Pike's Beach

The horseshoe crabs have been coming in to mate and lay their eggs at Pike's Beach in Westhampton Dunes and the shore birds are not far behind. There were thousands of shore birds -- make that tens of thousands -- on the shore line and peninsula on the Moriches Bay rising tide this morning. The dominant species was Semipalmated Sandpiper which, arriving in an almost constant stream, literally covered whole stretches of shore and, when disturbed, rose up in clouds of twittering birds. Very occasionally, in the cloud of sound that accompanied these flocks, one could hear the scratchy calls of a White-rumped Sandpiper and/or Western Sandpiper and one or two of each of these birds was actually seen. White-rumped Sandpiper and a Western Sandpiper were originally found by Pat Lindsay; a little later, a beautifully plumaged Western Sandpiper was observed at length in the middle of a roosting flock of Semipalmated Sandpipers on sand flat on the eastern side of the peninsula. The Western, which loomed every so slightly above its  Calidris compatriots, was in full sunlight as it showed off the rufous on its cap and scapulars and its arrow-shaped side markings.

I am happy to report that Red Knots, a species of some considerable concern, were also present in some numbers -- dozens of birds at least. More common species were Sanderlings (in various plumage stages) and Ruddy Turnstones. No dowitchers, Dunlin or phalaropes were noted. There was one Semipalmated Plover seen and a single Piping Plover, something of a disappointment in an area that only a few years ago was the Piping Plover capital of the world. Other birds in the area were local breeders: Willets and Oystercatchers. Least and Common Terns, various gulls including Laughing Gull. According to Shai Mitra, there were two Black Terns at Cupsogue (but no Arctic Terns) and a Royal Tern was seen by Pat. A single Horned Lark was heard singing at the base of the peninsula. 

It is a relief to know that horseshoe crabs are still coming in here but it is also the case that crabbers are still taking hundreds of these ancient creatures for bait. Neighboring states have banned the taking of horseshoe crabs; New York State should follow suit immediately! Pike's Beach is still our best shore and waterbird beach on the East End but its future is inextricably tied up with the conservation of the horseshoe crab. 

Eric Salzman