Loading...
June 18, 1998 - A preseason preview of Sears Bellows6A • The Suffolk Times • June 18, 1998 A preseason preview of Sears Bellows On the way to Hampton Bays along the Riverhead - Flanders Road you pass the Big Duck, a monument to a once - flourishing Long Island Duck industry. I can remember back in the '30s when this huge FOCUS white duck, with ON its yellow bill, was a special land- NATURE mark to be by Paul looked for west of Stoutenburgh Riverhead. Since then it has been moved several times until now it rests just outside the entrance to the county's Sears Bellows Park. We reacquainted ourselves with this famous duck last week as we spent a few days camping at Sears Bellows. We wanted once again to savor the flavor of the famous pine bar- rens that make up the land area of cen- tral Long Island. The campground is laid out around a lake about the size of Marratooka Lake in Mattituck. The sites are spacious, making it easy to park your camper, while the tent sites are in a more hilly area to the south nearby. There are horses that can be hired for trail riding through the pine barrens. It is an ideal place to get away from it all. It is some- what like Indian 'island Park in Riverhead, which is practically in our own back yard. No long driving or buck- ing traffic and you are there. We even rented a rowboat to scout the clear, freshwater lake that dominates the area. Its sides were lined with water -lov- ing swamp maples and pepperidge trees along with oaks and pines in the upland. Below was a mass of shrubs like the white swamp azalea, the sweet pepper - bush with its clusters of dried flowers of last year and, of course, the high bush blueberry whose now small, globelike flowers eventually will turn into sweet blueberries for the picking. Nestled along the edge could be seen the blos- soming dark pink of the sheep laurel. In front with its feet in the water was the not - yet - blossoming loosestrife that dom- inated the water's edge. At one point we drifted into a quiet cove where spotted and painted turtles were basking in the warm sun, some only the size of a half dollar, others t �• ■ .�. only to be snatched up by a passing tree swallow. It played with it, taking it up and dropping it, taking it up and drop- ping it, as if it was just a game or per- haps it had thought it was an insect of some sort only to find out it was not and let it go. Here and there were red - winged blackbirds calling, telling every- one they had nested below and not to trespass. On a dead limb we spotted a kingbird, that circled the campground and lake. As we walked into the area my eye caught a large bird leaving a tree. On close examination, we found a flicker's (large woodpecker) hole and so backed off to one of the picnic tables to see if the bird would return. Sure enough, after a little waiting the yellow- shafted flicker returned and entered the hole. There must have been young in there as the bird did not leave immediately. Perhaps it was doing some house- cleaning or re- arranging. As we sat waiting, we caught two other birds flying by: cedar waxwings. They must be nest- ing nearby. What trim - looking birds they are. They almost don't look real, so perfect is their form with their smart crest and yellow;tipped tail. It's remark- able how many. birds come into view if you just sit and watch. Chic- kadees and titmice were busy in the trees above while a chipping sparrow worked the ground for seeds from this sparse dry area that is so typical of the pine barrens. One trail took us to another smaller pond to the north, where we stopped and listened to the frogs calling their "Jug -o- rum." Someone had put a wood duck box out in the pond. I wondered if it had lured its wood duck or, as I had seen in other locations, a screech owl or perhaps even a kestrel had enjoyed the lodging and location.. As we left the woodland pond — with its iridescent baby -blue dragon- flies darting about and its quiet waters — a great white heron flew by but, see- ing us, veered of to find a more appro- priate hunting area. Most of the trails were covered with pine needles, which made the walks delightful. It was like walking on a cushioned path. As we headed back to the camper we approached one of the older bath- rooms and saw a small bird fly out of one of the open doors. It had to be a phoebe (flycatcher) for they are notori- ous builders in and around eaves of buildings. Sure enough, as we investi- gated inside the ladies' side we found its neat cuplike nest. We backed off and moved over to a nearby picnic table to see if our friend would return. Just outside the two open doors of the bathroom was a stake that was pro- tecting a water faucet. This made a con- venient perch for our phoebes. From it they could search the area around for insects and also keep close tabs on the all- important nest just inside the ladies' room. Always keeping an eye out for a good opportunity to photograph, I headed back to the camper to get my tripod, camera and equipment. I decid- ed to try to capture the phoebe on the perch by going in the men's side and sit- ting on the john and photographing through the open door. I must say I've taken many pictures in my lifetime but See Focus, next page Lake = bathtub We moved slow- ly around the edge of the lake. We disturbed a night heron in the reeds and later dis- turbed a kingfish- er perched on its favorite limb awaiting its next meal. In the middle of the lake were seagulls bathing. There must have been 20 or 30 of them. I've seen this bathing routine in our own freshwater lakes on the North Shore but I'd never witnessed it so close at hand. There was a contin- ual flight of herring gulls and black - backed gulls in and out of the lake all day long. At one end of the lake, where the wind had blown them, was a collec- tion of white feathers that had been preened away. One feather had let go as the gull flew off and it drifted down Suffolk Times photo by Paul Stoutenburgh This Is our largest common woodpecker, the yellow - shafted flicker. For a nesting site it chisels out a hollow cavity in an old or dead tree. Here It looks out to see If the coast Is clear before heading out to another Insect- coliect- Ing trip to feed Its ever - hungry young. 1..0 1 " D I.,VVK =HL.Il1 75 years ago June 15, 1923 Museum seeks new building: An effort will be made by the newly elected officers of the Suffolk County Historical Society to raise $50,000 to be used for the erection of a new building in Riverhead and as an endowment fund. The soci- ety owns property at the corner of Griffing Avenue and Main Street, which is one of the most eligible locations in the village. Local gleanings: A turtle was recently picked up in East Marion bearing the initials of Postmaster W.H. Wiggins and dated 1886. Look out for great brain development soon; our local fishermen are meeting with great success. 50 years ago June 18, 1948 Playhouse opens house: The staff and players at Southold Playhouse, new summer theater, have invited the residents of the North Fork to attend an open house at the playhouse on Route 25 in Southold. The affair, which will be an informal get- together, will be held on Sunday after- noon and evening, June 27. The summer season of Broadway plays at the playhouse will open officially the night before the open house, with the play "My Sister Eileen," popular comedy hit. The second week of production will feature the beautiful that ever - visible flycatcher, who's not afraid to attack the crow or other foe who might wander into its territory. Every once in a while it would fly from its perch to snatch an insect that passed by. Our leisurely paddle had turned into a mini - adventure and we found our- selves back where we started, all too soon. We had the lake to ourselves as the season is just starting. We wondered what it would look and sound like in the middle of a hot summer day. We took advantage of the many trails and poignant story of "Our Town." This play will be dedi- cated to the Town of Southold.... When the theater opens on June 26, patrons will be sur- prised to find a miniature Broadway theater in their midst. Advertisement: Joe is coming! 25 years ago June 14, 1973 Win a house: A house will be up for auction at the Strawberry Festival this Saturday. That's what the man said, the man being retired Naval Captain Henry Drum, who is in charge of the festival's charity auction special, an occa- sion that was dreamed up in honor of the gift of a three - room house to the Mattituck Lions for a fund - raising event. Alvin Smith offered the 26 -by -15 -foot house, which is now on Frank Zaleski's property at Deep Hole Drive, Mattituck. Other people have donated furniture, some antiques, some just old afghans and such that might help to make the little house a home. The auction will be in the form of sealed bids, with the minimum bid $1,500. Photo caption: An exciting new sport, lacrosse, is grow- ing in popularity at Southold High School. Members of the varsity squad are seen above with their coach, Richard Osmer, on the conclusion of the season. M. Grubber, G. Norkus, R. Osmer, R. Taplin, G. Haupt, P. Sorenson, C. Osmer, L. Gaffga, K. Tiedke, R. Dow, T. Cochran, M. Sanford, W. VanMater, J. Leonard and J. Breese.