Storm Tossed Birds - Hurricane Irene - A Week Later

The phone was abuzz on Sunday the 4th, several great birds put in an appearance in the Newburyport area and my good friend Steve Grinley of Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift (aka "Bird Central") kindly kept me in the loop as to what was being seen. The 1st of the day was a young White Ibis found by Christopher Ciccone on Plum Island and later relocated by Steve & Margo along the Plum Island Causeway. Though feeding at quite a distance the youngster was unmistakably a White Ibis, seen below feeding with a Great Egret.

While watching the Ibis Doug Chickering called from Salisbury Beach State Reservation where he had come across an American Avocet feeding in the marsh. A quick ride to the Reservation found the Avocet still there!

I headed back to Newburyport to check the harbor at low tide only to be called again by Steve. A Caspian Tern had come in to roost for a bit back at Salisbury Beach. Back in the car for the drive north and voila there was the Tern.

Easily picked out below with it's bright red bill.

Also roosting near the Tern was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. A bit distant but the yellow legs can be clearly seen.

and a shot as it flew in to roost on the rocks.

Earlier in the morning I had stopped at Sandy Point for a brief visit. This Great Egret landed quite close by.

and yet another Common Tern coming in for a landing. All in all a fabulous day of birding!