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June 30, 2011 - North Fork nature tour continuesSUFFOLKTIMES.COM I JUNE 30, 2011 rr r N roads North Fork nature tour continues �llri r r4;;v r � I pi r i� u� ww nno :hose who are a bit adventurous, many side the North Fork end with a welcome water view. The last Focus on Nature took us along the Nortl irk on the Sound shoreline and all the way out to )y Latham Maritime Forest Trail at Orient Beach ate Park. We'll pick up there this week and head r the very end of Long Island. LWY* tl ✓i ry�"w� � +a a, PAUL STOUTENBURGH Heading east again from Orient Beach State Park opposite the ferry terminal you will see the Suffolk County parking area, where you can park and walk the trails to the end of Long Island or just go beach combing. Look for the little kestrel along here, and spot the cormorants sitting on fish nets offshore or even on the railing of the lighthouse between Plum FOCUS ON NATURE This area is called the Gut, and its the best place to catch the gamey striper and bluefish when they are running. You'll see the com- mon tern and more PAUL STOUTENBURGH endangered roseate terns fishing in these turbulent waters. They nest on Little Gull Island tc the east, a sanctuary provided by the Museum of Natural History in NewYork City, the areas we've taken you to, and the red fox is always about, even though you don't see him. You can often tell his presence by the strange odor in the air. Any of these stops can take as long as a passing glance to a full day's enjoyment; it all depends on your interest and your ability to seek out the unusual. Heading back west on Route 25 from the end of our island, keep your eyes open for a road on the left called Narrow River Road. This will take you around and through some of Long Island's greatest and most productive tidal wetlands, where egrets, sharp - tailed sparrows, ospreys, gulls, terns and cormorants find their livelihood. In this valuable area, as in all the wet areas of Long Island, you'll see the graceful mute swans. Most of these wetlands are protected by state ownership. It's a leisurely drive with frequent stops to "check things out." After passing through Orient Vil- lage, well find ourselves again on Route 25, where we will swing to the left and head west. On our trip back, we'll turn at the blinker light toward Greenport and visit this lively historic seaport town. Glimpses of the water between Shelter Island and the mainland will give us good views of the bird population in this busy boating area. After wandering the streets of Greenport, we'll head back on Route 25. We'll go over Mill Creek bridge, where you'll see n r AP � y jg osprey nests off to the right and, off to the south- west, a sand island where hundreds of common terns and black skimmers nest. We next pass through Southold, founded in 1640, making it the oldest English settlement in the state. We'll come to Oaklawn Avenue on the left and wander south (a map helps here) to Cedar Beach County Park, one of Suffolk County's great parks. There's lots of parking and open space for walking along the clear waters of the bay, with its salt marsh in back. Ospreys nest at the edge of the parking lot and yoi don't even need binoculars to see them. But binoculars will come in handy when you search the salt marsh for wading birds and, hope fully, a view of the endangered least tern, which can usually be seen feeding in the waters nearby. Cedar Beach Park is a great stop for the bag luncl Route 25, we head west to Cutchogue. At the light, we turn left toward New Suffolk, pass- ing the well-known Wickham Fruit Farm on the left and right. At the blinker light, turn left to explore the sleepy little hamlet of New Suffolk. Then well double back to head west and, paralleling the bay on your left, we'll pass over West Creek, Downs Creek, Halls Creek and Deep Hole Creek — all with wonderful opportunities for viewing the bay and marshes that surround them. Again, ospreys, terns, ducks, egrets, herons and occasionally a glossy ibis can be seen in the marshes. All along the muddy creek edges from Riverhead to Orient you'll see the tracks of Mr. Raccoon. He's always looking for a free meal and his mighty wanderings take him everywhere. At Route 25 turn left to head west, then turn left at the Hess Station about a quarter -mile later. The road swings right at the bay and becomes Peconic Bay Boulevard. Just opposite the ballpark you'll see Husing Pond with its osprey nest put out in the pond years ago when the pond was frozen. Still traveling along Peconic Bay Boulevard, we come to the state parking area in Jamesport, where boats are launched; across the way is an endan- gered least tern colony where piping plovers also nest. At the end of the road near the marina, turn right, then right again at the railroad track to get back to Route 25 headed for Riverhead. Any trip on the North Fork can be rewarding, partic- ularly ifghe visitor takes time to stop and.look. All too often :ii:' 'the speeding car that misses little things that make up the daily life of birds, plants and animals in the world around us. And who knows? Someday per- haps you and I might just meet, binoculars in hand, lookiniz for some interestine bird off in the distance. Left: No matter where you are on the North Fork, Mr. I has been there. If you're lucky you might see him as he tries to slip by unnoticed.