I just wanted to show off these birds. There really isn't a good place on this website to just post photos you're proud of.....where people will actually see them.
On the beach in Milford, CT (and at Sandy Hook in West Haven) there is a barrier island that is about a 1/2 mile out into the shallows and turns into a peninsula. On the walk to the end you pass the protected areas for the (now egg incubating) endangered Piping Plover...... then you get to the end and what I call 'Tern Island'. On 'Tern Island', there are a nesting pair of American Oystercatchers that have to put up with 40+ Terns flying all over and dive bombing to the water. I didn't want to get too too close and disturb these endangered/protected birds, but there were at least 3 females working on nests. All the others were just going crazy while the tide came in and brought a lot of food. All over the area were about 10 species of shorebirds. In addition to the Least Terns, a few Common Terns flew past....and, I know that Roseate Terns nest on Charles Island off of the Milford shore.
I feel lucky to be able to go see several endangered/protected birds whenever I want (if it is the right season....duh). Well, here are a few pics.....
Here are the Oystercatchers (photo taken on a different day.....shots of AOcatchers from the same day aren't uploaded yet.
Life List: 302
Recent Lifers:
November:
Vesper Sparrow
Black Scotor
Surf Scotor
October:
Hudsonian Godwit
