The Early Birder...

Even the rain couldn't dampen our spirits!  Our alarms were set for 4:45 am, true dedication to our avocation.  We arrived at the David Weld Sanctuary around 6:00 am, there were heavy clouds but no rain.

Upon entering the park, there were birds aplenty breakfasting on berries in the trees above and the vast over growth surrounding us.   Numerous as they were, we were unable to identify a single one due to the 'jungle like' surroundings.  Birds were singing, flitting from bush to bush but all we could make out were gray shadows.  We, finally, were able to identify some of the many birds out this morning such as the Grey Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow and the Black Capped Chickadee.  Our destination was the bluff overlooking Long Island Sound.  We arrived at 7:30 am.  This time no 50 lb. chairs in tow, but a designer picnic blanket from Zegna.  

We settle in amidst baby rabbits nibbling on grass and take in the panoramic view set before us.  The first bird we notice is a Greater Black Backed Gull.  Just to the east were a group of Double Breasted Cormorants. Its feathers, like those of all cormorants, are not waterproof and it must spend time drying them out after spending time in the water.  This we were able to capture on film.

While contemplating the view, we notice a flock of Semipalmated Sandpipers enjoying the company of one another on the shoreline.  The Semipalmated Sandpiper gets its common name from the short webs between its toes ("palmated" means webbed).  They are ground foragers who feed on insects.  We were so happy to spot these Sandpipers, and as we watched them walking in the low tide, we spot a truly rare sighting.  The Semipalmated Plover, two couples!  The Semipalmated Plover is among the few plovers whose numbers are apparently increasing, perhaps owing to its versatility in food and habitat choices.  As we bask in the triumph of this wonderful sighting, San spots a bird that we are actually able to add to our list of year-round birds.  The Belted Kingfisher, which is a common waterside resident throughout North America, the Belted Kingfisher is often seen hovering before it plunges headfirst into water to catch a fish.  

As we take it all in, we spot another bird we hadn't seen yet this year, even though we can't add it to our list it was nonetheless a great sighting.  A female Scarlet Tanager.  The male Scarlet Tanager is a striking black-winged red bird, and is a common species of the eastern forest interior. Despite its brilliant coloring it is often overlooked because of its rather secretive behavior and its preference for the forest canopy.  So seeing the female meant that we were in the right place at the right time.

We also spotted the Bank Swallows, and a Great Egret. 


By now its about 10am and we felt our first rain drops, so that made it a perfect time to break for brunch.  This gives us time to go over the list of birds we've seen thus far.

While brunching in St. James, we watched some American Crows in the trees across the street.  The weather was quite fickle.  One minute it was raining, the next minute, it looked like it was going to clear up.  We decided to head back to Ar's for a regroup and to check out the Weather Channel.  (We both live by the Weather Channel!)  While there, we check out her backyard preserve and spotted some Mourning Doves, Tufted Titmice, Blue Jays, Grackles, American Goldfinches and a House or Purple Finch, (he wouldn't turn around so that we could get a good enough look!)

Quite alot of rain showing up on the radar!  We decided the weather was too questionable to venture out to Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge.  No worries!  We'll just stay a little closer to home.  We decided upon the Hoyt Farm Park Preserve and arrived there around 1:00 pm.  We headed for the apple orchard in hopes of seeing either a Cedar Waxwing or an Indigo Bunting.  Alas, it was not to be.  We were first greeted by a plethora of House Sparrows and almost an equal number of American Robins.  As we viewed the apple orchard from afar, we saw some Red Winged Blackbirds in among the apple trees.  We were half way through the orchard when the drizzle turned to a more steady rain.  We left the orchard for the cover of some larger trees along the path.  While there we saw a Wren, that disappeared before we could narrow down what kind of Wren it was.  (This was one of about three Wrens we saw today.)  They could have been House, Carolina, Marsh or Winter Wrens, all here on Long Island this time of year.

As the rain lessened, we ventured back into the orchard.  We spyed a Downy Woodpecker. We also met up with the Red Winged Blackbirds that we had seen from afar.  They did not seem too happy that we were in the orchard.
So we left them to their apple trees and continued down the path.  We were happy to spot a Wood Thrush in the brush.  He sat there long enough for us to make a positive identification.  Wood Thrushes have a beautiful flute-like song.  When it is recorded and then played at a slower speed, it really sounds like a primitive flute! 

We followed the path into the woods, where not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.  So we about-faced and headed back.  By this time, the sky was getting a little bit darker.  We lingered for a while by the main house and checked out the Butterfly/Hummingbird Garden.  A few white butterflies but no hummingbirds.  As we were just about ready to head for the car, Ar spotted a bird at the tippy top of a tall tree.  It looked to be an Oriole, but again, it was too high up to determine if it was an Orchard or a Baltimore Oriole.  It doesn't matter.  We were happy to see him.  As we arrived back at the car, the real rain came!  Looks like we timed it just right!

Back to Ar's to assemble our Post for today.  Wow!  What a great day!  Twenty-seven birds!  Even though we can only add one to our year-round list, we still had a blast and were able to spend some quality time together.  Ar's last words to San before she left were, "This day would be perfect if we saw a Ruby Throated Hummingbird at the feeder."  The sentence was not even finished by the time we got to the door and saw, lo and behold, a female Ruby Throated Hummingbird at the feeder!  That makes twenty-eight!  What a great..... no, what a perfect day!