Dark Monday at my normal departure made me hit snooze -- but really with all the high water and a late sunrise, I wasn't even sure what to do today. So I scanned the river where a Boat-tailed Grackle was spotted yesterday -- I did not see it. Then I went to Westerly to see if maybe our normally first Osprey had shown up yet -- it had not. On the way there I was rewarded by seeing a species that used to be a winter regular at Potter's Mill but hasn't show up all season. Despite the very high water (almost on the road) these Double-crested Cormorants were my most regular winter bird until this year. It is good to see them back.
Potter's Mill
Double-crested Cormorant
A gametime decision Tuesday morning to go to Jamestown, traffic pushed me North first, so I went to Head Beach (very little going on), further north to Rainbow Ponds (Wood Ducks galore), back down south to Fort Getty and a final quick look at Marsh Meadows yielded a new 2024 bird and my First of Year Osprey -- very exciting.
Head Beach
Song Sparrow
Common Grackle
Rainbow Ponds
Wood Duck
Great Blue Heron
Fort Getty
Female Northern Harrier
Marsh Meadows
Common Goldeneye
Osprey
Finally a Low tide morning at Quonnie on Wednesday, nothing extraordinary, but nice to be there on a fairly warm day for mid-March. Did my first of year pass up at Ell pond -- it was quiet, but in decent shape for an unmaintained road. These photos are all from Quonnie...
Quonnie Breachway
Song Sparrow enjoying the beach
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Goldeneye
American Robin
Thursday I was back at Quonnie at sunrise -- so nice to be back (did I already say that?). Nothing special on the pond but on my way out on Old West Beach road either side of the road was flooded and I got surprised as a Wilson's Snipe flushed, flew out in front of my car and off toward the Marsh. A new Quonnie Breachway bird for me. There have been a few Snipes in the county recently, but I never expected to see one there. Maria had one a few years ago when I was away and it was pouring rain, right near the breachway entrance. It just goes to show you that birds are there, that you might not see even if you are there a lot.
I've been looking for Tree Swallows that last few days because they came in early last year. Yesterday they were reported in a number of places, I saw two today at the South Kingtown Land Trust foraging in the second field over. Very birdy morning there -- even from the parking lot/road.
Quonnie Breachway
Northern Mockingbird
Female Greater Scaup
Mud Pond
Osprey
Perry Pond
Hooded Merganser
Just did a quick run-around on Friday -- Succotash, Moonstone Beach Rd & Quonnie not a ton of birds, although I did get my second Eastern Phoebe of the year.
Succotash Marsh
Solo Gadwall that has been hanging around for about a month
Red-winged Blackbird hanging with a ton of its friends...
Quonnie Breachway
Herring Gull with breakfast
Started in Gilbert Stuart on Saturday, stopped on a whim on the way to Jamestown. Did my usual loop in Wakefield on the way home.
Fort Getty
Osprey
Song Sparrow
American Robin
Marsh Meadows
Common Goldeneye
Succotash Marsh
Greater Yellowlegs
Moonstone Beach Road
Common Grackle
Saturday started in the dark and rain at Mud Pond, hoping to hear the Virginia Rail that was reported yesterday morning, early. I didn't hear it -- although it might have been vocalizing -- but the morning surf was very loud. I did see a bird that I think was the Rail, but it was too quick a look and from behind, so I was far from certain what kind of Rail it was. I heard some Woodcocks and had one fly noisily over my car -- very cool!
At Succotash Marsh I was leaving when this cutie popped up on a telephone wire as I was driving by. I stopped immediately because I knew it was little enough to be a Sharpie (or Sharp-shinned Hawk) - about 10 inches head to tail. I don't see them often and almost never posing like this. Right across from Cap'n Jack's Restaurant on Succotash Road.
I went to Quonnie hopeful to see the American Oystercatchers that were reported yesterday -- about 45 minutes in two of them flew in calling, but when I got over to the marsh (I was in my car), they had tucked in somewhere and despite searching for them -- I could not find them again. Was also hoping some Piping Plovers might show up, but no luck there. St. Patrick's Day is the earliest I had ever seen them at Quonnie -- they have been showing up all over the county -- but not here yet.
The morning ended on Atlantic Avenue with this female Osprey on her perch. Lovely to have them back.
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