Location Scouting Hatches Harbor

Jeff let me tag along with him yesterday when he did his field work. The man works 12-14 hour days during the field season, so it was very generous of him to add in a little extra time for me. We went to Race Point North and saw absolutely no terns at all, though sometimes that location is hopping. And then we went to Hatches Harbor where there were several hundred terns scattered around.

I had my Nikon with me so I got some photos and video, but it was neither the right camera, nor the right lens, nor the right time of day by the time we found the birds, so these images are just to give you an idea. It was good to go to get a sense of how much walking (with gear) will be involved, where and when it's likely to see the birds, and how much of a challenge it will be for me and the audience to distinguish the roseates from the other terns and even just other shore birds.

Take a look.

We got as close as that little patch of grass to the left of this image. I made the mistake of setting my camera bag down. I was looking through the scope at the birds and thought, my feet are wet. Tide is coming in. Nuts! Fortunately the bag got wet but the camera didn't. 

That's the Race Point lighthouse.

Jeff with his scope counting birds. He takes a general count of the birds. Then how many are roseate vs. common terns. Then he looks for leg bands and makes notes about which ones he sees. They are all colored and numbered so if he can read it he knows which individual it is. And just from the colors he usually knows which nesting site it comes from.

There is a little arrow by a bird toward the right that has leg bands.

Everything on this side of that far sand dune was under water when we came back. At one point it was up to my belly button. Sadly I forgot my phone was in my pocket. At least the scope and camera bag were both above the water line.

Two of these birds are banded. Jeff's scope is strong enough that he can read the bands from sitting right next to where I was. 

There isn't any sound really. And at the end there it's a laughing gull wanting to steal fish that makes everyone fly.