HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 18, 2003 - Wandering Westhampton September 18, 2003 • The Suffolk Times .
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Iimes/I�eview pholo by Berbara Slou(enbwyh
We didn't even have to get out of the car to take this picture of three great
egrets. Like so many other birds, they're passing through our area on their
way south for the winter. Hopefully we'll see them again next year.
SEt�r. 10,2003—Bk�zau�zrz! It s c i y
outside,54 degrees this morning.Yet through the pine barrens of Flanders
we can't complain.The sun is out and over to Westhampton.We pass over
it's a sparkling fall day,just right for a Sunrise Highway.The"dwarf pine"
ride over to the south side.Hopefully area of the pine barrens is easily seen
the traffic will be lighter at this time of here.The trees take on a stunted look.
the year.As we pass over the Peconic Then it's on through Westhampton.
River I can remember when,believe it We go south through Westhampton,
or not,there the residential area that I call the land
were duck farms of hedges.Some of the hedges are 10
���'V$ along the river f'eet high,all perfectly trimmed and
Q]�[ edge,but thank looking stately.Then it's across the
goodness things "�nland waterway"that runs between
NATUR� have changed. the barrier beach and the mainland.lt
by Paul Today,if you're stirred up old memaries.We once
Stoutenburgh going to raise hrought both our 25- and 27-foot sail-
ducks,you have boats down this waterway through the
to do it upland and not near the Sliinnecock Canal and then finally out
water.From there we continue into our ba whcre we moored them.
You couldn't
help but feel
good on such a
Ona: on Ihtnc Roaci wc hcaciccl Spal'�(�Illg'' [�1,J/.
casL"['his road is known for its elegant weather or fair they have to be out
homes,but they're squeezed togethcr. there.From where we sat we could see
It seems each one is trying to outdo men working on the breakwater using
the other.Finally the houses started to ers t at, i e t ose o t e evenin
thin out.We came to where the count g huge stones,some seemingly the size
Y primrose,start at the bottom and of half a car,being fitted into place,
parkland starts.This natural area runs work their way upward.We were just one stone at a time.When finished it
all the way to the inlet.Along the road in time to see the last of their dainty will be a continuous wall out to the
edge we could see clumps of dried-up little yellow flowers at the to .
sea lavender.When it's at its eak it P sea.Each block was measured and
p We had hoped to see monarch but- checked to see that it would fit in the
has delicate little blue flowers terflies that use the barrier beach to particular spot.It reminded me of the
throughout its crown.Picked at its travel on their way southward,but we Incas and the marvelous work they
height and dried,it makes a lovely saw only two.Could it be that disaster did fitting together blocks of stone.
dried-flower bouquet. had struck in Mexico where the all Their blocks were so well cut
You couldn't help but feel good on con re ate?We read in y°U
such a sparkling day.There was a g g couldn't put a piece of paper between
the papers about tens of the joints.Here,the joints were filled
slight breeze out of the southeast and thousands that had per- with debris so that they make a tight
not a cloud in the sky.We came to a ished in an ice storm.We fit.
spot where thcrc werc four grcat wondered about the scarci- After lunch we headed back.We
egrets just off the road.We had to ty of monarchs.Usually always drive.out to the fishing pier
stop to let Barbara take some pictures. this is a good place to see just under the Ponquogue Bridge,that
They probably had nested over on them as they work their long,rather new bridge that joins
Gardiners Island or perhaps some- way along the beach. Dune Road to the mainland.Here we
where farther up along the coast."I'hcy At one of the road ends,we spotted saw the fall-tlowering seaside golden-
now,like many others,are moving a flock of sanderlings with our binocu rod just ready to burst into bloom.
slowly southward.The egrets were lars.These are small shore birds that Earlier we had seen the more delicate
quite cooperative and stayed there as use this area for refueling on their slcnder-leafed goldenrod with its small
Barbara clicked away at them.She way south.Here they regain their yellow flowers.
wanted to get a little closer so she got body mass that they have lost during We couldn't help marveling at the
out of the car and,like a cat stalking a the early part of their long trip.At rugged dune grass all along the way.It
mouse,she moved in toward them. another road end we saw a man get was doing its job of holding the sand
That was too much for the egrets so out of his car to do some clamming.It from blowing away.You could see its
they decided to leave.As they flew off, was nice to see someone taking big ripened seed head standing tall.
their bright white contrasted with the advantage of the day.We left as he Hopefully its seeds will make more
beautiful blue sky. waded out with clam rake and bucket. plants that will do their job of helping
There are turnoffs along the road By now we had driven the easterly to stabilize the dunes.
where you can pull off to the left and length of Dune Road and were at the In all,our day was successful.As
look across the bay.At one of these Shinnecock Inlet,that famous inlet usual we had a list of things still to do
spots we pulled up to a huge clump of where boats have access to the ocean. on our way home,but those just
poison ivy.IYs one of our colorful fall We decided to splurge and eat at one become a part of every day.We never
plants.Its colors of maroon,yellow, of the restaurants there,which we did. run out of having to pick up some-
red and brown help brighten our fall It gave us a view of the large boat thing at King Kullen or
days but remember:DON'T PICK! basin below where there must have stop by the hardware
Again we were taken by the amount been half a hundred boats tied up, store or get gas for the
of spent sea lavender all alon the awaiting weekend fishing.A few had
g - car or pick up a pre-
road edge. gone out and we could see them in the scription.All those are a
The only colorful flower we found inlet and out in the bay,all drifting for part of everyday life,
was the evening primrose.It starts fluke. which is why every once
blooming at the bottom of its flower- We also watched the big commer- in a while we escape on
ing stalk and has small yellow flowers cial draggers coming in.They were one of our goof-off days when we do
that work their way up the stalk as heading for the county dock just to just what comes along.It was a great
time passes.The last of the blossoms the west.These boats always appear to day to be alive.
are at the top right now,something me to be a tired lot,as much of their P.S.After our article about slugs a
like the dried mullein we would see rigging is rusted.I guess that's the dif- few weeks ago,we got a letter from
along the way.The mullein is a lovely ference between a real warking boat Martha in Pennsylvania.She has been
nlant with its velvety,gray-green-col- and a weekend pleasure craft.They havir_g fun"slugging"with her grand-
ored leaves.Its flower stem has flow- are a rugged boat,built for one pur- children.The first night out they got
pose:to catch fish.My hat's off to the 57 slugs.Their tot�al to date is 482.
skippers of each of thcm,for foul Thanks,Martha,i'or the slug u date.