Shorter Days and Shadows

November 26: It’s after 2:00 this afternoon at Chocomount. Days are shorter, sunlight glistens on the sands quite differently now, the timing of sunset preoccupies my thought.

Tidal range appears more striking to me during the colder months, like the old rum runner “Thelma Pheobe” might just run aground again in ankle deep seas.

I move onward to the north side’s Hungry Point where 97 Harbor seals are counted on two rocky haul out sites today. From above the beach area I use my clicker along with binoculars attempting an accurate count. Don’t forget to include bobbing heads.

FI Brick at Napatree Point, RI

Friday November 23: Occasionally I monitor sites off Island as I did this day while visiting Napatree Point in Westerly, RI. I figure it is a good practice as I can note similarities in different areas. Here there is a clear view of eastern Fishers Island.

My walk starts off with thankfulness left over from the holiday. It appears our beaches and community sustained comparatively minor damages. Down the road and a few beaches over Misquamicut tells a different story. I note that like our own historic Fort Wright area there are gun emplacements here as well. I like the railings installed for the visitors.

The commercial fishing debris is very evident here whereas our southerly beaches collected a smaller version. I was gifted too, for my monitoring endeavors. Scouring Fishers Island for a very certain treasure after Hurricane “Sandy” I always came up empty. But here at Napatree beach I laugh as I look in the surf and spot a brick . . . Dig the “FI”on it!!

Dolphins off Government Bell

November 19 Morning: Island residents Mike Rogers, Chris and Sara Rafferty observe a pod of 8-10 dolphins fishing off Government Bell near the jetty outside Silver Eel Pond. This is very unique news. Some have said it been almost 30 years since dolphin sightings have been noted in the Long Island Sound.

Oh to be everywhere at once! I am sorry I missed this moment.

Whale at Isabella (no pics, sorry)

Tuesday November 13 near 9:15am: Island resident Geordie Loveday again sights whale spouting off Southside near Isabella Beach

Golden Eagle sighted at Middle Farms!!

Taken at Middle Farms Pond-I surprised the eagle and it flew into tree. 

At Hooverness

Armstrong’s “Hooverness” on November 8: My first travels in the Conservancy car-winds are strong. I have not been back to survey since “Sandy”. There is more driftwood debris and trash than ever here. I have noted that of the few sites observed on the north side of Fishers, this beach manages to attract the most diverse trash debris for such a small beach.

The car battery dies but thankfully Aaron Rice from FIDCO happens around the bend and rescues me with a jump start. 

Dock Beach Extra Sandy

6:55am Wednesday Nov 7: Due for a Nor’Easter today. My dock site near Mobile station in West Harbor has been pulled up since the Hurricane. I will broaden survey over to Dock Beach. Two raccoons scurry in front of my bike on my way home

Silver Eel Pond back to business

November 6: It was a damp 27 degrees this morning. Silver Eel Pond is back to business as usual with the ferry Race Rock’s engine humming and cars lined up. Wildlife is scarce with this routine hub of activity. Plastic debris is plentiful now washed in from “Sandy” and wrapped around the inner harbor.  

Tons of Driftwood on Isabella Beach

Monday November 5: Isabella Beach close to 3:00pm: Dozens of migrating Robins swoop among the last of the berry bushes as the Cardinals, Chickadees and Jays arrive in this neighborhood.  There is hardly a wavelet on this peaceful day. I take a long look at remnants of Hurricane “Sandy”. There is tons of driftwood. Huge trees and trunks, mangled roots and limbs, telephone poles, pilings and shredded docks line the upper most part of Isabella. There is a gigantic assortment of rubbish from A-Z. Shotgun shells, treated wood frames, plastic toys (doll appendages on every shore!) cigarette lighters, tires, fencing, plastic flower pots, basket ball, tennis balls, golf balls, shoes…..No cactus remains here, plenty of pine cones.

Beach Cactus

Sunday November 4 @11:00 this morning I rode  my bicycle up to the Big Club. The golf course is closed now and hunting for pheasants is in progress. I hear shots sounding and note both pheasant and coyote tracks on the beach. The remains of cactus plants are evident here as well as on  other Southerly facing sites-except for Isabella. I have asked about this unusual find –I am told the plants are found in Georgia and the Carolinas.

Baby Sand Dollars have continued to grow larger-I find a larger specimen hidden in the white sands.

I travel farther up Island and climb down on the South shore of boulders. The water is completely calm and flat and I am looking for spouts of passing whales. A large seal bobs up and down spying at me. I am assuming because of its almost 7 ft. length and horse shaped head it is a Gray seal. He is just as curious as I am and for 20 minutes dives and returns to the surface always keeping an eye on me. I can hear his exhale. It is just so still today, hardly a ripple. I spot a Loon as I am leaving-a lonely song follows me.