“I’m fortunate to witness over one hundred Emerald Coast and 30A sunrises each year, but I’ve only observed a scene like this once. “The tide is going out, and thanks to recent rains, the waters of Draper Lake are flowing out and being pulled into the gulf. Shorebirds are always masters of knowing where the fish are, and they are swimming, stalking, and soaring over this narrow strip of receding water in search of breakfast. “As the sun arose over the Gulf’s waters, it softly pierced through multiple layers of wispy clouds. The sand is so perfectly silky smooth from the tidal action that the sun is actually reflecting atop its surface in a manner I can’t recall seeing too often. “Nature is all about balance, and this capture perfectly embodies this endless rhythm. The tide is receding, while the sun is rising. The sand in the outflow is dimpled from the churning waters, while the beach has been smoothed and glassed. The various shorebirds are gracefully and almost effortlessly sustaining themselves for the future, while small fish have no choice but to be a sacrifice for this perpetuation of the natural world.”
