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May 01, 1986 - Down on the Delmarva PeninsulaA9 90ls9 \88et t ysM \aemiT AloPliX. a,1T Page 8AJ7'he Suffolk Times /May 1, 1986 Down on the Delmarva Peninsula By PAUL STOUTENBURGH Last Tuesday night Barbara and I decided we wanted to take a peek at summer, so Wednesday morning we hastily tossed camping and camera gear into the back of the car and we were off. No sooner had we headed west, than rain and drizzle began to pelt the windshield and by the time we were on the Belt Parkway it turned to wet snow. What had hap- pened to spring? Across the Verrazano we headed south through Jersey and Delaware. The snow and raw weather followed us and it wasn't until we reached Maryland that it decided to slacken. This was no weather for camping, so we swallowed our pride and headed for a motel. We awoke to a sparkling sunny day, one we meant to take advantage of. We took the back roads of the lower Delmarva Peninsula where we saw the handsome black- headed laughing gull and cattle egrets in the fields. Our destination was Nature Conser- vancy's Virginia Islands .Preserve which administers over 50 miles of bay, ocean and offshore islands along the coast. Here we took the trails that led us to the shore behind the islands. Shorebirds were everywhere. Egrets, herons, and gulls drifted back and forth as we watched hun- dreds or thousands of migrating shore birds. The handsome laughing gull with its jet black head was the most prominent bird. New arrivals from the south were the common, roseate and least terns that were diving in the shallows for small fish. As we walked the marsh edge, the yellowlegs gave its characteristic alarm call to alert everyone there were strangers about. Willets, one of the larger shore birds, continuously flew by displaying their bold white feathers, when landing with their up- held wings, so characteristic of this species. But of all the birds seen, the big whimbrels with their curved bills were the most impressive. Not just a Focus on Nature few, but 40 or 50 of them rested on the offshore flats as we ate lunch. I have seen them on Long Island only occasionally as they pass through our area on their migration northward. Shorefront Restaurant We sat and lounged on the small beach area, relaxing. Our setting for lunch was two old crab baskets turned upside down. We couldn't have asked for a better restaurant. We were exhilarated and excited about this magnificent preserve. It made us feel good to think that this was a place that would remain forever wild. We had planned to stop and see a former student of mine who lives along the coast of Virginia, not too far from Williamsburg, so after lunch we headed in that direction. We had a grand reunion with Paul and Sue discussing old times over scallop chowder and crab cakes at a grand old place along the coast. At the historic area of Will- iamsburg the following day we prac- tically walked our feet off and later, Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh LOUISIANA HERON - -This casual visitor to our area is common on the great marshes of Maryland's eastern shore. Look for it here showing its whitish underparts, particularly when it flies. Someti*mes We're Down In The Dumps NORTH FORK SANITATION SERVICE Garbage & Rubbish Removal Roy A. Schelin, Prop. 765 -2868 Culligan reverse osmosis drinking water system controls contaminants! i NOT LIKE SOFTENING OR SIMPLE • • OLTRATION —Aquo -flee, giver you • 3.woy q0r indading v - • • am rho, wbr,ennolly fe • • ,chlorine rarrar onde • • edorr,plur many underir- • able 7mpu.ain. / • • NO ROTTLES! COSTS • • LESS PER GALION' _ • You ge, vP re 150 • godonr of frerh, deli • • ,r AquaC leer wa. � • re�, on rap —for drink- • • ing, cooking, all urer. • • Non.eloac, ric connec- • • lion; yera,er from • • hovretiold water • • Oe � • IEYCUWG M MANI • 785 Raynor Avenue • Riverhead, N.Y. 727 -6600 ; David Dowd, Jr. Builder at a campsite, set up our tent amongst tall oaks and tulip trees. During the night the only noise we heard was the distant call of the freight train pass- ing through. We were alone with the moon on what seemed like a summer night. The next day brought us to the east- ern shores of the Chesapeake where a friend of mine, Lance Biechele, who once lived in Southold, now lives. It is a wildlife paradise. Lance and Joann have had bluebirds nest in their yard as well as a Carolina wren, a Baltimore oriole and a blue gros- beak. To top this, across the field is an old dead pine where a bald eagle often comes to perch. While here we visited the great marshes of Deal Island. Here again we marveled at the variety of wildlife. We even saw the unusual stilt, that handsome extra - long - legged black and white shorebird with the long bill. I've only seen it twice in my life here on Long Island. Long - billed marsh- wrens, seaside sparrows, sharp - tailed sparrows, and Savannah sparrows flitted back and forth across the road in front of us as we walked. Lance had brought his tape rec- order on which he had recorded rail calls. He played it, and sure enough, out came a curious Virginia rail chal- lenging the call of another rail in his territory. Without recorded calls to lure these elusive birds from the high grass we never would have seen them. On our way back we photographed the coast violet and the beautiful white long - leaved violet along the roadway while up above two bald eagles soared. It was hard to tear ourselves away from this paradise. Our spotted windshield from flying insects vou- ched for the fact that we had surely found the edge of summer. We drove back along. the whirling highways trying to ignore the noise and smell of rushing traffic. Back home we both decided we'd have to return. There just hadn't been enough time to see everything and after all, we'd just have to indulge once more in one of those fantastic Maryland crab feasts. I )a yh: 548 -9700 We eken(k 477 -9446 Ofirling Now.1ta. P.O. Box 206 • Greenport, N.Y. 11944 Classic North Fork Styles Custom Built on Your Land or Ours Industrial & Farm Equipment ].tp W-111111.1 G•O l e. ROLLE BROS. ~1 . 4 ROUTE 58, P.O. 13OX 358 RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK 727 -4383 Your Authorized Sperry -New Holland Dealer er C d COMPLETE � a e LAWNS EPLANTINGS LANDSCAPE S SPRINKLER SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT FOR D Lan I: capin W WALLS • DRIVEWAYS 477 -0462 Est. 1975 A� I R Residential & Commercial NV Someti*mes We're Down In The Dumps NORTH FORK SANITATION SERVICE Garbage & Rubbish Removal Roy A. Schelin, Prop. 765 -2868 Culligan reverse osmosis drinking water system controls contaminants! i NOT LIKE SOFTENING OR SIMPLE • • OLTRATION —Aquo -flee, giver you • 3.woy q0r indading v - • • am rho, wbr,ennolly fe • • ,chlorine rarrar onde • • edorr,plur many underir- • able 7mpu.ain. / • • NO ROTTLES! COSTS • • LESS PER GALION' _ • You ge, vP re 150 • godonr of frerh, deli • • ,r AquaC leer wa. � • re�, on rap —for drink- • • ing, cooking, all urer. • • Non.eloac, ric connec- • • lion; yera,er from • • hovretiold water • • Oe � • IEYCUWG M MANI • 785 Raynor Avenue • Riverhead, N.Y. 727 -6600 ; David Dowd, Jr. Builder at a campsite, set up our tent amongst tall oaks and tulip trees. During the night the only noise we heard was the distant call of the freight train pass- ing through. We were alone with the moon on what seemed like a summer night. The next day brought us to the east- ern shores of the Chesapeake where a friend of mine, Lance Biechele, who once lived in Southold, now lives. It is a wildlife paradise. Lance and Joann have had bluebirds nest in their yard as well as a Carolina wren, a Baltimore oriole and a blue gros- beak. To top this, across the field is an old dead pine where a bald eagle often comes to perch. While here we visited the great marshes of Deal Island. Here again we marveled at the variety of wildlife. We even saw the unusual stilt, that handsome extra - long - legged black and white shorebird with the long bill. I've only seen it twice in my life here on Long Island. Long - billed marsh- wrens, seaside sparrows, sharp - tailed sparrows, and Savannah sparrows flitted back and forth across the road in front of us as we walked. Lance had brought his tape rec- order on which he had recorded rail calls. He played it, and sure enough, out came a curious Virginia rail chal- lenging the call of another rail in his territory. Without recorded calls to lure these elusive birds from the high grass we never would have seen them. On our way back we photographed the coast violet and the beautiful white long - leaved violet along the roadway while up above two bald eagles soared. It was hard to tear ourselves away from this paradise. Our spotted windshield from flying insects vou- ched for the fact that we had surely found the edge of summer. We drove back along. the whirling highways trying to ignore the noise and smell of rushing traffic. Back home we both decided we'd have to return. There just hadn't been enough time to see everything and after all, we'd just have to indulge once more in one of those fantastic Maryland crab feasts. I )a yh: 548 -9700 We eken(k 477 -9446 Ofirling Now.1ta. P.O. Box 206 • Greenport, N.Y. 11944 Classic North Fork Styles Custom Built on Your Land or Ours Industrial & Farm Equipment ].tp W-111111.1 G•O l e. ROLLE BROS. ~1 . 4 ROUTE 58, P.O. 13OX 358 RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK 727 -4383 Your Authorized Sperry -New Holland Dealer IEYCUWG M MANI • 785 Raynor Avenue • Riverhead, N.Y. 727 -6600 ; David Dowd, Jr. Builder at a campsite, set up our tent amongst tall oaks and tulip trees. During the night the only noise we heard was the distant call of the freight train pass- ing through. We were alone with the moon on what seemed like a summer night. The next day brought us to the east- ern shores of the Chesapeake where a friend of mine, Lance Biechele, who once lived in Southold, now lives. It is a wildlife paradise. Lance and Joann have had bluebirds nest in their yard as well as a Carolina wren, a Baltimore oriole and a blue gros- beak. To top this, across the field is an old dead pine where a bald eagle often comes to perch. While here we visited the great marshes of Deal Island. Here again we marveled at the variety of wildlife. We even saw the unusual stilt, that handsome extra - long - legged black and white shorebird with the long bill. I've only seen it twice in my life here on Long Island. Long - billed marsh- wrens, seaside sparrows, sharp - tailed sparrows, and Savannah sparrows flitted back and forth across the road in front of us as we walked. Lance had brought his tape rec- order on which he had recorded rail calls. He played it, and sure enough, out came a curious Virginia rail chal- lenging the call of another rail in his territory. Without recorded calls to lure these elusive birds from the high grass we never would have seen them. On our way back we photographed the coast violet and the beautiful white long - leaved violet along the roadway while up above two bald eagles soared. It was hard to tear ourselves away from this paradise. Our spotted windshield from flying insects vou- ched for the fact that we had surely found the edge of summer. We drove back along. the whirling highways trying to ignore the noise and smell of rushing traffic. Back home we both decided we'd have to return. There just hadn't been enough time to see everything and after all, we'd just have to indulge once more in one of those fantastic Maryland crab feasts. I )a yh: 548 -9700 We eken(k 477 -9446 Ofirling Now.1ta. P.O. Box 206 • Greenport, N.Y. 11944 Classic North Fork Styles Custom Built on Your Land or Ours Industrial & Farm Equipment ].tp W-111111.1 G•O l e. ROLLE BROS. ~1 . 4 ROUTE 58, P.O. 13OX 358 RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK 727 -4383 Your Authorized Sperry -New Holland Dealer