Yesterday I was telling my friend Sue that my favorite way to see a bird it to have them come up to me and say hi. She said "and shake wings?". Today I got to go up to a bird and say hi... that's ok too. A bunch of us saw a Rare Boat-tailed Grackle 5 days ago, and not sure we've had any confirmed sightings since. When I walked out to Quonnie Point this morning, it was on the beach foraging and well the 100+ gulls around it flew, it stayed and visited with me for a while on the beach & grass flats.
Quonnie Breachway
Boat-tailed Grackle
Red Knot -- also a repeat from last week...
This is a different Red Knot
Great Egret -- almost always there
This is the Odd Gull with its wings spread. We're getting closer and closer to thinking it's a Herring Gull.
Tuesday was another beautiful day -- I had some company (looking for the Boat-tailed Grackle -- spoiler alert -- we did not see it). Still beautiful day with lots of birds up-close and personal. The swimming deer is still around and I caught her in the Breachway this morning -- was happy she was close to the edge -- big risk of boat collision in there.
Quonnie Breachway
Deer swimming in Breachway
Great Blue Heron
Willet
Red Knot
Sanderling
White-rumped Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
American Oystercatcher on the sandbar
Male Horseshoe Crab heading for the water...
Very quiet and usual Wednesday at Quonnie I only took one "keeper" at the Breachway. I went to Succotash Marsh to check on my Osprey nest at Cap'n Jacks and was delighted to find THREE nestlings. Last time I looked I could only see 1 -- local folks told me there were 2 but I got photos that prove there are three! YAY!
Quonnie Breachway
American Goldfinch
Succotash Marsh
Osprey Nestlings -- 1+1+1 = 3
You can see who is large and in charge...
+Mom
Stretching the wings already!
Thursday was another peaceful day at Quonnie -- I found out the old men who hang out there in the morning do breakfast together (at a restaurant) on Thursday -- so that explains the excess parking spaces. Had some nice visits and ended with a few photos at Weekapaug's Spray Rock.
Quonnie Breachway
Cedar Waxwing
Gathering nesting materials
Sanderling contemplating life
Stretching
Setting off on its morning run
White-rumped Sandpiper
Double-crested Cormorant cuts through the water
Spray Rock, Weekapaug
Female Common Eider
Started Friday at Succotash because Quonnie is at a weird tide level that isn't usually very exciting or productive. Then a sit & a visit with a fellow birder at Quonnie -- and a new third Red Knot. Wrapped up driving Atlantic Avenue with a diversion up Breach Street with some perched Purple Martin.
Succotash Marsh
Great Blue Heron
Willet
Mallard
Snowy Egrets
Quonnie Breachway
Black-bellied Plover & Laughing Gulls
Wild Rose
Cedar Waxwing
Breach Drive
Purple Martin
Celebrated Father's Day on Saturday with my Step-dad in New York.
Started at Succotash on Sunday, did a little birding at Francis Carter Preserve, then home early to work on my To Do list.
Succotash Marsh
Baby Willets (and parent in some)
Snowy Egret
Happy Father's Day all!
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