Return to Rhode Island
- Barbara Seith
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
I'm starting at the end today because I was finally inspired by my return to Rhode Island birding. I had the most amazing day at Quonnie. It was Saturday morning and normally I would not even consider going because of how populated it usually is then. But it was an anomaly -- I arrive @5:30 and there were a few fishermen and boaters there, no one on the point. I made my way out there to only a few birds. It was about 2.5 hours before high tide, so some birds were still on the disappearing sandbar. They came in along with the most terns I have seen all season during the next few hours.
I kept thinking, people and dogs will be here soon. They were not -- not even a walker passing through (and flushing the birds). It was a bit cloudy, so I wasn't impeded by sunglare or heat shimmer. I had some fun with Horseshoe crabs -- including a rescue and something I had never seen before -- one of those prehistoric creatures emerging from the water. I was awestruck. Had a few birds that returned after a few months absence (Least Sandpiper and Greater Yellowlegs) and just some all around great avian company! So I made this
My Patch!
Now back to the beginning of my return --
Quonnie Breachway
Female Red-winged Blackbird -- they are always around a LOT more this time of year. Foraging to feed chicks.
American Oystercatcher -- we had 20 on a regular basis last year, I've only see 5 this year.
Laughing Gull -- finally back -- my favorite Gull!
Juvi
Snowy Egret
Great Egret
A nice surprise on Alantic Avenue -- it followed me down the salt pond as I drove to different spots. So COOL!
Green Heron
Succotash Marsh - has been fairly quiet since I have been back -- the tidal pattern seems different which makes me wonder if they have done something with the Oysterbeds that effects the tidal drainage in this area.
Willow Flycatcher
Willet
Back at Quonnie
American Oystercatcher
(Great Egret) but the prize is the tern - Caspian Tern
White-rumped Sandpiper
Piping Plover
White-rumped Sandpiper
Willet
Eastern Towhee -- these are typically ground foraging birds, so its a little unsettling to see one high up in a tree!
Brown Thrasher perched near the Towhee.
Allen Harbor, Quonset
I went to get a Grasshopper Sparrow at the Airport, but was so close had to stop by and see this
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Quonnie
Royal Tern
The bird in the front tucked in is likely the Iceland Gull (Spotted by Dan Finizia) that was identified more definitively later (you'll see a better photo soon) -- it is a new bird for me at Quonnie Number 216.
Still Quonnie but next day -- back for a better look at the Iceland Gull (we don't usually see them in Summer) - its the bright white Gull.
American Oystercatcher
Iceland Gull
Caspian Tern
Laughing Gull
Niantic Pond
Turtle
Quonnie - one foggy morning I did not go and Sue Palmer found it. Fortunately it waited for me.
Franklin's Gull -- a new state bird 336 and Quonnie bird 217
This Northern Yellow Warbler kept buzzing by us on the point when we were viewing the Franklin's
Early at Quonnie hoping the Sandwich Tern spotted last evening will come back -- spoiler alert -- it did not. But I had human company...
Common Tern
Piping Plover
Weird Mallard
White-rumped Sandpiper
Note the one on the left is missing its left foot
Common in the front Roseate in the back
Roseate Tern (there were 7)
Iceland Gull (Still - waiting for its feather to grow in enough to fly for a long time)
Common Tern
Off to start preparing for my August trip to South Africa. See you in a few weeks!
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