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.
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