Brigantine Trip
December 7th 2013
Leaders: Sam Wilson and Sam Galick
December 7th 2013
Leaders: Sam Wilson and Sam Galick
The first of our monthly trips was met with huge success! We knew it was likely we would see Snowy Owls given that two have been making regular appearances at the refuge, but know one could have predicted the incredible views of the pictured (above) bird. Seeing the dozens of cars parked along the dyke was certainly an indicator that something special was happening. Sure enough we spotted the bird along the rocks no more then 20 feet from the edge of the dyke. This young male owl was allowing birders and photographers very close approach without batting an eye. The owl sat still on a rock turning his head as cars past by and occasionally preened his feathered feet. He even yawned while the birding paparazzi bustled around anxiously shooting hundreds of shots. Meanwhile we watched the first owl that we had spotted sitting in a tree being harassed by a Northern Harrier dive bombing her repeated, apparently trying to get a rise out of this sleepy owl. We even had a third Snowy Owl spotted by Dan and Danny Ceravolo some distance away off the dyke. Certainly the Snowy's stole the show but other highlights of the trip included two female Redheads, 50+ Tundra Swan, great looks at a variety of winter ducks, and an 'Ipswich' Savannah Sparrow. Needless to say even our veteran birders have never had such a memorable encounter with one these visitors of the north, and despite the bitter cold wind I think everyone left for home with a (frozen) smile on their face.
-Sam Wilson
-Sam Wilson
Species List
Total: 57 species
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Tundra Swan
American Widgeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Common Loon
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Greater Yellowlegs
Dunlin
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Snowy Owl (3!)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Peregrine Falcon
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow (Ipswich)
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Total: 57 species
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Tundra Swan
American Widgeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Common Loon
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Greater Yellowlegs
Dunlin
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Snowy Owl (3!)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Peregrine Falcon
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow (Ipswich)
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch