I'm so Cool!

Aug 6, 20234 min read

Temperature-wise that is. Sunday the heat/humidity wave that seemed like it went on for MONTHS broke is a big way. On Monday I was sitting on at Quonnie thinking maybe I should have brought my fleece -- but it was lovely. For some reason the Cool weather seems to be keeping the hoards of people and dogs away. There was also a gather of the swallows -- only about 100-200 birds, but very active and perching across the breachway -- fun!

Spotted Sandpiper whose tail is always bouncing

Least Sandpiper with what looks like a wonky bill -- I'm thinking something is stuck is its lower bill, but I can't see it for the life of me (and I zoomed in, a lot!)

Ah -- now I see it...

American Oystercatcher

Willet

Laughing Gull

Great Blue Heron

The gathering of the Swallows -- mostly Tree, but some Bank & Purple Martin in the photos -- also Barn that I saw "live"

Again on Tuesday it was blissfully cool -- I even put a towel over my legs at one point. I LOVE THIS WEATHER and it's August! Not a ton of activity at Quonnie, but enough to keep me there and interested for three hours. Stopped briefly at Succotash after killing time until my cleaning people were done.

This little Least Sandpiper was hanging with me all morning -- taken with my iPhone -- at one point I almost walked over my sneaker.

Great Blue Heron

Ring-billed Gull in a Yoga Dive.

Willet

Killdeer

Semipalmated Sandpiper with a Least Tern

Least Tern

Snowy Egret

Greater Yellowlegs

Ruddy Turnstone -- last week there was 1 now there are 4!

Common Tern

Saltmarsh Sparrow, Succotash Marsh

Wednesday was downright COLD at Quonnie -- I was snuggled into my down vest against the wind. It was a little slow -- probably because the birds were using their energy to keep warm -- puffing their feathers and such -- activating their own down vests.

Then there was the Super Moon-set and the Sunrise...

Osprey with Breakfast

Savannah Sparrow who flirted with me all morning

Herring Gull with Crab Sushi

Thursday was a little warmer at dead Low tide when I arrived at Quonnie. A large raft of Double-crested Cormorant was forming. The Terns, Gulls & Egrets were hovering waiting for them to start looking for fish.

These little (probably immature -- way too friendly) Savannah Sparrows were walking under my tripod & chair. They stuck so close to me it was hard to get shots of them today -- just too close!

Greater Yellowlegs

Ruddy Turnstone -- they actually turn stones!

Snowy Egret

Least Sandpiper

Green Heron

Friday was supposed to be rainy, but it was just cloudy at Quonnie. It seemed quiet, but I still managed to see a nice assortment of birds. I finally managed to get a photo of my little buddy -- the Savannah Sparrow (that's my sneaker on the left). I also stopped by at my friend Maria's sister's place to look for the Great Horned Owl she and her brother-in-law saw the morning before. Her BIL has been seeing it (adults and juvis) almost every morning and sometimes at night.

Double-crested Cormorants take flight...

Common Tern

Gull?

Short-billed Dowitcher

Pectoral Sandpiper

Willet

Shickasheen Farm

House Finch

Least Sandpipers

Spotted Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs

Spotted Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs - one of its legs is tucked -- that other yellow is vegetation.

Heaton Orchard

Killdeer

Huh?

Barn Swallows

Tree Swallow (with some Barn Swallows)

First Northern Harrier of the Season

Saturday is never easy at Quonnie, but I got a few hours of lovely beach time and a surprise Belted Kingfisher in the trees on my way out.

Short-billed Dowitcher

Willet

Least Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Male Belted Kingfisher

This morning at 5:38am as I was sitting at Quonnie and dog runs on to the point. A young woman walked up shortly thereafter with no leash in her hand. I said to her the dog needs to be leashed -- I had to say it SIX times -- she just kept looking at me. Then she said "Why is everyone here so angry?" I said "I'm angry that you let your dog run without a leash and it flushed all the birds that were happily feeding on the point". She just stood there and I said "Don't you have a leash?" She did not -- I asked her to get the dog and leave the beach until she gets a leash. She got the dog -- then told me "Have a nice day". Whatever -- she left. I was already there @30 minutes, but honestly that is why I go so early because basically many Dog owners who go to Quonnie don't believe THEIR dogs need to be leashed -- they are wrong! The guy who let his dog run free on the sandbar as I was leaving certainly feels entitled to run his dog. There were at least 100 birds that had to flee for their safety so his single dog could run free -- that is what dog parks are for.

I managed to get some photos in between all that drama -- then I went to the Turf fields for some peace!

Greater Yellowlegs