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October 24, 1996 - A Picture-Perfect Columbus DayQA • The Suffolk Times • October 24, 1996 A Picture - Perfect Columbus Day Columbus Day and what a day it was! Sunny and warm, one that invites you to drop everything at home and take off. Our philosophy is that you can do the routine work any time, but on a good day — for- get it — get out and enjoy the world around you if you can. Yet, even with that philosophy, we were bound to be tied down until after lunch when we finally headed for the boat. It's nothing really special but it gets us around the creeks and bays in short order and today we were head- ing over to the cottage to take advantage of the day. Down at the dock the marsh grass had already started to turn its golden brown. The sal - icornia (saltwort) was more spectacular now in its scarlet realm of color. This fleshy plant with its salty taste makes a good addition to sal- ads and we often stoop down for a bit to chew as we pass it by. The low humidity had dried everything to perfection and the touch of the starter button had the outboard purring immedi- ately. How clear the fall water was. No longer was there a summer's murkiness to the creek. As we moved slowly along, we noticed that there were fewer boats moored about. Many of the summer folks have already had their boats hauled. Further along the marsh edge, we spot- ted three white patches that as we drew nearer turned out to be great white egrets stalking for killies in the now- flooded marsh. They are merely passing through on their way south. This big white wader was one of the many birds that was hunt- ed commercially in the early 1900s, not for food but for their feathers that adorned ladies' hats. If it wasn't for the Audubon Society's endless efforts to pro- tect this bird in those early days, perhaps this handsome egret, along with others, might now be extinct. Yellowlegs Gives Warning Once out in the bay we saw signs of others taking advantage of the day. Two or three sailboats and a few powerboats skimmed the water. We kept close to the Ice of the shore so as to keep out of the rough water and make the ride more com- fortable. As we approached the beach by the cottage a yellowlegs (a shore bird) stopped its feeding and checked us out. Its tail and head bobbed in true yellowlegs fash- ion. Then we got too close and it flew away, giving its warning call to tell others that intruders had arrived. As we pulled the boat up on the beach at the cottage, I rearranged the lines so we'd be afloat no matter what the tide. This is important so you don't become stranded on the beach as the tide goes out. Barbara went ahead to the — cottage to get drinks and snacks as I secured the boat. Once the boat was secure, I found a spot under the dunes that was warm and sunny. Soon we were set with the makings of a perfect outing. I could see two common loons, those endless divers who had just arrived from the north. They will stay and feed in our bays until next spring, when they'll once again return to the same lonely lake to raise their young. We sat on the sand and realized then there was something differ- ent about it. The sand was cool, a far cry from the hot sands of summer we'd known in this very same spot. We munched and talked and sipped our drinks until the late - afternoon shadows started to creep into our magical world. We watched a monarch butterfly dance along the beach in front of us, seemingly not having a care in the world. We won- dered where it would be in the next two or three weeks. Would the weather last long enough for it to make its perilous journey south to the promised land of warmth and honey? Records show some monarch butterflies go as far as the mountains of Mexico on their migration, then in the spring'they return north to lay their eggs on the milkweed plant and thereby perpetuate their clan. Many, I'm sure, don't make it but in nature's way of overabundance some will and it's through Focus on Nature by Pain Stoutenburgh Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh RIPPLES ON THE BAY — Every once in a while a few good days of fall come along. It's then that the world seems perfect, but to enjoy them you just drop every- thing and get out. bet's book Back 75 Years Ago Oct. 21, 1921 New Wine and Beer Scheme: Congressman Breman of Michigan has devised a scheme whereby he hopes to bring the country to a wine and beer basis for the sake of the soldiers — not that the soldiers might have the wine and beer to drink, but that they might profit by the tax brought in from the sale of wine and beer for consumption in the private home. He has fortified himself in advance with the flat declara- tion that his project would not mean the return of the saloon, because everybody recognizes that is an institution of the past. Mr. Breman would authorize the sale of beer and wine for home consumption under a tax which would be applied to the bonus law for the ex- servicemen. He would have the servicemen benefit from the revenue upon which the boot- leggers have been waxing fat, and he is seeking the support of the American Legion in his enterprise. He is sure to encounter opposition from most of the churches and from the anti - saloon league, and so far the American Legion has not endorsed the plan. 50 Years Ago Oct. 25, 1946 Orient News: Hoodlums this week have stolen many these survivors the future is assured. A kingfisher flew by dressed in its blue and white uniform. We watched it fly up to an old piling where once a dock had been. Here he'd stay like a sentry, surveying the waters below till some unfortunate killifish moved into just the right position Then, with wings folded, it would drop like a miniature rocket into the water where "dinner is served." Most of the kingfishers we see here on our East End will migrate by the time winter really sets in.and water freezes up. A few will stick it out, seeking the open water mainly at the head of our creeks. It's here the seeping groundwater keeps the rivulets open where the killifish con- gregate. Rations are tight during these freeze -up periods but they don't last long. Soon other water areas open up along the creek edge and once again good fishing comes to the kingfisher. This technique of seeking out the open areas to feed from is also taken up by our great blue heron who, like the kingfisher, reflector name signs from residents in Orient. They also have uprooted fence posts and in general committed unlaw- ful acts. This sort of conduct is understandable at Halloween, but should be halted at other times. Classified Ads: East Marion — Six acres of land with many outbuildings and 350 feet of waterfront, suitable for development into bungalow colony, $7,000. Peconic — Five -room furnished waterfront bungalow with garage and all improvements, suitable for year -round occupancy. Price $3,500. 25 Years Ago Oct. 21, 1971 She Had a Story to Toll: Sheila Heaney of Greenport is 12 years old and has two brothers who can be a pain in the neck sometimes, she says. Which is how she came to write her prize- winning story in The American Girl. The boys, Kevin, 16, and Brion, 10, were playing some rock music the only way they ever play it, she says — loud — while she was trying to read. She tried to turn it off, one thing led to another and there was a fight. She ran off to her room and was so mad she sat right down and wrote a story about a girl with two brothers. She titled it "The Middle One" and sent it off to the magazine. The magazine wrote to her announcing she had won the first award for September and sent her a check for $15. occasionally stays through the entire win- ter. Of course, the safest plan would be to head south as most herons do, but some will try to make it without migrating. On mild winters they'll make it, but occa- sionally when we have an extremely cold period and everything freezes up, their food supply will be cut off and starvation will take over. Those who gamble on bad winters pay dearly, but even that loss is a gain for the prowling fox for he, too, has a hard time finding food during stressful winter periods. As we finished our snacks, a definite chill started to take over. We were enveloped in long shadows from the late - afternoon sun and what had been a delightful sunny beach with sparking water before us soon became a monotone of s6bdued colors backed up by a cool breeze. It was time to head back. Across the bay to the east, the homes along the shore still bathed in the luxury of the late- afternoon sun, giving them a look only created at that time of day. It also painted the late passing gulls with a special yellow under their wings that, when seen against the blue of the sky, made you almost question what you were seeing. We buttoned up our jackets and pressed the starter button and were off across the rippled bay. A pair of black ducks flew into the nearby creek. They would settle and feed all night along the marsh edges. The now -ripe seeds of the thatch grass, like grain in our fields, would nourish them along with a multi- tude of mixed wild cereals gleaned from the high -tide mark. As we entered our creek, we slowed down to the five mph limit. I'm so glad this speed limit is posted and enforced in our creeks. It's appropriate to travel slowly in these unique areas. Wildlife abounds in them. It is their turf and we should respect it, plus there's always the safety factor of speeding boats in narrow channels. Back at the dock, we tied up the boat and headed for the car. Columbus Day couldn't have been nicer. We probably had our last picnic on the beach. We'd be out again but probably not under such perfect conditions, for winter draws on. It again proves our motto that if the day is right, you should take advantage of it. You can always do the routine work on a rainy day.