Two Short Hikes Around Back Bay

I was back near Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and took a couple of short 3-4 mile hikes.

Hiking at Dusk
My first hike was Friday near dusk. Since the paths to False Cape are now closed until April, I could only hike a few miles - along some of the "boardwalk" paths through the marsh, then the mile out and mile back to the blind in the refuge. I didn't see any wildlife close up, except for the snout of a large turtle sticking out of a pond, but did see a rather nice sunset.

This boardwalk trail led to a pretty marsh view:


Pretty clouds over the marsh:


While hiking to a point with nice view of Back Bay that I like to visit, I could see that it wouldn't be too long until sunset:

After hiking a mile or so down to the wildlife observation blind, I got back to open vistas in time to see the last of the setting sun - so peaceful!

Beachcombing

My second hike was Saturday afternoon, a cool and breezy gray day. I looped through part of the dike pathways, then walked out onto the beach and headed south for about a mile. I saw an American coot in one of the impoundments, and some sanderlings and gulls along the beach. That was about it for wildlife that was identifiable.

American coot:

Sanderlings making their living along the shore:

Gulls along the wave line:

Lonely beach on a gray day: