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Home My WebLink AboutJune 03, 2004 - A foggy peek at the creek The Suffolk Times • June 3, 2004 0 ee a Con�E wiTti BArt[�A�zA and mc as � �� we head down to the creck to sit on � our dock and absorb the world around us.It's early morning and there's a heavy fog that gives a sort of mysterious atmosphere to the place.You know that fog,simply put, is a cloud that has settled ovet the ground rather than in the sky. �;, u -� m � ;� Everything is saturated as if it has ,u'` � � ' , � l� �^. W�, �y �dIl been raining.Our feet could feel the ��;�� + ' �� ,,, . � moisture from the wet grass through � �� '�'�� '�� - �' � �,, �a,; � � our sneakers as we quietly walked ,, �✓'' � towards the dock.The leaves are � s �. outlined in white,silvery dew.We � talk almost in whispers as we come ,„, up to our dock �a � �� ' at the head of ��;y�,��;� � � � ''�, �OC V$ the creek. �� -� ' `�' �� %"� > ��;,,✓�h � � �,a� �N We re fortt�- '� u x� � �, ��i �� a, +�r;� '�� Ni � �`r�iiH��%' � �u�,, nate here on ��%lr�i � � , �r �� ,�, NaruRE the North Fork '�� ' ' " ' ^�� to have so l, ��1��m�)(rl��l u�l r,� �i�iil�� !i� l il�I �l Y l �,1,�l�r�� w��,�, ; I/ �r�� r l � I by Paul , �,,, �a N ,� ! Stoutenbu p� ��l ("�,4 ��1�1��, '„�, , � , ,n � � �q� , �9,'° ' � many wonder- ' `�1��F��k�ii i �,�� ; i � �/�l�M��✓��ldN'nlI i i�� , l �� ,� � i�. !l l i ful creeks that " �,i ��j�� a �� r� ti� r � ti ' �,,�� i� � � y,� � �i y ��4 1"llII lIItO tlle �/ ��dai µ � oi �� i/ lH�p';, //� r�� r� p�r.. 4 ��1�� .. ��ni �,i �f�l i ��l l N�i �l��, a bays from Orient to Riverhead.The �y r�� i„�,�r� �'' ��i� ,, ,' „� ,/�� i r� �� trouble is that we have often abused �/�� ,� ,,",��, ,��r� 7�; `, °,,; „ �� , our creeks and they've lost some of ' '� �% '�i �� ,,,� , l ,�� ," � ,,�i, ��v��'� � � , their pristine beauty.Nevertheless, T�,�r,�,s��,,,,�W i,t,�,i�,s t,y��,,,i 5��,,,�E,,,t,,,�yr, they're the calling card for many Fog gives us another chance to see the world in a different way. You can birds and animals,and that's what think of it as a cloud settling over the land rather than drifting in the sky. we're here to see this morning. These are special times. My son and I put a martin house at thc end of the dock in hope of entic- ing the largest of our swallows,the purple martins,to nest,but they At the other end of the dock is passed us Uy this year. Better luck another pole,and atop it sits a red- next year.One of the openings in the winged blackbird.No sooner did we apartment house has been taken make an appearance than it flew off, ovcr by the house sparrow.It's busy chattering at us,scolding us and rais- stuffing the hole with blades of grass ing its red epaulets to show us it's and other materials for its nest. ready to fight.All this is warning us We've watched this one particular lit that this is his territory. Later,we'd tle sparrow as it tries time and time see a grackle fly in. Immediately the again to put a long piece ol'building redwing takes to the air and chases it material into its nest.He can't work away.Somewhere in the rec;�1s is a it in,it falls,and he follows it down, picks it up and tries again. I think wc've watched it try to maneuver that long blade of grass six times to no avail. of the battles we won,thanks to a lot of-hard work and a dedicated team " " of loyal volunteers. � Another bird that came to take advantage of the marsh was the grackle.It went walking around,jab- 4 � It seems each bing here and there,picking up of our creeks snails,small fiddler crabs,anything has its own thaYs edible in the salt marsh.Then, fam�ly of swans. as we watched over the marsh,a This year was flash of color went by. It was the � � xl iMll v � ;�'�;, � ;y, � � � °" exceptionally beautiful oriole in its orange-and- good for this black dress.It flew into a high-tide � � family, which bush no more than eight feet from � �q �� „�� ,�° , .,� ` raised four us.Immediately behind it,another '""" "'"� � ,�,, `" young, brightly colored male flew in and ��y,�„ -��'��"�"'�� chased the intruder out. It must be �,,,, , �,� .��r . ..� � �_ � � , � his territory,and the one that wan- "" � dered in was immediately challenged �w��A�� `�� and driven away.What color,and so close to us! . Here comes the robin again.Must be the sixth time we've seen her.She gets her mouthful of mud and decayed material and then flies off in the same direction.I'm sure I could nest f ever found,when I was pickin easily find the nest she's building just woven nest and a remale redwing, in W�1d asparagus along the edge of the by following hEr movements. her drab colors,sitting on eggs. creek on my way home from school I'm surprised we don't see our The cheerful robin flies in and goes ��ne day. kingfisher here.During the winter under the dock.We sit and watch, Across the way three doves fly in this is his favorite spot,for the sim- and finally see what she's after.In to light in the marsh edge.What ple reason that the water here stays her bill is a wet,soggy mat of old could they be doing in the marsh? free of ice.He sits on one of the grass,a piece of it hanging down like �ey must be finding something to posts and dives in to catch his meal. I a big worm.She flies off to add it to eat,but it goes to show what a wide have a little problem with this fellow, her mud-lined nest.She's been here variety of birds and animals uses our though. He sneaks up to my pond at three or four times,each time taking marshes. the house and snatches my goldfish. a mouthful of wet,decaying grass To my right,or I should say to the Today we don't see the white herons, and mud.Our binoculars confirm north,is an osprey platform we put for they're away,nesting on the off- what she's up to. up some six years ago.Last shore islands. The tide is almost dead low,yet we year the ospreys only played ��ur S��t As we watch,two least can see movement telling us the tide house,but this year they terns fly in.These are the is still going out and,with it,small came back in earnest and I°m marshes smallest of all our terns,dain- islands of cabbage grass,also called pretty sure we've got young have ty little things that dive down sea lettuce.It's predominant in our ospreys,far the female sits so and catch small fish and creeks and smothers much of thc tight and low in the nest that eome to shrimp.Evidently the head of bottom.It's food for the pair of you can barely see the white life...� the creek is a good fishing swans that we had nesting farther up of her head.She's waiting spot for them.The nearest near the headwaters of the creek. now for the male to come in with nesting area I know is about a mile This year's swans brought off four breakfast.We've seen him before, �Way,so they have to fly that dis- young.The other day,as they went flying in with a big silvery fish,prob- t�zilce to come up here to feed. by,a friend of ours saw two of the lit- ably a bunker or menhaden.Thesc "i'hey're on the threatened list for the tle ones riding on the mother's back, are the fish you see in big schools simple reason that they build their the two others trailing behind. out in the bay and in the creeks. nests on the beach in the sand,and Ahead of them was the gander,mas- They're filter feeders,swimming wit people and dogs and vehicles use the ter of all he surveys. Don't get too their mouths open,straining the beaches.That's why there are certain close to him,because if you do,he'll nutrients from the water. areas set aside just for terns.Thank hiss and chase you,often flapping his Our salt marshes have come to life goodness we can do something to big and powerful wings. and are solid mats of green.You can help these beautiful little birds. There goes a song sparrow.What a see the salt hay and thatch grass that We've been here for about an wonderful song this little creature make up these important marshes. hour.IYs time to head back.The fog has.It nests on the ground some- The Nature Conservancy owns this has lifted a little bit,yet everything is where above the high-tide mark. I marsh we're sitting by.It has a shaky still dripping with dew.We leave the can remember the first song sparrow background. It was going to be marsh alone,knowing it's in good dredged and made into a marina for hands as long as people understand a development nearb .That was one its wonders and how it functions.