This was our first trip to Robert Moses Beach, 2015, which is on the south shore of Long Island.
It was a really windy and gray day when we got there around 10:30 in the morning.
The snack bar was not ready for the new season's customers.
The Sea Gulls were flying above hoping not to miss anything, especially food scraps. They can be very aggressive, so hold on to your food.
The Italian inspired "Pencil" tower at the entrance to the parking lots.
City friends walking on the beach
Gull just sitting, not paying much attention to me.
Remains of shells and flotsam and jetsam as the tide recedes. I did trip over some fishing line that was buried in the sand. I wound it up and tossed it into the nearest garbage can. It can be dangerous if there is a hook on one end, but this line , fortunately was just a line, no hook. It is dangerous to animals and birds.
Rockweed, or Fucus, a Seaweed we used to call "poppers" which when dry from the sun, produces small pops when the air bladders which keeps it afloat are pinched between kids fingers or toes. It is a very common seaweed on the cool and rocky North and South shores of Long Island.
This is a fragment of a Moon Snail's sand collar egg nest, where masses of eggs are laid by the snail. Usually it is a complete circle made from the spit of the snail and sand. It is flexible when wet, but very crumbly when dry.
A sand dune and snow fence
A fisherman was surf casting. I had never seen anyone actually catch anything, but today he caught a Striped Bass.
After his wife measured the catch and found it too small to keep, the fisherman returned it to the sea, much to my relief. It was a beauty, and swam quickly away. I had hoped that it had learned a lesson; hooks are dangerous.
The surf was wild from the aftermath of a southern hurricane.
Waves dwarfed visitors, but people went into the water which was about 65 f. degrees. Too cold for me, to too early to get in beyond my feet.
The American Flag was full out, indicating probably around 15 to 20 mph winds.
The lifeguard's flags were up
These are images of the shells that I brought home, featuring the Moon Snail shells.
This is part of the Moon snail, the Operculum, or trapdoor, which seals the opening of the shell. It is thin and horny and feels like a finger nail.
This is an egg case from a Skate, or perhaps some sharks. It is also known as the "mermaid's purse," or "devil's purse." Probably by the time it washes up on shore, the young fish have hatched out, and it is empty.
Over the years I have walked the beaches on both shores of Long Island, and inevitably collected, carried home in my pockets, and sketched and painted shells and other beach items.
I have sat on the sand and painted the "pencil,"
and people in their chairs between the blowing flags
These beach remains find their way into all of my drawings and paintings.
Just a wonderful day, the first of many this season.
