October.

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Avalon 7

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Sitting crossed-legged beside a gravel road, watching a snowy egret slowly high-step-it through swaying marsh grasses, is the way to spend a morning. In truth, at that moment, it seemed like the only way to spend a morning.

Black legs and, oh, those lemon-yellow feet!

The egret was methodical. Each move deliberate. Each step measured. One never knows when a quick meal will present itself. That’s true for egrets and egret-watchers alike. Although, I don't know how I feel about raw fish, even if you wrap it in cold sticky rice.

- Photo taken at the Wetlands Institute, Stone Harbor, NJ

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