Riding home from the Village Market this eve (don’t forget your satchels!) I heard the call of a Northern Flicker – pedaled home to get my camera… So amazing to spy this nest cavity with young birds awaiting an evening meal.
PS. Keep your eyes peeled nearby Seven Gables driveway.
– from The Field by Justine Kibbe June 23, 2018.
Shorebird Reunion!
I sat within the tidal pools along what I love to call Sanctuary of Sands west end; parallel to the runway here on Fishers Island. So happy to “report” what certainly appeared to me as an increase in this spring’s shorebird activity. Breeding and non-breeding plumage is visible on Ruddy turnstone, Killdeer and Black-bellied plover standing “Sentinel”.
** Please be mindful and leash dogs during this precious nesting time.
– from The Field by Justine Kibbe May 24, 2018.
. . . and with a vengeance-Mylar balloons; the most insidious of debris creeping upon Fishers Island. Please promote BEST Practices of Stewardship! It only takes a few seconds to disentangle, deflate and dispose….
Respect & enjoy our unique marine environment for years to come.
Great news!
I spied this Piping plover on Chocomount beach mid-week. Note the single black neck- band (breeding plumage) and sand colored camouflage. I was happy to see it feeding within the morning tidal wrack line; deposits from healthy Seagrass (Eel grass) meadows that surround Fishers Island. This shorebird species is listed as threatened in Connecticut and endangered in New York.
*Please be mindful about leashing dogs on beach walks during these nesting weeks.
– Field Note by Justine Kibbe May 10, 2018
Riding through the wooded habitat that hugs Oyster Pond, I spied this brilliant Scarlet Tanager flitting and perching from branch to branch. My Sibley Guide to Birds notes it’s an adult male with breeding plumage from Mar-Aug; otherwise it dons rich yellow colored feathers with black wings.
I look forward to joining the Fishers Island Conservancy Spring Bird Count Sunday May 6th at 8am-each year learning more and more about my fine-feathered friends.
– Field Note by Justine Kibbe May 4, 2018
Marine debris is very apparent clogged within harbors, coves, and washed ashore on all beaches of Fishers Island. While most items of trash are more obvious, I include here the most insidious…ribbon and balloon along with fishing line, which have become a constant observation in any daily data collected. This incoming debris is slowly but steadily becoming treacherous to sea life and shorebirds that “are” our Island. Here is recent culprit on Big Club beach & older photo of entangled bird on South beach.
– Field Note by Justine Kibbe May 2, 2018
A “Sky Dancer”. This female Red-tailed hawk swooped within the grasses and sedge of Parade Grounds soaring upwards to its favorite lookout (for mice and small birds) platform near the airport here on Fishers Island.
– Field Note by Justine Kibbe April 25, 2018
A VERY scarce and unique visitor was eating seed along the Recreational bike path here on Fishers Island; fluttering between the waving tall grasses just beyond the Driving Range. A “tropical” bunting and cousin to the northern cardinal, this male Blue Grosbeak has an expansive breeding range: south and central United States as well as Mexico and Central America! Watch Video Snippet
– Field Note by Justine Kibbe April 23, 2018
Northern Flicker can be heard drumming away within northern wooded areas along the Recreational bike path here on Fishers Island. This male woodpecker (note black malar near beak) perhaps searching for ants, patiently posed for me here.
– Field Note by Justine Kibbe April 17, 2018
Mute Swan nesting, Fishers Island
I had been watching her for about 10 days. I walked along the bicycle bridge with a hopeful sense of confidence, that the first day of spring often brings these years; perhaps by now, we just might know each other.
And she had been watching me. Propped upon reeds and rushes her mate has diligently picked and laid within a criss-cross mound ; awaiting her plumping and molding -she is her own warmest down duvet.
He is floating, dabbling, with elegant neck stretched forth gently pulling up plenteous aquatic plants and pond vegetation.
It is the calm before a snow storm-not even a ripple.
For an hour we sit; she on her clutch of eggs, and me on a cold rock.
Perhaps both awaiting the birth-of spring.
– Field Note by Justine Kibbe March 26, 2018