Orient 6/14/25

[jle...@gmail.com]

Well.... it wasn't a good day to bird. it was rainy.... but Hank came out and I know how to spoil my friends.... So, we got egg sandwiches from Sterling Deli and end of Narrow River Road on the creek and we ate.  Nothing much happened there so we went on our way to the first stop, the western most marsh on Narrow River Road.  Almost immediately Hank saw a dark sparrow.  I got on the bird and it was SEASIDE SPARROW!  They favor wetter area and taller vegetation than Saltmarsh Sparrow. So, right habitat.  There were two birds and I hope it's a breeding pair since the sexes appear the same.I saw my first North Fork Seaside last Fall at Brown's Point. Rising tides may have something to do why we see Seaside here.  Saltmarsh Sparrow may be across the street from that marsh but not today.  The next spot was the "Potato Dock" and we walked into the marsh.  There are A LOT of RED-WINGS!  Finally, Hank got on a bird.  The SALTMARSH was sitting in a low salt marsh bush, in all its beauty. The eastern most marsh on Narrow River Road sometimes has Saltmarsh Sparrows. Not today.  I finally got an outer beach permit, so we went to Orient Point.  We were the only people there.  We had COMMON EIDERS and one GREAT CORMORANT.  The hope for Roseate Tern failed to show up. Fact was no Terns at all. There was a ton of GREAT-BLACK BACK GULLS gathered a one area. I bought a Lifetime New York State Parks pass, so we went to Orient Beach St Park. In the parking lot, we headed to the concession stand restroom.  They were new and spiffy!  We saw KILLDEER around the stand.  Hoped for Horned Larks were also a no show.  I had my Lifer there many moons ago. We walk to the fence in area for the PIPING PLOVER.  We saw three birds. We also saw a SWAMP SPARROW.  It was hopping between the plants.  Who knows why it was there.  Late migrant?  It was getting more rainy by then, so the last stop was the Southold Town Beach where we had a few D.C. and two GREAT CORMORANTS on Whale Rock. 

(My niece sent me a picture of a Bald Eagle on Whale Rock a few weeks ago.)

It was time to get dinner stuff at Country Time stand and we came back to  my house. We posted on eBird, Hank took a nap and I had a meditation.  I started to prepare dinner, marinated lamb chops with my secret sauce, sautéed mushrooms, green beans and mesclun..... Even rainy days have charms.... and surprises. Fingers crossed for the Seaside.