It is a week of not one, but two pelagics (birding boat trip) in two different states. The week started with me assiduously avoiding Quonnie on Memorial Day. I started the morning on my porch listening to an Eastern Whip-poor-will! Then off to Succotash before the beach hordes & police descend.
Short-billed Dowitcher
Willet
Short-billed Dowitcher in better light!
Dunlin
Black-bellied Plover
Bunny
Song Sparrow
The ubiquitous Gray Catbird
The off to a local pond that often has interesting Terns & Gulls
Today's star -- the tiny Bonaparte's Gull
Common Grackle with Breakfast
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Tuesday was again an early morning but this time was to catch the rising tide just before High Tide. I was rewarded by triple the number of Red Knots than were there originally, please a few other lovelies.
Red Knots
Red Knot & Ruddy Turnstone
Black-bellied Plover
Piping Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Yellow Warbler
Greater Yellowlegs
Great Black-backed Gull with Breakfast Skate (?)
When I left Quonnie I saw a few goats -- that I was not familiar with on Ross Hill Road
American Pygmy Goat
Angora Goat
Off the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge for a few birds and a bunch of Flora
Field Sparrow
Gray Catbird
Flora
To round out Tuesday, a painting of the bird of the week last week -- also the 300th RI bird for a friend of mine. Tricolored Heron!
Wednesday's local Ferry ride was rather quiet, but great practice for tomorrow.
Great Egret
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Gray Seal
Wilson's Storm-petrel
Doing a separate post for Land birding in Maine & Pelagic birding in Maine.
Saturday I had a Gosling-palooza in Avondale.
Baby Goslings
Teenage Goslings
Sunday morning at a Cold quiet Quonnie. It was a full moon last night so there were Horseshoe crabs abounding (which is why the Red Knots are still here too).
The Crabs emerge from the water during the nighttime high tide, lay some eggs and many burrow into the sand. When the next hightide approaches, they start to move again. The Females are larger and when they mate the Males mount them from the back. You can see their paths in the sand.
Mating pair
Red Knots best food is Horseshoe Crab Eggs
A Ruddy Turnstone joined the Flock for its Where's Waldo moment
Piping Plover
Willet
American Oystercatcher
Great Egret - Breeding Lores
Cedar Waxwing
What a week! June is usually a little slow, but you never know what might show up. Stay Tuned!
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