Windy day, cool morning, mixed clouds and sun. Tide still low in the morning and both night herons (Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned) on the pond along with the expected Eastern Willet. We have to begin to say Eastern Willet as the two willets are being split; Western Willet is a not-too-difficult find in fall migration (Cupsogue is the best spot that I know of around here to look for them).
Almost every morning I see a small spotted fawn on the marsh with no adults nearby. Is this an abandoned youngster? Elsewhere I have seen small groups of two or three spotted fawns with one or two adults (the mothers presumably).
Spotted Wintergreen is in bloom; we used to have a lot of these exotic natives but Sandy cleared out most of them). This is the tropical-looking plant with two-tone leaves and droopy, waxy white flowers. Another native in flower right now is the Venus Looking-glass, also seemingly decimated by Sandy but surviving in a few places. The first Chanterelles have been appearing -- enough to make a little first course for dinner last night.
Still not many butterflies but I did see a Red-banded Hairstreak. This small butterfly is supposed to be a Southern species which only wanders here but this information is, I suspect, quite out of date as I see this butterfly rather often around here; it feeds on rotting leaves and we certainly have a lot of those!
Eric Salzman
Friday, June 30, 2017
Thursday, June 29, 2017
a rail calls, a cowbird is fed and a walk is planned
As is my usual practice, I began my morning walk by heading straight down to the pond and plopped myself down in the chair that I keep there. Almost immediately, the Clapper Rail began a series of loud keks seemingly right next to the chair but inside some of the reeds that border the pond. As has happened before, the rail was probably a bit further away than I thought -- perhaps in a slightly different set of reeds a feet across the neck of the pond. But, as before, I could not see him or even glimpse a bit of movement in the reeds; either he was able to slip around the reeds without making them move or, perhaps more likely, he was actually calling from the channel which is difficult to peer into.
A Black-crowned Night Heron and the usual Great Egrets and slightly-less-great Willets flew up -- the normal quotient of waders in the pond these low-tide days.
My major avian observation of the day was perhaps a little less delightful: a Cowbird fledgling being fed by a pair of Song Sparrows! And, as usual, I heard what I think was a Warbling Vireo song but could only get a bare glimpse of the bird -- not quite enough to clinch the ID.
I'm doing another official walk in the Vineyard Field in back of the South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) on Sunday, July 2nd. We'll meet at 8 am directly in back of SOFO and do a circuit around the field, listening and looking for birds. As many of you know, I'm a composer and do a lot of my Birding By Ear which is, in fact, the name of the program/walk. If you plan to come, please contact SOFO by phone (631-537-9735) or by e-mail (sofo@hamptons.com). If you want a little more information, go to the SOFO web site and check the calendar of events.
Hope to see you there!
Eric Salzman
A Black-crowned Night Heron and the usual Great Egrets and slightly-less-great Willets flew up -- the normal quotient of waders in the pond these low-tide days.
My major avian observation of the day was perhaps a little less delightful: a Cowbird fledgling being fed by a pair of Song Sparrows! And, as usual, I heard what I think was a Warbling Vireo song but could only get a bare glimpse of the bird -- not quite enough to clinch the ID.
I'm doing another official walk in the Vineyard Field in back of the South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) on Sunday, July 2nd. We'll meet at 8 am directly in back of SOFO and do a circuit around the field, listening and looking for birds. As many of you know, I'm a composer and do a lot of my Birding By Ear which is, in fact, the name of the program/walk. If you plan to come, please contact SOFO by phone (631-537-9735) or by e-mail (sofo@hamptons.com). If you want a little more information, go to the SOFO web site and check the calendar of events.
Hope to see you there!
Eric Salzman
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
heading deep into breeding season
As things quiet down, many species are out with their newly fledged young. Three Downy Woodpeckers -- one adult with two young -- were poking around a dead stump covered with woodpecker holes (not necessarily made by Downies); the impression was that of a parent showing its offspring how to find food. The two other resident woodpeckers -- Northern Flicker and Red-bellied Woodpeckers -- were both heard calling but no sign of offspring yet.
Two Mute Swans continue to occupy the creek but once again without offspring -- the third or fourth year without any cygnets in this part of the creek. However the local Canada Goose pair has eleven goslings (originally twelve but one seems to have fallen by the wayside). And then there were yesterday's turkeys; as was the case last year, the flock seems to be a merging of two or more broods.
Low tide on the pond with feeding Black-crowned Night Heron and Willets. The Clapper Rail is now calling only early in the morning and at dusk. A Red Admiral butterfly was the first of the year. Haven't seen a single Monarch.
Derek Rogers of the Nature Conservancy tells me that there are up to a half a dozen Saltmarsh Sparrow nests on the De Ropp Pine Neck property and that at least one nest is or was in the strip of marsh directly opposite us (near the Osprey pole). So that's probably the source of our visiting Saltmarsh Sparrows.
Eric Salzman
Two Mute Swans continue to occupy the creek but once again without offspring -- the third or fourth year without any cygnets in this part of the creek. However the local Canada Goose pair has eleven goslings (originally twelve but one seems to have fallen by the wayside). And then there were yesterday's turkeys; as was the case last year, the flock seems to be a merging of two or more broods.
Low tide on the pond with feeding Black-crowned Night Heron and Willets. The Clapper Rail is now calling only early in the morning and at dusk. A Red Admiral butterfly was the first of the year. Haven't seen a single Monarch.
Derek Rogers of the Nature Conservancy tells me that there are up to a half a dozen Saltmarsh Sparrow nests on the De Ropp Pine Neck property and that at least one nest is or was in the strip of marsh directly opposite us (near the Osprey pole). So that's probably the source of our visiting Saltmarsh Sparrows.
Eric Salzman
Monday, June 26, 2017
turkey-lurkeys
Turkeys on the old right-of-way: two or three adults with perhaps 15 or more little ones -- and, indeed they were very little. This was the first appearance of turkeys on the place this summer. We had lots of them last year and were expecting them again -- but not so early. These turkeylets did not look as if they were very long out of the nest but turkeys are 'precocial' -- i.e. born running.
There are three spotted fauns around but I have seen only one doe with them. Apparently deer can have triplets. Also one of them is bigger than the other two which probably indicates one male and two females in the brood.
Warmer weather has brought out more insects including dragonflies (so far unidentified except for the Seaside Dragonlet on the marsh). Few butterflies however except for Cabbage Whites (lots of those).
Many flowers coming into bloom right now: Catalpa (magnificent tree with orchid like flowers), Prickly Pear Cactus (brilliant yellow flowers), milkweeds (Common Milkweed and the orange Butterflyweed), Common Mullein, Day Lily, American Elder and most of the roses (Carolina Rose, Rosa rugosa, Rambler Rose). Alas, not all on this property but many of them seen at the Sofo Natural History Museum and elsewhere).
Eric Salzman
There are three spotted fauns around but I have seen only one doe with them. Apparently deer can have triplets. Also one of them is bigger than the other two which probably indicates one male and two females in the brood.
Warmer weather has brought out more insects including dragonflies (so far unidentified except for the Seaside Dragonlet on the marsh). Few butterflies however except for Cabbage Whites (lots of those).
Many flowers coming into bloom right now: Catalpa (magnificent tree with orchid like flowers), Prickly Pear Cactus (brilliant yellow flowers), milkweeds (Common Milkweed and the orange Butterflyweed), Common Mullein, Day Lily, American Elder and most of the roses (Carolina Rose, Rosa rugosa, Rambler Rose). Alas, not all on this property but many of them seen at the Sofo Natural History Museum and elsewhere).
Eric Salzman
Sunday, June 25, 2017
two small birds
A Saltmarsh Sparrow popped up out of the marsh this morning, the first that I've seen this year. Saltmarsh Sparrows are not uncommon in the Shinnecock Bay marshes to the south and I have a suspicion that they breed in the Pine Neck (De Ropp Refuge) marsh on the other side of the creek from us. But they are not so very common on this side and it always takes a little effort to get a decent look. I flushed it a couple of times before it perched on a reed and spied me spying it: big-headed and flat-headed with an orange triangle on the face, a large light-colored bill, streaking on the upper breast and sides and a short sharp tail (they used to be called Sharptail Sparrows). That is, the sparrow, not me.
Also got a good look at a bird I hear every day but is usually hidden in the dense tree canopy: Pine Warbler. This one was working the lower branches of some small evergreens and even dropped to the ground a couple of times. It was a large, fairly well colored male with yellow spectacles, yellow throat and breast, light streaking on the sides of the breast, gray-blue wings with white wing bars, white belly and undertail. It also showed a feature that is rarely noted: a white tail flash as it moved from one tree to another. The bird had a beakful of insects which it did not swallow as it continued to hunt suggesting that it was gathering them up to bring to a nest full of nestlings -- as close as I have ever come to proving that this species is breeding in the vicinity. The nests are usually high up and very difficult to find; I waited on this male to see if I could follow his route back to the nest but he merely continued to hunt and was certainly not ready to give away any Pine Warbler secrets.
Eric Salzman
Also got a good look at a bird I hear every day but is usually hidden in the dense tree canopy: Pine Warbler. This one was working the lower branches of some small evergreens and even dropped to the ground a couple of times. It was a large, fairly well colored male with yellow spectacles, yellow throat and breast, light streaking on the sides of the breast, gray-blue wings with white wing bars, white belly and undertail. It also showed a feature that is rarely noted: a white tail flash as it moved from one tree to another. The bird had a beakful of insects which it did not swallow as it continued to hunt suggesting that it was gathering them up to bring to a nest full of nestlings -- as close as I have ever come to proving that this species is breeding in the vicinity. The nests are usually high up and very difficult to find; I waited on this male to see if I could follow his route back to the nest but he merely continued to hunt and was certainly not ready to give away any Pine Warbler secrets.
Eric Salzman
Saturday, June 24, 2017
kayaking on a green pond
Last night's BBQ at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge gave me the chance to do my yearly kayak excursion around the Old Ice Pond. The Ice Pond was formed by damming Quantuck Creek near the spot where Old Country Road was built many years ago (long before Montauk Highway). The Fairy Dell part of the Refuge (south of Old Country Road) is the more familiar tidal zone of Quantuck Creek but the Ice Pond is purely fresh and the whole water system is connected to the ground water aquifer.
This was in fact the site of an ice business in the days before refrigeration. In the 1930s, it was purchased by a group of local hunters (Southampton Township Wildfowl Association or STWA) as a refuge for ducks and geese in a day when the waterfowl populations -- locally and nationally -- were drastically diminished. The hunters introduced Mallards (originally a Western species only) and Canada Geese (previously seen here only in the winter) so that they would have something to shoot! And, indeed, Mallards and Canada Geese were the dominant residents for many years. New York State managed the Refuge until 2006 but, when the lease ran out, it reverted to the STWA and is now managed as a non-profit nature organization run by Michael and Marisa Nelson, Somehow funded locally and very beautifully managed!
The refuge has a lot of trails, mostly cutting through the Pine Barrens and heading up to a detached piece of the Dwarf Pine Plains. It is watered by Quantuck Creek which forms wet spots from the top of the Refuge on down but the big puddle is the Ice Pond. This idyllic location, surrounded almost entirely by dense vegetation and dotted with leafy islands, can be seen from only a few spots on the trails (the Nature Center, the open area near the injured wildlife cages, the wooden bridge and swamp platform on the lower trail). To really see this aquatic gem properly you have to get out on the water and paddle around (no motor boats here!).
Although it was windy with scudding clouds and dusk was fast approaching, it was a real treat to glide around the pond and get glimpses of an old Long Island that scarcely exists anymore. Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows (nesting in gourds), and a few Purple Martins were gleaning the last of the day's insects over and around the water while overhead an Osprey soared and a somewhat unexpected Little Blue Heron came flapping by. From the shores you could hear a chorus of Catbirds -- also often seen crossing the pond in low, direct flight -- and occasional bursts of song from Yellow Warbler (nesting on the islands), Common Yellowthroats and Eastern Towhee. A calling Northern Flicker and dark flocks of Common Grackles completed the picture.
The dense vegetation around the shores and on the islands also included a number of fresh wetland species of which I could identify Water Willow, Sheep Laurel (in bloom) and Swamp Azalea (also in bloom). A low plant with a white inflorescence in umbel form lined the shores of several of the islands but I did not succeed in identifying it from my kayak perch.
Eric Salzman
This was in fact the site of an ice business in the days before refrigeration. In the 1930s, it was purchased by a group of local hunters (Southampton Township Wildfowl Association or STWA) as a refuge for ducks and geese in a day when the waterfowl populations -- locally and nationally -- were drastically diminished. The hunters introduced Mallards (originally a Western species only) and Canada Geese (previously seen here only in the winter) so that they would have something to shoot! And, indeed, Mallards and Canada Geese were the dominant residents for many years. New York State managed the Refuge until 2006 but, when the lease ran out, it reverted to the STWA and is now managed as a non-profit nature organization run by Michael and Marisa Nelson, Somehow funded locally and very beautifully managed!
The refuge has a lot of trails, mostly cutting through the Pine Barrens and heading up to a detached piece of the Dwarf Pine Plains. It is watered by Quantuck Creek which forms wet spots from the top of the Refuge on down but the big puddle is the Ice Pond. This idyllic location, surrounded almost entirely by dense vegetation and dotted with leafy islands, can be seen from only a few spots on the trails (the Nature Center, the open area near the injured wildlife cages, the wooden bridge and swamp platform on the lower trail). To really see this aquatic gem properly you have to get out on the water and paddle around (no motor boats here!).
Although it was windy with scudding clouds and dusk was fast approaching, it was a real treat to glide around the pond and get glimpses of an old Long Island that scarcely exists anymore. Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows (nesting in gourds), and a few Purple Martins were gleaning the last of the day's insects over and around the water while overhead an Osprey soared and a somewhat unexpected Little Blue Heron came flapping by. From the shores you could hear a chorus of Catbirds -- also often seen crossing the pond in low, direct flight -- and occasional bursts of song from Yellow Warbler (nesting on the islands), Common Yellowthroats and Eastern Towhee. A calling Northern Flicker and dark flocks of Common Grackles completed the picture.
The dense vegetation around the shores and on the islands also included a number of fresh wetland species of which I could identify Water Willow, Sheep Laurel (in bloom) and Swamp Azalea (also in bloom). A low plant with a white inflorescence in umbel form lined the shores of several of the islands but I did not succeed in identifying it from my kayak perch.
Eric Salzman
Friday, June 23, 2017
a rude interruption
I was sitting by the pond this morning enjoying the quiet of the humid, partly sunny, morning stillness when suddenly the calm was interrupted by a volley of kek calls right next to me. Startled, I jumped up but could see nothing; the Clapper Rail was mocking me from inside the vegetation on the far side of the pond but the calls were so loud and piercing that they sounded as though he was right next to me.
Although the spring singing and calling has generally died down with the advent of summer warm weather, a few birds continue to sing -- notably the Robins, both wrens, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, Chipping Sparrow and Pine Warbler. I did hear a few songs of the Yellow Warbler this morning but not the Common Yellowthroat. No sign or sound from the woodpeckers and very little from the flycatchers. The Baltimore Orioles are still calling but I haven't yet heard the characteristic call of the newly fledged young that are perhaps yet to emerge from their natal basket.
A single Bank Swallow continues to join the Barn Swallows and Purple Martins foraging over the marsh. There are some substantial Bank Swallow colonies on Eastern Long Island -- mostly on cliffs overlooking water -- but the nearest one to here is probably on Peconic Bay and not that close.
When I get to the head of the marsh these days, I am literally attacked by a very angry female Red-winged Blackbird who obviously has a nest or young in the vicinity. She dives right over my head and lands a little more than an arm's length away, protesting loudly all the time. The male then shows up, also obviously angry but not anywhere near as bold as his consort.
Eric Salzman
Although the spring singing and calling has generally died down with the advent of summer warm weather, a few birds continue to sing -- notably the Robins, both wrens, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, Chipping Sparrow and Pine Warbler. I did hear a few songs of the Yellow Warbler this morning but not the Common Yellowthroat. No sign or sound from the woodpeckers and very little from the flycatchers. The Baltimore Orioles are still calling but I haven't yet heard the characteristic call of the newly fledged young that are perhaps yet to emerge from their natal basket.
A single Bank Swallow continues to join the Barn Swallows and Purple Martins foraging over the marsh. There are some substantial Bank Swallow colonies on Eastern Long Island -- mostly on cliffs overlooking water -- but the nearest one to here is probably on Peconic Bay and not that close.
When I get to the head of the marsh these days, I am literally attacked by a very angry female Red-winged Blackbird who obviously has a nest or young in the vicinity. She dives right over my head and lands a little more than an arm's length away, protesting loudly all the time. The male then shows up, also obviously angry but not anywhere near as bold as his consort.
Eric Salzman
Thursday, June 22, 2017
summer
The summer solstice and the longest day of the year went sliding by yesterday so I'm a day late in celebrating. Today dawned as a mild summer day -- warm to hot in the sunshine but rather cool in the shade. A number of birds marked the change of seasons by shutting down their springtime songs, notably the two warblers (Yellow and Yellowthroat) but not the Pine Warbler which continues its one-note-trills as it moves through the treetops. And not a peep from any of the woodpeckers. The Clapper Rail was also quiet although it did start calling again later in the morning.
But the big new bird that arrived to greet the season was quite unexpected and not at all what I was looking for: a huge Turkey Vulture perched high on a dead branch overlooking a wide angle of creek and shore on the back lot of the Aldrich Boat Yard just across Weesuck Avenue. What a sight! Before 2008 -- when Turkey Vultures arrived out here in large numbers and began to breed -- we never saw one in the summer and only rarely in migration. Now they are common floating over the Pine Barrens. But it's still unusual to see this enormous (it has a wing span of six feet) redskin-headed scavenger (not a buzzard by the way) surveying the scene for what? Dead bodies? Cathartes aura is an impressive bird overhead as it soars the sky but sitting on a perch just over your head and eyeing you closely as you pass below, it is an ugly fearsome creature indeed. Still in all, one of the wonders of Mother Nature.
Eric Salzman
But the big new bird that arrived to greet the season was quite unexpected and not at all what I was looking for: a huge Turkey Vulture perched high on a dead branch overlooking a wide angle of creek and shore on the back lot of the Aldrich Boat Yard just across Weesuck Avenue. What a sight! Before 2008 -- when Turkey Vultures arrived out here in large numbers and began to breed -- we never saw one in the summer and only rarely in migration. Now they are common floating over the Pine Barrens. But it's still unusual to see this enormous (it has a wing span of six feet) redskin-headed scavenger (not a buzzard by the way) surveying the scene for what? Dead bodies? Cathartes aura is an impressive bird overhead as it soars the sky but sitting on a perch just over your head and eyeing you closely as you pass below, it is an ugly fearsome creature indeed. Still in all, one of the wonders of Mother Nature.
Eric Salzman
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
heard birds
Today's report is all about heard birds -- easier to hear than to see, especially at this time of year. In chronological order: the Clapper Rail calling from the far side (the Bay Avenue side) of the marsh; Orchard Oriole singing from high in the trees between the far side of the marsh and the house lots on Bay Avenue (but still invisible); Pine Warbler singing its one-note trill over and over again after a longish period of silence (are his young fledging from the nest?); Warbling Vireo singing (briefly) from the trees in front of the house but still not visible.
A mysterious gray finch-like bird with a streaky beast, feeding low right in front of our front deck, baffled me for a bit until I realized it was a young Brown-headed Cowbird.
Eric Salzman
A mysterious gray finch-like bird with a streaky beast, feeding low right in front of our front deck, baffled me for a bit until I realized it was a young Brown-headed Cowbird.
Eric Salzman
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
showers & flowers
Did it really rain all night long? It sure seemed like it and while it had stopped by morning, everything was soaking wet including the dank atmosphere itself. The indefatigable Clapper Rail was calling from the vegetation around our tidal pond but much as he seemed to move from one spot to another (a possible ventriloqual effect), he never showed himself.
The Deptford Pinks are coming into bloom and there are two hawkweed types putting on something of a display: One with dandelion-like leaves has good-sized and deeply colored flowers on tall thin stems that rise up from a basal rosette (one of the hawksbeards?). The other has narrow unsegmented basal leaves, a similar set of stems but noticeably smaller flowers (one of the Hieracium hawkweeds?).
Eric Salzman
The Deptford Pinks are coming into bloom and there are two hawkweed types putting on something of a display: One with dandelion-like leaves has good-sized and deeply colored flowers on tall thin stems that rise up from a basal rosette (one of the hawksbeards?). The other has narrow unsegmented basal leaves, a similar set of stems but noticeably smaller flowers (one of the Hieracium hawkweeds?).
Eric Salzman
Monday, June 19, 2017
a blowsy wind and an unkempt egret
A blowsy wind is still coming from the south/southwest and the roar of the ocean surf is unabated but the weather has turned from dank and gloomy to dry and bright with bits of sunshine alternating with the clouds. There was a Black-crowned Night Heron, a Willet and two Snowy Egrets in the pond; one of the egrets seemed to be trying to intimidate the other by puffing out its feathers into a gaudy, unkempt display -- going from elegantly groomed to wild-looking in a split second -- and delivering a growl or snort or two to accentuate the point. Apparently two Snowy Egrets were not supposed to be in the same feeding zone; at least that seemed to be the aggressive message. The other egret quietly moved away but did not leave.
After a longish period of silence, the Eastern Phoebe was fee-beeing this morning and I heard a Downy Woodpecker call at least twice. Both birds have young out of the nest and both may be getting ready for a second round. I also saw a Hairy Woodpecker which brought to four the number of woodpeckers on the scene.The Clapper Rail is calling less but showing more; I saw him slinking around the far end of the open water in the middle of the marsh.
One more call worth mentioning. A repeated warble probably belonged to the Warbling Vireo -- a bird that has been expanding its range out here in recent years. Unfortunately I never did get a good look.
Eric Salzman
After a longish period of silence, the Eastern Phoebe was fee-beeing this morning and I heard a Downy Woodpecker call at least twice. Both birds have young out of the nest and both may be getting ready for a second round. I also saw a Hairy Woodpecker which brought to four the number of woodpeckers on the scene.The Clapper Rail is calling less but showing more; I saw him slinking around the far end of the open water in the middle of the marsh.
One more call worth mentioning. A repeated warble probably belonged to the Warbling Vireo -- a bird that has been expanding its range out here in recent years. Unfortunately I never did get a good look.
Eric Salzman
Sunday, June 18, 2017
claps and hums
Clapper Rail now calling at the opposite end of the marsh behind a stand of Pragmites (probably from the small creek channel that flows into the marsh). A rail has been calling on our marsh since early May and with considerable regularity for the past three weeks or so. Don't know if this was always the same bird but certainly the June caller was a single rail, probably a very determined but mateless male who has taken possession of the marsh but has been unable to attract a female. Unless (?) he is defending a hidden nest somewhere in the muck and mire where I never go (I can make it a ways into the marsh at low tide, far enough to peer into the open water in the middle where I often see rails but not to the farther reaches). Last year there were two rails on the marsh at one point but I never saw any evidence of breeding.
A hummingbird -- presumably a Ruby-throat -- was hovering around the house this morning. If there's a nest this year I haven't been able to find it. Last year's hummers
nested (successfully) in July so perhaps there's time yet.
Eric Salzman
A hummingbird -- presumably a Ruby-throat -- was hovering around the house this morning. If there's a nest this year I haven't been able to find it. Last year's hummers
nested (successfully) in July so perhaps there's time yet.
Eric Salzman
Saturday, June 17, 2017
early or late?
A couple of readers have pointed out that it's rather early for Ospreys to fledge (as I implied in my last post about Osprey flights). They take at least a month to hatch and another two months before they fledge. But if these birds returned from Cuba (or wherever their winter quarters might be) in late March/early April and if they were an already established pair from 2016 at least, they might well have had enough time to hatch eggs and raise their nestlings to fledgling status. The only other explanation I can give for the unusual behavior -- one bird on the ground under the nest pole, the other on a wobbly, dangerous looking flight along the treetops and swooping in as if trying to land on a dead stub or the nest itself and then not landing -- would be some kind of display by a young male trying induce the other bird to mate or re-mate with him. Such a late pairing might be due to the denise of one or both of the adults or the failure of their first nesting. If so, this was certainly an unusual display; the usual Osprey male shows off to the female by towering above her with a big beautiful fish in his talons.
An Eastern Phoebe adult feeding a fluttering (i.e. begging) young bird confirms the successful local nesting of that species for at least the second year in a row. The Clapper Rail is still kek-ing in the marsh although perhaps not as assiduously as before.
There may be two spotted fawns around (no question that they are whatever passes for fledglings in the deer world). I startle one of them in the marsh where it appears to have overnighted; the other wanders through the woods with its attentive mother.
Eric Salzman
An Eastern Phoebe adult feeding a fluttering (i.e. begging) young bird confirms the successful local nesting of that species for at least the second year in a row. The Clapper Rail is still kek-ing in the marsh although perhaps not as assiduously as before.
There may be two spotted fawns around (no question that they are whatever passes for fledglings in the deer world). I startle one of them in the marsh where it appears to have overnighted; the other wanders through the woods with its attentive mother.
Eric Salzman
Friday, June 16, 2017
hope there's no eagles around
Managed to get in a walkabout in the strong southwest winds that dominated the weather before the rainstorms hit. The larger birds (gulls, crows) and the better flyers (Barn Swallows, Purple Martins) took advantage of the winds to glide, swoop, soar and tower; others laid low. Black-crowned Night Heron and Great Egret were on the pond and took off when I appeared. An Osprey with a fish in its talons made its towering stand and announced its success to the world with loud Osprey chirps and whoops, calling attention to him/herself in a manner that would seem to have its pluses and minuses ('I'm the king of the creek right now but I hope there are no piratical eagles around to steal my catch'). No eagles showed and eventually he/she carried the fish to a perch near the nest to begin to dissect it. Yes, Bald Eagles are known to steal fish from Osprey.
Eric Salzman
Eric Salzman
Thursday, June 15, 2017
fledgling flights
We had guests last weekend and I had the pleasure of showing them the 'maiden' (if that is the acceptable word these days) flights of the two young Ospreys raised in the Pine Neck point nest directly opposite us on the other side of Weesuck Creek. After flexing its wings, one bird jumped out of the nest and fluttered straight down, landing on the sandy shore right under the nest pole where it sat, exhausted, for 15 or 20 minutes before gathering its strength to helicopter straight back up into the the nest. In the meanwhile, the other, slightly bigger bird (a female?), took off on a more successful flight, wending its way -- somewhat uncertainly it must be admitted -- in a big loop just above the treetops and back, barely managing to avoid the canopy and dead tree skeletons along the way. As it approached the nest pole, it seemed to want to land, first on a dead stub, then another and then back on the nest. It seemed that it was trying to organize a landing but didn't know how to accomplish this sophisticated maneuver and each time it had to keep flying. It even fluttered back out and around in a second hair raising loop, always just avoiding what seemed like a certain crash. Finally it managed to settle on a dead stump next to the nest, at least as exhausted as its sibling. No sign of the adults who were presumably off fishing somewhere. After these exciting flights, both birds continued to flex their wings, presumably to strengthen them before trying again.
This morning's news: Two Black-crowned Night Herons, one Yellow-crowned Night Heron, a Great Egret and a Willet in the pond this morning at low tide; everyone spooked on my appearance on the bank except the Yellow-crowned. Eventually it left but, somewhat unfortunately, I didn't see where it went. Clapper Rail still kek-ing away in the marsh although perhaps with a little less enthusiasm than before (longer pauses between bouts of calling). Didn't hear the cuckoo call or re-find yesterday's Dark-eyed Junco but, somewhat surprisingly, Red-eyed Vireo was back, singing his persistent Q&A song in the woodland canopy. A greenish bird with bright wing bars and a pink bill stumped me for a while; of course, it was an adult female American Goldfinch.
Eric Salzman
This morning's news: Two Black-crowned Night Herons, one Yellow-crowned Night Heron, a Great Egret and a Willet in the pond this morning at low tide; everyone spooked on my appearance on the bank except the Yellow-crowned. Eventually it left but, somewhat unfortunately, I didn't see where it went. Clapper Rail still kek-ing away in the marsh although perhaps with a little less enthusiasm than before (longer pauses between bouts of calling). Didn't hear the cuckoo call or re-find yesterday's Dark-eyed Junco but, somewhat surprisingly, Red-eyed Vireo was back, singing his persistent Q&A song in the woodland canopy. A greenish bird with bright wing bars and a pink bill stumped me for a while; of course, it was an adult female American Goldfinch.
Eric Salzman
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
a change in the weather
After the mini heat wave of the past couple of days, a weather front moved in heralded by an overnight rainstorm and cooler morning temperatures and overcast skies that eventually cleared. No wind; the creek and bay were like glass.
The change in weather brought in some new and rather surprising birds, notably a wildly-out-of-season Dark-eyed Junco: dark gray hood shading to brownish on the back and wings, white belly and outer tail feathers, pink bill and legs, This is a bird we expect to see in winter (perhaps starting in fall migration) but not in mid-June! And then, as I was watching this unexpected visitor, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo called right over my head and, for once, I was able to catch a glimpse of this extraordinarily shy bird -- first moving in the tree-tops and then flying off. A cuckoo in flight gives itself away by its long tail which creates a unique silhouette. Shortly thereafter I saw what I think was a second one in flight so maybe we have cuckoo domesticity in our neighborhood!
Black Skimmer skimming the smooth early morning creek water was another surprise. Skimmers have nested on Shinnecock Bay and are probably still nesting at Cupsogue but it's been many years since we've seen them cutting the surface of Weesuck Creek. And, just to add to the fun, two Little Blue Herons took off from the marsh and flew to the Pine Neck side of the creek opposite.
There was a single swift mixed in with Barn Swallows overhead. I suspect a nesting pair in some E. Quogue chimney or other and one of the birds must be sitting on eggs while the other hunts the skies.
Eric Salzman
The change in weather brought in some new and rather surprising birds, notably a wildly-out-of-season Dark-eyed Junco: dark gray hood shading to brownish on the back and wings, white belly and outer tail feathers, pink bill and legs, This is a bird we expect to see in winter (perhaps starting in fall migration) but not in mid-June! And then, as I was watching this unexpected visitor, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo called right over my head and, for once, I was able to catch a glimpse of this extraordinarily shy bird -- first moving in the tree-tops and then flying off. A cuckoo in flight gives itself away by its long tail which creates a unique silhouette. Shortly thereafter I saw what I think was a second one in flight so maybe we have cuckoo domesticity in our neighborhood!
Black Skimmer skimming the smooth early morning creek water was another surprise. Skimmers have nested on Shinnecock Bay and are probably still nesting at Cupsogue but it's been many years since we've seen them cutting the surface of Weesuck Creek. And, just to add to the fun, two Little Blue Herons took off from the marsh and flew to the Pine Neck side of the creek opposite.
There was a single swift mixed in with Barn Swallows overhead. I suspect a nesting pair in some E. Quogue chimney or other and one of the birds must be sitting on eggs while the other hunts the skies.
Eric Salzman
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Sumer is icumen in
I was out reasonably early this morning but the heat of the day was already upon us.
I managed to make a full circuit by sticking to the shade as much as possible and there were a few things to report. The most exciting moment was the return of the Clapper Rail who resumed his kek-kek-kek calling from an area very close to the pond. (At that distance the Clapper calling was much more a series of 'keks' than of 'claps'.) I carefully circled around the intervening Phragmites. I thought he was calling from the middle of the stand of reeds but as I came around a little further, there he was right out in the open circling and calling on top of the mats of dead Phrags that still covered the emerging Spartina. He paid absolutely no attention to me and kept on calling and turning -- presumably to project the sound over as wide an area as possible. It gave me a chance to observe a Clapper Rail close up -- not an everyday experience. Our clappers are rather dull gray but have a lot of color on the bill which is mostly yellowish-rad and which opens up for every kek delivery. The flanks and belly are striped and the underparts of the short tail are a fluffy white. As one might say, great views! Close as I was, the rail kept on calling and continued to pay no attention to me at all. Hoping he would still attract the attention of a female, I slunk away as slowly and as quietly as I could manage. The kek-kek-keking, very ventriloqual in effect, seemed to follow me as I moved away.
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is still calling but I have no idea how to find him. Whatever worked with the rail didn't work with the cuckoo who hides in the densest foliage high in the treetops. Whenever I move toward the area where he seems to be calling, he calls again and sounds still further away.
Both Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice have produced offspring and both are moving around (flocks of young with adults) in family groups looking for food.
Lots of insects out in this heat so there'a plenty for all. In the butterfly department of the insect category, I saw Tiger Swallowtails, Cabbage Whites, Little Wood Satyr and what I think are Zabulon Skippers.
Eric Salzman
I managed to make a full circuit by sticking to the shade as much as possible and there were a few things to report. The most exciting moment was the return of the Clapper Rail who resumed his kek-kek-kek calling from an area very close to the pond. (At that distance the Clapper calling was much more a series of 'keks' than of 'claps'.) I carefully circled around the intervening Phragmites. I thought he was calling from the middle of the stand of reeds but as I came around a little further, there he was right out in the open circling and calling on top of the mats of dead Phrags that still covered the emerging Spartina. He paid absolutely no attention to me and kept on calling and turning -- presumably to project the sound over as wide an area as possible. It gave me a chance to observe a Clapper Rail close up -- not an everyday experience. Our clappers are rather dull gray but have a lot of color on the bill which is mostly yellowish-rad and which opens up for every kek delivery. The flanks and belly are striped and the underparts of the short tail are a fluffy white. As one might say, great views! Close as I was, the rail kept on calling and continued to pay no attention to me at all. Hoping he would still attract the attention of a female, I slunk away as slowly and as quietly as I could manage. The kek-kek-keking, very ventriloqual in effect, seemed to follow me as I moved away.
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is still calling but I have no idea how to find him. Whatever worked with the rail didn't work with the cuckoo who hides in the densest foliage high in the treetops. Whenever I move toward the area where he seems to be calling, he calls again and sounds still further away.
Both Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice have produced offspring and both are moving around (flocks of young with adults) in family groups looking for food.
Lots of insects out in this heat so there'a plenty for all. In the butterfly department of the insect category, I saw Tiger Swallowtails, Cabbage Whites, Little Wood Satyr and what I think are Zabulon Skippers.
Eric Salzman
Monday, June 12, 2017
warm weather
he advent of warm weather has brought out a number of creatures into our midst -- some welcome, others not so much so.
The most welcome arrival was probably the appearance of Box Turtles which have been seemingly in hibernation all spring. A good-sized adult was beautifully marked with orange dots on a black backgound on his head and claws; the carapace was black with a repeated yellow pattern.
The increase in insect populations has been notable with no-see-ums aplenty on the marsh, a few mosquitos and Lone Star Ticks, several dragonflies (unidentified) and more than a few butterflies including Tiger Swallowtail, Red-spotted Purple, Spring Azure, one of the hairstreaks (possibly Red-banded) and an orange-winged skipper that claims a territory and strikes out after rival males or attractive females (possibly Zabulon Skipper).
The Clapper Rail has finally stopped calling (either because he found a female or because he left to try his luck elsewhere or because it's just too damn hot). I can still hear an occasional Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
The most welcome arrival was probably the appearance of Box Turtles which have been seemingly in hibernation all spring. A good-sized adult was beautifully marked with orange dots on a black backgound on his head and claws; the carapace was black with a repeated yellow pattern.
The increase in insect populations has been notable with no-see-ums aplenty on the marsh, a few mosquitos and Lone Star Ticks, several dragonflies (unidentified) and more than a few butterflies including Tiger Swallowtail, Red-spotted Purple, Spring Azure, one of the hairstreaks (possibly Red-banded) and an orange-winged skipper that claims a territory and strikes out after rival males or attractive females (possibly Zabulon Skipper).
The Clapper Rail has finally stopped calling (either because he found a female or because he left to try his luck elsewhere or because it's just too damn hot). I can still hear an occasional Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Sunday, June 11, 2017
birding by ear
White-breasted Nuthatches in front of the house included an adult feeding a youngster, thus confirming that this species bred here this year. Also a small feeding flock included Eastern Phoebe, Tufted Titmice and two Pine Warblers, at least one of which looked like a young bird; could have been a female but most likely a young of the year.
In the still-calling-but-not-seen category: Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Clapper Rail.
I'm doing most of my birding these days by ear. This is especially true as I work my way along (or, at low tide, actually into) the marsh and then along the side and up to the head of the marsh where there is a dense shrub habitat with adjacent open woodland. The bird chorus is at its peak these days and the singing follows a pattern that is repeated almost every morning -- a kind of avian symphony with a definite form. The percussive opening is provided by the clapping Lonesome Rail who continues to call from different parts of the marsh. The Purple Martins provide a melodious chirpy introduction backed up by the "conk-a-ree" of the Red-winged Blackbird, the "witchity-witchity-witch" of the Common Yellowthroat and the "sweet-sweet-sweet-I'm-so-sweet" of the Yellow Warbler. American Robin and Baltimore Oriole chime in with the main musical themes accompanied by Song Sparrow and, a bit further along, the two wrens, House and Carolina. Sometimes the warbles of the House Finch and American Goldfinch, both melodious in their way, also blend in. As I move up to the top of the marsh I can hear notes and calls from some woodland birds that have ventured to the edge: the wheeps, squawks and churrrs of the Great Crested Flyctcher and Red-bellied Woodpecker, the one-note trills of the Pine Warbler and Chipping Sparrow, the two-note songs of the two titmice, Tufted and Black-capped Chickadee, the "honk-honk-honk" of the White-breasted Nuthatch and the distant, but instantly recognizable call of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo (the Red-eyed Vireo is, alas, silent or gone elsewhere). Surrounding it all is the complex, squeaky coloratura of the Catbird and the repeated contrapuntal echos of the Mockingbird.
People often ask me whether I have ever included bird song in my music. And, if not, why not? The answer is that I never am satisfied with the transcription of bird songs into our musical notation and/or instrumentation. Especially since I can enjoy the real thing -- quite a different kind of musical ensemble -- these spring mornings!
Eric Salzman
In the still-calling-but-not-seen category: Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Clapper Rail.
I'm doing most of my birding these days by ear. This is especially true as I work my way along (or, at low tide, actually into) the marsh and then along the side and up to the head of the marsh where there is a dense shrub habitat with adjacent open woodland. The bird chorus is at its peak these days and the singing follows a pattern that is repeated almost every morning -- a kind of avian symphony with a definite form. The percussive opening is provided by the clapping Lonesome Rail who continues to call from different parts of the marsh. The Purple Martins provide a melodious chirpy introduction backed up by the "conk-a-ree" of the Red-winged Blackbird, the "witchity-witchity-witch" of the Common Yellowthroat and the "sweet-sweet-sweet-I'm-so-sweet" of the Yellow Warbler. American Robin and Baltimore Oriole chime in with the main musical themes accompanied by Song Sparrow and, a bit further along, the two wrens, House and Carolina. Sometimes the warbles of the House Finch and American Goldfinch, both melodious in their way, also blend in. As I move up to the top of the marsh I can hear notes and calls from some woodland birds that have ventured to the edge: the wheeps, squawks and churrrs of the Great Crested Flyctcher and Red-bellied Woodpecker, the one-note trills of the Pine Warbler and Chipping Sparrow, the two-note songs of the two titmice, Tufted and Black-capped Chickadee, the "honk-honk-honk" of the White-breasted Nuthatch and the distant, but instantly recognizable call of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo (the Red-eyed Vireo is, alas, silent or gone elsewhere). Surrounding it all is the complex, squeaky coloratura of the Catbird and the repeated contrapuntal echos of the Mockingbird.
People often ask me whether I have ever included bird song in my music. And, if not, why not? The answer is that I never am satisfied with the transcription of bird songs into our musical notation and/or instrumentation. Especially since I can enjoy the real thing -- quite a different kind of musical ensemble -- these spring mornings!
Eric Salzman
Friday, June 9, 2017
mostly (but not entirely) marsh
Ruby-throated Hummingbird female buzzing around just back from the pond -- the same area where she or her sister nested last year! We'll keep an eye on it
On the listening side, duetting or, most probably, dueling Baltimore Orioles were out in front of the house this morning. The weapon was their mellow, flutey calls -- practically a call and response. The bell-like calls are very musical in tonality but only rarely do these notes seem to add up to a coherent or stereotyped melody.
A pair of Cedar Waxwings was working the treetops in the woods. This species is a late nester but may well be pairing up and getting ready for domestic life.
The Clapper Rail continues his efforts to find a female. He moves around the marsh a lot, trying his luck from one end to the other. Also in the marsh this morning, a Black-crowned Night Heron (but no Yellow-crowned) and a Bank Swallow still flying around with the Martins and Barn Swallows.
A vertebrate in the marsh: a young spotted yearling fawn roosting (if that's the right word) in the drier upper part. A young buck with fuzzy antlers is paired with a doe and they roam around the woods but they were nowhere near the fawn which must be the offspring of a different pair. It looked to be not much more than a few weeks old.
Eric Salzman
On the listening side, duetting or, most probably, dueling Baltimore Orioles were out in front of the house this morning. The weapon was their mellow, flutey calls -- practically a call and response. The bell-like calls are very musical in tonality but only rarely do these notes seem to add up to a coherent or stereotyped melody.
A pair of Cedar Waxwings was working the treetops in the woods. This species is a late nester but may well be pairing up and getting ready for domestic life.
The Clapper Rail continues his efforts to find a female. He moves around the marsh a lot, trying his luck from one end to the other. Also in the marsh this morning, a Black-crowned Night Heron (but no Yellow-crowned) and a Bank Swallow still flying around with the Martins and Barn Swallows.
A vertebrate in the marsh: a young spotted yearling fawn roosting (if that's the right word) in the drier upper part. A young buck with fuzzy antlers is paired with a doe and they roam around the woods but they were nowhere near the fawn which must be the offspring of a different pair. It looked to be not much more than a few weeks old.
Eric Salzman
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Bank Swallow & clapping Clapper
Bank Swallow flying over the marsh with Barn Swallows and Purple Martins: distinctive silhouette and flying technique, small, brown on top, white below with a very visible neck band. This was the first of its kind this year that I was able to securely ID
Clapper Rail was at it again with an almost continuous volley of claps, this time from the inside creek that flows from the central marsh into our pond; still couldn't see him but there was no doubt of who was clapping and from where. I still hear the Red-eyed Vireo but not as regularly as before. Alas, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo was silent. Flew the cucloo coop I suppose. Unlike many areas around we have almost no cuckoo delicacies -- no Tent Caterpillars, that is; maybe there are other goodies for him to munch on.
Eric Salzman
Clapper Rail was at it again with an almost continuous volley of claps, this time from the inside creek that flows from the central marsh into our pond; still couldn't see him but there was no doubt of who was clapping and from where. I still hear the Red-eyed Vireo but not as regularly as before. Alas, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo was silent. Flew the cucloo coop I suppose. Unlike many areas around we have almost no cuckoo delicacies -- no Tent Caterpillars, that is; maybe there are other goodies for him to munch on.
Eric Salzman
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Mecox & Gabreski
Took a ride with Eileen Schwinn down to Mecox Bay and then back via Gabreski airport. The Seapoose or artificial inlet at Mecox appeared to have been recently opened and then quickly filled back in. There were a few flats with shorebirds including Red Knots and Short-billed Dowitcher (both missed on Sunday's Linnaean trip), a number of Black-bellied Plovers, three Piping Plovers, several Semipalmated Plovers and handfuls of o ther shore birds. The only terns were Leasts.At Gabreski, there were Eastern Bluebirds (male and female), Pine Warbler on a fence (rare good looks at this species), Prairie Warblers (heard multiple times), Chipping Sparrows, Eastern Towhee, N. Mockingbirds, Gray Catbird, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird and a soaring Turkey Vulture. Our target bird, Vesper Sparrow, was seen dropping down from the perimeter fence and flitting about on the ground; it was ID'd only by the white sides to its tail (but that character was good enough).
Back at the ranch, the Clapper Rail is still clapping merrily away and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo continues to call from somewhere in the woods back of the house.
Pete Wilson reports that he had a Green-tailed Towhee at his place in Bridgehampton. Alas, he didn't realize what a first-class rarity this was and was slow to report it; the bird has long since flown the coop (he promises to call right away next time if it comes back!).
The photograph above is a picture that Eileen took at Mecox of what appears to be a female Purple Martin with a vertical wing stripe!
Eric Salzman
14 Randall Lane
P.O. Box 775
East Quogue NY 11942
phone: 718 522-3387
E-mail: es@ericsalzman.com
Web: www.ericsalzman.com
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
pictures from Sunday
A damp, overcast coolish and windy morning. The Clapper Rail was persistently clapping from a Phragmites stand in our marsh (but never showed). I suspect the clapper (singer?) is a lovelorn male but I'm still hoping for a happy ending. Heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo calling about half a dozen times -- sometimes just the introductory rattle, sometimes with the gulping attached. First one I've heard here this year.
Here are three species omitted from Sunday's Linnaean list: Wild Turkey, N. Cardinal (these two seen by some of us) and Field Sparrow (seen by everyone!).
The rest of this post will be devoted to photos from Sunday's Linnaean trip. (Did anybody get a photo of the Field Sparrow?)
[I apologize in advance for the differences in scale -- the smallest birds look like the biggest ones -- but it would take too much work to try and reorganize them with size corrections!]
From Bob Gunning (all taken on Dune Road from Shinnecock to Pike's Beach): Black-crowned Night Heron, Least Tern, Black Skimmer, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Piping Plover (with a tag on its l. leg):
From Mary Beth Kooper: Willow Flycatcher on perch and singing (at Pike's Beach), Tree Swallow, singing Eastern Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow with food (meant for its young ones; it wouldn't go in to the nest as long as we were watching); last three photos taken at EPCAL 6/17
Eric Salzman
14 Randall Lane
P.O. Box 775
East Quogue NY 11942
phone: 718 522-3387
E-mail: es@ericsalzman.com
Web: www.ericsalzman.com
Here are three species omitted from Sunday's Linnaean list: Wild Turkey, N. Cardinal (these two seen by some of us) and Field Sparrow (seen by everyone!).
The rest of this post will be devoted to photos from Sunday's Linnaean trip. (Did anybody get a photo of the Field Sparrow?)
[I apologize in advance for the differences in scale -- the smallest birds look like the biggest ones -- but it would take too much work to try and reorganize them with size corrections!]
From Bob Gunning (all taken on Dune Road from Shinnecock to Pike's Beach): Black-crowned Night Heron, Least Tern, Black Skimmer, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Piping Plover (with a tag on its l. leg):
From Mary Beth Kooper: Willow Flycatcher on perch and singing (at Pike's Beach), Tree Swallow, singing Eastern Meadowlark, Grasshopper Sparrow with food (meant for its young ones; it wouldn't go in to the nest as long as we were watching); last three photos taken at EPCAL 6/17
Eric Salzman
14 Randall Lane
P.O. Box 775
East Quogue NY 11942
phone: 718 522-3387
E-mail: es@ericsalzman.com
Web: www.ericsalzman.com
Monday, June 5, 2017
a damp day and a boo-boo
A damp, wet, misty, windless morning with Clapper Rail calling extensively from the pond but not showing himself (I assume it's the male that claps).
We are rapidly approaching the time when young birds are out of the nest. A majestic procession of Canada Geese on the creek consisted of two adults and eleven goslings. Since the maximum number of eggs is supposed to be eight or nine, this was probably the merger or two different broods, Also, House Finch feeding two fluttering fledglings.
Lorna tells me that on Sunday -- while I was on the Linnaean expedition -- Orchard Oriole was right around the house. I'll have to look for it in the coming days.
Flowers blooming on Dune Road and around this place include Blue or Oldfield Toadflax, Beach Heather, Beach Pea, Least Hop Clover, and a taller cinquefoil (possibly Shrubby Conquefoil).
As Bob Adamo points out, yesterday I inadvertendly wrote "Snowy Plover" (which would have been great) instead of Piping Plover. We saw two or three of the latter both at Shinnecock and Moriches Bay flats.-- at least one very close up. I'll post pictures by Mary Beth Cooper and Bob Gunning from that trip in the next day or so.
Eric Salzman
We are rapidly approaching the time when young birds are out of the nest. A majestic procession of Canada Geese on the creek consisted of two adults and eleven goslings. Since the maximum number of eggs is supposed to be eight or nine, this was probably the merger or two different broods, Also, House Finch feeding two fluttering fledglings.
Lorna tells me that on Sunday -- while I was on the Linnaean expedition -- Orchard Oriole was right around the house. I'll have to look for it in the coming days.
Flowers blooming on Dune Road and around this place include Blue or Oldfield Toadflax, Beach Heather, Beach Pea, Least Hop Clover, and a taller cinquefoil (possibly Shrubby Conquefoil).
As Bob Adamo points out, yesterday I inadvertendly wrote "Snowy Plover" (which would have been great) instead of Piping Plover. We saw two or three of the latter both at Shinnecock and Moriches Bay flats.-- at least one very close up. I'll post pictures by Mary Beth Cooper and Bob Gunning from that trip in the next day or so.
Eric Salzman
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Linnaean trip 2017
Every year at about this time, I lead a trip for the Linnaean Society (the 2nd oldest natural history society in the country and located a the American Museum of Natural History). The aim is to find Eastern Long Island specialties and the trip usually begins at the Shinnecock Inlet, works its way all the way west on Dune Road and then goes upland in the afternoon. This year followed the traditional pattern although the Dune Road part of the trip ended up at Pike's Beach and the nearby bay overlook. Cupsogue Beach Park was omitted for a number of reasons -- one of them being that the Shinnecock part of the run took a lot of time and another reason being that someone's car had to be pulled out of soft sand; luckily a young Coast Garder who was passing by in his truck came to the rescue. The upland part of the trip was a visit to the EPCAL (ex-Grumman) grasslands, still one of the most beautiful areas out here and one of the most outstanding sites for birdwatching but severely threatened by Riverhead Town's ambitions to develop and expand its commerical operations there with one hare-brained scheme after another.
61 species seen or heard. Missed were all the pelagics, both marsh sparrows and Blue Grosbeak
Double-crested Comorant
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron (two flying over Moriches Bay)
Black-crowned Night Heron
Glossy Ibis
Mallard
Osprey
Northern Harrier (EPCAL)
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Clapper Rail
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Snowy Plover
American Oystercatcher
Willet
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Dunlin
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Least Tern
Black Skimmer
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe (near EPCAL)
Great Crested Flycatcher (Line Road near EPCAL)
Eastern Kingbird (EPCAL)
Red-eyed Vireo (many along River Road near EPCAL)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow (EPCAL)
Eastern Bluebird (EPCAL)
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Yellow Warbler
Prairie Warbler (heard at EPCAL)
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee (heard at EPCAL)
Chipping Sparrow (EPCAL)
Field Sparrow (EPCAL)
Grasshopper Sparrow (EPCAL)
Song Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole (heard at EPCAL)
Eastern Meadowlark (EPCAL)
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
House Sparrow
House Finch
Eric Salzman
P.S.: Yesterday's photos from the SOFO/ELIAS walk in Vineyard Field were all by Bob Gunning. He was also on today's trip and I will post some of his picture tomorrow.
61 species seen or heard. Missed were all the pelagics, both marsh sparrows and Blue Grosbeak
Double-crested Comorant
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron (two flying over Moriches Bay)
Black-crowned Night Heron
Glossy Ibis
Mallard
Osprey
Northern Harrier (EPCAL)
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Clapper Rail
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Snowy Plover
American Oystercatcher
Willet
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Dunlin
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Least Tern
Black Skimmer
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe (near EPCAL)
Great Crested Flycatcher (Line Road near EPCAL)
Eastern Kingbird (EPCAL)
Red-eyed Vireo (many along River Road near EPCAL)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow (EPCAL)
Eastern Bluebird (EPCAL)
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Yellow Warbler
Prairie Warbler (heard at EPCAL)
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee (heard at EPCAL)
Chipping Sparrow (EPCAL)
Field Sparrow (EPCAL)
Grasshopper Sparrow (EPCAL)
Song Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole (heard at EPCAL)
Eastern Meadowlark (EPCAL)
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
House Sparrow
House Finch
Eric Salzman
P.S.: Yesterday's photos from the SOFO/ELIAS walk in Vineyard Field were all by Bob Gunning. He was also on today's trip and I will post some of his picture tomorrow.
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Vineyard Field 2017
of the Long Island Greenbelt and has taken on the character of a true LI grassland with bush habitat, water holes and surrounding woodland as well. This habitat, increasingly rare on Eastern LI, has nesting birds that need this kind of savannah habitat and that have become increasingly rare elsewhere.
The star attraction here is the Indigo Bunting which has at least 4 or 5 territories around the field, each one complete with singing male, generally perched high at the edge of the woods. This species does not have a very impressive song but that is more than made up for by his stunning looks -- all shining indigo blue. Another success story here is the Orchard Oriole which can be seen and heard all around the field edges. Baltimore Orioles love this habitat as well and were present in amazing numbers. Both orioles have striking songs and we actually found nests of both species: the well-known hanging nest of the Baltimore and the more traditional -- but tightly woven -- cup nest of the Orchard.
Other birds that like this habitat include Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat and Blue-winged Warbler. Heard (but not seen) specialties included Warbling Vireo and Field Sparrow. A more complete list is below; thirty in all (I might have missed one or two flyovers). A big miss was Eastern Bluebird which seems to have had all its nest boxes usurped by Tree Swallows and, in one case, at least, House Wren.
The photos are all males taken on the walk against an overcast sky as follows: Orchard Oriole; Yellow Warbler; Indigo Bunting; Cedar Waxwing; Baltimore Oriole
My list for the morning:
Osprey (overhead carrying a fish)
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-pewee
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Barn Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Purple Martin
House Wren
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Cedar Waxwing
Blue-winged Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Indigo Bunting
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Orchard Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Eric Salzman
Friday, June 2, 2017
From one end of the marsh to the other
Mild, sunny morning; no clouds, no fog, no breeze (a coolish breeze and some clouds came later in the day).
The Clapper Rail that has been calling throughout May finally showed, sunning itself at the edge of the big stand of Pragmites on the far side of the marsh. Is there a second bird? A nest? Perhaps we'll find out eventually.
A Yellow-crowned Night Heron came flapping over the marsh apparently headed for the dead trees back of the pond. Or the woods just beyond. Perhaps we'll find out eventually.
A small group of Cedar Waxwings was at the head of the marsh. Like the Am Goldfinches that also like this habitat, they are late nesters.
There were a few murderous sounds from the local crows but yesterday's Great Horned Owl seems to have moved on. An unfamiliar song -- rather melodic but a little husky
-- may have been due to an Orchard Oriole; it was coming from the same trees in which I saw two birds mating the other day; this time I couldn't locate the bird. Ditto a thin little warbler song in an area near the head of the marsh where our old right-of-way meets Randall Lane. I started to search the trees for the singer but before I could find anything, two Verizon trucks pulled up to inspect a leaning telephone pole and the low phone and electric lines that resulted. (We have been working on this problem since April and PSEG says that Verizon has to fix it and Verizon says that it is PSEG's responsibility!) At any rate, by the time they left, my little whistling warbler (or whatever it was) had disappeared as well.
Eric Salzman
The Clapper Rail that has been calling throughout May finally showed, sunning itself at the edge of the big stand of Pragmites on the far side of the marsh. Is there a second bird? A nest? Perhaps we'll find out eventually.
A Yellow-crowned Night Heron came flapping over the marsh apparently headed for the dead trees back of the pond. Or the woods just beyond. Perhaps we'll find out eventually.
A small group of Cedar Waxwings was at the head of the marsh. Like the Am Goldfinches that also like this habitat, they are late nesters.
There were a few murderous sounds from the local crows but yesterday's Great Horned Owl seems to have moved on. An unfamiliar song -- rather melodic but a little husky
-- may have been due to an Orchard Oriole; it was coming from the same trees in which I saw two birds mating the other day; this time I couldn't locate the bird. Ditto a thin little warbler song in an area near the head of the marsh where our old right-of-way meets Randall Lane. I started to search the trees for the singer but before I could find anything, two Verizon trucks pulled up to inspect a leaning telephone pole and the low phone and electric lines that resulted. (We have been working on this problem since April and PSEG says that Verizon has to fix it and Verizon says that it is PSEG's responsibility!) At any rate, by the time they left, my little whistling warbler (or whatever it was) had disappeared as well.
Eric Salzman
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Chasing a raptor and two bird walks this weekend
As the May Monsoon passeth, the fogs of June make their appearance. When the air temperature starts to outpace the colder waters, we get some real pea-soupers, This morning's fog was so thick that Pine Neck (just on the other side of the creek) and even the Aldrich Boatyard (just north of us) were invisible.
Birds were hard to see but their sounds carry well in the fog. And sounds there were. A veritable cacophonous Murder of Crows indicated that our local corvids had discovered something significant. And were they angry! Hard charging, noisy, angry crows can give away the presence of a raptor.so I hustled down to the pond to see what was going on. I could barely make out a large form in the fog vaguely silhouetted on a dead branch. But, alas, before I could figure out what it was, it took off with a dozen crows in pursuit. To make a long story short, I spent the next couple of hours chasing the Murder of Crows all around the place trying to glimpse the big bird that was the object of all the fuss. Big bird mostly landed in dense foliage and I couln't catch a glimpse but the crows always knew where it was; they were eventually joined by Blue Jays, woodpeckers and what seemed like every small bird in the neighborhood. The raptor was content to ignore the crows and the junior partners that were harassing it -- after all, he/she was bigger and more dangerous than any puny crows, let alone the smaller avian specimens. But every time I tried to approach the tree in which it was 'hiding', he/she took off in the opposite direction from where I was standing or went straight up into the fog where I could get only a brief impression of the silhouette: a big bird with heavy powerful wings and a short tail -- crows always close behind. As the not-so-merry chase circled round the place, it finally ended up in a tree back of the house. Here I was able to stalk it slowly, keeping close to cover until I finally was able to spot the terrifying monster. I was looking straight at a GREAT HORNED OWL and it was looking straight at me! Eventually it took off with the crows and a few jays still in hot pursuit. As of this writing I can still hear the Murder of Crows yapping away; the owl has yet departed the premises. Great Horned Owls breed in the Pine Barrens just to our north but this is only the fourth or fifth time that I have seen one here over the years.
I am doing two walks this weekend. On Saturday I will lead a joint SOFO/ELIAS walk in the Vineyard Field back of the South Fork Natural History Museum on the Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike. We'll meet at 8 am at the back of the museum and I expect the walk -- labelled Birds of the Meadow and Woods -- to last a couple of hours at least. The star of the Vineyard Field in recent years has been the Indigo Bunting, not a common breeder on Eastern LI -- but you never know what might turn up. If you want to participate, please call SOFO at (631) 537-9735 and register. Also take tick precautions: tuck pants into footwear and spray generously around the feet and ankles.
Sunday's event, sponsored by the Linnaean Society of the American Museum of Natural History, will also begin at 8 am but at the Shinnecock Inlet (take the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays, turn left on Dune Road and go right at the end to the ocean overlook}. Please be there by 8; we will spend 15 minutes or so scanning the ocean and then take off west down Dune Road looking for specialties. We will go all the way to Cupsogue Beach Park where we will look for rarities (there may be a parking fee at this county park). Afterwards we will return to Westhampton for lunch in a small park (there are also places to buy food). Afterwards we will go upland to Gabreski (Westhampton) Airport and/or EPCAL (ex-Grumman) area where we will look for grassland birds and the Blue Grosbeak. We will end up in mid-afternoon or so, near Exit 69 on the LIE. Most of the group will be from NY but I always welcome East End birders. Tick precautions are probably also in order although the areas where we'll be visiting and walking will not be very tick-y.
Eric Salzman
Birds were hard to see but their sounds carry well in the fog. And sounds there were. A veritable cacophonous Murder of Crows indicated that our local corvids had discovered something significant. And were they angry! Hard charging, noisy, angry crows can give away the presence of a raptor.so I hustled down to the pond to see what was going on. I could barely make out a large form in the fog vaguely silhouetted on a dead branch. But, alas, before I could figure out what it was, it took off with a dozen crows in pursuit. To make a long story short, I spent the next couple of hours chasing the Murder of Crows all around the place trying to glimpse the big bird that was the object of all the fuss. Big bird mostly landed in dense foliage and I couln't catch a glimpse but the crows always knew where it was; they were eventually joined by Blue Jays, woodpeckers and what seemed like every small bird in the neighborhood. The raptor was content to ignore the crows and the junior partners that were harassing it -- after all, he/she was bigger and more dangerous than any puny crows, let alone the smaller avian specimens. But every time I tried to approach the tree in which it was 'hiding', he/she took off in the opposite direction from where I was standing or went straight up into the fog where I could get only a brief impression of the silhouette: a big bird with heavy powerful wings and a short tail -- crows always close behind. As the not-so-merry chase circled round the place, it finally ended up in a tree back of the house. Here I was able to stalk it slowly, keeping close to cover until I finally was able to spot the terrifying monster. I was looking straight at a GREAT HORNED OWL and it was looking straight at me! Eventually it took off with the crows and a few jays still in hot pursuit. As of this writing I can still hear the Murder of Crows yapping away; the owl has yet departed the premises. Great Horned Owls breed in the Pine Barrens just to our north but this is only the fourth or fifth time that I have seen one here over the years.
I am doing two walks this weekend. On Saturday I will lead a joint SOFO/ELIAS walk in the Vineyard Field back of the South Fork Natural History Museum on the Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike. We'll meet at 8 am at the back of the museum and I expect the walk -- labelled Birds of the Meadow and Woods -- to last a couple of hours at least. The star of the Vineyard Field in recent years has been the Indigo Bunting, not a common breeder on Eastern LI -- but you never know what might turn up. If you want to participate, please call SOFO at (631) 537-9735 and register. Also take tick precautions: tuck pants into footwear and spray generously around the feet and ankles.
Sunday's event, sponsored by the Linnaean Society of the American Museum of Natural History, will also begin at 8 am but at the Shinnecock Inlet (take the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays, turn left on Dune Road and go right at the end to the ocean overlook}. Please be there by 8; we will spend 15 minutes or so scanning the ocean and then take off west down Dune Road looking for specialties. We will go all the way to Cupsogue Beach Park where we will look for rarities (there may be a parking fee at this county park). Afterwards we will return to Westhampton for lunch in a small park (there are also places to buy food). Afterwards we will go upland to Gabreski (Westhampton) Airport and/or EPCAL (ex-Grumman) area where we will look for grassland birds and the Blue Grosbeak. We will end up in mid-afternoon or so, near Exit 69 on the LIE. Most of the group will be from NY but I always welcome East End birders. Tick precautions are probably also in order although the areas where we'll be visiting and walking will not be very tick-y.
Eric Salzman
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
