Still messing with the #ebird #rarebirdalerts - was happy to see there was a Surf Scoter sighting near work at the Stratford Point Audubon Sanctuary. The surf scoter itself isn’t all that rare but it is out of season- and I was bummed I didn’t get to see one during the major seabird migrations earlier this year. So I had to take a look! There it was on the rocks just off shore amongst the cormorants and gulls and terns. Have to get back to Stratford Point asap— such amazing views- a great nature and birdwatching gem. Great spot for viewing terns, which I hope to get more familiar with…and they’ve done amazing marsh restoration/erosion projects in recent years that should show me some salt marsh sparrows if I’m patient. Great little purple Martin condo as well. Can’t wait to get back!
Surf scoter was life bird #31 of 2023 for me!
I reached out to the Audubon society about the castles and mini greenhouses in one of the pictures below and got some interesting answers! The castles are oyster castles- designed to promote oyster life, and to further help with erosion. The mini greenhouses are a joint experiment with a local university and the maritime aquarium, to replicate the changing climate and determine how a southern genotype of marsh grass might fare in future marsh restoration projects when we get to a point where the northern genotype can no longer survive in our climate. Sad but interesting.
