SOFO on the beach

This morning's South Fork Natural History (SOFO) walk started at Shinnecock Inlet and ended at the Pike's Beach overlook. The early morning was overcast, there was almost no wind and the Atlantic was flat as the proverbial pancake; later on, the sun pushed through and things got hot (temperature-wise at least).

Not surprisingly, off-shore birds were hard to come by, some distant, probably Gannets being the highlight (if one can call it that). There was a noticeable movement of Barn and Tree Swallows which continued well into the morning and several raptors -- two Northern Harriers, a Kestrel and at least one migrating Osprey -- were seen moving along the outer beach (like the swallows, the vanguard of a bigger migration to come).

Both marsh sparrows were seen: a number of Saltmarsh Sparrows at one bayman's pullout and several Seaside Sparrows with young at another; the latter was particularly welcome as these birds have been scarce this year. At least 30-40 Royal Terns were seen at the Pike's Beach overlook along with several Laughing Gulls, two Red Knots, a handsome breeding-plumaged Black-bellied Plover, several American Oystercatchers and some numbers of Short-billed Dowitchers, Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones. Common Terns were widespread but only a couple of Least Terns were seen; these birds are not doing well in our area. The most common shorebirds at almost every stop along the way were Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers.

The heron department was dominated by Great Egrets but there were a few Snowys and a couple of Great Blue Herons along the way. Passerines were not common but there was a flock of Boat-tailed Grackles at one birdy Shinnecock pullout plus a Robin with young, a couple of Brown Thrashers, a possible Willow Flycatcher, several Common Yellowthroats (including one in a flight song) and at least one unidentified skulking warbler. A female Belted Kingfisher at Tiana Beach was probably a migrant and there were Double-crested Cormorants on the move as well.

It was also a good day for butterflies. The species seen and identified were Monarchs, Pearl Crescent, Tiger Swallowtail, American Copper and Cloudless Sulphur.

Eric Salzman