Blue Moon

Driving east from Westhampton to East Quogue on Wednesday evening, we encountered a remarkable sight: a huge round ball hanging over the trees. It was, of course, the Blue Moon -- not blue at all but rather orangey or cream-colored. The impression of huge size was overwhelming. "Why," Lorna asked, "does it look so huge."

Rather than heading straight home, we drove to the Town Dock at the end of Bay Avenue where the oversize moon and its reflection hung over the water. A bit later, we watched it rise -- and shrink in size -- from our front deck as it rose over the trees and water.

The delicate purple flower known as Germander or Wood Sage, is in bloom around the marsh edge. Small black dragonflies -- some with yellow tails -- are active in and around the marsh; these are the Seaside Dragonlets, a species indigenous to the salt marsh.

One 'new' bird for the season: Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Also Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat

Eric Salzman