On August 7, Frank Mantlik led NHBC’s first outdoor trip of the new “fall” season to Milford Point. He was joined by a large eager crowd of 34 birders, following 17 months of the Covid-19 pandemic. The weather was seasonably warm, 69-82F, hazy sun and a veil of clouds, WSW breeze at 10mph. We started during low tide viewing the Wheeler salt marsh, then walked through the sanctuary/gardens, then walked the entire sandbar on the Sound side as the tide was rising. We saw a nice assortment of expected shorebird species (11), including Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated and Black-bellied Plovers, colorful Ruddy Turnstones, and many American Oystercatchers. We saw all ages of Piping Plovers, including some cute hatchlings. Relatively low numbers of Common and Least Terns were also seen.
Rarer species were highlighted by two Peregrine Falcons (one eating prey on the mudflat), an early Northern Harrier hunting the salt marsh, a summering Brant, a few migrating Bobolinks, and lots of Yellow-crowned Night-Herons. Some saw a Clapper Rail with two small black chicks. In all, 54 bird species were tallied. The leader also identified various plants including several species of marsh grasses, the native Prickly Pear Cactus, and some invasive plants. He also pointed out various seashells, and some insects, including a Cicada Killer wasp. The complete eBird list is here:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S92904325.
