Here it is, the day after Christmas and what an amazing spectacular day it has been on the Outer Banks. Bright sunshine, a nice breeze from the south and temperatures in the 60s. Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than this.
At least in December. Admittedly it would be chilly in the summer.
The weather has brought as wonderful mixture of people to the beach. Couple strolling along; a few folks sitting in lounge chairs reading a book; families with children are everywhere.
The ocean is calm today, almost like a lake, although not quite that calm. The brown pelicans are putting on quite a show. They are an extraordinarily graceful flyer, and powerful swimmers—very much at odds with their time on land where their gait is clumsy and awkward.
Their prey are small fish that swim in shallower nearshore areas. What looks like uncoordinated crash landing into the sea is really calculated hunting technique. That spectacular splash when they hit the water, stuns the fish and allows the meal to be scooped up into their beak.
They are not the only seabirds along the beach. Sanderlings are out, chasing the receding waves in a search for sand fleas and other small beach critters. Then, when the next wave rolls in, they sprint to stay just in front of it.
There are gulls on the water and in the air. Most ring billed gulls, but a few other as well.
No matter what the season there is a beauty to the Outer Banks that calls out to be witnessed. Summer is coming soon and here at Brindley Beach Vacations our homes are filling up quickly. Please don’t wait until the last moment to reserve your time by the beach. The sand, the surf and the sun will all be here, but there may not be a place to stay.