The Cranes of Del Mar

If you’ve walked the beach in Del Mar early enough, you’ve seen them — the tall, graceful cranes standing motionless in the shallows, waiting for breakfast to swim by. Great blue herons mostly, though we get the occasional snowy egret mixed in.

They’re creatures of habit, just like us. I see the same birds in the same spots most mornings. There’s one near 18th Street that stands on a particular rock like it’s his personal fishing pier. He doesn’t budge when you walk past, just gives you a slow sideways look and goes back to staring at the water.

The best time to see them is right around low tide at dawn. They spread out along the waterline, spaced evenly apart like they’ve worked out some kind of territory agreement. Sometimes you’ll count a dozen between Powerhouse Park and Dog Beach.

Paula started calling the site “Crane Tracks” because our morning walks always start with spotting the cranes. They’re the welcoming committee. Sand dollars are the treasure hunt, but the cranes are the reason we keep coming back at sunrise.