News

Vol. IIX No. 1

January 2008

Notable Sightings for the Month

Tank Room Renovation Continues

The new Tank Room is coming along.  Renovations Supervisor Scott Z., with the help of a few infrequent assistants.  The wall panels, electrical, windows and doors are all complete.  The final task is to retile the floor and we’re open for business.

An Owl in MNSA

On the warm, windy, foggy and overcast morning, of 1/9, while on morning patrol many birds tucked into the bushes for shelter.  As we round the end of the pond and make our way back to the main building we first spooked a Great Blue Heron tucked into the phragmites on the golf course side.  Another 3ft down out of the phragmites spooks a stubby bird of prey; at first glance harrier came to mind.  Kim noticed the absence of the white rump patch and on farther observation we were able to add Short-eared Owl to the birdlist for 2008.

It flew low and slow over the brown marsh grass before taking shelter in the stand of phragmites at the SE corner of the study area.  Just to finish off the trail, in another 3 ft, an American Bittern spooked from along the trail and flew to the NE corner of the Study Area.

Bay Ducks

Late in the month on a streak of cold days, the bay was active with rafts of ducks.  Red-breasted Mergansers, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Brant, even one day Double-crested Cormorants in a feeding frenzy raft attracting a flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls diving from overhead.

Northern Goshawk Still Around

The immature Northern Goshawk of late December 2007 is still being seen hunting and flying around the MNSA. 

Waterfowl Survey 1/16/08

The DEC conducts winter waterfowl surveys here on Long Island.  This year the Oceanside to Freeport area were covered again by MNSA.  This area includes the bodies of water listed: Hempstead Lake, Smith Lake, Mill River, Bayside Avenue Marsh, Silver Lake, Barnum Inlet, Millburn Creek and Lake, Baldwin Bay and Harbor.

Seals up on the Marsh

On the morning of 1/26 an event that happened only one other in 2005 was observed.  A Harbor Seal was hauled out on the marsh bank on the southeast half between the ladder and the golf course.  Sunning out on the marsh it did realize we were there but was content with his location.  From looking closely at the photos it was realized that there was a neck injury or maybe something caught around its neck.  It was up on a high incoming tide with the water starting to flood its belly before it moved out into the bay.  I was seen again on the marsh in the same spot on 1/29.  This time it was a late afternoon sighting.  High and dry at 4:20pm, aware we were looking at it, it repositioned itself several times before taking up a position with its back to the wind and us.  Frequently looking over its shoulder keeping a watchful eye on its voyeurs.

An Icon Says Good Bye

We all knew this day would come.  William Overton has retired from the Town Of Hempstead and the Marine Nature Study Area.  His last official day as Senior Biologist and Supervisor of the Marine Nature Study ended on 1/30/2008.  With over 30 years of dedicated service to the MNSA and the visitors, students, teachers and staff his efforts will not be forgotten.  We wish him the best of luck in his future adventures.

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