First Peep to “Pipe Up”

,

First Peep to “Pipe Up!”

I’ve just observed the first Piping Plover to return to Sanctuary of Sands, Fishers Island. With coastal development, habitat for these shorebirds has become critical. Now listed as a “threatened species”, the delicate Piping Plover has returned to the sandy shoals parallel to our airport runway for several years now.

Last year, the New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation and I counted 3 adults and a surviving clutch of 4. PLEASE welcome again these “peeps” and kindly leash all dogs…

*archived photos

From the Field, Field Note, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 28, 2019

Diving Ducks

,

Don’t “dabble” and evidently never dawdle. Buffleheads, tiny and compact, dive and glide speedily while feeding off South beach.

Adult males in view are sporting breeding plumage (white back of head). Very agile offshore, these smallest of ducks will nest in tree cavities.

From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 26, 2019

Under the Radar…

,

…no more!

For several years, I’ve had a sneaking suspicion that our Raven pair feel at home in and around the old naval station, south and cliffside on Fishers Island.

Mostly I’ve heard their distinct varied calls echo roadside thru the tall pines, but today while walking Hay Harbor Golf course, I was happy to catch a glimpse of this rascal pair.

*Male perched above

From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 26, 2019

“It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”

,

Exquisitely so!

Overlooking Fishers Island Sound from Hay Harbor & Big Stony. Wanted to remind everyone just how grateful we Islanders are for the very few acres (fewer than 400) of healthy Eelgrass meadows that surround us, helping to create precious underwater habitat.

Thinking USCG will return with updated plan to remove vessel.

PS. Next FI Seagrass Management Meeting, April 10.

From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 20, 2019

Early Bird Catches the Worm*

,

I spent a couple hours sitting on a grassy edge off Big Stony, thinking I might catch and share a snippet of sunken fishing vessel salvage. But I was happier, I think, when this Killdeer landed close by, trusting enough to share its lunch with me…

* Nice to see 3 Killdeer over Big Stony this afternoon.

From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 19, 2019

Spring’s Sprung

,

Spring Peepers are announcing their return, sounding across rustling grasses this evening, while Red-winged Blackbird sways in gentle breeze alongside “Ibis pond”.

Spring’s wonder—all within 175 acres of preserved habitat maintained by the Fishers Island Conservancy.
Kindly leash all dogs please…

From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 20, 2019

From Big Stony

, ,

Out in the Field awaiting what the USCG has deemed a “pollution mitigation event”, north side off Hay Harbor, Fishers Island.

Fishing vessel to be raised (for now) and all fluids emptied and removed.

From the Field, Field Note, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 19, 2019

A Worm Welcome*

,

This low tide, for feasting juvenile and adult Herring and Great Black-backed gulls, south side Fishers Island.

Blue sky day with Gardiners Island seeming a stone’s throw away…
Sandworm spawn.

*Sanctuary of Sands

From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 18, 2019

Annual Gulls’ Delight

,

It was business as usual for gulls within Hay Harbor today.

Both Herring and Great Black-backed gulls swoop and dive after sandworms that spawn each Spring within harbors around Fishers Island.

From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 15, 2019

Monitoring Big Stony

,
Read more