a return to Crane Beach

Denise
June 8 at 7:52 PM
Places that were closed due to COVID-19 constraints are starting to reopen.
Entry to Crane Beach in Ipswich, a Trustees of Reservations property, is currently available only to Trustees members, by reservation only. They have moved to this system to limit the number of people on the property, hoping to encourage social distancing.
Luckily a friend has a beach membership as well as a reservation; I joined her for a beach walk in the late afternoon.
Crane Beach on the Crane Estate | North Shore Beach, Ipswich, MA | The TrusteesGet the latest updates on parking, weather, and more via Twitter. Enjoy the Northeast's most spectacular beach and follow trails and boardwalks through a landscape of sand dunes and salt marsh. What makes Crane Beach a special place? At Crane Beach, you'll enjoy one of the finest beaches and outdoor recreation destinations on the East Coast.www.thetrustees.org
The light was simply amazing.

The line near the horizon as shown in this photo is somewhat deceptive. It is the point at which the smooth inland waters meet moving ocean water. My eyes could easily recognize it as land instead of water.
Denise
June 8 at 7:56 PM
When we arrived we saw dunes covered with bright yellow flowers.
photos.smugmug.com
Looking east we were greeted by quiet water and a cloud-painted sky.
photos.smugmug.com
We arrived more than an hour before low tide. This section of the beach would not be comfortably walkable at high tide.
photos.smugmug.com
photos.smugmug.com
The combination of sand, water, and bright green grass was amazing.
photos.smugmug.com
Denise
June 8 at 7:58 PM
The remnants of a shipwreck are visible at low tide.
photos.smugmug.com
photos.smugmug.com
Denise
June 8 at 7:59 PM
We were lucky to visit when there were clouds in the sky.
I like the reflection of the sky on the wet beach.
photos.smugmug.com
Pathfinder
June 8 at 11:12 PM
What a gorgeous day with a gorgeous sky!!
Loved the shipwreck, so many possiblities there - both color and B&W! Great wide angle territory
Lovely series, @Denise
1 Reply
Denise
June 8 at 11:16 PM
Replying to Pathfinder
Thank you @Pathfinder!
The visit was a walk with a friend, not a camera walk. All of the photos I posted were taken with my phone.
Crane Beach is definitely on my list for a return visit with my camera.
Denise
June 26 at 10:55 AM
I'm very lucky to have a friend who has a beach pass to Crane Beach.
We figure there are another few weeks of good visiting time before the greenhead flies descend on us turning the beach into a stay away zone for a while.
Greenhead Fly FAQThe Greenhead flies of Essex County, MA are insects that are called horseflies. They belong to a family called Tabanidae. The name comes from the large iridescent compound eyes which appear as dark green. Why are Greenheads a problem?www.nemassmosquito.org
Yesterday was a good no-fly day. There were a lot of folks on the beach but there was also a lot of beach that was unpopulated except for the birds, good walking territory. We saw piping plovers and their chicks, least terns, black skimmers, sandpipers (sorry, don't know which one), and lots of gulls.
Here's a very zoomed shot of a black skimmer standing in the water.
photos.smugmug.com
The beach and the water were both lovely, a light breeze supplied a reasonable walking temperature.
photos.smugmug.com
photos.smugmug.com
photos.smugmug.com
It was another day of phone photos.
One day I'll bring a camera. Yesterday our focus was on walking...