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December 22, 1983 - The Christmas Bird CountPage 18A ! °� , /J The Christmas Mira `oust By PAUL STOUTENBURGH Saturday found Barbara and me on the first of three Audubon Christmas bird counts. The area we were to cover along with 15 other birders was Gardiners Island. I've been on and off that magical island for over 40 years. My first visit was when a boat I owned decided not to function any further and stopped just south of Tobaccolot on the east side of the island. Harry Waite and I spent a night on the island not quite shipwrecked but rather because it was better sleeping on the beach than in the cramped quarters of the disabled boat. From then on it was visits to the island to check on the ospreys with the famous naturalist LeRoy Wilcox. In those early days we traveled aboard Dr. Larry Waitz' beautiful sailboat, but as time went on and the boat was not available we'd go with Robert Gardiner in his famous sleek, black speed boat, Laugh- ing Lady. Most of our travels, however, were aboard the island's work boat, called the Captain Kidd. The present boat replaced the old Captain Kidd about 10 years ago and is a classic lobster boat with high bow and low, sweeping, spa- cious cockpit. Recently because of time commit- ments we've flown over to the island. Not only does it save time but it once again gives us the opportunity to look down on the wonderful East End of our island. From the air you can see why people flock to both the north and south shores. Where else do you get the waters of the sound, the waters of the bays and the creeks and the waters of the mighty ocean all wrapped up in such a small area? Our plane came into Mattituck Air Base with its lights still twinkling and in no time we were out of the cars and into the plane. Most had binoculars around their necks, some had scopes and, of course, all had a brown bag lunch. Everyone was bundled up for it can be fiercely cold out there where the wind shows no mercy for the inexperienced. In the air familiar places passed below: Robins Island, the jewel of the Peconic, seemed to reach up and beg us to save it from development; Morton Sanctuary poked out into the bay from the south shore opposite Cedar Beach, reminding us of the wild waters that rush through that passage; Shelter Island with its West Creek and Coecles Harbor reflected up at us and the huge peninsula of the Nature Conservancy's Mashomack lay unspoiled below us. Off and Running Soon we were over Gardiner's Bay and our destination just ahead. We took the north -south runway and landed on its rough surface. With no more than a `thank you' and a jump down we were ready to go. Peter, our son, was in charge. Barbara and I would take the south end up to the airport. Another group would go on from there, and others would be spread throughout the whole island. The area we were assigned to included the great salt marsh and the long sandy peninsula to the south and Cartwright Island, separ- ated from the south end by open, rough water. We would have to cheek that PURPLE SANDPIPERS - -These are the only true winter shore blirdstfound on the Montauk Count. Knots, black - bellied plovers, sanderlings, dunlins and the common yellowlegs are stragglers lingering here on their way south. HAPPY HOLIDAYS from all of us to all of you! `Tf�e TH�F BANK & TRUST CO. Member F.D.I.C, PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE ... LIKE YOU Main Office: Mattituck 298-8366 Greenport Southold Cutchogue Jamesport Shelter Island Quogue Southampton Speonk - Remsenburg East Moriches Mastic Beach Shirley Blue Point Loan Production Office: East Hampton 324 -7230 island using our scope and binoculars. Our first bird was a killdeer flying off the runway as we came in. As it flew, its white color and characteristic markings identified it for us. I carried the most gear, for cameras are always a part of all our outings. And so the backpack was thrown on my shoulders along with the scope and tripod. Barbara's backpack held the food and drink, most important ingredients in any outing. Song, tree and field sparrows along with Myrtle warlbers moved ahead of us as we pushed through the thickets and dune grass that separated the great marsh from Block Island Sound. It was still overcast and the early morning light made seeing difficult. However, we could see black ducks rising by the hundreds in the creek in front of us mingled with mallards, and gadwalls. A huge flock of herring gulls and black- backed gulls took off and landed off shore. They'd wait 'til we passed and then return. The croaking of the black- backed gulls sounded strange to us as we don't see these huge gulls as often as they occur out on Gardiner's. Now a group of goldeneyes took off. Then a large flock of red- breast- ed mergansers -- their long necks and pointed bills could easily be seen through our binoculars. The long sandy point reached probably a mile to the south and it was this point we were aiming for. Off shore strings of white - winged scoters and mergansers (continued on next page) TAKE YOUR PICK APPLES OR ORANGES THE BEATLES JUDY GARLAND BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN GLENN MILLER THE WHO PEGGY LEE ROLLING STONES NAT KING COLE MOODY BLUES ELLA FITZGERALD BILLY JOEL MEL TORME THE DOORS LES BROWN THE POLICE ARTIE SHAW PINK FLOYD PATTI PAGE STEELY DAN FRANK SINATRA MEN AT WORK HARRY JAMES SANTANA DINAH SHORE — AND MORE — — AND MORE — 24 HOURS A DAY SUNRISE TO SUNSET 404" VIOND 1510 AM December 22,1983 Focus . (continued from previous page) moved along restlessly, looking for the best place to feed during the day. Loons talked to each other in their yodel -like calls. I would like to have stopped and imitated them for their curiosity often brings them up close to you but we had to move on. Finally, Shore Birds Then along the shore we spotted what we had walked so far to see..shore birds. Most had moved south but if you're lucky you can always find a few stragglers. They look chunky and plover -like. Mov- ing over to the other side of the beach where they couldn't see us, we moved up on them. Slowly, down on our hands and knees, we checked them. "What were they ?" Black- bellied plover I bet but I couldn't see in this light. "Let's get closer." Creeping back, Barbara walked up the beach and then cut over hoping to move them down toward me. The wind was starting to blow now and made the tears run out of my eyes which added to the problem of seeing. Slowly, ever so slowly, she moved towards them doing just right. Down the beach they came moving towards me. Now I could see them. "There's a small one among them. Is it the knot? It must be a dunlin. Wait a minute, there are others there also. They must be knots. They're right up to me now. Let me get a little higher..Oh, up they go." I think secretly I was wishing they'd fly south away from the cold that is sure to come. What a joy-we see a flock of snow buntings ahead. How beautiful they are in the air. They almost dance in flight. They settled up the beach and we both looked through our binoculars at their trim winter coats as they picked almost invisible seeds lost in the sand. The sun came out and our day lightened even more. We found an old wooden row boat, someone's dream of the past now desert- ed, its back broken lying high and dry on the beach. We sat in the seats for lunch; a can of V -8 juice, ham and lettuce sand- wiches on MJ's homemade bread, and a few cookies. We were content but we had lots to go yet. On with the backpacks and up we got. Oh, how the legs resist but the chill moved us on. The day went on and we found a bottle with a message inside from students in Mystic, Conn., dated 11/82. They asked for a return. The bottle went in the knapsack. We'll reply when we get home. Later we saw a marsh hawk, gliding like some small boy's glider over the marsh and field, its white rump marking it well. We scurried back and forth from the west side to the east side across the open areas so typical of the island. Here is where a grasshopper sparrow should be but we found none. We headed to the great clay cliffs and looked below. Seals were on the rocks. Two on one rock, then two more and way up the beach two more. Six in all. Some almost white, others still grey and one large black one. What a joy to look down on them in this wild and wintry setting. The day wore on and our legs felt the strain of continual walking through soft sand and snagging briars. Our plane was due back at 3:30. The wind was building up and the temperature was falling but we still pushed on. We counted and added to our list. Then it was really time to head back to the shack on the air strip where we all got together to tally our lists. Almost like a shadow, the plane snuck in and taxied up. We were out in the cutting wind and in the plane. Moments later we rumbled down the runway into the late afternoon sun. What a wonderful way to start our Christmas bird count season. The day was perfect, and the company couldn't be better. Merry Christmas to all and may we enjoy many more days in the outdoors together. The Suffolk Times Page 19A Canvas Cloth Is Coming To Town. UNDER $10. It's the famous Mills log carrier now available in an even larger assortment of terrific colors in both solid and stripes. Durable and practical, a great gift for anyone with a fireplace or wood - burning stove. 9.95 UNDER $15. Our tote bag is renowned for its versatility. Made of rugged duck canvas with heavy white handles, it's available in a variety of solid colors. 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