After lots of pictures of the Flamingo, another birder told us about the two clapper rails. He had spotted them earlier and if we could see one it would be a new life bird! As he was talking the clapper rail walked out from under the boardwalk and put on quite a show.
The low tide had concentrated the fish and crabs in a very small tidal pool. The birds were having a feast, and the clapper rail was enjoying the smorgasbord. At one point we watched as it waded into the shallow pool and caught a small blue crab!
It carried the crab onto the mud flat, dropped it, and then proceeded to kill it before finishing off a fresh blue crab feast. We also watched as the snowy egrets, a little blue heron, black necked stilts, and even the grackles were gobbling up small minnows.
After our own lunch we went to the beach front and watched as three kite surfers enjoyed the strong winds and launched themselves high into the air. I asked if Renita would like a kite, harness and surfboard for Christmas, but she responded by wondering aloud if I was trying to get rid of her. It looked like so much fun and we are only seventy-three, what could go wrong?
Our last stop was at Browne Point where a pod of dolphins was eating their lunch and enjoying the day as dolphins always seem to do. Renita and several others were taking pictures with their cell phones. It was too cold and windy for me and I stayed put in the car, taking a picture of the sand sculture wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.
It was a good end to the busy day. Clear skies
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