Ahhhh, the Gulls of our Cape Cod winters…
My constant companions on shore walks, no matter what the weather might; sunshiny days full of promise or when the cold, raw winds blow.
Some would call them ordinary, pests, even scavengers, and I suppose they would not be wrong.
But I don’t think it’s the whole picture.
To me they are fascinating creatures, the proverbial Cape Cod year round residents who face the winter beach.
Like me.
During the quiet winter months, coming upon a small flock of gulls fishing along the shore when the water’s choppy is always a thrill for me.
Tenacious and focused, they dive headlong into the surf.
And sometimes, they come up empty.
In fact “sometimes”, can turn into many times!
But they don’t give up, they simply try again.
And again.
And again.
Until at last they snatch something tasty from the frigid water, be it a tasty clam, mussel or scallop.
And that’s when the real work begins.
Now they have to protect their prize, from all comers.
Flying away from the crowd they carry their treasure, gripping it as tightly as they can…
And soaring up, up, up into the air…
They reach a certain place high in the sky and then hovering in place, they let their prize fall smack! to the rocks and shells below.
And if the shell doesn’t crack on the first attempt, they snatch it up once again, and awaaaay they go!!
I’ve seen them do it over and over, and over again, however many times it takes to drop and crack that shell — and still manage to not lose it to another gull!
The bottom line?
Gulls never give up.
Not if the prize, that they prize, is worth what it takes to hold onto it…
And make it their own. ❤
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