Red Knot Reunion

All year I live for the first sight of the returning Red Knots and their International Fans being the DNREC Shorebird Project Team.

When I walk into the field house immediately I pick up the excitement. Will it be high anxiety or happy exuberance?

Luckily the Red Knots are arriving in nice numbers so happy faces surrounded the breakfast meeting table. Last year it was 3 weeks of non-stop anxiety.

Out I went with the Netherlands' Red Knot PHD student Katrina and her adoring "Assistant" to survey Fowlers Beach and Primehook.

The six foot plus, gorgeous Katrina amazed me as she glided over the sand, on her shoulder perfectly balancing her $3,000.00 telescope. I trudged along trying to keep the scope from banging and bruising my arm!

Fowlers Beach Impoundment gave us a heart stopping view of 60 plus Black Skimmers neatly tucked into a sand bar. When we found the ~ 15 Red Knots tucked in between the usual sushi-eating-green-eggs-sumi-wrestler-comrades I broke into tears.

Shorebirds, how I have missed you!

Fowler Beach

Finally, I found the time and opportunity to do a look-see at Fowler Beach.  It is on the North side of Prime Hook Reserve

I do not think I found my way there by the shortest route....... but found it I did.

The beach is backed by the marsh so the birding opportunities are good drawing the birds for the marsh, shore and ocean birds.

I loved seeing the so-prime-evil-looking Cormorants...... and that was the biggest Great Blue Heron I have ever seen!

Of course, I was looking for more Piping Plovers, but none sighted.

Visit this beach early in the season..... before the mosquitos get going!

I'm going to return soon for a long bay walk.

There are no views of civilization at Fowler Beach!  For that alone it is worth the visit.