July 16, 2018

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"A murder on the beach and a mystery solved" ...Observed several dozen Whimbrels with their long down-curved bills feeding in the wave out-wash all along Mile 171, along with large groups of impossible-to-ID juvenile gulls.  The seasonal transverse sand dunes are beginning to form near the Driftwood Shores Resort complex.  Scattered bits and pieces of Moon and Sea Nettle jellies along the high water line.For some time, I've wondered about the large numbers of dead Mole crabs recently littering the high water line along Mile 171.  On closer examination of both dead ones and a live example, I found that most of the dead remains are missing the forward section of the underside soft tissues (head and thorax).  The mystery has been solved!  Tonight I observed a gaggle of crows walking the wet sand, clearly eyeing the surface carefully.  On occasion, a crow would thrust its bill deep into the sand, and after a bit of tugging, pull out a live mole crab.  Holding the crab upside down with a foot, the crow then stabbed the underside repeatedly, pulling off and consuming the crab's head and upper body, leaving the rear section with its legs on the beach.  If you toss the now-headless crab into moving water, it will quickly re-bury itself back into the sand.  Interesting nervous system!The "murder" part?  A group of crows is called a "murder" ...