On Board Yuletide, July 2008 Martha's Vineyard

Lake Tashmoo, July 2008.


Some changes to the lake this year. The entrance has shoaled half of the channel. No ducklings or other wild birds anywhere. Normally I would see baby swans, baby ducks, baby Canadian Geese, none of those things this year, and sadly, Fred the Greylag Goose is also no where to be found. What there are a lot of are terns, they have taken control of the beach at the head of the harbor, and hundreds of them are diving and swooping, and claiming their turf if you get too close. I love these tiny birds for their tenacity. I stood on the shore, watched and listened as a mother tern fed her babies, who stayed on the beach as she flew back and forth with sand eels in her beak for them. I was exhausted with her efforts! Each "family" appeared to have their own call, and after a while I was able to identify the baby calls with the mother calls. I was surprised at how very distinct the calls were.


   


It has been an unsettled summer, with many rainstorms and wet weather.
I actually got fed up on the Fourth of July weekend, and went for a sail in the rain. A few weeks later I was out again, sailing in circles as the current of Vineyard Sound pushed and pulled me.



All in all, some great sailing this season. Such a delight to tack up Vineyard Sound towards Menemsha. And the return downwind run is always exhilarating!