I found myself bicycling up east again Thursday afternoon. Lo and behold this individual bird was still dancing about the branches above Oyster Pond. I quickly hopped off to take this closer video snippet of what looks to be a “variant” adult breeding male (occasional individuals are orange) hiding within the ground cover.
– A Snippet from The Field by Justine Kibbe May 3, 2018
Riding through the wooded habitat that hugs Oyster Pond, I spied this brilliant Scarlet Tanager flitting and perching from branch to branch. My Sibley Guide to Birds notes it’s an adult male with breeding plumage from Mar-Aug; otherwise it dons rich yellow colored feathers with black wings.
I look forward to joining the Fishers Island Conservancy Spring Bird Count Sunday May 6th at 8am-each year learning more and more about my fine-feathered friends.
– Field Note by Justine Kibbe May 4, 2018
It’s funny growing up on Fishers Island; often times we forget to take notice and appreciation of the unique names of the very beaches that are so much a part of our daily lives. Here she is – the Queen. And she’s got the royal “wave” down…but more importantly she rules over healthy Sea grass meadows. Just about 400 healthy acres of eelgrass are left that surround us Islanders within Long Island Sound. So don’t forget Please Preserve & Protect, because we rule…
– A Snippet from The Field by Justine Kibbe May 2, 2018
I caught up with the pair of Mute swan (March Field Note jottings) while up east along the bike path bridge nearing the Big Club. It was such a warm spring afternoon with buds and blossoms bursting. I imagined this pair was bursting as well-with pride for their brood.
– A Snippet from The Field by Justine Kibbe
Marine debris is very apparent clogged within harbors, coves, and washed ashore on all beaches of Fishers Island. While most items of trash are more obvious, I include here the most insidious…ribbon and balloon along with fishing line, which have become a constant observation in any daily data collected. This incoming debris is slowly but steadily becoming treacherous to sea life and shorebirds that “are” our Island. Here is recent culprit on Big Club beach & older photo of entangled bird on South beach.
– Field Note by Justine Kibbe May 2, 2018
Bike Path entrance, Fishers Island. Over the last years this small pond has become increasingly familiar habitat to a host of “residents.” A foraging spot for Great egret and muskrat, a look out spot for alert Osprey, a chiming in spot for Bull frogs, and here; a spot in the morning sun for a young Barred owl.
– A video snippet from the field taken by Justine Kibbe April 27, 2018.
Parade Grounds, Fishers Island just before sunrise-birds chiming in on a frosty, misty morning here earlier this April week.
– A video snippet from the field taken by Justine Kibbe April 26, 2018
As you trek within the Parade Grounds on Fishers Island, in the evening hours of spring, just before sunset; most likely you’ll spy a Harrier or two. Known to soar low over these grassy fields and the South beach dunes, this hawk frequently veers its course to include the marshy pond area (“Marsh hawk”); typically hunting for small birds and mice. Adult male Harriers are more grayish in color so I am thinking this is a female that visited with me- swooping in and landing on the telephone pole near the Bike Shop.
These majestic raptors are ground nesters-PLEASE keep all dogs on leash, helping to steward this sensitive habitat.
– Video Snippet by Justine Kibbe April 25, 2018
A “Sky Dancer”. This female Red-tailed hawk swooped within the grasses and sedge of Parade Grounds soaring upwards to its favorite lookout (for mice and small birds) platform near the airport here on Fishers Island.
– Field Note by Justine Kibbe April 25, 2018
Nearby to Oyster Pond, far above the brackish brine, wrapped within knotted and draping vine -see two hidden Egrets. Great they are. See the male on lower branch? This spring season note his wispy breeding plumage and green “eye shadow”.
– Video Snippet by Justine Kibbe April 24, 2018