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May 01, 2008 - Praising the park by the sea12A - The Suffolk Times - May 1, 2008 Praising tfie park Y the sea My son was working out in Orient on one of those perfect days. To take advantage of the day, he called us and suggested we meet him at Orient Beach State Park for lunch. Then he added, "Bring your binocu- lars so we can do a little birding while we're there, and don't forget the camera." That cinched it_ We were on our way. The idea of getting out sounded good to us. Wed put together something to eat; a little sourdough bread, some sliced chicken and lettuce made up our sandwiches, plus something to drink, a few apples and we were off — but wait a minute! Before we even got in the car, Barbara called out, -There's a rose- breast- ed grosbeak! I could see its bright raspberry, white and black colors as it flew away" Sorry to say, I missed seeing it. We usually see this handsome grosbeak each year as it pass- es through on its spring migration north_ I half wished we hadn't trade plans to rendezvous out in Orient because I'm sure I would have been able to locate that colorful grosbeak. It's one of the great songsters of spring. But there will be others, so off we went. w As e passed the causeway leading to Orient Point we saw a great white egret stalking in the marsh. Then two great blue herons flew by. These tall marsh hunters of the wetland often stay through the winter. The causeway always proves interest- ing, and today was no excep- tion. With our binoculars we could look far out and see the 0 N black tip of the wings of the gannet. Usually these wan- NATURE derers of the sea stay offshore. by Paul but when their food moves in, Stouteoburgh they follow. We're told that at this time of the year gannets feed on herring- They were surely feeding on something, for we could see them dropping to the water in a dazzling burst of spray. Until we arrived at the park we hadn't realized the terrible erosion the winter storms had caused on the south side of the park entrance. To correct the prob- lem of being washed out each time a storm comes along, the park is now using huge boulders, which are being trucked in and placed at the base of the road- way. This is a massive operation but.most necessary in order to keep open one of New York states finest parks. We were thankful it was being done. We crept past the heavy machinery that was fitting the boulders together like a jig -saw puzzle. It's along the long entrance to the park that we al- ways check the water on both sides in hopes of find- ing some of our winter ducks. That day we spotted some paired -up mergansers and a few surf scoters that kept our interest. On the bay side we were rewarded by a small group of scaup, also known to the duck hunter as broadbill_ From a distance they appeared to be an overall dark color with white sides. There are two species of scaup: one that is generally found in fresh water, the other in salt water. They can, however, be found the other way around, I can remember as a kid seeing rafts of these broad - bill in our upper bay, but that was when celgrass flour- ished in our bays. When the eetgrass was wiped out, the ducks also left, so seeing thuse scaup back in their native habitat was a treat. We also saw two female oldsquaws on the seaward side of the entrance. These females were dressed in their camouflaged outfits, as they will soon be nest- ing on the open tundra in the far North. On the other hand, we are used to seeing the male oldsquaws, one of my favorite ducks to photograph, in their striking black- and -white attire and their long tails, when they visit us in the wintertime. As we approached the headquarters of the park, I was amazed to see the great number of paired -off black - backed gulls. It was like they were attend- ing a convention - There must have been 40 pairs in this one small area in back of the park head- quarters. Why they chose to rendezvous there I'll never know, but it made quite a showing. These great black - backed gulls, along with the common There's always the adventurer who arrives here before the rest. That's what this single great egret did. Suffolk Times "- by ?aLA staua,burgn J t �1 g 0 Left: Gannets — big, white sea birds with black wing tips — are one of the most dynamic birds to watch as they dive like miniature rockets in their never - ending search for fish. Each year we usually see one or two groups pass through on their annual spring migration. Right: Orient Beach State Park is one of the unique areas In the country where trees and bushes are pruned by wind, salt and blowing sand. This type of habitat is called a maritime forest. Cedars as well as oaks can be seen In unusual shapes along this trail. herring gulls, nest over on Gardiners and Plum is- lands and are a real problem to all nesting birds because the gulls are so aggressive_ Then there's the problem of stealing from other birds' nests. It makes the ospreys in the area stay on guard, for as soon as the nest or young are left unat- tended you can be sure the black-backed will be there, ready to make a meal out of the eggs or young. Fifty or 60 years ago, the black-backed gull was a rarity around our waters. Thev've moved down from the northern Maritime Provinces and are now quite at home here on our island. It's the big- gest and most aggressive gull we have and few will challenge its swagger_ Lunch eaten, we headed for the Roy Latham Na- tune Trail, just off the pai-kmg lot. There we stopped at the park rest rooms, which, by the way, are open year round_ We found them clean and heated. Throughout the park the most prominent and interesting tree is the cedar_ They've developed into some of the most delightful shapes you can imagine. There are no tall or big trees in this park's maritime forest, for the wind and salt spray keep most trees and shrubs well pruned. Along with the cedars are the oaks. which are also twisted and burned. They, too, have been shaped by the wind and salt spray. With a little imagination both the cedars and oaks remind you of giant bonsais- We could see evidence of deer browse everywhere. What a treat to be out in this super park by the sea. May 1, 2008 • The Suffolk Tim ar raisin the v t he sea My son was working out in Orient on one or znosc perfect days. To take advantage of the day, he called us and suggested we meet him at Orient Beach State Park for lunch. Then he added, "Bring your binocu- lars so we can do a little birding while we're there, and don't forget the camera." That cinched it. We were on our way. The idea of getting out sounded good to us. We'd put together something to eat; a little sourdough bread, some sliced chicken and lettuce made up our sandwiches, plus something to drink, a few apples and we were off — but wait a minute! Before we even got in the car, Barbara called out, "There's a rose- breast- ed grosbeak! I could see its bright raspberry, white and black colors as it flew away. Sorry to say, I missed seeing it. We usually see this handsome grosbeak each year as it pass- es through on its spring migration north. I half wished we hadn't made plans to rendezvous out in Orient because I'm sure I would have been able to locate that colorful grosbeak. It's one of the great songsters of spring. But there will be others, so off we went. As we passed the causeway leading to Orient Point we saw a great white egret stalking in the marsh. Then two great blue herons flew by. These tall marsh hunters of the wetland often stay through the winter. The causeway always proves. interest- ing, and today was no excep- FOCU$ tion. With our binoculars we could look far out and see the ON black ,tip of the wings of the gannet. Usually these wan - NATURE derers of the sea stay offshore, by pawl but when their food moves in, Stoutenburgh they follow. We're told that at this time of the year gannets feed on herring. They were surely feeding on something, for we could see them dropping to the water in a dazzling burst of spray. Until we arrived at the park we hadn't realized the terrible erosion the winter storms had caused on the south side of the park entrance. To correct the prob- lem of being washed out each time a storm comes along, the park is now using huge boulders, which are being trucked in and placed at the base of the road- way. This is a massive operation but most necessary in order to keep open one of New York state's finest parks. We were thankful it was being done. We crept past the heavy machinery that was fitting the boulders together like a .jig -saw puzzle. There's always the adventurer who arrives here before the rest. That's what this single great egret did. Suffolk Times photos by It's along the long entrance to the park.that we al- ways check the water on both sides in hopes of find- ing some of our winter ducks. That day we spotte some paired -up mergansers and a few surf scoter that kept our interest. On the .bay side we were rewarded by a small group of scaup, also known to the duck hunter as broadbill. From a distance they appeared to be an overall dark color with white sides. There are two species of scaup: one that is generally found in fresh water, the other in salt water. They can, however, be found the other way around. . I can remember as a kid seeing rafts of these broad - bill in our upper bay, but that was when eelgrass flour- ished in our bays. When the eelgrass was wiped out, the ducks also left, so seeing those scaup back in their native habitat was a treat. We also saw two female oldsquaws on the seaward) side of the entrance. These females were dressed in their camouflaged outfits, as they will soon be nest- ing on the open tundra in the far North. On the other hand, we are used to seeing the male oldsquaws, one of my favorite ducks to photograph, in their striking black- and -white attire and their long tails, when they visit us in the wintertime. As we approached the headquarters of the park, I was amazed to see the great number of paired -off black - .backed gulls. It was like they were attend- ing a convention. There must have been 40 pairs in this one small area in back of the park head- quarters. Why they chose to rendezvous there I'll never know, but it made quite a showing. These, great black- backed gulls, along with the common) herring gulls, nest over on ciarainers and Ylum is- lands and are a real problem to all nesting birds because the gulls are so aggressive. Then there's the problem of stealing from other birds' nests. It makes the ospreys in the area stay on guard, for as soon as the nest or young are left unat- tended you can be sure the black- backed will be there, ready to make a meal out of the eggs or young. Fifty or 60 years ago, the black- backed gull was a rarity around our waters. They've moved down from the northern Maritime Provinces and are now quite at home here on our island. It's the big- gest and most aggressive gull we have and few will challenge its swagger. Lunch eaten, we headed for the Roy Latham Na- ture Trail, just off the parking lot. There we stoppec at the park rest rooms, which, by the way, are oper year round. We found them clean and heated. Throughout the park the most prominent anc interesting tree is the cedar. They've developec into some of the most delightful shapes you car imagine. There are no tall or big trees in this park': maritime forest, for the wind and salt spray keel most trees and shrubs well pruned. Along with the cedars are the oaks, which are also twisted am burned. They, too, have been shaped by the wine and salt spray. With a little imagination both the cedars and oaks remind you of giant bonsais. We could see evidence of deer browse everywhere. What a treat to be out in this super park by the sea. Suffolk Times photo by Barbara Stoutenburgh Left: Gannets — big, white sea birds with black wing tips — are one of the most dynamic birds to watch as they dive like miniature rockets in their never - ending search for fish. Each year we usually see one or two groups pass through on their annual spring migration. Right: Orient Beach State Park is one of the unique areas in the country where trees and bushes are pruned by wind, salt and blowing sand. This type of habitat is called a maritime forest. Cedars as well as oaks can be seen in unusual shapes along this trail.