Beach Boats Abound (And a One-Legged Bird)

 

Going to the beach, soaking in the sun and atmosphere in late September! Not a bad place to live and way to live, in my opinion.

I do apply the sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat, so I’m well aware of the sun’s hazards. Believe me, I’m aware. 

It is always fun and interesting to see the huge ships. Charleston has one of the nation’s biggest and busiest ports.

It is unusual on a Sunday three hours or so at Sullivan’s Island to NOT see one of these container ships entering or leaving the harbor. 

It was a treat on this day to see two gigantic container vessels pass each other.

The deadly currents warning sign has been here forever it seems. I wonder if that $1,040 fine has ever been given a reckless swimmer! 

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is seen on the right side of this photo. Click on the photo to get a better view of it. 

This image I like because of its two big ships and two much smaller ones. Entering the harbor (right) is the Panama, part of the CMA CGB fleet. Its registry location is Valletta, the capital of Malta. 

Leaving Charleston (left) is the Zim Bangkok. We also see in the middle the Fort Sumter visitor ferry, Carolina Belle. On the right is a shrimp trawler, Miss Paula. 

No they didn’t collide! The Panama’s name may come from its frequent travels through the Panama Canal. 

After spending a day or two in Charleston, a tracking site indicates the Panama is bound for another canal, the Suez in Egypt with an expected arrival on Oct. 14. 

The Zim Bangkok, registered in Thailand, is expected to arrive today (Oct. 7) in Kingston, Jamaica. This ship is a new one, completed in 2023. The Panama launched in 2019. 

As the container ships passed, a cruise ship is revealed (follow a line between the two fishers, you know fishermen), docked in Charleston. This is a Carnival cruise ship. Pleasure cruises like this won’t be happening in Charleston much longer. According to reports, Carnival is ending a 14-year partnership with the Charleston port. The decision will provide more space for the redevelopment of Union Pier Terminal and “unlock a transformational opportunity for the city.”

The Miss Paula, loaded with shrimp hopefully, returns home, probably to Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant. She is escorted by dozens of birds seeking some handouts and scraps from today’s catch. 

Check this website to find out more about the Miss Paula and where her shrimp can be purchased. 

Passengers aboard the Ft. Sumter ferry Carolina Belle had an extra treat today, going so close to the two big container ships. 

Check this site for more on how to board the Belle for a visit to Ft. Sumter and the beautiful Charleston Harbor. 

Seeing this Sanderling on the…sand made me sad because the poor thing only had one leg to stand on. 

I also got a inside look at its mouth. Click on the photo to see what I mean. 

Even on one leg the small shore bird seem to get along, hopping around swiftly and smoothly. 

Well, upon a little research it seems the Sanderling probably has both legs.

“When birds stand with one leg to their chest, the warm blood in the arteries in their legs warms the cool blood in the veins close to their heart. It’s an adaptation that all birds have,” writes Taylor Bennett in this online article.

So that makes for a happy ending to this post! Right Sandy the Sanderling?