Over the break, some of my college friends and I made a trip out to the North Fork on Long Island. Over the course of the week, I watched one too many movies, went on plenty walks, and made some good food (for once). I've been to the North Fork several times, so naturally, I brought my friends to my favorite rock beach. This beach looks out into the Long Island sound, and in the distance, Connecticut, namely Old Saybrook, can be seen on a clear day. 

On the rock beach, I spotted several natural phenomenons. For starters, the rock formations were especially interesting because there seemed to be two plateaus along the shore. We must've visited the beach during low tide, otherwise the slight waves would be reaching that second plateau. While the tides here aren't significant, the drop in these rock formations were apparent. The beach is impossible to walk on without shoes - the rocks are too abundant and the perfect size to be uncomfortable. 

We spotted several flocks of seagulls while sitting on the beach. They seemed to have perched on the small oak trees nearby. The several times in which I have visited this beach, a large driftwood oak remains along the shoreline. It seems to be incredibly old, and has withered with heavy winds and precipitation. Along the buffer, there are several kinds of oaks, grasses, and driftwoods. Additionally, it is not uncommon to see turkeys here during the summer. On the long walk through the park, they like to perch within the brush and might even stray towards the local hikers. 

During our never-ending hunt for interesting rocks, I noticed lots Irish moss and Common Atlantic Slippersnail shells. I also took note that the sediments along the shoreline were much smaller and discolored than they were along the buffer, which is likely due to ocean turnover. You can not find any shells along the buffer of the beach.

Compared to my Burlington site (behind Trinity Campus), Orient Point County Park countered almost every natural feature. Coastal site vs. forest site. My spot behind Trinity features many tall, coniferous trees, whereas the rock beach offers small, deciduous trees and beachgrass along the buffer. I was mostly looking at the rock formations that have occurred on the beach, whereas the forested site requires fierce examination of coniferous needles, mammals, and old growth.