It was a gloriously sunny day at the almost north end of the Long Beach
Peninsula. I was touring the newest State Park land aquisition to
Leadbetter Point State Park. We were there about 3:30 in the afternoon. We
were standing on the first dune along the beach looking back toward the bay
when we saw several large flocks of sandpipers flying low along the tree
tops then whoosh up and over the dune onto the beach. More flocks kept
coming for several minutes. Then, a flock simply went directly into us, the
beat of wings and the calling of the birds just inches from our faces was
absolutely amazing. The beach came alive with little bodies busy probing
the sand for other critters they call food.
I look forward to when this area of the Park is formally open to the
public. It will be a wonderful access point for great birding on the beach
as well as a new point inland to Hines Marsh. And the view from this area
is spectacular looking up and down the undeveloped peninsula.

Martha Jordan
www.swansociety.org