Many of you probably know that birding on Block Island can be great. Yet, if you have never done it, you probably have no idea where to begin. Luckily, Birding Block Island is pretty easy despite being ten miles offshore. Hopefully I can give those of you interested some advice.
Logistics-
I assume everyone reading this knows that the way to get to BI is to take the ferry out of Galilee. You can take the high speed ferry or the traditional ferry. Besides being cheaper, an advantage of the traditional ferry is that it goes slow enough to bird along the way. There are many parking lots in Galilee to leave your car if you choose
The first ferry leaves for the pork chop at 9 am, meaning you are not going to get to the island until 10 am. By then morning birding may be over. Consider going the night before and getting a motel. That way you can be birding at sunrise. Remembering this is the offseason, motel prices are surprisingly reasonable. You can still get a thousand dollar a night bed and breakfast if you'd like. However, I got a midweek deal for Sept 22-24 for $59/night with a shared bathroom. Check out https://www.blockislandreservations.com/ to find a place that fits your taste and budget.
This leads to getting around. You could get off the ferry and take a taxi to a birding destination. The cab drivers are pretty cool and will come pick you up with a phone call when you are done birding. The other option is to take your car. Usually one or two of my friends will take their car. Everyone chips in. Four people splitting the cost of the vehicle is about $20/each. It works out great for everyone when we split the cost.
The best time to bird the Block in the fall is after a night of NW winds. However, this is fall migration, so if the winds don't line up perfectly with your reservation don't be discouraged. It only takes one great bird! As for timing, birding is best from now until mid-October so you have time to plan a Bermuda of the North getaway. (*if you think I am enjoying using all of the nicknames for Block Island such as BI, Bermuda of the North, the pork chop, you would be correct)
Birding-
This section will be much shorter than you would think. Birding BI is pretty straight forward. Print out a street map and head north. When you get to the area around Sachem Pond walk up and down the dirt roads, public right of ways, and trails. Birding is best at the north end. It really is as simple as looking at trees. I didn't go last year, but the year before we had some great birds. Cape May Warblers were everywhere. They were the most common bird we saw! That includes Robins and Chickadees!
After you tire of the trails at the north end, you could walk through Rodman's Hollow in the southern part of the island. Rodman's Hollow is the only place east of the Mississippi to have a population of endangered American Burying Beetles. Besides that, birding can be good. My friend Jan found a Philadelphia Vireo in there two years ago.
Last year my friends went on a spontaneous day trip in October and they saw a Clay Colored Sparrow and a Dickcissel. I was hiking through autumn foliage in the White Mountains.
Lastly, if you like shorebirds the place to check out is Andy's Way. Park at the end of the little road, put of shoes you don't getting wet and go explore. There is a large marsh and also beach sand. This is the best place on the island for shorebirds and wading birds. Last time I was there we had a Tricolored Heron and multiple Yellow Crowned Night Herons. Low tide is the time to be at Andy's Way
It really is that simple. Decide if you want to do a day trip or spend a night(s). Figure out if you want to bring a car or take a taxi (it would be a long walk, and if you bike, BI is hilly). Before you go know the tide and plan Andy's Way around it. Try to be at the north end at day break. Worst case scenario, you get some lunch at Poor People's Pub in New Shoreham (pulled pork sandwich). After lunch go admire the view at Southeast Light. However, chances are good you will see birds.
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