Napatree Red Knot Revenge and below the pictures a Fishing Report

Last time I went to Napatree on May 20 I saw and photographed Red Knots. This was on my to do bucket list for 2018. However, the clouds came in just as I was nearing them and my pictures came out dark. I lightened a couple of the best ones and posted them. Still, I felt they were little more than proof pictures. I had thought about going back in the hopes that Red Knots would still be there.

The problem was, there wasn't any point in going if it was cloudy, I already had dark photos. Today's forecast was for sunny skies and a beautiful low humidity day. Once I got out of work I headed for the ocean. I wasn't sure what I was going to do, even as I as driving down. I had the kayak on the car so I thought about going to the Charlestown Mudflats. Also, it looked as though the ocean was flat as a pancake and I could actually try for blackfish from the kayak. 

Finally I decided to me make the long ride to Napatree. The sky was a bright blue and I had the perfect tide. I got a parking spot on the street (two hour parking) and hustled out to the cove. At first it looked like there were very few birds. However, the more I looked the more I found. I didn't see any knots though. I took the walk around the lagoon and they were on the other side. I got past them and turned around. The sun was at my back and the birds were in full light.I took dozens of pictures of the birds. A couple came out as I had hoped. The good news is I can check photographing Red Knots off of my bucket list. The better news is I don't have to drive out and walk to Napatree again until the fall! Pictures below then a fishing report

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After I left Napatree, I had a long ride back. But I didn't go home. I met my friend Dave and his son Jon for some striper fishing. We caught an absolute ton of fish. I didn't get there until 7:15 and still ended up with my highest total of the year. I saw two keepers caught and many decent sized schoolies. Most of the fish were caught on a Zoom fluke on a jighead, but the bigger ones were caught on swimmers. Fishing has been very good the last couple weeks. I went on Sunday night also. I "only" caught eight fish. I considered it a slow night. 

Plum Island and Scarborough Marsh highlights

I went back to Plum Island for my second of my three day weekends (the next is June 6-8 up in southern Maine). This trip I hoped to catch the tail end of migration. My plan was to bird Plum Island on Wednesday and Friday. O Thursday I went to Scaborough Marsh in southern Maine. As usual, I went alone since I know very few people that will bird ten hours a day.

Wednesday

I got to Plum around 6:30 am, I cold tell pretty quickly that there wern't too many birds around. I feared migration was about over. I did end up finding ten species of warblers but low numbers of them. The highlghts for the day were a Blackburnian, Bay Breastedd and two Canada Warblers. I also saw Swainson's Thrush and Spotted Sandpipers. I got pictures of of the Purple Martins below on Wednesday.

Thursday

I got an early start for my seventy five minute drive to Scarborough. I was birding before 7 am. Almost right away I had a Bald Eagle fly right near me. I saw some warblers in the few trees in the marsh, but nothing unusual. The highlight of the day were two Tricolored Herons. They were a lifer for me, and a pretty rare bird in the northeast.The marsh is also locally famous for having both Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sparrows, but they are still  a week or so away from being there in any numbers. There was one Nelson's that sang once, but that seemed to be about it. when I go up in two weeks, I'll put in time looking for these little guys.

There aren't a lot of trails there, I birded for a couple hours but was back in Mass around noon. I went to Scotland Road in Newbury. I keep reading reports on Massbird about this place. I went to scout it. I saw some birders on a platform on this road so I stopped. There were a dozen Glossy Ibis in a field. they were looking for a White Faced Ibis mixed in. We never found it, but they gave me the rundown on Scotland Road, and told me where I could see Ravens.

I quickly looked at the Ravens then headed to Martin Burns WMA. This was another place I wanted to scout out.  I saw Indigo Buntings and a Scarlet Tanager in an hour.

From there I went to Plum for some late afternoon birding. The highlight there were a pair of hummingbirds that hung out in my area for ten minutes.

Friday

I only planned on birding for a few hours to beat the weekend traffic. I went to Plum early. The strong south wind brought in a ton of birds. I started at "The Pines". There were Magnolia Warblers and Redstarts everywhere. I saw a Wilson's Warbler in some thickets.I also had Baybreasted and a dozen Blackpolls. However, the highlight was BY FAR a Common Nighthawk at Hellcat. This is a lifebird that I never planned on seeing. One, there are a lot less than there used to be, two, they are nocturnal. The one there was sleeping on a branch right out in the open. I watched it for forty five minutes (sleep, it didn't move at all except one wobble) then I headed home

Summary

I had a great time. I didn't add up the number of species I saw because I wasn't interested in Herring Gulls. I got two lifers the Tricolored Heron and the Nighthawk. I only saw two other first of the year birds, the Ravens and the Indigo Buntings. This brings my New England total up to 177. The number is great, but I wanted to get some good pictures. I really hoped to get some of Magnolia Warblers. I ended up with two good ones (below text). I would have liked to get wallhangers of Indigo Buntings also, but they were so high in the trees. All things considered, it was a great couple days of birding.

Purple Martins below

uncropped Common Yellowthroat

Cropped

Below, Tricolored Herons, Scarborough Marsh (lifebird)

 

Snowy Egret actively fishing

Indigo Buntings, best I could do

Glossy Ibis, Scotland Road, Newbury

             Ruby Throated Hummingbird

I saw more Blackpoll Warblers today than in my life combined, but they were all high in the trees

Magnolia Warbler

American Redstart

Common Nighthawk, lifebird

Like the Blackpoll, the Canada Warbler was high in the trees 

New Personal Best Year List for Rhode Island Birds

The middle bird is a Red Knot, today's target bird

Today I broke my record for the most species of birds seen in Rhode Island in a year. My previous best was 161 which I set in 2016. Last year I barely birded so I never came close to that number. So far this year, I've seen 164 species in Rhode Island.

After work today Laurie and I went to Napatree Point. I knew before going that I was two species from tying my record and three species away from a new PB. I knew there would be a lot of shorebirds there and I'd probably get them today. However, that was not my motivation today.

My true motivation to take the long walk out to Napatree was to look for Red Knots. Seeing and photographing Red Knots in breeding plumage was a goal that I set for myself months ago. Red Knots are fairly rare around here. Most fly right over Rhode Island on their way to Arctic breeding grounds. However, Napatree gave me the best shot at seeing/ photographing one.

The tide was perfect this afternoon for shorebird activity. I hadn't heard any reports about Napatree so I ws just hoping. At first we didn't see any Red Knots. I did see a Black Bellied Plover pretty quickly into the walk (one species down, 2 to go) When we got to the point there were dozens of Short Billed Dowitchers (tied my PB). I love shorebirds and was happy to see so many.

I crossed the outlet to the cove and walked up through some gross rotting seaweed and saw what I instantly recognized as Red Knots (record broke). I was pumped to see them. Unfortunately, just before we got to the cove it clouded up. My picture didn't come out like I hoped in the poor light. Still, I enjoyed watching them and trying to get a good pic for half an hour.

Red Knot in front of a  Black Bellied Plover

On my walk back to the car I saw a Willet and a Least Tern bringing my RI total to 164.

I know what you are thinking, if I got 164 in less than half a year, I could conceivably double that number. It doesn't work that way. First off, there aren't robins, cardinals, and herring gulls left. I got all the easy birds (except for a couple shorebirds). So the birds left will be harder to come by especially after migration is over and those birds passed through.

Secondly, my goal was never to break 2016's mark. I spend way too much time trying to photograph the birds I want pictures of. That is more important to me (and no less vain) than to be able to check birds off of a list. I don't know how many RI birds I can or will see this year. 180 seems like a possible goal, but make no mistake, that is no guarantee.

On a side note, my New England PB is 182, that number seems to be in jeopardy. As of now I have the 164 in RI plus another 11 in MA for a total of 175.

Lastly as I say all the time, there are people with way more birds than me. The Rhode Island leader Jan St. Jean has 247 species already! 

Bay Breasted, Striped sides, and Yellowthroats

Eastern Bluebird

The last week has been a fun one. It is no secret that May is my favorite month. Well, if May is my favorite month, then you can imagine how much I enjoy the middle part of it. Both birds and fish are migrating at full swing. I really wish I could slow down time. Time is short, bird migration will be over in another ten days. However, I think this cool weather might keep the stripers around for quite some time. A rundown on my last week

Sunday May 13- Laurie came over, went to Swan Point specifically to see Spotted Sandpipers. Saw three but were too far for a picture.

Monday, May 14- Went striper fishing with my friend Dave. I was using my seven foot rod while he was using his eight footer. He could outcast me by about 10 feet. All the fish were way out. He out fished me 26-7. Lesson learned

Young Baltimore Oriole

Tuesday May 15- Had a meeting at Naragansett Surfcasters. I had planned to fish first but huge thunderstorms  changed those plans.

Wednesday May 16- Fished a bay in my kayak. Caught eight stripers and three blues. Bluefish were about ten pounds each. First ones I caught this year.

Thurs May 17- Went back to the same cove. Fished all over. Caught 6 stripers. There were tons around but they were fussy. I tried everything in my bag. I would fan cast all around the kayak.  Yet, when I'd paddle right over spots I just casted and I'd spook them. Still I saw some big whirls of some very big fish. I got my phone wet and it broke. Spent the night phoneless. I wasn't going to waste a morning off to get a phone, so I planned on getting it Friday afternoon. I wasn't terribly upset that I broke my phone. It had a shattered screen and was only 8 GB so it was always short on storage. It was time for a new one anyway.

The first decent schoolie that I took a picture of with
my new phone.

Friday May 18- Day off from work. Got up at 5:30 am to go birding in Newport. Got to Miantonomi Park around 7 am. When I got there it was like a fallout. Birds were everywhere. In one tree I saw multiple Bay Breasted Warblers. There was a Canada, Blackburnian, and a Wilson's (lifebird). I also saw a Summer Tanager that was prettier than the one I saw at Trustom. Before I left I saw a Swainson's Thrush. I saw more Bay Breasred Warblers in fifteen minutes than I had seen in my whole life. Birding was awesome.

Got phone, downloaded the apps I need, took a nap.

Went fishing in the Upper Bay with Dave. Caught 6 stripers.

Saturday May 19- The forecast called for rain all day starting Friday night. Yet when I woke up it was dry. So I planned on doing as much as I could before it got too wet. If the rain was not heavy, I hoped to go to Napatree in the afternoon.

Left the house at 7 am and went to Franklin Farm in Cumberland, RI. There are Bobolinks there. I saw them within a minute but walked the fields anyway. Very cool spot. I can't believe I never heard of it. It is only ten minutes from my house.

Blackburnian Warbler from today.
I think it is young one since their head is usually a flaming
bright orange

After I left there, I went to Fort Sanctuary in N. Smithfield. Most of the place was quiet. One spot was birdy, where the powerlines meet the pond. I saw Bluebirds, Orioles, Common Yellowthroat, and heard several Swainson's Thrushes. On the way back to the car I saw a Veery and a Swainson's.

Drive to 'gansett. It was raining pretty hard and the wind was blowing in from the northeast.  I hoped to fish a rocky beach that is good at high tide. I tried for half an hour but it was dirty with seaweed. Then I tried a backwater spot. Calm and clean but no fish.

When I walked back to my car from my fruitless fishing trip, I heard a Black-Throated Blue Warbler. I got my binoculars and my camera. I wrapped my camera in my raincoat and looked for it. I never found it, but I saw a bunch of warblers. There were a lot of birds around despite the rain. I saw a Blackburnian, Black and White, Northern Parula, and a Chestnut Sided Warbler. There were also  Orioles and multiple Red Eyed Vireos. 

All in all, a pretty fun week. It is a great time to be outside. The birds are singing and stripers seem to be everywhere (even if sometimes they can be annoyingly fussy).

Coming up this week I really want to take the ride to Napatree that Mother Nature denied me today. I want to see (and photograph) a Red Knot and that is my best shot. Monday I have to do a double at work, but that is so I can take Wednesday off like I did last week. This will give e a three day vacation to go to Plum Island again. I'm also going to take a ride to Scarborough Marsh in southern Maine on Thursday. As you can imagine, I'm looking forward to this trip. If I can, I want to gt back out in the kayak Tuesday night and see if I can get even with those finicky stripers and maybe hook a big one. Also, there is a place where a Black Crowned Night Heron hangs out regularly. I saw it once but left my memory card at home. I want a picture. Seems like a lot to do, but May is only here for a short time. I'll sleep in the summer!




Yesterday's over my shoulder so I can't look backward too long
There's too much to see waiting in front of me
and I know I just can't go wrong

-Jimmy Buffett

First bluefish

Don't worry, although my hand was in the
gill plate, I was very mindful to not touch
the gills and do any damage. I respect
big bluefish and am careful of there well being.
Remembering my Boca Grip would have made life
a lot easier.

For the last week or so, I've wanted to try the place that I caught huge blues last year from my kayak. I had been checking the weather the last few days.When I looked at the weather for today, it said the wind would be out of the east at 11 mph. This usually would mean the area would be too rough to kayak. However, we had the 12 o'clock news on at work. They showed a couple of web cams of the bay. It was flat calm.  At the same time I was watching the news I got a text from my friend Dave. He was out in a boat with his brothers and he told me the same thing, calm water.

So after work I grabbed my kayak and gear and headed out. By the time I got to launch, it was 5 pm. The wave action had picked up but it was still plenty safe.

Long story short, it took me over an hour to find fish. I had to move to multiple locations with longish paddles in-between fishing spots.  Once I found fish, I found a lot of them. There were schoolie bass closer to shore and large blues further out.

I ended up catching eight bass and three big bluefish around ten pounds each. All the fish were caught on a Rebel Jumpin Minnow.  The fish were very fussy. I'd cast towards them and I'd get a hit or a swirl on almost every cast (again, this is after I found them. I only had 2 hits in the first 60 minutes or so). Finally I would hook up and a fish would drag me around. 

 You may notice I caught many more bass than blues. This was intentional. When I found fish, I found the blues first. I love catching big blues but the first couple soaked me from splashing.It wasn't that warm out to begin with.  Also I didn't remember my Boca Grip, so landing the blues was a challenge. Once I found the bass closer to the shoreline, I stayed with them hoping for a keeper.

All in all, a great night. I'm glad the big blues are back. If you like saltwater fishing in Rhode Island, I'd say the time to be out there is now!

Plum Pictures Part 2

Black and White Warbler

Eastern Kingbird

Chestnut Sided Warbler

White Throated Sparrow

Northern Parula

Killdeer

Goldfinch

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Green Winged Teal

 The three photos below are of Purple Martins. These are by far the best photos I've ever gotten of them. They are such a dark bird, their pictures have always came out black or silhouetted

First Keeper comes from the Bay

   I'm pretty popped from my Newburyport trip, so even though I know the oceanfront is red hot, I just couldn't force myself to drive down there. I have to work tomorrow so an hour drive home at 8:30 was out of the question. 

   So I hit a very good May spot in the bay in hopes that it would produce. The wind was in my face and the water was rough, I thought it might be a good night.  It was, as I got  a bunch of fish in an hour and a half of fishing. The highlight was my first keeper of the year. I got it, and all my fish, on a half ounce jig and 4 inch Zoom fluke. I measured it before releasing it, just over 29 inches. Not a bad way to spend my last couple hours before work tomorrow. It looks like fish are really spreading out in Rhode Island. The fishing should be great for the next month or so.

Plum Island Highlights

Black Throated Blue

I spent the last two days at Plum Island birding and taking pictures. As is my habit at Plum, I do not rush. The bird in front of me is more important than the "next bird". I wanted my camera lens  exactly for May @Plum Island.   I spent last night at Salisbury Beach camping.

I arrived at Plum at 6:20 yesterday morning. It was a bright bluebird sky. Conditions were perfect for migrating birds. I could give a play by play of every bird I saw, where I saw it and what other birds I saw it with. However, even I'd get bored reading that, so I will summarize as best as I can.

My number one target bird to photograph was a Black-Throated Blue. I knew they had been seen so I was hoping for the chance. I had only seen one before in my life. I got it along with many others. The trees were dripping with color. I saw over one hundred of many species of warblers. They would include: Yellow Rumped, Northern Parula, and Black and White. I was lucky enough to see dozens of Black-Throated Green and over a dozen Black-Throated Blue. All in all, I saw 14 species of warblers. Without question, in one day, I saw more Parula, Bl-Th Green, Bl-Thr Blue, Blue Headed Vireo, Veery, Black and White Warblers, and Brown Thrashers, than I had previously seen of those species total!

Black-Throated Green Warbler

Today, was not so good. I woke to a heavy fog. The air temp was 49 degrees and many birders including myself were wearing winter hats. Some were wearing their winter coats. Since I slept at the campground, I got an early start anyway. Most of the same species were there but just less of them. I went to Sandy Point and picked up some birds there including Piping, Black Bellied, and Semi-Palm Plovers. Around 11 am it cleared up and I went back into the woods to get pics of warblers. I ran across some very cooperative birds. A Veery and Chestnut Sided Warbler put on a photo shoot for me.

Stats- I ended up seeing 72 species of birds. I got 62 yesterday at Plum. Three more last night at my campground ( I went birding  in the fog), and seven today that I didn't see yesterday. I got most of those seven when I went to Sandy Point. The crazy thing is, if I would have tried, I probably could have seen a few more species. I spent so much time photographing individual birds. I spent an easy hour with the Veery and Chestnut Sided. I never went to the ocean at Parking lot 1 to see if any sea ducks or loons were out there. My goal really was to look at and photograph birds and not to "find birds". Not sure if that makes sense to you, but it does to me. The best birds I saw were both Waterthrushes and 2 Blackburnian Warblers. The best bird I missed was Bay Breasted Warbler. One was spotted both days. I got one lifebird, a Lincoln's Sparrow.

I took 500 pictures, deleting at least half already. I did get quality photos of many species. I did not get photos of the Blackburnians. They were only around for a few seconds.The hardest bird to get a photo of that I wanted were Yellowthroats. They are a very active bird that like to hang out is low thickets. Not a good combination for a photograph. I managed to get a few shots of a female.  I'll probably do a couple posts of bird photos.


Many more photos below and to come

Blue Headed Vireo

Bobolink

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Northern Parula

My friend- the Veery

This plover walked up to within five feet of me

Chestnut Sided Warbler

I promised this chickadee if he got into good light I'd
take his picture. He did, so I did.

This is not my best picture of the day, but one of the
toughest to get, Northern Waterthrush

Female Yellowthroat

This my friends is a Lincoln Sparrow
It is a lifer for me. I found almost every
bird I saw myself, but I was lucky
someone pointed this out to me.