Dune Road and Wren Roulades

I was in Southampton yesterday and drove back via Ponquogue (to buy fish) and Dune Road (to 'scout' for Sunday's SOFO trip being led by Frank Quevedo). Common Terns were active along with Least Terns (although neither species seems to have settled down to nesting activity). The only shore bird that was really prominent was the inevitable Willet but there were scattered Piping Plovers, several pairs of American Oystercatchers, a few Osprey in the air and perched, and a sampling of migrants: Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, a dowitcher or two, a few Sanderlings. Quite a few Tree Swallows along with the expected Barn Swallows

This morning's fog was even heavier than yesterday's -- couldn't see the other side of the creek -- and it didn't lift very much until midday and then only to turn into a rather dour overcast. The biggest excitement of the morning was a singing duel between two Carolina Wrens, a duel over territory I would imagine. They were on opposite sides of our driveway -- a wooded spot not a paved, landscaped entrance to the property -- and one of the wrens seemed to me a clear winner. His opponent eventually gave up while the victor continued to celebrate his triumph with a whole series of Wren Roulades from a branch right over the driveway and then from a couple of peripheral spots. I suspect that there are already young Carolinas around but the only young birds that I have been able to securely identify so far are Starlings; both these birds winter here and get an early start on raising a family.

Eric Salzman