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Local Vocalizations

    What may be the last of the Cackling Geese were overhead this morning. Bird books say the migration of these long-distance travelers drops sharply in early May. Their journeys between the high Arctic and the Tex-Mex border make them a special aerial treat twice a year here on the Atlantic Flyway; once in awhile we spot some on the barrier islands nearby for a feeding stop.

I heard a few off to the west early today, but yesterday was the big score. There were four flocks of 20 to 40 birds travelling together SSW to NNE directly overhead when I stepped out around 0630 to check on alewife activity in the creek. I scrambled around the house to get a better look and watch them off to the horizon. A gorgeous sight and the sound of scores of birds cackling high in the air was the voice of nature herself. A great start to the day … with a long finish, like a fine chardonnay.

 We have had some other visitors in the air of late. The Laughing Gull, another avian vocal artist, is not unusual for Long Island waters, but I rarely see more than a few per season over our property; They have other favored places nearby. But this year, starting about 10 days ago, great numbers are moving back and forth along the Carll’s River. Maybe this year’s alewife run, which appears to be very strong, has lured them into waterways not usually frequented.

While this blog is devoted to birdlife, I can’t leave mention of the alewife without some background. I monitor the annual spring run as part of a survey run by the Seatuck Environmental Association and the South Shore Estuary Reserve, among others. Properly called River Herring, the Alewife is a major food source for many birds such as herons and egrets, but an even more important one for the big fish along the coast.

We are building the database on their presence here on LI, where most breeding creeks and rivers have been blocked by dams for a century or much more. I am happy to say my sightings in the past couple of years are the first official recordings of a remnant population that is coming into the lower reaches of the Carll’s River – LI’s third longest – in many decades. They are stopped not far from here by a big dam, upon which -- with the help of our data – we expect to see a fish ladder installed in the future.

The fish manage to produce their own sound signature in the deep of night, about an hour or two before the first birds start calling around 0400. They like to come into the estuaries under cover of darkness, which provides protection from predators. From my bedroom window I hear the fish in the creek nearby, splashing vigorously as they go through their mating ritual, which I am told will result in thousands of small fry with a couple of weeks. They will do a lot more of that once we can allow them past the dam into the miles of river upstream.

Gray Catbirds were gone from our property from late October until just a week or so ago. They are back in force, setting up shop as they do each year in shrubbery near the creek mouth. Strong vocalizers, Catbirds, while not carrying as wide a repertoire as their Mockingbird cousins, have a rich and varied set of songs. They imitate other birds in addition to the meow-like call which gives them their name. Interestingly they can be both secretive and bold. When on the hunt for food they will come within feet of people, but most of the time they are hidden in the greenery even when belting out their morning songs.

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Blooms and birdhouses

A Colorful Spring (with swanlings)

    A handsome Black-crowned Night Heron is poised on a small log protruding from the water on the east side of our pond, on the lookout for a late breakfast. Not far away, a turtle has hauled out for a bit of morning sun. At the foot of the bulkhead where our lawn ends, two bass have set up nests and are patrolling constantly, quickly backing into cover when I approach too closely but on the alert at all times.

We may have Green herons again this year. I heard a call late yesterday that sounded familiar, but no sightings as yet. A Baltimore oriole has decided this is part of his turf, calling loudly and prowling the fruit trees on the west side of our creek, as well as posting to various other trees around the house. The male is aptly described in one bird book as “smoldering like a fire in the treetops,” as it sports a bright orange body with a black hood. At close range it is quite breath-taking.

Half of a small shell – Robin’s egg blue – lay in the grass as I worked the garden the other day. It is birthing time already. Both geese and swans are shepherding fluffy young on the local waterways. Here is a view of a large family which visited our waters. 

 There is more on You Tube (see link below). Watch for a comical moment at 1:23 when one little fellow tries desperately to get underwater creating a fountain of spray.

A cousin in color, the Rufous-sided Towhee was in the neighborhood 10 days ago, but I think has since moved on. Its color was quite bright, almost that of the Halloween-styled Oriole, but not quite as radiant. 

Other colorful birds now at hand are Goldfinches, with the males sporting a bright yellow after wearing drab gray through the winter. Unlike other birds, they can hang upside down quite handily and do so at the thistle-loaded feeder outside my window, making for an amusing display and likely raising jealousy among other feathered visitors. The ruby-hued House Finch is a now around, too, but for reasons known only to finches, cannot eat while hanging upside down. I empathize.

A pair of Long-tailed grackles has taken command of its nesting area, which they clearly regard as all air space within 50 yards. They sport a dashing iridescent navy blue hood against jet-black flanks – very striking in bright sun. These are bold creatures who don’t hesitate to buzz any intruder to their space, even the large Osprey which has chosen a high tree on our pond to rest almost daily. They will fly at it as soon as it appears, but have generally failed to dissuade the big fish hawk from perching at leisure.

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 Swan family video