Readings From the Northside

Bonus Northern Gannet Shot

exit63 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:53:49 +0000

Dive bombing

Heavenly Winter Sun

exit63 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:35:37 +0000

Go away. Iz sunning mah-self.

Quick 2012 Beach Update

exit63 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:22:19 +0000

So the beach looks enormous. Largest I’ve ever seen it. The dune remains healthy on the north end, and the main mid-section of the beach is huge, expansive and flat.

We’re still not sure about the lower beach. Tons of sand washed in from the Surf City & Harvey Cedars replenishment projects continue to kick around in the surf. The day-to-day changes are drastic with jetties being buried and unburied on an almost daily basis. The tideline curves and wiggles up and down the coast as piles of sand wash around looking for forever homes.

Tideline wiggles down the line like a snake.

As a result, the surf is a bit weak. Swimming out to the break, the reason for this becomes obvious. The same forces are at work on the sandbar with shifting piles of sand moving back and forth. Well formed sandbars form and deform around the jetties, right next to deep, seemingly bottomless holes. The rip tides are strong and obvious in these holes and all the forces of the currents on the sand bars seem to want to suck you right in to the rips. It’s a little dicey. All of this adds up to extremely uneven break.

Surf is OK if you can find a sandbar.

We still have plenty of time for things to shape up for next season. The good news is that the larger trend shows the beach building. What we really want to see is that tideline strengthen and a healthy sandbar form to clean up the break and avoid a repeat of last summer’s dangerous shorebreak.

Score! Northern Gannet = Winter Pelican

exit63 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:01:15 +0000

Walkin' down the beach & what did I see?

Northern Gannet in attack formation (headin' straight for me)

At a distance, you might write them off for seagulls.

Until you see their violent attacks on the Ocean

Field Trip!

exit63 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:06:16 +0000

You know Where Am I.

So Lonely

So loon-ly

Which one is not like the others?

The Big Freeze

exit63 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:13:43 +0000

Skate-able

Landing

exit63 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:12:05 +0000

Landing gear engaged. All clear. Over.

Who Doesn’t Love A Snowy Day At The Beach

exit63 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:08:51 +0000

Not sand. It's snow.

More than meets the eye

Sanderlings patrol, but don't seem to ever land

Where the snow meets the sand, meets the ocean

Happiness is a cold barrel

West Wind Afternoon

exit63 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:14:17 +0000

The trick to a good duck dive is getting your tail in the air.

Attack formation

West Wind Perfection

West Wind Morning

exit63 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:13:07 +0000

West Wind Winter Morning. Iz cold.

Thumb Piano

exit63 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:11:14 +0000

Thumb Piano in the dune

When You’re Too Lazy to Duck Dive

exit63 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:31:35 +0000

Try this Matrix style leap

or maybe this

Loony New Year

exit63 — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:49:59 +0000

Common Loon

Eats fresh crab for New Years Brunch

Classic Beach Stuff: Boys Chasing Girls

exit63 — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:45:15 +0000

Female long-tailed duck feigning aloofness while the boy ducks oogle.

The Hurt Locker

exit63 — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:27:50 +0000

... lets you do this

and this, on December 31st