![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSpELrNb0BIEvgH8RLtNSCZgZDlMvRlY1iRE9oNnllrFTK8Ht9qBn2LWDGL6mI2Fp91P6eLlGwhmb44183602tiF36_7UcRWXtXy07w4snDNKF3nJATpdVRjikv3hpiu1ptHKwQ/s1600/SOSA+1.JPG) |
Solitary Sandpiper |
After a three and a half month hiatus, I am back to blogging - hopefully with regularity. A few followers have inquired about my absence, and I thank them heartily.
Home projects consumed me during my blogging absence - getting them done took nearly all of my attention. But they are done, and I am finally able to return to doing the things that I enjoy in retirement: birding, photography, and learning about things with wings.
Two days ago I finally made my first trip of the year to Cape May from my Philadelphia base. Several hours of leisurely strolling through the state park and conservancy trails was a much needed tonic. The birds, butterflies, and dragonflies were almost an extra bonus.
I think the highlight of the day (other than just being there) was the
Belted Kingfisher which hovered just a few feet above my head as it fished one of the ponds ...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRe5PhKFrvSHxUD1RD3g8TcpwvX4QljcGbl7unOJUQywwver1qT27otEiJK2fp-ni0XXacnZiuXA6U1yiEbNWcgcyN0VXGhaPbX0FFqzvJ6_u-eAoqkPI1PzATvr__KQB-rArA1w/s1600/BEKI+1.JPG) |
Belted Kingfisher |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt16fgFuRh1yCTWX7j8yOnbA5AhHKJVfTFK1oh2Hk7pEvCwCqwJsH6LgKCc_6J9sP6SSmLws0cIPfIQWdDetR9OKU0aEQej0S0TN7DLQHTpCF8Kt31EWHYUaRqFKSO1JxlJ2ZN2A/s1600/BEKI+2.JPG) |
Belted Kingfisher |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXA1r_b_saLiE182VZohNSbjG4WAqCHOJjBO3TZNjFYPz1fRYvRFaoZirPiH6hcZ1Y9uWfI47jtcZdxbz4cxr9HVodU5zRSLnIKgsU49d1I0CfvKsHjCvEvlGVwK_DvPNqRoUkVw/s1600/BEKI+3.JPG) |
Belted Kingfisher |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFwq3xKkeNvMmLFCbKNJHA8uOj1aXFbER2g94ZBcteuChoDpl3H0aRuHn1DIFNuaVDhqlKZRL_5VMh1vWrlLYhbqiHNvDlm8fZH5dmOcmneLdRoFUWD5oEKUFzQjo9wVF4Xsa-g/s1600/BEKI+4.JPG) |
Belted Kingfisher |
I never tire of sitting on a sandy beach and watching the
Sanderlings chase the waves - (true sand-pipers as opposed to the mud-pipers which would better describe most peeps) ...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJCcpBnjyL_yu87EUACvbiTfS2lTXE0rBba_opgE32YaXSB5vLz7wPrs9yNiItO51jZ1EvLHXxsMsLRygZp5izrapqfWSH-Y5AdSc7QpQIMJxCbFcakdOLYt8MKDyTY-Unx7GCg/s1600/SAND+1.JPG) |
Sanderling |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lHdypOs5LK84A6c6NDx1eudjKpweUevnTpNBePDv9yrvvTAnFSQ3ltLhzOaYN35mxNSybe5q6oLj7fU395gdLmlIE6VT6EAcRa8_UsuQXvJyf0ApU5pYDqbdUi8qItixhm7k7w/s1600/SAND+2.JPG) |
Sanderling |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cXALCDodx-YfPAzsQtTdZTaqAsYCakqhFnAIWS4R5X6M3hb4PhczqfV3yikTjJARC9cuFtr-ljLsWYdEdH2rM0RsKQvY241ZfrIXXORPZVxE0XdrlvzhqgP1BLhXx7BMCUikkg/s1600/SAND+3.JPG) |
Sanderling |
... or finding a quiet spot where solitary contemplation is shared only with a
Solitary Sandpiper doing its solitary foraging ...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC4ZjsZK9g7gWFEZSZKlwKTtrZCpbFfMdgWI2M-PYJknfsbOdMX2acEVjPERR9cE4fOMf-8cJ6HNRlYdWjL4BBTea4IjhijUVuFstQy8E5Pb7u97l_M_DFdrda_T23XNpwDebTeA/s1600/SOSA+2.JPG) |
Solitary Sandpiper |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eHz4es-6NJAnJCF8q6rjFxgnukT9rVNjO8wyihOb85a_C2cqG6Ym16_kj2_KWI-7Fm6nrXsLy_MSzYcOCa2riUb09s3x0SkhQoCQIyDbHD9bqn5ZR4eYNrODUQxzCcfgzcPpAA/s1600/SOSA+3.JPG) |
Solitary Sandpiper |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdmlN0BgyK2cBWX49yoc7lQdqZoYAoLYGfRjB0VviMwEEJQkP2bZx33yKHYX17G3vluZhQpH8LT_AD7ve0xcZr-mwSQAtROMF-eXNMG1LI80rIkjunUi3QMQtmkbulJUtGTrAFQ/s1600/SOSA+4.JPG) |
Solitary Sandpiper |
And what else can improve a perfectly sunny, warm summer day than standing on a causeway a few feet from a gracefully elegant
Great Egret as it preens and then stalks with such focused attention and patience? ...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wJQ6Che1m6X8Nq0TOnlKByr_cO8N4ylc9WeKMhSC-GDAiiKiZ5t0vOuLoRTQlLtySy4Ik8yDzD82fCx9tx4h0UbDRfXd70KVSQKXCOTWDSoMiL8t2FDMzP4Zw1rVhxahoa7ycA/s1600/COEG+1.JPG) |
Great Egret |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEdUyZHfi6_iUN06FC1FemNDD9y2Mjuxj6iwFJCGUqHwemOPcZv18wRtkFQt8h1FS3RuX5hklzjnGwB3TElp5QLKL4aHn54DpMtJFmFLAiHZaX5XWkBDivxSmIqq_p-WUBcsgxA/s1600/COEG+2.JPG) |
Great Egret |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdTG-F_MBxxE47ksXcfpw0Mwb-qGi-pzMsDTBOtc45RpuGIAh0ZTq2ee6qi4kKLWal9DijKGtH5x-A7G88BY_Z7vDCZuKcpC1Bk-ZOhmwJz59ygWFQ4ucRScFITl4Cg7tCPyhVQ/s1600/COEG+3.JPG) |
Great Egret |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM3OHk-Bbzsz3czZ5usx1Z71c07SGaY9lZzamO63grSMLn75lsnRRiXvt9lrIqjCquQR6TYbKh47yJ7UkfRn2_05zhT0EFBE1T3qXXsDVBWd5GH010kBlEwxWRuRnTWmUVhp-Tw/s1600/COEG+4.JPG) |
Great Egret |
Looking forward to a Labor Day filled with labors of love!