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It’s time to take a break. It’s fall the kids are back in school learning how to catch all the little creatures that live in the mud and the shallow water. All the nest duties are over and about all that’s left to do is to decide if they want to winter in Texas or Southern Cal.

Right now Southern Cal is looking pretty good. The entire summer has been spent making a nest, sitting on eggs, watching the kids, running off gulls who get too close for comfort, keeping on guard at night so weasels or coyotes don’t come in get a chick or two. All in all it’s been exhausting so a little R&R on the beach seems like a pretty good deal. Plus the surf always sounds so cool in the winter months.

However their reservations don’t kick in for another month so sneaking in an occasional nap or catching some rays feels really good. The only problem is making sure the spouse stays awake while she’s catching some z’s. You can’t ever let your guard down when you’re a shorebird because who knows who is lurking in the tall weeds, but today all is good and the sun feels wonderful on her bill. Just a short nap, then we’ll start thinking about closing down the nest for the season.