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Home My WebLink AboutJanuary 23, 2003 - A snowy South Fork sojourn The Suffolk Times • January 23, 2003 snow o u or . JArr.6,2003—A FirvE srvow had s o o u rn fallen all night.When we awoke there was an inch-and-a-half of whiteness all ,,f; ,, . about.We had an appointment in � '� Hampton Bays and were leery about r f , the drive as the snow was still coming j �� , t��~ down.We'd wait- � 'x� �� «�� ^ p ;: F�G V$ ed a long time '�g s� ;�� :' � _ for this appoint- ,, ��,��.>��` � ��"�� '�� °� 3 � �N ment day and we � �� ., ,� - weren't going to '� �_ ,� � � � Y� `� W � I�IATURE �et a little snow k � ' b Paul � �� Y stop us.So off we y° ��,�� Stoutenburgh went. � �� .�; � � �� R As we passed a F�� ` t �, �g �,��'�� '�� wet area just outside c�f Cutchogue,a � �s ��`� � �� great blue heron flew across the road. � � '"' _.,� ��` fF�,�' ,r y� , �. . .;N,.� �� w . Tl�ese wet areas are usually at the end � - of our creeks.This blend of freshwater �'«�'��' wi t h t he sa l twa ter is w hat ma kes our Peconic estuary so productive. � ,;>. . , Groundwater has a temperature of � • „� �s >�` «; about 50 degrees and so when every- � "�` �- � .�;. . �`-�r°'' ` thing else freezes up,the seepage of � ' this groundwater flows out and the � W" � " ` '" " � �� . '� � area stays open.It makes an ideal "� ' � ^+ place for killifish to winter over.Of k` r � <, �,� course,the great blue heron and oth- - �� ers know this and go there to seek out /.. .� ��,�~ ~�'�� -� the unfortunate that hang around in �"'F �` the relatively warm groundwaters. '�`" � � �" We took Route 105 out of Y'� - �-�`s� � � ` � Riverhead and headed south,passing � � ,�y �`� ::_W'l.fe � � A�I " .sa��; through the pine barrens of West- � � �a „� �° hampton,where we then headed east. ' � � ," �� „-, � ' , The pines were draped in the most «� - � �, :° �� " �,, delicate layer of snow;each little � ��- �„�,. � ;,�W, ` �. . -� �� branch had its own wonderland.As "'� . we went along to the east,the snow on Times/Review phto by Paul Stoutenburgh the branches and ground became less Most great biue herons migrate to warmer weather, yet there and less,even though the sleet and are always a few that eke out a living by vistt(ng the few open snow pelted us all the way. water spots found throughout our creeks. There's no guaran- In the pine barrens there is a unique tee to this risky way of Iife. area in Westhampton known as the dwarf pine barrens.The trees are liter- ��g plll@S W@P@ ally dwarfed,as you can see from their size.It's a special area and has special dPap�d lll tIl@ IiIOS't interests,one of them being that the d@�ICate �8Y@I' Of buck moth only lives and breeds on these small pines.If you haven'c��s;c- snow; eaeh little ed this area with its dwarf trees and bl'a11C�1 h8d ItS OWII wonderland. the entire eastern seaboar . et ast Hampton has a vigorous program of prevention and so far they have been able to save their great elms. The roads were still good even I was ahlc to see th�t though the sleet persisted.Soon we there were the three were in Amagansett,heading to the species of scoter ducks; long straight road that runs between the surf,the white-winged uck moths,keep your there and Montauk Point.Here there and a large number,more ars and eyes open for wasn't a trace of snow except for the than I had ever seen,of nnouncements of walks snow,sleet and rain that battered our black scoters.There was 'nto this unique area. windshield as we drove along. one lone female eider.I Usually they are run out Farther out we found signs designat could tell her by her char- f the department of ing"Camp Hero State Park:'This was acteristic shaded head environmental conserva- a new park to me and so we thought and bill.Along the beach tion's Quogue Wildlife we should check it out.I remember above the surf that Refuge.It's a worthwhile when it was an active churned in out of the east trip and an eye-opener to military base with its were Bonaparte gulls, the wonders that are giant radar antennae those delicate white tern- about us. always turning.It like visitors we see during As we headed east the became a landmark the winter,particularly snow on the ground and and still is.The differ- off Montauk.Other good places to see these are at Shinnecock trees became less and ence is that today it no and Moriches Inlet.Occasionally we'll less,probably because of longer is turning.We see them off Orient,but Montauk is the close proximity of the drove into a parking the best place to see these fairies of mighty Atlantic Ocean. area and I got out to the winter world. Sy the time we got to look at the spectacular On the beach hundreds of herring Bridgehampton there was cliffs and the great expansion o ocean gulls were huddled down,probably hardly a trace of snow. that lay before me.This was some- resting after being blown about all We always stop at the thing to see.You're probably 80 to 90 morning.Some joined the Bonaparte Candy Kitchen,that feet above the sea and when you look gulls by dipping into the boiling surf quaint little restaurant on down,the cliffs remind you of huge to pick up bits of food that would sus- the corner just as you rusty-colored sand castles that are tain them only through the day and enter town.This is a step made out of stones and clay.Erosion night.Then the next day they would back in time.It still has has created them in these steeple-like have to start all over again searching the little ceramic tiles in shapes. for food.It's called survival. the floor,the brass bar I could hardly see as the water I headed back and met a young man stools and the booths poured out of my eyes as the wind along one side,where you tore at me.The sleet and snow chased walking along the can sit and enjoy the me back to the warmth of the car. beach by himself.As good food they provide. We'd liave to explore this area anoth- he passed by,he Back on the road,we looked up and said, er time when the elements would be "Isn't this a beautiful entered East Ham ton with its elegantly kept k1A short distance alon the road and day?"I had to admit in pond on the right.They � its own wild way it was had a lighted Christmas the Montauk Point light beautiful.Beautiful in tree in the center. loomed up before us.We a stormy sense,for the Hopefully someday we'll drove around to the big sleet and snow never have our own pond on parking area,which was let up.Back in the car the way into Greenport.I was told empty except for one car. it was warm and toasty,for Barbara that the area to the east of the new Barbara and I got out had kept the engine running with the visitor center was to have a pond put and walked down to the heat on. beach hanging on to each Our tri back was uneventful but it in there.I hope so,for it's something p I've been pushing for years.We'll see. other.The wind was roar- showed us that you could still enjoy a Farther on we drove under the great ing out of the east and day outdoors even though Nature had elm trees that line the entrance to the pelted us unmercifully,so tried to turn us back with her sleet village.Probably many of you are much so that Barbara and snow and howling winds. familiar with the Dutch elm disease t1id,"This is not for me," P.S.As I was writing this,a sharp- that wi ed out most of the elms on and headed back.I head- shinned hawk flew in from across the ed for a narrow path pasture.It had enough speed that it behind the dunes so I flew in at eye level on a long glide,its could better see the win- wings straight out.It reminded me of ter ducks that were just the hard-to-see Stealth bomber.It was offshore.But it was upon me before I knew what it was. almost impossible to see, Needless to say,all the feeding birds for my binoculars became blurred with the driving sleet and snow.