Monday, April 4, 2011

Piers One & Four 4/4--New Spring Arrivals

I was starting to get a little discouraged about Pier One. I haven't seen much of interest there lately, but today there was a hint that the activity might be picking up.

Two Eastern Phoebes were active around the salt marsh. Duck numbers are thinning. But there is a possible interesting development; not all of them are leaving. On April 1, I noticed a drake American Black Duck and a hen Mallard hanging out together in the center pool of the salt marsh. They were there again today, nestling down close to each other. I have seen, of course, many Mallard/Black Duck hybrids but I haven't ever seen one "in the works" so to speak. Also, if they are nesting, will they be the first breeders at Pier One?

There was some activity too down at Pier Four, or what's left of it. There I spotted my FOY Laughing Gull.
Pier One
Number of species:    13
Gadwall    9
American Black Duck    6
Mallard    1    
Double-crested Cormorant    3
Herring Gull    1
Great Black-backed Gull    1
Rock Pigeon    4
Mourning Dove    1
Eastern Phoebe    2
Northern Mockingbird    1
Song Sparrow    1
Dark-eyed Junco    4
House Sparrow    3
Pier Four
Number of species:    9
Brant    13
Gadwall    2
American Black Duck    3
Bufflehead    2
Red-breasted Merganser    1
Double-crested Cormorant    1
Laughing Gull    1
Herring Gull    2
European Starling    1


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