Keep Calm and Bird On: August 3, 2020
“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.”
-Edith Andrews
Unlike many other outside activities, birding engages you to tune all your senses to the landscape; to be aware of sounds as well as sights, think about the tides, the wind, the light. But where to go? Birds are everywhere, they don’t stay still. But if you look, you may find a few. We have a few suggestions. So, keep calm and bird on.
Smith’s Point is a good place for shorebirds. For birding purposes, leave the dog at home, as dogs must be on-leash and will be a distraction with everything else you have to carry.
At low tide, the Madaket Harbor side has lovely exposed flats that are a smorgasbord for shorebirds. Early in the morning is best, before the heat shimmer distorts the picture even in the best of telescopes. A telescope is undoubtedly a big help with shorebirds. But put the sun behind you for the best viewing and watch attitude and behavior; birds have different styles of motion as well as plumage.
Some things to look for:
Greater Yellowlegs (above) are very active feeders.
There are a lot of Short-billed Dowitchers (above) around these days.
You can also take a path over to the ocean side. The beach here has been cut through periodically by winter storms.
Sanderlings (above) chase the swash for food that lives between one wave and the next.
Back on the harbor side, pay careful attention to the signs delineating protected habitat.
You may be able to find a Piping Plover (above), one of the endangered species. They do not read the signs. Be careful where you step.
You may also find American Oystercatchers, three or four species of Terns, and other shorebirds such as Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plover and two or three species of gulls. The Great Black-backed is the largest gull in the world.
The Great Black-backed (above) is the largest gull in the world.
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