Back Early?

Jul 14, 20242 min read

It seems like the birds are on the move and a bit early. Lots of speculation as to why -- the excess of rain, bad breeding season, lots of food -- but who knows. I'm just happy to have a three RI year bird week (as of Friday) - Forster's Tern, Royal Tern & Stilt Sandpiper. I'm also starting to make friends (although it is still quite tentative) with my new camera (OM1 Mark II) and have finally started to use Topaz (after buying it in 2021). It's been another Foggy/Rainy week, but that is par for the course.

The week started at Quonnie Breachway - I had seen a Forster's Tern in Arizona, but had yet to have one in Rhode Island (despite many false starts)

Quonnie Breachway

Forster's Tern

See if you can pick it out amongst the Common Terns -- it has a black sideways comma over its eye

Tuesday I hit Quonnie (but not for very long) and Succotash -- it was pretty lousy weather. One of my three Osprey nestlings at the Cap'n Jack's nest has fledged!

Quonnie Breachway

Least Tern

Succotash Marsh

Osprey nest -- the wings belong to the fledgling!

I went out on Wednesday but it was so gloomy, that I did not take any photos.

Thursday was a little better later in the day. When I came home from birding the Barn Swallows in the nest next to my garage had all fledged and the family was hanging on the eaves.

The View

Barn Swallow -- the fledglings have a yellow strips on the gape

A Stilt Sandpiper was reported at Succotash and I was lucky to arrive when someone had a scope on it. It was a tough find in the midst of 20+ mixed Yellowlegs.

Succotash Marsh

Stilt Sandpiper & Greater Yellowlegs

Stilt Sandpiper flanked by LesserYellowlegs

Stilt Sandpiper & Greater Yellowlegs

Stilt Sandpiper & Greater Yellowlegs

Stilt Sandpiper & Greater Yellowlegs

Stilt Sandpiper

Friday was supposed to be rainy -- it did rain a little, but not a lot and as I write this, the sun is shining brightly. I went out for a bit -- saw some Winter ducks at Quonnie -- two Male Black Scoters in the Breachway -- weird for this time of year. Otherwise, nothing unusual. Was supposed to go on a Whale Watch in search of the South Polar Skua again, but it was cancelled due to high seas. Tomorrow it is supposed to rain again and I'm headed up to NY to see my Stepdad.

Quonnie Breachway

Black Scoter

Sunday dawned foggy and humid, but it cleared up fairly early and then it got HOT! Finally had a chance to use the new camera in decent and even got some video -- all at Quonnie! Left before too many people arrived (and two wonderful terns Forster's & Royal showed up after I left)

Quonnie Breachway

Great Egret in the early fog