Chesapeake Bay Crab Walk

WHEN: July 18, 2010 WHERE: Baylake Beach, Virginia Beach, VA Just so that I don't go 2 weeks without a post, I thought I'd come out of hiding and share with you some crustacean comedy we witnessed today at the beach. We have made good friends with the sand so far this summer as we've tried to escape the heat in the funnest way we know how. The high was 98 today and it's been above 90 the past 7 days. The average high for the past month (since June 18) was 93 and there have been eight days at or above 95. I couldn't be happier, aside from spending the time in Death Valley (it was 125° there the past two days). But back to the crustaceans... Chesapeake Bay is perhaps best known for its crabs (specifically, blue crab) and many species and sizes can be seen along its beaches. Today we were treated to an entertaining show by the Ghost Crab, common along most of the US East and Gulf coasts and around the world. I did see this crab in the Outer Banks of North Carolina 2 years ago but don't recall ever seeing it other than that one time. I even got up close and personal with it and he/she allowed me an entire photo shoot. It's surprising as these crabs are extremely shy and also nocturnal (hence the name).

This ghost crab (about 8-10 inches long) chilled with me on Pea Island in May 2008

It's quite apparent where these crabs are hiding, perhaps just rare to actually see them. There little burrow holes litter the beach, with hundreds of "crabprints" in the sand that's strewn about the openings to their dwellings. Today was quite a different story and beady, black crab eyes surfaced in unison from time to time. We were on an empty stretch of beach, so the minimal foot traffic gave them the courage to join in on the daylight and do the "side-footed tango". Their quick scurries across the sand, from seaweed clump to seaweed clump and away from the slightest approach of a human or swoop of a seagull, were indeed entertaining. I think the cliche should be "scaredy-crab".

And on a completely unrelated note, my wife is beautiful and I have been bothering her for pictures all day long. Just thought I'd share. We're off to another free concert tonight (John Mayer), compliments of working for the Army Corps. The audience could be interesting...