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Home My WebLink AboutFebruary 19, 2004 - Destination_ Dune Road February 19, 2004 • The Suffolk Times � � eS l • na i on . une oa v �� ,A,�,,,, ,��N,,�, � �� , Tuesr�ki: F.xci�R�T�s i'rom my tape � �, rccordcr:This is the sevcnth d�� of ,, ,,, . �,,,py �� ' �y February and Barbara and I are dr�v- . . �, Westhampton.It's a cold day but '"°��, � �"�„ ,�,�, • � � �� ,,,�d„�� ,,,6",,; m alon Dune Road m ra above freezing.With all the rain .w.� ,,„�„„"�. ; ., ° �� "� ;;, � � � � � we've had,thc � � � � � � � �� . _ ��i�� F�CV$ roads are m ter- ; � �sa;�� ,�, ,rI"�`' ,��y� �� ,�„,,., � ; rible shape. It � � a. �-��-�, ,, ��' '��m�� 1rr�ii,��, � ON � �. was in the canal I �� ,,, ''��;�,'�'`�`i��,,� �"" • � „ � ��,�r�r�� ;,. ��.�.�R� that parallels thc �� ,,,,��„ .. �� ,��•�� road that wc saw � "�" M by PBUI our first ducks: � �, �°�� '. �� ,,. ��,.�� ,,,,-� �, .., �� ,,.�,� � St0ute11bU1'gh four broadbill �'''"" � �� - �= � •� �� ducks and three ,„�NPn„ � �� ,,,� � ' -.��: , ;��,��r�dny��riu,,,�u��; rcd-breasted mergansers.Now we're , � '' � ,h,,��i�d�b��i� , � traveling through a canyon of mostly � �� "��u��- �� ,� �` �a , �u��d��s� �, �� 1 �k I711��1011-C�OI��1T'}1Oi110S,t�1811'OWl]eIS ' ,�lb� � l�o�'p,,a�� .�u rr�r, ' ti�v�"'�r�,,�ti %�r "" ,�- ��+�� iG ��,�� SCCllllllgly tT'ylllg t0 OUtC10 tllelt' Ti�r•�es/Review phot�by Paul Slou(enburgh ncighbors. Looking off Dune Road on a cold wintry day, we could see 100 or more We just passed by the old Tiana shorebirds too far out to positively identify. If we had to name them we prob- Coast Guard Station,one of the lancl- �bly would call them dunlins, as it's not unusual to see these rugged little marks of this area.Farther along on �horebirds on the mud flats in the winter alon the south shore. the north side of the road is a narrow ditch that was cut out when they built the road.It's here we usually find bit- sel or some other winter treasure. It terns (wading birds of the marsh) hardly noticed us as it pecked away feeding in the shallows,but today, at its wintry meal out on the ice.The because most of the water is frozen, marsh grasses are mostly beaten the only bird we saw was a great blue down by snow and ice.Now they'll be heron and it looked most unhappy. doing their endless job of compost- We also saw three other cars of bird- ing.This is why our wetlands are so ers that were scouring the cold, important;they provide the nutrients frozen road edge looking for any elu- to our bays and creeks. It's what the sive birds they could find. microscopic plankton feeds on. It's Ice covered 90% of all the water. here the food chain starts. It's mighty bleak along this road. We're now heading for the We've stopped at two pull-offs to the Shinnecock Inlet,but first we'll stop north to look across the bay.All it at two more short pull-offs to the bay brings is a seagull that's found a mus- to the north.Whcn wc �top��ccl,thcrc were 12 or 15 starlings that landed in front of us at thc ice edge.They immediately started pecking away but there was evidently nothing there,so they took off.Their life,likc everyone else's out there,is an end- less search far food.Those that falter Then,as we watched,about 12 brant in this frozen world fall by the way- (a type of small goose) swam by, side. ducks and mergansers farther out. We turned in on the east side of turned around and went back out We turned in the opposite direc- into the ba tion,toward the ocean,which was the Ponquogue Bridge that leads to a y.It just on the other side of Dune Road. Pishing pier and parkin lot.Ho c- � was nice to see � P Those that the brant up It was a wild scene with foam-rolling fully we'd see some of those samc breakers.This surprised us because shorebirds doser up and be able tc� falter in this close.After ou there was little or no wind.All this identify tl�em better, but no,we saw fl'OZ@Il W01'�i� chowder break wild turmoil is created over the outer pone.With the extremely low tide wc fa�� b the �'�'e headed bar that parallels the barrier beach could see the vast mussel beds that y home on the all along our island. It was something l�y exposed to the west.There werc Wayside.� newly black- to see.Occasionally gulls would fly two pickups with boat trailers parkccl topped road to by on their endless patrol for food. at the end of the road:Farther out wc Riverhead. So far it's been a pretty dry run as far can see four men in wetsuits dam- I��n over the Peconic River bridge as bird sightings go. ming,up to their waists in the frigicl �pd back home. � We're now leaving the houses cold water.They're what I call � "ru ed ba Mary called the other day to tell behind us.This open,undeveloped �g ymen."Lots of black duck me she saw a large black bird flying area is owned by the county and is <<r�d mergansers up under the hridge. Iow over her place on the Sound i.n just west of the Ponquogue Bridge. `�ti'e then went to the inlet,but sorry Grcenport. It was so close she could It's on both sides of the road and �" ��Y �'e didn't see too much thcre. eas�ly see its red bill.Checking it out runs east to the inlet It's so ratif ing �� did notice five or six surfers in g Y ihcir wetsuits u �� er bird book (good far her),she to see the open space and rolling j st west of the break- idcntified it as a turkey vulture.She dunes and untouched marshes after �v<<ter.They were sitting on their surf was right, I'm sure.We occasionally all the clutter of homes we've just boards waiting for that perfect wave. see these scavengers as they pass passed tl�rough.This is a great place Sui•prising,1'or as I said befare,there through.They are common down to sce marsh hawks hunting.Years is no wind,yet there's a pretty nice south,where we usually see them ago we saw a beautiful snow owl sit- surf running.It's 3:22 in the after- y soaring high above. ting on top of a telephone pole right noon,so I guess we'll head back We've spoken before of how along here.We searched and home now. important it is during the winter to searched for one,but to no avail.Yet W� Went over the Ponquogue kec}� water out for the birds.We've just recently Paul Gillen and his wii'e �r��ge and then headed up toward hccn lucky to have a robin coming were fortunate to see three short- Hampton Bays.Of course,we had to claily to our heated birdbath.It made eared owls hunting over this wonder- stop in at a local fish market,where a beautiful picture,the robin sitting ful windswept area.A once-in-a-life �'e hought some stuffed salmon far on the edge of the birdbath,drinking time sight,I'm sure. dinner and a steaming-hot cup of with it so cold and snow all around. Still lots of rainwater along the clam chowder.We pulled around the Not only did we have our one road.Whoa—we just went through back to the empty parking lot that robin this morning,but we just got a a ��uddle of water six inches deep. looked over a canal and marina.Here call from Nancy in Greenport,who There are floating reed-lined duck �'e sipped our hot chowder.While we was thrilled to see a flock of 10 hlinds spotted all along the marshy sat there we watched mergansers div- rubins and a single red-winged black- arcas to the north.I think you have ing in the marina channel.They must bird in her yard drinking water from to hire a guide to hunt ducks here. I be ettin somethin down there. <i pucldle.She was excited to sce cl<>n't believe they allow any free- them. I can't blamc her. I�ince hunt�ing. Here is a little turnoff.Let's take it. It's the last one before the bridge. Looking out,we were surprised to see maybe 100 or more shorebirds oIT on the mud flats.They are just out ol' reach of my binoculars for positive identification.I'll call them dunlins, since it's not �ulusual to sec dunlins �❑ thc mud Ilats hcre. Lots of black