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| Marbled Godwit |
Welcome to fall migration! What's that you say? It's July!
Right you are, but so am I. The shorebirds that just passed through on their way to the tundra a month ago are already on their journey south. Between now and the end of September shorebirds will be going home. Shorebirds and birds of the shore (such as terns) are some of my favorite birds. Though most are dull grey and brown and confusing, I am fascinated by shorebirds, Even the common ones such as Semi-Palmated Sandpipers never get boring to me.
This post will not try to deal with trying to identify shorebirds. If you had a chance to see Matt Schenck's shorebird presentation this spring you know there is no way I can improve on that. This post will hopefully help you find places in the state to see shorebirds. There are only a few places where shorebirds will congregate making it easy to know where to go, though some places aren't so easy to get to.
Napatree Point, Westerly
Napatree sucks to get to (how is that for a positive attitude right off the bat). For me it is a four hour trip without even seeing a bird. It is a ninety minute drive (each way) and almost a half hour walk( each way). That said, there is something special about it. Even though you park in downtown Watch Hill and there can be a parade of anchored boats on your way to the lagoon, it still feels wild to me. Pretty much every common to rare shorebird will land at Napatree at some point this season. Napatree is probably the best place in the state to find rare birds. Last year alone, Jan's Terek Sandpiper and a Red Necked Stint, and a King Eider showed up there. In other years I have seen a Curlew Sandpiper and Little Egret there.
Besides the crazy rare birds, Napatree consistently has other good birds all summer. Other rarities that will most likely show at some point are Black Tern, Royal Tern (the bane of my existence), Baird's Sandpiper, Whimbrel and Marbled Godwit. September will be a great time to see American Pipits added to the mix.. Walking around the lagoon keep an eye out for swallows, Willow Flycatcher, and Saltmarsh Sparrows.
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| Black Skimmers |
Napatree is home to two of my favorite species, Red Knot and Black Skimmers. Napatree is the most consistent place in the state to see Skimmers. Chances are if they show up in RI, this is the place. Watching them skim in the lagoon is one of my favorite memories. If you see a chunky gray shorebird this fall that is bigger than the other peeps, you probably found a Red Knot. The first Knot I ever saw was in its dull non-breeding colors and I thought I found a rarity, but it turned out to be a Red Knot. When they first start returning in late summer some will still have some red to the chest.
I know you'd like me to give some advice on parking but the truth is I have no idea. I know roadside parking is two hours and it is strictly enforced with $150 parking tickets.. But when they start monitoring and ticketing seems to depend on who you ask. I've been told that the two hour limit is enforced 24/7. Others have told me they don't start until 9 am giving you until 11 to get out of there. So do not take any advice from me. I've also been told the guards are much more lenient in the lot.
Here's what I can tell you. I get to Napatree so early that I am leaving when the beach crowd comes in. I can make it to the lagoon in 25 minutes so I have about seventy minutes to bird before heading back. This is usually plenty of time to walk around the lagoon and look at the weed rack on the other side. I'm usually sweating pretty hard on my return trip, but as of yet I haven't gotten a ticket.
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| Non-breeding Red Knot |
Another decent spot in Westerly is Atlantic Ave. I've seen both Yellowlegs in there. A Ruff was seen there a few years ago.
Quonny Breachway, Charlestown
The sandbar directly in front of the boat ramp (visible at low tide a couple hundred yards out) and the sandbar to the right of the boat ramp are good places to look for shorebirds, gulls and terns. The same can be said of the restoration area to the right of the parking area. Many good birds have shown up there. Barbara Seith found Skimmers this year. Last year a Hudsonian Godwit hung out in the restoration area for a few days. Parking enforcement is much stricter now since so many people went there during Covid. Best to go there very early during a low tide.
Charlestown Breachway Mudflats, Charlestown
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| Four feet away from me. I had to wait for it to wake up for this photo |
Of all the places to go birding in Rhode Island the mudflats behind the breachway are my favorite. Despite going there multiple times a summer, I still get excited the night before a trip there. To people that haven't been there they are a mythical place they hear about.
Obviously getting to the mudflats isn't easy. This in itself keeps the crowds of birders down. I will do my best to explain how to get to the flats but if you have never been there and crossed the channel it really is best if you go with someone that has. If you fall in over your head and ruin your camera do not blame me! Use common sense. If you see the water is too deep to cross do not cross. However, the water temp is like bathwater in the summer. If you carry your gear in a drybag and you go too deep it may be really fun. Obviously, going at low tide is both best for the water crossing and seeing shorebirds.
If standing at the boat ramp at the breachway you walk to the right. If the tide is high-ish you will almost certainly be walking in ankle deep water around the bend. After a couple of minutes you come to a point with a small channel in front of you. You keep walking right over the marsh grass. A short walk will lead you to a water crossing that is about knee deep. The channel will still be on your left. Shortly after, you will see a "beach" on the other side of the channel. There may be a couple kayaks there. From the point that you went right at, this is roughly 100 yards. You want to look for your crossing here.
However!!!! the deepest part is on your side of the channel! So be careful to find a spot where you can gradually get into the water. Make sure you can see the bottom! Once in the water cross over to the sand on the other side. The channel is between waist and nipple deep before you start walking up the other bank. It is a huge relief when you know you have reached the deepest point and start working your way up the far shore.
Now that you are safely across the channel there is a lot of mud to explore. From now through September there should be various amounts of shorebirds to scan. By far the most common are Semi-palmated and Least Sandpiers. The easiest ways to tell them apart is the Least will be brown, some of them will have a nice fresh brown coat while others will be duller. The Semi's will be greyish. Also, the Least will have green legs while the Semi's are black. This only works in the right light of course. If you forget Least, Brown, and Green all have five letters.
Also in the mix will be Western Sandpipers. I love Western's because no two look alike. They can be tricky but generally they have a longish down curved bill and most (not all) will have red on the scapulars. White Rumped Sandpipers, Semi Plovers, Black Bellied Plovers and Piing Plovers should be present. Other rare birds that will show up at some point will be Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Black Tern, and Pectoral Sandpipers.
Like Napatree,, rarities can show up any time. Last year, two Little Stints (European shorebird) showed up. I found a Wilson's Pharalope last year. The year before a Red Pharaope was found (again, by Jan StJean) on the flats.
I love seeing rare birds as much as anyone, but even if I don't see anything rare, the flats are awesome. If you are still, the birds will walk right up to you. The sandpipers will get almost under your feet. My theory is that the sandpipers feel safer near people than most birds because we offer some protection from Peregrine Falcons. I don't know if I'm right. I do know that while sitting in the sand last year photographing the Little Stint a Least Sandpiper walked up next to me, tucked its head and took a nap an arm's length from me.
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| Though "common" Common Terns are amazing to watch in flight. I never tire of seeing them |
Also while out there, you should see Common and Least Terns and multiple species of gulls. Look in the marsh grass (please don't walk through it) for Seaside and Saltmarsh Sparrows. If you are patient one will pop up close enough for a photo. Late summer will bring thousands of swallows staging for their migration south. They can be quite spectacular.
Succotash Marsh, S. Kingstown
Succotash Road on the way to East Matunack State Beach s the most accessible of the really good shorebird spots. On the right side (heading south) of the road you will see a blue house. On the other side of the road is a small pulloff. Both sides of the road have a small pond. Though obscured by some reeds the area to the right can be very good. Last year an American Avocet was found in that marsh. Two years ago Barbara Gearhart found Stilt Sandpipers, which I got to see and were lifers.
A little further down the road just before where the road turns left is "the Sweet Spot". It is on the right and you can pull off near the trees. This spot is always worth checking out. You may only see Least Terns flying, but you could potentially see a Hudsonian Godwit that showed up three years ago. Green Winged Teal will hang out there in the spring and fall
Moonstone Beach and Mud Pond, South Kingstown
Right now you can't access Moonstone Beach due to parking and roped areas to protect Piping Plover. However, when the ropes come down "the Cut" is a good place to check out. The Cut is a spot between Trustom Pond and the ocean where you have a nice opening. The walk is rocky and sometimes fruitless but is worth a look. You never know what you will see scanning the pond or at the Cut itself.
Mud Pond is at the end of Moonstone Beach Rd. The mud can attract shorebirds when the water is low. Always check the water and margins. So many great birds have been seen here over the last couple of years. Not necessarily shorebirds, but Bitterns, Galinule,Virginia Rail, Blue Winged Teal, and others have been seen here. There are also mink in the area.
Andy's Way, Block Island
I have only been to Andy's Way twice. However, it is the spot on BI. I have seen Yellow Crowned Night Heron and Tricolored Heron here along with peeps. If your birding on BI in the summer/fall it is a must to go at low tide.
Brenton Point, Newport
Though I don't take the journey there I know shorebirds can be found on the rotting weed racks at Brenton Point.
Third Beach Restoration
Same with Brenton Point, I rarely take the trip in the summer. Though I do know Matt Schenck had a Franklin's Gull here. I've seen good ducks in the fall in the pond. It is well worth a look if you are in the area.
Turf Fields
First I need to start with another negative attitude. I hate birding turf fields. The birds are usually so far away and you need your scope. Getting even a ID photo can be impossible because of distance.. That said, when I first started birding, I enjoyed birding turf fields because it was new and different. I also admit you have at least as good chance of seeing a Buff Breasted Sandpiper at a turf field as the mudflats. You have a much better chance of seeing multiple American Golden Plovers at turf fields than seeing one at the shore.
Where to look is intimating if you don't know where to start. So instead of writing "turf fields are good places to find shorebirds after a rain' here are a few spots to start.
Route 2 just before Heaton Orchard Rd had American Golden Plovers last September on the right.
If you are heading south on Rt 2 and take a right onto Heaton Orchard, about 1/2 mile on your right you will see a pull off there is a dirt patch about 50 yards out. This spot seems to attract shorebirds including an Upland Sandpiper two years ago. On the other side of the street is Beaver River Schoolhouse Rd. I've seen Golden Plover in the field on the right.
Slocum, North Kingstown, The fields around Indian Corner Road and the Slocum Post Office are very good. I have seen Pectoral, Least, and Bairds Sandpiper here. You will need a scope.
The last turf field I have experience at is on Switch Rd in Richmond a few hundred yards north of Chariho High School. Last year Buff Breasted Sandpipers showed up. The year before there was a Bairds. I will warn you, the owners do not like birders. So if you step onto their property they will yell at you. Also someone I know got a nail in a tire at one of the pulloffs and I do not believe it was coincidence.
I have no desire to wish away the summer, but the turf fields are especially good in September. Buff Breasted usually show up Labor Day weekend (I tip I learned from Jan) and the plovers are soon to follow. Though they may still be worth checking after a summer rain, you may find your own Pectoral.
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| Solitary Sandpiper |
Mudbanks
Lastly, as I write this my tomato plants are begging to see the sun after a week of clouds and rain, but at some point the sun will shine (it has to, right?) When the water level of the ponds lower during the summer they expose mud and easy to eat invertebrates. These muddy areas will attract shorebirds. Not by the millions but a rarity is just as likely to show up at one of these spots as the shore. Places like York Pond in Blackstone Park Providence or Meadowbrook Pond will have some exposed mud to check out. Also, York Pond is an excellent place to find Solitary Sandpipers in the spring.
I hope everyone reading this picked up a tip or two from this post. Thanks for reading.