Back to Quonnie & Missing Ed
- Barbara Seith
- Jul 26, 2025
- 2 min read
I've spent most of my birding time lately at Quonnie. I've been pretty inconsistent until this week but I've see a few things. These are from back in early July...
Snowy Egret
Least Sandpiper
Swallows (Barn & Tree)
Least Sandpiper
Piping Plover
Least Sandpiper
Very out of season (and Distant) Long-tailed Duck
Least Tern
A little later in the month...
Greater Yellowlegs & Short-billed Dowitcher
Red-tailed Hawk
Least Tern
Whimbrel
An exciting visit from some Black Skimmers recently -- I haven't had this good a visit with that species in Rhode Island since my first sighting of them early in my birding career. Activity in Quonnie is picking up.
Black Skimmers
Willet
Bonaparte's Gull
Black Skimmer
Bonaparte's Gull
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
American Oystercatcher
Willet
American Oystercatcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Of course I went back the next day -- but nothing special showed up.
Snowy Egret
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Bonaparte's Gull
Semipalmated Sandpiper & Piping Plover
Spotted Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Short-billed Dowitcher
Piping Plover
Bonaparte's Gull
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Common Tern
Semipalmated Plover
A little birding at Succotash Marsh --
Tree Swallow flying over a Green Heron
Green Heron taking flight
Little Blue Heron
Short-billed Dowitcher
Little Blue Heron
Being Harassed by Snowy Egret
My Condo's resident Barn Swallow -- perhaps it should be renamed a Condo Swallow?
Back at Quonnie
Herring Gull with Breakfast
The raft of Double Crested Cormorant
Pectoral Sandpiper
The Sandbar
Snowy Egret
Succotash Marsh
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Little Blue Heron
Wasn't going to bird on Saturday, but I just heard a wonderful man & photographer whom I met my first year birding at Quonnie passed away this morning, so tomorrow I will be going to Quonnie very early to pay tribute to Ed Hughes - although he's been in Florida for years now, he posted photos regularly -- there is a little less light in the world without him. He will be greatly missed! Here is my tribute...
I spent about an hour (most of it pre-sunrise) at Quonnie Breachway this morning, remembering the time I spent here with Ed Hughes - The first bird that flew over was a beautiful Male Wood Duck -- very unusual for that spot and my first thought was Ed... & too dark for a photo, I just enjoyed the thought that he must be in purgatory, but for sure Ed is coming back as a Raptor. After Quonnie I went to Moonstone Beach road, to a spot where Ed used to stake out baby Least Bitterns. When I am at those two places I always think of Ed. I found my first ever Black Tern at Quonnie with Ed -- that memory I will keep close forever. Attached a few photos from my Memorial sit this morning & my memories of Ed. Godspeed my friend...
One of Ed's photos (Short-eared Owl) I wanted to buy it but he wouldn't let me. A treasured possession!
Quonnie Sunrise
One of Ed's favorites - with a VERY big Osprey Breakfast!
Moonstone Beach Rd - in his day there was a Least Bittern family here.
Black Tern photographed with Ed at Quonnie!
Have a wonderful week or two -- and remember to appreciate and hug everyone who means something to you. Rest Peacefully Ed...
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