Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge

Hey everybody, I am so excited to tell you all about one of my best birding experiences ever! This weeks article is about a trip that was so unbelievable I am still having difficulty believing that it actually happened, luckily I have the photos to prove it!

Steven and I recently planned a visit to Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge in Sag Harbor, NY. After hearing a few raving reviews about the refuge we decided to make a day of it and invite my mother-in-law, Laura, and Brother-in-law, Joseph, to join us. We were all admittedly a bit skeptical about some of the seemingly extraordinary reports we had heard but figured at the very least it would be a great walk in the woods with views of the ocean. When we first arrived there was a rather large parking area (so far as most parks go) which was surprisingly unattended. I knew there would be a parking fee from the information on the refuge website and expected a worker to be posted at the entrance, instead, a small wooden information area sat unmanned with envelopes and a drop box to pay to park. There were also a good amount of information booklets, park maps, and photos available for visitors to take (which I always appreciate). The trail leading into the park was already alive with birds and before we even officially entered we all knew this was not going to be any normal day in the woods with birds already landing far closer to us then we would ever expect. The trail began at a well-maintained rest area with information, bathrooms, and benches as well as a covered picnic area. A stunningly red Northern Cardinal was waiting anxiously to seemingly be our tour guide for the day, as he would be a few yards ahead of us for the majority of our day.  Beautiful Gray Catbirds also quickly made themselves known, zipping back and forth across the trail from tree to tree.  Within a few yards of being on the main trail, we decided to put the rumors to the test; we had heard, multiple times, that birds had been known to land in peoples hands to eat birdseed. A Black-capped Chickadee perched on an outstretched branch, eyeing my Mother in law, she reached into her bag and held out a palmful of seed. We all stood aghast, staring at one another in amazement, as the tiny bird flitted down within a second of seeing the food and landed on her fingertip to dine. Laura and I looked at each other laughing giddily and as excited as kids at Christmas, unable to believe our own eyes and eagerly turned to move forward down the trail to see what else lay ahead.

We congregated by the entrance in front of the rest area to look over the map and decide on a course. There are well-maintained trails however they are not very long (about 1.5 miles) and if you were to walk a normal pace without looking around, one could probably complete all the trails in about 30 minutes or less.  The weather was also a slight concern, possible showers had been in the forecast and the sky was looking awfully grey. The temperature was warm enough and the rain, at least for now was holding off. We decided to head straight on the trail towards the shoreline first and then complete the loop trail on the way back, giving us a chance to see everything the park had to offer.  At our feet, a small bunny ate his breakfast of greens along the edge of the trail and chipmunks darted about in search of scraps and seeds. A beautiful Tufted Titmouse landed at our side encouraging us once more on our way and up ahead we could see, and hear, a rafter of Wild Turkeys gobbling along the trail in the distance.

Heading Straight o the trail we quickly caught up to the Wild Turkeys who seemed only mildly concerned at our presence allowing us to get very close to them. One Turkey even ate seed directly from Laura and my hands! A Tufted Titmouse sang jealously at our side, seeking seeds as well and soon joined in on the feast. An informational sign posted just off trail to explain the dangers of leaving food behind for the birds, which I’m sure must be a big problem at this location. Up above us, on an outstretched branch of a massive tree, a bright flash of orange caught my eye against the grey shadows of the treetops. An American Redstart flitted about watching on at the excitement, a life bird for me, and my excitement rose immensely at the luck we were having already, so soon on our adventure. Black-Capped Chickadees drifted down as we walked to pick sunflower seeds from our eager palms and through the tangles of a small field the white tails of deer flicked in the distance. Continuing along some of the most strikingly blue Blue Jays I have ever witnessed squabbled and raced along above us in the canopy of branches and un unfamiliar face perched on a nearby tree. Upon closer examination, its pale yellow belly and impressive head shape led me to identify a Great-Crested FlyCatcher enjoying the shade. Suddenly, a member of our group pointed excitedly up the trail shouting HAWK! and naturally, my stomach filled with butterflies as I raced ahead to get a glimpse. Imagine our surprise when we came upon a murder of American Crows so large they almost seemed taken from the pages of a comic book. Soaring through the narrow opening of the trail the immense coal-black birds dipped and dove until landing on a tall leafless tree out in the center of a clearing to our right. Viewing their size and graceful soar it was no wonder we thought them Hawks from far behind. With the salt of the ocean beginning to hang thick in the air we heard the rush of water ebbing and flowing on an invisible shoreline and knew we were drawing close to the beach of Jessup’s Neck Peninsula. Before the trees gave way to the breathtaking view of white sands we were graced by the enchanting song of a Song Sparrow hopping along the path and a bright flash of yellow pulled our attention to the brambles to find a small Prairie Warbler, my second life bird of the trip!

The aqua blue waters along the pearly white sands gleamed with a rainbow of pinks and purples of seashells, reminding us all of a Caribbean island far more than a New York beach. The threat of rain kept most other people at bay and we had the beach to ourselves, for the most part, to explore. A thin string fenced off a large area of beach grass designated a sensitive nesting area for Piping Plovers, though we saw none on this day. Common Terns overwhelmed the shoreline as a wave of Bluefish rushed tiny baitfish into the shallow waters. A lone Canada Goose floated by in the tide and a pair of Osprey circled overhead, their massive nest perched high above a pole off on the horizon. Laura and Joseph walked the beach collecting seashells as keepsakes of the day and steven took a rest on an elevated boardwalk, taking in the breathtaking views. While exploring the treasures of the shoreline Joseph stumbled upon a Knobbed Whelk egg sack and I spotted a lone Willet feeding along the water far ahead, sadly it took to flight before I ever got close enough for a great photo.

After soaking up as much of the beach as time would allow, and starting to feel our first hints of raindrops, we headed back onto the trail, this time to explore the loop which promised a small pond and more songbirds. Immediately we were greeted with some familiar faces, those of Tufted Titmice and Black-Capped Chickadees, American Crows, and Blue Jays. High above us soared a Double-Crested Cormorant soared by and at our feet, a pair of Brown-Headed Cowbirds strolled along the path. By the time we reached the pond the rain had turned steady and, surprisingly, we were seeing more people along the trails, all with handfuls of birdseed. An enormous Mute Swan guarded the shore of the pond as its mate sat atop a nest of eggs further back in the grass. Red-Winged Blackbirds sang out all around us, landing along the water and perching in groups amongst the trees. Again, a bright flash of yellow captured my attention and led me ahead to a vine-covered section of trees where Yellow Warblers hid and flitted about the leaves. Wild Turkeys once more accompanied us along the trail until the sad sight of the parking lot came back into view, How desperately I longed to stay and explore, and probably would have had the rain not continued to increase in its severity. We took our last shots and fed our last Chickadees then walked back to the car, already planning our next visit.

Driving out of the parking lot I flipped through photos from the day as Steven drove. About a block away at the first intersection we came upon I noticed a large bird perched in a small section of trees. I insisted Steven pull over so I could investigate! Boy was I happy he did, in a small triangle of marshy grass a thick cluster of trees marked the edge of the road and there, perched all over the branches, were Black-Crowned Night-Herons; at least a dozen of them, and scattered amongst them were 4-5 stunning Great Egrets! I had never seen such a sight and my heart raced as I circled the marsh firing off photo after photo.  Finally, after about one hundred shots, I returned to the car, content and ready to head home.

I think my opinion goes without saying so far as this park goes, but I will say it anyway. I love this park! This was hands down one of the most fulfilling birding adventures I have had. The space is beautifully maintained with a large variety of habitats within one preserve. I have been told that this park can get very crowded, and I would understand why luckily it was not at all at the time of our visit. I really can’t think of enough great things to say about this park so let me just leave you with this; you must get yourself to the Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge as soon as possible. This is a great place to bring young children and older crowds alike as the trails are uniformly level and easy to navigate and there is an abundance of birds to keep everyone engaged and excited, who knows, perhaps you will inspire a future birder of your own. I will absolutely be visiting again and again and again, hopefully very soon! Until next time everyone, Happy Birding!!

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