Plum Island (3/24)
Saturday was a beautiful spring day (at least until it snowed after dark) so my parents and I took a trip out to Plum Island. We got to the bridge by around 9:30 and stopped for a few minutes to watch a Harrier work the field. As we continued onto the island we were greeted at the gate to the refuge by a Short-eared Owl who was also out hunting for food. As quickly as we had seen it, it was gone. But this was certainly a great start to the day.
We came to the island hoping to get a walk on the beach so we immediately started down the road. But, unfortunately the gate at the end of the paved road was closed. We tried to walk to the end but it was longer than we thought. After a nice hike, we turned around and headed back. On the way, we stopped at the pines and spotted a single Great Egret amongst the reeds.
We drove back to the north pool and stopped for lunch. At the pool we spotted a Northern Shrike which gave us great looks before flying over to the ocean side of the island. We finished up and drove on further before stopping at the bird blind near Hellcat. The water was filled with Pintail, Black Ducks, and Mallards. We even spotted four female Hooded Mergansers. On our drive out, I spotted a raptor which we identified as a male Harrier.
Before heading home we decided to stop at a few more locations. Joppa Flats was open and they were showing some of Jim Fenton's photos. They were absolutely fantastic. From there we stopped at the park and watched flocks of Bufflehead, Goldeneyes, and Long-tailed Ducks work against the incoming tide.
We continued on to the town boat launch but it was pretty quiet. Next was the chain bridge hoping to find a Bald Eagle or two who had lingered. But we lucked out. Our final stop was at Cherry Hill Reservoir which was still frozen.
Birds: Northern Harrier, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Mockingbird, Red Wing Blackbird, Northern Shrike, Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Mallard, Black Duck, Short-eared Owl, Tree Swallow, Killdeer, Hooded Merganser, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Yellowlegs Species, Great Egret, Tree Sparrow, Red-tailed Hawk, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Ring-billed Gull, Grebe Species
We came to the island hoping to get a walk on the beach so we immediately started down the road. But, unfortunately the gate at the end of the paved road was closed. We tried to walk to the end but it was longer than we thought. After a nice hike, we turned around and headed back. On the way, we stopped at the pines and spotted a single Great Egret amongst the reeds.
We drove back to the north pool and stopped for lunch. At the pool we spotted a Northern Shrike which gave us great looks before flying over to the ocean side of the island. We finished up and drove on further before stopping at the bird blind near Hellcat. The water was filled with Pintail, Black Ducks, and Mallards. We even spotted four female Hooded Mergansers. On our drive out, I spotted a raptor which we identified as a male Harrier.
Before heading home we decided to stop at a few more locations. Joppa Flats was open and they were showing some of Jim Fenton's photos. They were absolutely fantastic. From there we stopped at the park and watched flocks of Bufflehead, Goldeneyes, and Long-tailed Ducks work against the incoming tide.
We continued on to the town boat launch but it was pretty quiet. Next was the chain bridge hoping to find a Bald Eagle or two who had lingered. But we lucked out. Our final stop was at Cherry Hill Reservoir which was still frozen.
Birds: Northern Harrier, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Mockingbird, Red Wing Blackbird, Northern Shrike, Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Mallard, Black Duck, Short-eared Owl, Tree Swallow, Killdeer, Hooded Merganser, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Yellowlegs Species, Great Egret, Tree Sparrow, Red-tailed Hawk, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Ring-billed Gull, Grebe Species
posted by Mike @ 10:48 AM
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