Rhode Island Coast Field Trip Report
On Saturday, February 22nd, 2020, 20+ members of the bird club spent the day birding in the scenic state to our east. We started our day at Beavertail State Park in Jamestown. From the point there, we saw numerous interesting species including a RED-NECKED GREBE, RAZORBILL, and Great Cormorant. We also saw a few of each of the three scoter species (Black, Surf, and White-winged). Of course, there were Harlequin Ducks and Common Eiders, too. When we walked from the point along the east side of the park we were pleased and amazed to see huge rafts of waterfowl, made up of mixture of Common Eider, Scoters, and a few other species. We also spotted an ICELAND GULL on the rocks. Our next stop was Easton and Green End Ponds in Newport. We saw lots of interesting birds there, too, including a drake TUFTED DUCK, Redheads, American Coots, a Black-crowned Night-heron, and nine (!) Great Blue Herons, several of which were roosting on a low conifer by the shore of the pond. From there, we went to Sachuest Point NWR. We didn’t see too many interesting species there, but the most unexpected was a male RING-NECKED PHEASANT along the trail to Island Rocks. After a brief stop at Third Beach, we made our way to Scarborough Beach in Narragansett. It took a while, but we eventually located the BLACK-HEADED GULL that has been wintering there. We then went to Moonstone Beach where our sharp-eyed young birder, Eli Holton, spotted an EASTERN MEADOWLARK in flight. From there, we visited Trustum Pond NWR (but didn’t go to the pond as we heard there weren’t any unusual birds there, and it’s a long hike!). We did walk around the weedy field and saw Eastern Bluebirds and Yellow-rumped Warblers. We were delighted to see a BROWN THRASHER feeding under the suet feeder when we returned to the nature center area. We then went to Perry’s Mill Pond where we saw a drake EURASIAN WIGEON feeding in a large flock of American Wigeon. Our next stop was at Grassy Point in the Ninigret NWR. We saw our old friend, the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL there. It’s been at the same cove in winter for the past 15 years. Wow! Our last stop for the day was the Weekapaug Breachway. We were delighted to find a drake KING EIDER riding the surf and feeding with a flock of Common Eider there. It was a fine way to end a fine day of birding. We’ll hope for a similarly wonderful day of birding when we return to Rhode Island again next year!
Chris Loscalzo