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January 06, 1983 - Bird Count Totals LowJanuary 6, 1983 The NtWo- RebieW Bird Count Totals Low I am continually asked, "What was unusual about this year's Christmas Bird Count ?" My reply: "The weather. Never in all the years have we had such mild and unwintry weather for our count." Because of this mildness, most counts were low. The reason being that the birds were not forced into feeding areas where they could be tallied, but rather they were spread over a wide area, making tracking them down a difficult job. At least that is what we hope it was. The first count was the Montauk Count and it is on this one that I do a portion of Gardiners Island. The island at any time of the year is awe inspiring. Even without the leaves of summer, the bleakness of winter still lures me. I've been going on these counts for over 20 years and each time I look forward to getting back to Gardiners. This year my wife and I had the pleasure of spending an extra day on the island. We had hoped to be there before the count started so that we could do some early reconnaissance. We flew over on a perfect day. How frail the North Fork looked compared to the South Fork. Few realize how small we are here on the North Fork. A mere thread, you might say. We flew out of Mattituck an,' as you look to the west towards Riverhead, you're impressed by the open farmland that spreads westward. The winter waters of the Peconics sparkled to the south and Connecticut beyond the great Sound lay in a misty haze to the north. In no time, West Creek, Wickham's Creek, Richmond's Creek, Goose Creek and Cedar Beach passed under us. Then it was Shelter Island, with its fabulous creeks and waterfront that reminded us of quiet summer nights at anchor nearby. Time went too fast and we were soon at the south end of Gardiners heading into a north wind, low over the sandy islands of Cartwright -- the narrow runway of Gardiners now lay before us. If it were early summer, there would be nesting gulls all around but now winter's grey had taken over. qo'FE� @Ofl �fl E-Q[flTg Friendly greetings and a quick lunch soon had us hiking the west beach passed Home Pond. Teal, gadwall, mergansers, black ducks and one lc 2 cormorant took off before us. A red - tailed hawk circled to the east. A small flock of snow buntings played along the stony edge as I tried in vain to photograph them. It was warm and sunny. It created a high that invited us to walk on. Finding Yellow Legs Soon we rounded Cherry Hill, where a familiar osprey had built his nest on a huge driftwood log. I remember the site well, for when we surveyed the osprey population last year there were two brown - mottled eggs in the nest. What a setting along this stony beach, with its freshwater pond for a backdrop. We found a ]one shore bird along the edge of the pond -- a yellow legs. Surely we would have to tell the group tomorrow to keep their eye out for him for the official count. The sun was trying to sneak below the horizon as we walked up into the woods and along one of the old roads that heads to the Manor House. Along the way we found turkey tracks and the leaves that they had newly tossed about in their search for insects and worms. They, like our chickens at home, were scratching before the fury of winter welded the earth into a solid mat. The next day was a grueling one. More people had arrived to participate in the count. Each had his area and little time was spent socializing. It was all work now. Through woods, marsh, open fields, tangles and beaches, RESTAURANT '" TAVERN r 1:Ste 1` ton otiel < >:; . . . . . 7'. ...... . Choice of: Complete Sunday Brunch 1 L I • Eggs Benedict w /Hollandaise $5.95 a N.Y. Steak & Eggs $7.95 4 • Sauteed Chicken & Broccoli in White Wine $6.95 • Generous Omelets & Quiches $5.95 a Seafood Crepe e Choice of Fruit Cup or Juice a Fresh Baked Coffee Cake or Muffin • Banana Daiquiri, Champagne Cocktail, Bloody Mary or Mimosa • Coffee Brunch Hours: 12 - 3 Sunday Sunday We Are Still Open For Breakfast Serving from 8 - 3 ` Complete Lunch Specials served with SOUP or SALAD, VEGETABLE, DESSERT & COFFEE ` Served 11:30 - 3:00 ( Mon. - Sat.) Sauteed Flounder Almondine in White Wine w /Broccoli $3.95 Sauteed Beef Liver w /Onions $3.95 ` Seafood Au Gratin $4.95 Scallops Scampi w /Rice Pilaf $4.95 Prime Rib Sandwich w /French Fries $4.95 Irish Chicken $4.95 Stuffed Flounder $4.95 v Broiled Pork Chops $4.95 Chicken Mediterranean $4.95 Generous Omelettes - Seafood Crepes 40 Complete Dinner Specials to served with SOUP and SALAD, POTATO & VEGETABLE, DESSERT & COFFEE 4 Served 5:00 - 9:00 ( 5 - 10 Fri. & Sat.) L Prime Rib Au Jus #895 (Served 7 Days A Week!) ` APPETIZERS: Tomato Juice, Baked Clams, Stuffed Mushrooms ` Fresh Fruit Cup ` Stuffed Chicken $8.50 Duck $10.50 ` Ham Steak Hawaiian $8.50 Shrimp Scampi $10.50 Pork Chops ( Greek Style) $9.50 Lobster Saute Garni $13.50 L Veal Marsala $9.50 N.Y. Steak & Lobster $15.50 ` \ WATCH FOR OUR COMPLETE N�SOONM NU OF (� DELICIOUS ENTREES ... COMIN G ` C+ G 133 -135 Third St.,Greenport a 477 -1794 C L j Page 9 PURPLE SANDPIPERS - -These sandpipers visit us during the winter months. On the coldest days -- and even the stormiest -- these staunch birds seem to be able to eke out a living on the rocks and jetties along our shores. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh we trod looking, searching, and counting. Our tally would be only a small part of the overall final count. Even now I don't know exactly the number of birds that will be tallied, but I'm sure it will be one of the better counts, for the Montauk area is one of the best because of its wide variety of terrain and water areas. Central Suffolk Counted 120 Two days after Christmas, I took part in the Central Suffolk Count that racked up about 120 species of birds. My area was the Eastport -East Moriches section where we spotted two bald eagles at the Eastport pond just at dawn. Again our party walked and walked and walked. My how that area has changed in the time I've been doing the count there. Open farms are now house on house. Beautiful meandering shallow creeks have been gutted and channeled. Three - hundred -unit condominiums spread along the bay front. Duck farms are vanishing and modern glass- fronted homes are popping up like mushrooms overnight. This area, once thought untouchable by developers because of the undesirable duck farms, is now being changed because of the desirability of waterfront. Our list at the end of the day was disappointing. We were missing many species that once were seen along the marshes and farms that line the area. You can't have it both ways. When people move in and habitat is disrupted, wildlife takes a backseat. On to Orient The last count was our Orient count, which I am in charge of. The area covers roughly from Peconic Lane east to Plum Island and as far south as Sag Harbor, including all of Shelter Island. We had a good group out, but because of logistics of a mid -week day we didn't have quite the group we had last year. Birds were spread out and difficult to find. We got about 90 species. Not bad considering half our day was spent in rain. We had purple sandpipers off Orient Point, which were nice to find. And to complete our trek out there, a harbor seal came up to greet us and played around in the shallows while we watched Bonaparte gulls feeding off the lighthouse. Of course, there were the cormorants sitting on the railing of the lighthouse, too, that we added to our list. Later in the day when we went out to the State Park, we were disappointed because it was the first time we could find no horned larks or snow buntings there. The k;;__ park manager took us in his four -wheel drive vehicle to the end of Long Beach, but no luck. We didn't even find one shore bird there. This had always been our ace in the hole, but not this year. What a magnificent piece of wilderness that Long Beach is. We should all keep an eye on this area to see that it never changes. It has a rugged wild character that is becoming rarer every day. After our day's outing and the misery of a drizzling rain, everyone reported back to the house, where Barbara had prepared hot mulled cider, delicious fish chowder, cheesecake and all the goodies and atmosphere that made the 30 observers content with the day. The challenge of the counts was there. We did our best, but we all felt a little shortchanged. The birds just weren't there. But wait till next year. You'll see...it'll be the best ever! PAULSTOUTENBURGH Ninety Species Seen Species of birds seen on Orient Christmas Count Dec. 29: Com. Loon, Horned Grebe, Pied - billed Grebe, Great Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Black - crowned Night Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Black Duck, Gadwall, Am. Wigeon, Ring - necked Duck, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Com. Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Oldsquaw, White- winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, Hooded Merganser, Red - breasted Merganser, Sharp- shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red- tailed Hawk, Marsh Hawk, Merlin, Am. Kestrel, Bobwhite, Ring- necked Pheasant. Am. Woodcock, Purple Sandpiper, Sanderling, Great Black- backed Gull, Herring Gull, Ring - billed Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Screech Owl, Long -eared Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Com. (Yel. -sh.) Flicker, Red - bellied Woodpecker, Yellow - bellied Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, Com. Crow, Black - capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White - breasted Nuthatch, Red - breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Long - billed Marsh Wren, Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, Am. Robin, Hermit Thrush. Golden - crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, Starling, Yellow - rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, House Sparrow, E. Meadowlark, Red - winged Blackbird, Com. Grackle, Cardinal, Evening Grosbeak, Purple Finch, House Finch, Am. Goldfinch, Rufous -sided Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Dark -eyed (Slate - col.) Junco, Tree Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, White- throated Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Snow Bunting. No totals available at press time as all group tallies not in. Industrial 8 Farm Equiprnent . �YYs �n.o ►. ro�.t•� L.. .1 HGgti r �� Route 58 ROLLE BROS. P O. ea 356 Riverhead, N V is '�- -� Phone 727 4383 Your authorized SPERRY NEW HOLLAND dealer Page 14 Tbt &Uff olk cimto Bird Count Totals Low I am continually asked, "What was unusual about this year's Christmas Bird Count ?" My reply: "The weather. Never in all the years have we had such mild and unwintry weather for our count." Because of this mildness, most counts were low. The reason being that the birds were not forced into feeding areas where they could be tallied, but rather they were spread over a wide area, making tracking them down a difficult job. At least that is what we hope it was. The first count was the Montauk Count and it is on this one that I do a portion of Gardiners Island. The island at any time of the year is awe inspiring. Even without the leaves of summer, the bleakness of winter still lures me. I've been going on these counts for over 20 years and each time I look forward to getting back to Gardiners. This year my wife and I had the pleasure of spending an extra day on the island. We had hoped to be there before the count started so that we could do some early reconnaissance. We flew over on a perfect day. How frail the North Fork looked compared to the South Fork. Few realize how small we are here on the North Fork. A mere thread, you mightsay. We flew out of Mattituck and as you look to the west towards Riverhead, you're impressed by the open farmland that spreads westward. The winter waters of the Peconics sparkled to the south and Connecticut beyond the great Sound lay in a misty haze to the north. In no time, West Creek, Wickham's Creek, Richmond's Creek, Goose Creek and Cedar Beach passed under us. Then it was Shelter Island, with its fabulous creeks and waterfront that reminded us of quiet summer nights at anchor nearby. Time went too fast and we were soon at the south end of Gardiners heading into a north wind, low over the sandy islands of Cartwright -- the narrow runway of Gardiners now lay before us. If it were early summer, there would be nesting gulls all around but now winter's grey had taken over. 4 v to V IeI v 40 11 AU RANT $terl'i hc?Mw) @w mn,��flTq Friendly greetings and a quick lunch soon had us hiking the west beach passed Home Pond. Teal, gadwall, mergansers, black ducks and one lone cormorant took off before us. A red - tailed hawk circled to the east. A small flock of snow buntings played along the stony edge as I tried in vain to photograph them. It was warm and sunny. It created a high that invited us to walk on. Finding Yellow Legs Soon we rounded Cherry Hill, where a familiar osprey had built his nest on a huge driftwood log. I remember the site well, for when we surveyed the osprey population last year there were two brown - mottled eggs in the nest. What a setting along this stony beach, with its freshwater pond for a backdrop. We found a lone shore bird along the edge of the pond -- a yellow legs. Surely we would have to tell the group tomorrow to keep their eye out for him for the official count. The sun was trying to sneak below the horizon as we walked up into the woods and along one of the old roads that heads to the Manor House. Along the way we found turkey tracks and the leaves that they had newly tossed about in their search for insects and worms. They, like our chickens at home, were scratching before the fury of winter welded the earth into a solid mat. The next day was a grueling one. More people had arrived to participate in the count. Each had his area and little time was spent socializing. It was all work now. Through woods, marsh, open fields, tangles and beaches, TAVERN 4o on �(otel Choice of: Complete Sunday Brunch • Eggs Benedict w /Hollandaise $5.95 • N.Y. Steak & Eggs $7.95 • Sauteed Chicken & Broccoli in White Wine $6.95 • Generous Omelets & Quiches $5.95 • Seafood Crepe • Choice of Fruit Cup or Juice a Fresh Baked Coffee Cake or Muffin • Banana Daiquiri, Champagne Cocktail, Bloody Mary or Mimosa • Coffee Brunch Hours: 12 - 3 Sunday Sunday We Are Still Open For Breakfast Serving from 8 - 3' Complete Lunch Specials served with SOUP or SALAD, VEGETABLE, DESSERT & COFFEE Served 11:30 - 3:00 ( Mon. - Sat.) Sauteed Flounder Almondine in White Wine w /Broccoli $3.95 Sauteed Beef Liver w /Onions $3.95 'Seafood Au Gratin $4.95 Scallops Scampi w /Rice Pilaf $4.95 Prime Rib Sandwich w /French Fries $4.95 Irish Chicken $4.95 Stuffed Flounder $4.95 Broiled Pork Chops $4.95 Chicken Mediterranean $4.95 Generous'Omelettes - Seafood Crepes Complete Dinner Specials served with SOUP and SALAD, POTATO & VEGETABLE, DESSERT & COFFEE Served 5:00 - 9:00 ( 5 - 10 Fri. & Sat.) Prime Rib Au Jus #895 (Served 7 Days A Week!) APPETIZERS: Tomato Juice, Baked Clams, Stuffed Mushrooms Fresh Fruit Cup ` Stuffed Chicken $8.50 Duck $10.50 Ham Steak Hawaiian $8.50 Shrimp Scampi $10.50 Pork Chops ( Greek Style) $9.50 Lobster Saute Garni $13.50 (� Veal Marsala $9.50 N.Y. Steak & Lobster $15.50 WATCH FOR OUR COMPLETE NEW MENU OF . �, DELICIOUS ENTREES ... COMING SOONIII G co 133 -135 Third St.,Greenport a 477 -1794 C L G 4 G G f r G L G L G G/ January 6, 1983 PURPLE SANDPIPERS - -These sandpipers visit us during the winter months. On the coldest days -- and even the stormiest -- these staunch birds seem to be able to eke out a living on the rocks and jetties along our shores. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh we trod looking, searching, and counting. Our tally would be only a small part of the overall final count. Even now I don't know exactly the number of birds that will be tallied, but I'm sure it will be one of the better counts, for the Montauk area is one of the best because of its wide variety of terrain and water areas. Central Suffolk Counted 120 Two days after Christmas, I took part in the Central Suffolk Count that racked up about 120 species of birds. My area was the Eastport -East Moriches section where we spotted two bald eagles at the Eastport pond just at dawn. Again our party walked and walked and walked. My how that area has changed in the time I've been doing the count there. Open farms are now house on house. Beautiful meandering shallow creeks have been gutted and channeled. Three - hundred -unit condominiums spread along the bay front. Duck farms are vanishing and' modern glass- fronted homes are popping up like mushrooms overnight. This area, once thought untouchable by developers because of the undesirable duck farms, is now being changed because of the desirability of waterfront. Our list at the end of the day was disappointing. We were missing many species that once were seen along the marshes and farms that line the area. You can't have it both ways. When people move in and habitat is disrupted, wildlife takes a backseat. On to Orient The last count was our Orient count, which I am in charge of. The area covers roughly from Peconic Lane east to Plum Island and as far south as Sag Harbor, including all of Shelter Island. We had a good group out, but because of logistics of a mid -week day we didn't have quite the group we had last year. Birds were spread out and difficult to find. We got about 90 species. Not bad considering half our day was spent in rain. We had purple sandpipers off Orient Point, which were nice to find. And to complete our trek out there, a harbor seal came up to greet us and played around in the shallows while we watched Bonaparte gulls feeding off the lighthouse. Of course, there were the cormorants sitting on the railing of the lighthouse, too, that we added to our list. Later in the day when we went out to the State Park, we were disappointed because it was the first time we could find no horned larks or snow buntings there. The lt�;7_ M park manager took us in his four -wheel drive vehicle to the end of Long Beach, but no luck. We didn't even find one shore bird there. This had always been our ace in the hole, but not this year. What a magnificent piece of wilderness that Long Beach is. We should all keep an eye on this area to see that it never changes. It has a rugged wild character that is becoming rarer every day. After our day's outing and the misery of a drizzling rain, everyone reported back to the house, where Barbara had prepared hot mulled cider, delicious fish chowder, cheesecake and all the goodies and atmosphere that made the 30 observers content with the day. The challenge of the counts was there. We did our best, but we all felt a little shortchanged. The birds just weren't there. But wait till next year. You'll see ... it'll be the best ever! PAULSTOUTENBURGH Ninety Species Seen Species of birds seen on Orient Christmas Count Dec. 29: Com. Loon, Horned Grebe, Pied - billed Grebe, Great Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Black - crowned Night Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Black Duck, Gadwall, Am. Wigeon, Ring- necked Duck, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Com. Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Oldsquaw, White - winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, Hooded Merganser, Red - breasted Merganser, Sharp- shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red - tailed Hawk, Marsh Hawk, Merlin, Am. Kestrel, Bobwhite, Ring- necked Pheasant. Am. Woodcock, Purple Sandpiper, Sanderling, Great Black - backed Gull, Herring Gull, Ring - billed Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Screech Owl, Long -eared Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Com. (Yel. -sh.) Flicker, Red - bellied Woodpecker, Yellow - bellied Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, Com. Crow, Black - capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White - breasted Nuthatch, Red - breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Long - billed Marsh Wren, Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, Am. Robin, Hermit Thrush. Golden- crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, Starling, Yellow - rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, House Sparrow, E. Meadowlark, Red - winged Blackbird, Com. Grackle, Cardinal, Evening Grosbeak, Purple Finch, House Finch, Am. Goldfinch, Rufous -sided Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Dark -eyed (Slate - col.) Junco, Tree Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, White- throated Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Snow Bunting. No totals available at press time as all group tallies not in. Industrial & Farm Equipment. L..,.t eAOt • - .. ..�� ��,,. Route 58 ROLLE EROS P O 356 Riverhead. N Y Phone 727 4383 Your authorized SPERRY NEW HOLLAND dealer