Saturday birding.

[jle...@gmail.com]

Not sure where we should, when Hank read a post from Jay Rand mentioned Harlequin Duck we headed for Duck Pond Lane after getting bagels at Black Sheep.  Not much at the end of the lane, so we headed toward Breakwater beach and Mattituck Inlet.  We got one PIPING PLOVER and gulls.  Mattituck Inlet ordinary birds.  Lots of Osprey nests, tho. Feeling under whelmed, when at Wendy's Deli we saw a mature BALD EAGLE.  So, this would be that kind of day, under whelmed and a bright spot..... Okay.  Next high was the VIRGINIA RAIL speaking to us from the Tower but the conversation was short.  Sigh.... Nookies for early-ish lunch.  Smash burgers and fries and afterwards we checked on the on the east side of Silver Sands.  There is a sign, that Southold Town Beach Sticker is good to use the beach. Hmmmm.  Maybe because the Town lost The Town Beach (Jack's Shack) and may be scrambled to find other beaches. I have not notice the sign before.  On the Bay were SURF SCOTERS, BUFFLEHEADS, mostly females and one HORNED GREBE.  By the time we hit Dam Pond, the place was dead. Awful change to Cove Road....Locked gate, cameras and lots of No Trespassing signs. I mourned the loss of that road.... Seen great birds on the road.  Dam Pond was really quiet, not even the local birds. We did have two GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Maybe a pair to breed? One neat thing at Dam Pond, happened on the way back to the Jeep. We were overtaken by a gang of CHICKADEES!!  Felt like one of the tribe as they sounded off in front of us, hopping branch to branch, unafraid, as if following us.  It was magical. Or maybe the interlopers chased off the territory.... I like choice A!  I was getting tired and so turned to Southold. But I listened to the inner voice that said... go to the bridge crossing Marion Lake.  Like unseen hands.... Hank called out that he had a BLACK-CROWN NIGHT-HERON.  I said I'm on it....  He was looking one way and I was looking another way. It was flying low just over the lake, disappeared on a curve and Hank pointed to his bird on the muddy shore.... Wow!  Two birds with breeding feathers! Stay!  It's a good place to bring up children.  I grew up here and we were feral kids.... I could run over the stones on the Sound side.  Now I have City Feet....  All over the North Fork is changing....fast.... SAVE WHAT'S LEFT.  I'm preaching to the choir....Enough of luxury homes.....

One neat experience Hank had.  We had just crossed the bridge at Jack Levin, Chapel Lane lot, he saw a ribbon snake. He hadn't seen one in many years.  He came a boy again as he tried to catch it..... Those that know me, know I'm terrified of snakes.  I would run away screaming at a garter snake..  I watched the scene.... the snake was beautiful... Hank chasing.... the snake got away from him and disappeared under the bridge under my feet.  Snake is my Shadow Animal.... Everyone has a Shadow Animal.  There has been change in me.  No panic and no running away, just acceptance. 

Interesting day on many levels.