Cumberland Island in Photos, including a Roseate Spoonbill!

Pam and I took the dogs to Cumberland for their potty break and then back to the boat.  After lunch, we spent a dogless afternoon on the island, and I brought my camera to share with you.  This place is amazing.

This is your typical Cumberland Island walking trail...

where you might see wild horses.  Well, they're not really wild, because feral would be a better term for them.  Without predators, the "wildlife" here is almost tame.

A curious foal, with her mom.

Cumberland's dunes are impressive.

The cumulous clouds made for some excellent photography opportunities.

I didn't see these mussels at Jeckyll.  I wonder what they are?

This turkey vulture was eating something.  I let him be and so can't share with you what it was.  Not that you want to know.

Wild horses on the beach.

The trail to the Dungeness Ruins was blocked by water!

Even though Pam couldn't see her feet, she bucked up and waded.  Ew!  Ew!  Ew!

The wuse park ranger drove through.

This guy was as interested in us, as we were in him.  Without predators, the wildlife here aren't too wild.

Here's a dramatic photo for you.

A Roseate Spoonbill!  The first one I've ever seen!

Yeah whatever.  Get out of the way.

What an odd bird.  There's only about a thousand nesting pairs, so they're scarce.

Spoonbills swing  their beaks from side to side, straining small food items out of the water.  For more info, click here.

This guy just about attacked me to take his photo.

We walked over to the Dungeness ruins and along the way hit the restrooms, which used to be the laundry.

The laundry for the Carnegies.  Note the big stove on the left, which heated water for the tank next to it.

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Big ringers!

The pergola, built from tabby and still perfect.

The ruins of Dungeness.  This was once owned by Thomas Carnegie, who died at the age of 42.  His wife lived here until the 1920s, then abandoning the estate, which burned in 1959 due to insurance lightning.

If you've never been to Cumberland Island and wish to visit, you can either take the ferry from St. Mary's, or take your own boat.  We were headed south, so we did a 180 at buoy 34  to miss the big sandbars and ran up along the shore.  Go past the first dock, which is a park ranger dock, and anchor near the second, which is the park's dinghy dock.  The park office is here, where you pay $4 a head for a seven day pass.  What a bargain.

Cumberland Island is  indeed a must see.