Loading...
January 21, 1988 - A Day at MontaukA Day at Montauk By PAUL STOUTENBURGH The other night Art Cooley called me from the south side saying he was going to Montauk with a group of outdoor enthusiasts and wanted to know if I'd be interested. Needless to say a hasty lunch was packed and binoculars and scope were put by the door ready for an early morning de- parture. I had made arrangements to meet the group at the Westhampton exit of Sunrise Highway and there I picked up Dennis Puleston from their car. Dennis, just back from a trip to the Antarctic, is one of the great Long Island naturalists. We are old friends and the drive to Montauk would give us a chance to talk. Montauk was clouded with a steel - grey overcast and as we got out of the cars I'm sure some of the group were wondering what we were doing here on such a dismal day. Coats were buttoned up, gloves put on, binoculars slung over necks and bulky tripods with their scopes atop were carried over the shoulders. We were off to the easternmost tip of Long Island. The sea had a gentle swell that made but a slight effort to break over the rugged stony embankment below the great lighthouse. From atop a hill just north of the lighthouse we set up our scopes. Those with binocu- lars scanned the sea looking for whatever appeared on the surface. By now the light was a bit better and we could see hundreds and hundreds of white- winged scoters, mergansers and oldsquaws bobbing up and down on the steel -grey water spread before us. This was a winter's day on the ocean, yet the ducks paid little atten- tion to the weather. Their concern was feeding. Gulls Take Ducks' Food Among the mass of ducks were sea- gulls, the bandits of the sea. What they did was to wait until a mer- ganser or scoter popped to the surface with some bit of food in his bill and then move in and snatch it from him. Gulls can't dive deep so they let the ducks do the diving and they reap the harvest. Naturally they didn't get all the food for the ducks looked healthy and strong. Ducks have fed off this Point since the beginning of our is- land. The sea has been a good pro- vider. As we looked more carefully three common eiders were spotted. These big, handsome ducks come from the Focus on Nature North and a few are usually found along our oceanfront wherever there is a rocky coast. A single Bonaparte's gull flew by. This small gull, which is a common offshore bird throughout the winter, feeds on small fish and crustaceans the sea provides. It was nice to see it in so close where we could all view it. I remember last year when we were at Montauk there were hundreds of them feeding off some school of fish just off the Point. It was a bit earlier in the season and the bluefish were running then. We looked over the gulls particu- larly well for we hoped to see one of the white - winged gulls, such as a glaucous or Iceland gull. These are northern gulls that we are privileged to see when they come into our area occasionally. Later, Art's sharp eyes would pick out one but like so many birds on the move it never stopped long enough for all of us to see. After checking and rechecking Art con- cluded definitely it was an immature glaucous gull. Mussel Shell Beach Having scanned the Point for about half an hour we decided to head north and west along the bay beach. From the beginning, and last- ing for almost a mile, a windrow of mussel shells lined the high -tide mark of the beach. These were blue mussels that are so good to eat and the one, I'm sure, the ducks offshore were feeding on but why so many shells? We all speculated on this and came to the conclusion that some great storm must have ripped up the bot- tom and cast them ashore. Nothing else could have done it. It was one of nature's catastrophes. As we walked west our feet would sink a foot or more into the thick, loose shells. Amongst them were crab and lobs- ter shells with a multitude of sea- weed and kelp mixed in. Most of the mussel shells were empty and this completely bewildered us. What had happened to them? Had they been ripped off and organisms of some sort eaten them and then the lighter empty shells tossed ashore? We'd never know. There were still a few live mussels left for we could see where the gulls had been eating EM 5 1151—M W f i___ ■ _■ 111L WELL & PUMP CORP. FOR ALL YOUR WATER NEEDS Well Drilling SysMms Water Purifying Systems Repairs and Supplies o Carbon Filters • Phone Orders Promptly • Osmosis Systems C14 w • Fully Automatic Soft N' Filters — } 298 -4141 Box 101, Main Rd, IlAaftick The Suffolk Times /January 21, 1988 /Page 9A Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh MONTAUK LIGHT -- Around this famous lighthouse there is always activity. In the summer it's screaming gulls and fishing boats. In the winter seals and ducks enjoy the area. them. Yet no amount of gulls could have eaten the billions of mussels piled on the beach. We'd seen some- thing like this before but never to such an extent. If you walk far enough along the bay side of Montauk in a westerly di- rection, you'll eventually come to some rocks that stand out along that rugged shore. It was here we hoped to see Harlequin ducks, those sel- dom -seen, colorful, northern ducks. As we approached and scanned the area with our glasses, we could see seals on the rocks. Three, or was it four? We were too far away so we moved up closer. Three great cormor- ants flew by showing their white throat patches. Their extra -large size identified them easily from the smal- ler double- crested cormorant. Later, around the corner, we'd see more of them sitting on rocks with their wings outstretched so characteristi- cally drying their wet feathers. Seals Enjoying Winter We finally got close enough to set up the scope and look over the area. We saw no Harlequin ducks but were amazed to see 17 seals in all, some on rocks and some on the water. This spot has never failed us for seals. We watched engrossed at these sleek animals as they rested, perched high on the rocks. Every once in a while one would scratch with its back flip- per almost like a dog. Then they'd stretch, bending almost in a big U, head and tail rosed high. One in par- ticular had markings of a white face mask. It looked almost carnival -like. The long beach walk was in- vigorating. We had the companion- ship of good friends. The day had cleared up and the sun sparkled about us on a now cheery sea. Our earlier gloomy weather had cleared. Birds and seals obliged us and we had worked up our appetites for the lunches awaiting us at the cars. We headed back. When we reached the big parking lot under the mighty Montauk Light there were over 30 cars there. The latecomers had ar- rived. Industrial & Farm Equipment �A� ,414` *A. ROLLE BROS. 1 ROUTE 58, P.O. BOX 358 RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK 727 -4383 Your Authorized Sperry -New Holland Dealer GOLDSMITH and TUTHILL INC. ESTABLISHED 9 842 PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE • Fuel Oil «Automatic, Delivery , • Kerosene •;Oil flumerService • Diesel * Heating Installations • Gasoline • Discounts for Cash • Antifreeze • Phone Orders Promptly • Motor Oils Served Youngs Ave. Southold, N.Y. 11971 765 -3767 A Day at Montauk By PAUL STOUTENBURGH The other night Art Cooley called me from the south side saying he was going to Montauk with a group of outdoor enthusiasts and wanted to know if I'd be interested. Needless to say a hasty lunch was packed and binoculars and scope were put by the door ready for an early morning de- parture. I had made arrangements to meet the group at the Westhampton exit of Sunrise Highway and there I picked up Dennis Puleston from their car. Dennis, just back from a trip to the Antarctic, is one of the great Long Island naturalists. We are old friends and the drive to Montauk would give us a chance to talk. Montauk was clouded with a steel- ' grey overcast and as we got out of the cars I'm sure some of the group were wondering what we were doing here on such a dismal day. Coats were buttoned up, gloves put on, binoculars slung over necks and bulky tripods with their scopes atop j were carried over the shoulders. We were off to the easternmost tip of Long Island. The sea had a gentle swell that made but a slight effort to break over the rugged stony embankment below the great lighthouse. From atop a hill just north of the lighthouse we set up our scopes. Th se with binocu- lars scanned the .ea looking for whatever appeared on the surface. By now the light was a bit better and we could see hundreds and hundreds of white- winged scoters, mergansers and oldsquaws bobbing up and down on the steel -grey water spread before us. This was a winter's day on the ocean, yet the ducks paid little atten- tion to the weather. Their concern was feeding. Gulls Take Ducks' Food Among the mass of ducks were sea - gulls, the bandits of the sea. What they did was to wait until a mer- ganser or scoter popped to the surface with some bit of food in his bill and then move in and snatch it from him. Gulls can't dive deep so they let the ducks do the diving and they reap the harvest. Naturally they didn't get all the food for the ducks looked healthy and strong. Ducks have fed off this Point since the beginning of our is- land. The sea has been a good pro - vider. As we looked more carefully three common eiders were spotted. These big, handsome ducks come from the Focus on Nature North and a few are usually found along our oceanfront wherever there is a rocky coast. A single Bonaparte's gull flew by. This small gull, which is a common offshore bird throughout the winter, feeds on small fish and crustaceans the sea provides. It was nice to see it in so close where we could all view it. I remember last year when we were at Montauk there were hundreds of them feeding off some school of fish just off the Point. It was a bit earlier in the season and the bluefish were running then. We looked over the gulls particu- larly well for we hoped to see one of the white - winged gulls, such as a glaucous or Iceland gull. These are northern gulls that we are privileged to see when they come into our area occasionally. Later, Art's sharp eyes would pick out one but like so many birds on the move it never stopped long enough for all of us to see. After checking and rechecking Art con- cluded definitely it was an immature glaucous gull. Mussel Shell Beach Having scanned the Point for about half an hour we decided to head north and west along the bay beach. From the beginning, and last- ing for almost a mile, a windrow of mussel shells lined the high -tide mark of the beach. These were blue mussels that are so good to eat and the one, I'm sure, the ducks offshore were feeding on but why so many shells? We all speculated on this and came to the conclusion that some great storm must have ripped up the bot- tom and cast them ashore. Nothing else could have done it. It was one of nature's catastrophes. As we walked west our feet would sink a foot or more into the thick, loose shells. Amongst them were crab and lobs- ter shells with a multitude of sea- weed and kelp mixed in. Most of the mussel shells were empty and this completely bewildered us. What had happened to them? Had they been ripped off and organisms of some sort eaten them and then the lighter empty shells tossed ashore? We'd never know. There were still a few live mussels left for we could see where the gulls had been eating Ambi, Iipiiiiliil� llll� � il■■r:a ii -e=- � ;,■ SWELL & PUMP CORP. FOR ALL YOUR WATER NEEDS Well Drillings Systems Water Purifying Systems Repairs and Supplies . Carbon Filters • Phone Orders Promptly • osmosis Systems Served • Fully Automatic Soft N' Filters �� VvTff `�lll l n- L cl --W K-1-1 4 V 298 -4141 Box 101, Main Rd, Metliluuck The Suffolk Times /January 21, 1988 /Page 9A Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh MONTAUK LIGHT -- Around this famous lighthouse there is always activity. In the summer it's screaming gulls and fishing boats. In the winter seals and ducks enjoy the area. them. Yet no amount of gulls could have eaten the billions of mussels piled on the beach. We'd seen some- thing like this before but never to such an extent. If you walk far enough along the bay side of Montauk in a westerly di- rection, you'll eventually come to some rocks that stand out along that rugged shore. It was here we hoped to see Harlequin ducks, those sel- dom -seen, colorful, northern ducks. As we approached and scanned the area with our glasses, we could see seals on the rocks. Three, or was it four? We were too far away so we moved up closer. Three great cormor- ants flew by showing their white throat patches. Their extra -large size identified them easily from the smal- ler double- crested cormorant. Later, around the corner, we'd see more of them sitting on rocks with their wings outstretched so characteristi- cally drying their wet feathers. Seals Enjoying Winter We finally got close enough to set up the scope and look over the area. We saw no Harlequin ducks but were amazed to see 17 seals in all, some on rocks and some on the water. This spot has never failed us for seals. We watched engrossed at these sleek animals as they rested, perched high on the rocks. Every once in a while one would scratch with its back flip- per almost like a dog. Then they'd stretch, bending almost in a big U, head and tail rosed high. One in par- ticular had markings of a white face mask. It looked almost carnival -like. The long beach walk was in- vigorating. We had the companion- ship of good friends. The day had cleared up and the sun sparkled about us on a now cheery sea. Our earlier gloomy weather had cleared. Birds and seals obliged us and we had worked up our appetites for the lunches awaiting us at the cars. We headed back. When we reached the big parking lot under the mighty Montauk Light there were over 30 cars there. The latecomers had ar- rived. Industrial & Farm Equipment ROLLE BROS. ROUTE 58, P.O. BOX 358 RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK 727 -4383 Your Authorized Sperry -New Holland Dealer GOLDSMITH and TUTHILL INC. ESTABLISHED 1842 PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE • Fuel Oil •,Autarnatic.Delivery • Kerosene + Oil BumerService • Diesel • Heating Installations • Gasoline • Discounts for Cash • Antifreeze • Phone Orders Promptly • Motor Oils Served Youngs Ave. Southold, N.Y. 11971 765 -3767