WINGS OVER THE SAND
More than any other form of nature, birds invite the notice of the
casual naturalist. Their specializations, their plumage, and their song
all serve as attractive bait for our attention.
It is not surprising, then, that more books have been written about
birds than any other life form, and that many of these have been
directed especially to the layman.
Although more than 150 species of birds may appear during the course of
a year at Crane’s Beach, only a small number will be described here in
any detail. Many of these will be summer birds that regularly nest on
Castle Neck.
The common and scientific names of the birds listed below are in
accordance with the nomenclature in the latest edition (5th) of the
American Ornithologists’ Union _Check-list_ (1957).
BIRDS OF THE SEA
[Illustration: Herring Gull]
Herring Gull
(_Larus argentatus_)
Body is pure white
Grayish-blue wings, tipped with black
Somewhat larger than a Crow
This is the familiar “Sea Gull,” one of many species so called. Its
value as a beach scavenger and “garbage collector” has earned it
protection by the federal government. While preferring the rocky coasts
of Maine for nesting, the Herring Gull is by far the most familiar, if
not the most common bird found at Crane’s Beach.
[Illustration: Great Black-backed Gull]
Great Black-backed Gull
(_Larus marinus_)
Much larger than Herring Gull
Wings are black on top surface
This beautiful gull, like its common cousin, is a scavenger. It is
larger and more antagonistic than the Herring Gull and will often steal
its food. In Maine, where both breed, the Great Black-back frequently
feeds on the Herring Gull’s eggs or nestlings.
[Illustration: Common Tern]
Common Tern
(_Sterna hirundo_)
Small, sleek, white body
Forked tail
Black crown on top of head
Orange-red bill
These delightful, graceful birds are again nesting at the tip of the
Neck. Their nest has been described earlier (page 7). Under government
protection, their numbers have been increasing rapidly. Keep a sharp
watch and you may spot an Arctic or Roseate Tern, both very similar to
the Common. It is entertaining to watch the Tern fish. It hovers against
the wind in one spot just off shore—then suddenly drops into the water,
only to reappear again in a moment with some morsel of food. Repeated
again and again, this performance becomes a real show which even the
most uninterested sun bather cannot ignore.
BIRDS OF THE BEACH
[Illustration: Piping Plover]
Piping Plover
(_Charadrius melodus_)
Small, sandy-colored bird
Black neck ring and forehead markings
Voice: A clear, forlorn “peep-lo”
This rather rare shorebird so perfectly matches the dry sand on which it
hunts that it is often completely invisible until it moves. If the
sparsely lined nest is discovered, the parents go into a “broken wing”
act to draw attention to themselves and away from their eggs or young.
The four light buff eggs marked with black are laid in May.
_Five Common Migrants_
Although rare, the Piping Plover has been described in detail because it
does nest here. The following five birds are very common on the Neck
during much of the summer but do not nest on New England beaches.
[Illustration: Semipalmated Plover]
Semipalmated Plover
(_Charadrius semipalmatus_)
Resembles Piping Plover but is darker brown
Black ring on neck
Tail is dark, with white edges
[Illustration: Black-bellied Plover]
Black-bellied Plover
(_Squatarola squatarola_)
About Robin size
Tail and rump are white
Named for its spring color patterns
[Illustration: Greater Yellowlegs]
Greater Yellowlegs
(_Totanus melanoleucus_)
A large Sandpiper with bright yellow legs
Tail and rump are white
In flight, body appears light, wings dark
[Illustration: Sanderling]
Sanderling
(_Crocethia alba_)
Legs and bill are black
White stripe across wing
Body is brown or gray color
[Illustration: Semipalmated Sandpiper]
Semipalmated Sandpiper
(_Ereunetes pusillus_)
Very tiny sandpiper
Stout bill
Blackish legs
BIRDS OF THE SWAMPY AREAS
[Illustration: Redwinged Blackbird]
Redwinged Blackbird
(_Agelaius phoeniceus_)
Male is black, with red shoulder patches
Female is a brown, uninteresting bird
The male Redwing is familiar to everyone. His beautiful black plumage
with red shoulder bars allows a rapid identification. He is usually seen
flitting about over a marsh attempting to attract the attention of some
admiring female. The nest is built in a shrub on the marsh in late May
or June. Ordinarily it is well concealed, and often the only indication
of its existence is the loud scolding of the anxious parents when
intruders approach.
[Illustration: Black Duck]
Black Duck
(_Anas rubripes_)
In flight: A dark duck with silvery underwings
On water: Light brown with a yellow bill
Bright red feet
This heavily hunted waterfowl continues to breed even in well-populated
areas. Its nest is found here on the edges of the many fresh-water pools
that dot the Neck in association with the swamps. About nine white or
buff-colored eggs are produced in May. After nesting, these ducks may
still be seen feeding on submerged plants. They obtain their meal in a
crazy “dabbling” fashion, standing on their heads so that only the tail
protrudes above the surface.
[Illustration: Black-crowned Night Heron]
Black-crowned Night Heron
(_Nycticorax nycticorax_)
White breast, black on back and on crown of head
About Herring Gull size
Long, wading legs
Although most active at night, these herons may be seen throughout the
day resting or feeding. They wade about in both the fresh and salt
marshes in search of fish or crustaceans, which they seize with their
long bills. This heron nests only rarely, if ever, on the Neck now, but
thirty years ago great rookeries were found here. These birds are still
to be found on the Neck in fair numbers even though man’s invasion of
the area has reduced its desirability as a nesting place.
[Illustration: Marsh Hawk]
Marsh Hawk
(_Circus cyaneus_)
Males gray; females brown
Medium-sized hawk
Always with an obvious white rump
During the summer this handsome bird of prey is a familiar sight soaring
close to the ground over all large marshy areas. In flight it holds its
wings at an angle over its back, rather than parallel to the ground as
do most hawks. It mates for life, bringing forth a brood of young once
each summer. The nest is quite un-hawk-like, located on the ground and
constructed of tall grasses. The Marsh Hawk leaves the area and migrates
southward sometime in early September.
BIRDS OF THE FIELDS AND WOODED AREAS
[Illustration: Rufous-sided Towhee]
Rufous-sided Towhee
(_Pipilo erythrophthalmus_)
Underside white, orange on sides
Tail is long, dark, with white corners
About size and shape of a Robin
Towhees are more often heard than seen. Their loud scratching noise in
the underbrush frequently frightens hikers. If disturbed, they will run
on the ground to a place of safety. Their song is very distinctive and
has been said to sound like “Drink your tea” with the _tea_ ending
extended, or “You and meeeee.” The Towhee generally breeds twice every
summer, building its nest in a small shrub or on the ground. This nest
is usually as difficult to discover as the bird itself.
[Illustration: Tree Swallow]
Tree Swallow
(_Iridoprocne bicolor_)
White throat and stomach
Blue-green back and head
Crescent-shaped wings, notched tail
Usually seen winging low over water, the Tree Swallow serves to clean
the air of water-loving insects. These swallows appear on the Neck in
great numbers during the fall, when the scarcity of insects changes
their diet to Bayberries. Tree Swallows are among the last birds to
migrate in the fall and always the first to return the following spring.
Their nests are occasionally discovered in a hollow tree during May or
June, but these little birds will readily accept a bird house in lieu of
a hollow tree.
[Illustration: Eastern Kingbird]
Eastern Kingbird
(_Tyrannus tyrannus_)
Appears gray at a distance
Square black tail with conspicuous white tip
Infrequently, one sees a Hawk being attacked in flight by a much smaller
bird. This little ball of courage is likely to be the Kingbird. Because
of its swiftness in flight, the Kingbird is an able fly catcher and
feeds on flies regularly. It builds a nest on the Neck, usually high in
a tree, affording it a good lookout post. Watch for this nest in June.
[Illustration: Brown Thrasher]
Brown Thrasher
(_Toxostoma rufum_)
Brown bird with light breast covered with dark streaks
Long curved bill; very long tail
The Thrasher, and its cousin the Catbird, are both common summer
residents and nest on Castle Neck. The Thrasher’s loud song, often
mimicking other birds, is distinctive because every phrase occurs in
pairs. When the nest is approached, the song changes into a series of
short clucking noises, with an occasional hiss scolding the intruder.
Persistent investigation may uncover the well-constructed nest on the
ground. Look for this nest containing four brown-marked blue eggs during
late May or June.
[Illustration: Mourning Dove]
Mourning Dove
(_Zenaidura macroura_)
A slim, brown bird
Long pointed tail, bordered with white
This lovely, delicate dove occurs in every state of the Union. The waste
areas on the Neck are especially suited to it because its main foodstuff
is Pitch Pine seeds, weeds, and grasses. The Mourning Dove’s nest,
placed in a Pitch Pine, is so carelessly made that it is apt to be
mistaken for an old nest which is falling apart. Why it doesn’t do just
this during the nesting season is a marvel. This beautiful dove is
sometimes mistaken for its extinct cousin the Passenger Pigeon.
[Illustration: Sparrow Hawk]
Sparrow Hawk
(_Falco sparverius_)
Long pointed wings and long tail
Our only small hawk with a black-banded rufous tail
In recent years this colorful hawk has become quite a city dweller,
having little fear of humans. During May, four or five eggs are laid in
a deserted Woodpecker’s hole or any convenient cavity. As one would
guess from its size, the Sparrow Hawk feeds mainly on insects and seldom
on a mouse or sparrow. It is often seen hovering over a field in search
of prey or just surveying its feeding territory from a high vantage
point.
[Illustration: Great Horned Owl]
Great Horned Owl
(_Bubo virginianus_)
Only large owl with ear tufts
Gray appearance, with white throat patch
Voice: Deep, penetrating “Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo” (usually an odd
number of hoo’s)
One or two of these magnificent birds can generally be found on any
thorough search of the Neck. They hunt the Neck by night, taking a great
toll of mice and other small animals. The Great Horned Owl nests earlier
than any other New England bird, usually in February or March. So early,
in fact, it occasionally returns from a hunt to find its nest and eggs
covered with snow. A Great Horned can often be located during the day by
following the sound of a noisy flock of Crows. These birds spend hours
screaming and scolding Owls whenever they find one sleeping during the
day.
[Illustration: Yellow Warbler]
Yellow Warbler
(_Dendroica petechia_)
Only tiny _all_-yellow bird here
Reddish streaks on breast of males
On first discovery, this warbler is likely to be identified as an
escaped canary. Indeed, it is oftentimes called the “Wild Canary.” It
has a very charming, persistent song, which it sings during most of the
day. It builds a tiny nest lined with down in the fork of a shrub.
Unfortunately, the Yellow Warbler arrives late in the spring and leaves
us early in the fall.
[Illustration: Yellowthroat]
Yellowthroat
(_Geothlypis trichas_)
Male: All yellow, with a black mask over eyes
Female: Drab olive color with bright yellow throat
A very familiar bird on Castle Neck, the Yellowthroat constantly makes
its presence known by a bright “witchity-witchity” song, sounding as
though it is asking “What-cha-see?” Its nest is built on or close to the
ground and is a rather bulky affair, much larger than seems necessary
for so small a bird. As with most of the warblers, the Yellowthroat’s
diet consists entirely of insects—a characteristic that makes it a most
valuable guest.
SOME WINTER SPECIALTIES
A few tourists visit the beach during the winter. It is generally
considered to be a “dead” time of year. Yet the birds abound here, and
many may be found only during the cold months. Five examples are:
[Illustration: Common Loon]
Common Loon
(_Gavia immer_)
Large, almost Goose size
Long, straight bill
Winter: Dark gray back, whitish throat and breast
All summer long the Loon lives in the quiet of some hidden northern
lake, but in the winter it moves out into the ocean. The winter seas are
cold and savage, and yet the Loon takes them in stride. It is a powerful
swimmer and can dive easily and deeply. The voice of the Loon, heard
only in summer, is very distinctive; the loud, “crazy” laughing call is
responsible for the saying “As crazy as a loon.”
[Illustration: Horned Grebe]
Horned Grebe
(_Podiceps auritus_)
Resembles a duck but has slender neck and pointed bill
Winter: Dark gray back, line down neck, and top of head; white on
breast, front of neck, and underside of head
The Horned Grebe spends most of its time on the water, frequently even
sleeping there. It has also learned to preen itself in water by rolling
over on its side. Grebes swim and dive actively, catching many small
fish and crustaceans. When frightened into flight they will run many
yards across the surface of the water before finally hurtling into the
air.
[Illustration: Snowy Owl]
Snowy Owl
(_Nyctea scandiaca_)
Very large white owl
A round, smooth head
The Snowy is a day-flying owl and therefore may be seen perched high on
a sand dune looking around for mice. Its home is in the Arctic tundra,
where it feeds on Lemmings. When these are scarce during the winter, the
Snowy migrates southward to new feeding grounds. Because it is not used
to humans, you can often get quite close to this owl before it will be
frightened into flight.
[Illustration: Snow Bunting]
Snow Bunting
(_Plectrophenax nivalis_)
About size of Song Sparrow
White body, rusty on head and back
Long, pointed, white wings with black tips
From its breeding grounds in the Arctic, this large sparrow-like bird
comes to Crane’s Beach only in the winter. It is at home during the
hardest, most severe snowstorms. One may stand on the verge of frostbite
and watch large flocks of Snow Buntings flitting about, whistling in a
cheerful tinkling song. Look for them among the dunes or marshes, where
they feed on the grass and weed seeds.
[Illustration: Ipswich Sparrow]
Ipswich Sparrow
(_Passerculus princeps_)
Large sparrow, gray above, white below
Breast and sides have dull brown markings
Upper parts more heavily streaked
The Ipswich Sparrow is an occasional visitor to Ipswich. It was isolated
years ago on desolate Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia. It
breeds only on Sable Island, but its winter migrations cause it to
wander along the Atlantic Coast. It was first reported in 1868 from the
dunes on Castle Hill, hence its name Ipswich Sparrow. When observed,
this bird is most often found among the debris left at high tide on the
upper beach. It is quick to fly when disturbed and, upon landing, will
run for several yards to lose itself in the Beach Grass.
FOR A WIDER ACQUAINTANCE AMONG THE BIRDS
It is obvious that this chapter serves only to introduce you to the
great variety of bird life awaiting the interested naturalist. To
continue your study, consider the purchase of a good binocular and one
or all of the books listed below.
_Field List: Birds of Essex County, Massachusetts_. Salem, Mass.:
Peabody Museum, 1952. $.35
Edward Howe Forbush, _Natural History of the Birds of Eastern and
Central North America_. Revised and abridged by John B. May.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1939. $7.50
Roger Tory Peterson, _How to Know the Birds_. New York: New American
Library, 1949. $.50
——, _A Field Guide to the Birds_. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1947.
$3.95
Charles Wendell Townsend, _The Birds of Essex County, Massachusetts.
Memoirs of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, No. 3_. Cambridge,
Mass.: Nuttall Ornithological Club, 1905. Available in Museum
of Science Library.
——, _Supplement to The Birds of Essex County, Massachusetts. Memoirs
of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, No. 5_. Cambridge, Mass.:
Nuttall Ornithological Club, 1920. Available in Museum of
Science Library.
George J. Wallace, _An Introduction to Ornithology_. New York:
Macmillan, 1955. $8.00
COMMON BIRDS OF CASTLE NECK
Here are sixty of the most common birds you can expect to find at Castle
Neck:
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black Duck
Red-shouldered Hawk
Marsh Hawk
Sparrow Hawk
Ruffed Grouse
Ring-necked Pheasant
Piping Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Black-bellied Plover
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Sanderling
Common Tern
Mourning Dove
Screech Owl
Great Horned Owl
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Kingfisher
Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Kingbird
Phoebe
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Bluejay
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Robin
Bluebird
Cedar Waxwing
Starling
Red-eyed Vireo
Black-and-White Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Myrtle Warbler
Yellowthroat
Blackburnian Warbler
American Redstart
House Sparrow
Bobolink
Meadowlark
Redwinged Blackbird
Baltimore Oriole
Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Rufous-sided Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Song Sparrow
NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!
For your added interest the following personal check list of 179
specimens discussed in this field guide allows for recording where and
when you make your own discoveries at Castle Neck.
As a matter of convenience, animals are arranged by chapter and broad
groupings.
Use the Field Note pages for additional observations.
PERSONAL CHECKLIST
Chapter I. “The Shifting Dunes”
_Date seen_ _Locality_
Beach Porcupines
Erratics
Fulgurites
Garnets
Glacial till
Ventifacts
Chapter III. “Plants on the Dunes”
_Mushrooms_
Earth Star
_Flowering Plants_
Beach Clotbur
Beach Grass
Beach Pea
Beach Pinweed
Blunt-leaved Sandwort
Dusty Miller
Glasswort
Sea Lavender
Sea Milkwort
Seaside Goldenrod
Woolly Hudsonia
_Trees and Shrubs_
Bayberry
Beach Plum
Black Cherry
Pitch Pine
Poison Ivy
Quaking Aspen
(Some other flowers of Castle Neck at end of chapter.)
Chapter IV. “Life at the Edge of the Sea”
_Seaweeds_
Coralline Algae
Irish Moss
Kelp (Common)
(Fingered)
(Perforated)
Polysiphonia
Rockweed (Common)
(Nodose)
Sea Lettuce
_Lower Animals_
Anemone
Barnacle
Clam (Edible)
(Hardshell)
(Razor)
(Surf)
Clam Worm
Crab (Green)
(Jonah)
(Rock)
Horseshoe Crab
Jellyfish (Red)
(White)
Lobster
Moon Snail
Mussel (Edible)
(Ribbed)
Oyster
Periwinkle
Rock Purple
Sand Dollar
Sea Urchin
Shrimp (Prawn)
(Sand)
Slipper Shell
Sponge (Crumb-of-Bread)
(Finger)
Starfish
_Fishes_
Killifish
Pipefish
Sand Lance
Silverside
Skate
Stickleback
Chapter V. “Insects and their Kin”
_Insect-Like Animals_
Centipede
Harvestman
Millipede
Sow Bug
Spider (Crab)
(Jumping)
(Orange-and-Black Garden)
(Orb weaving)
(Sheet web)
(Wolf)
Tick
_True Insects_
Aphid (Woolly Alder)
Ant (Carpenter)
(Mound)
Bee (Bumble)
(Honey)
Beetle (Carrion)
(Click)
(Firefly)
(Ground)
(Japanese)
(Ladybug)
(May)
(Snout)
(Tiger)
Bug (Red-and-Black Milkweed)
(Stink)
Butterfly (Cabbage)
(Monarch)
(Skipper)
(Sulphur)
(Tiger Swallowtail)
(Wood Nymph)
Caterpillar (Salt Marsh)
(Tent)
Cricket (Field)
(Snowy Tree)
Damselfly
Dragonfly
Earwig (European)
(Seaside)
Fly (Crane)
(Deer)
(Horse)
(Robber)
(Syrphid)
Grasshopper (Short-horned)
Hornet (Bald-faced)
Lacewing
Mantis (Praying)
Mayfly
Measuringworm
Midge (Biting)
(Gall)
Mosquito
Moth (Cecropia)
(Luna)
(Sphinx)
(Tiger)
Scale (Oyster-shell)
Wasp (Potter)
Webworm
Chapter VI. “Meeting the Mammals”
Bat (Big Brown)
(Hoary)
(Little Brown)
(Pipistrelles)
(Red)
(Silver-haired)
Chipmunk
Cottontail (New England)
Deer (White-tailed)
Fox (Red)
Muskrat
Mouse (White-footed)
(Eastern Meadow)
(Meadow Jumping)
Mink
Raccoon
Shrew (Cinereus)
(Short-tailed)
Skunk
Squirrel (Eastern Gray)
(Red)
Woodchuck
Weasel (Long-tailed)
Chapter VII. “Wings over the Sand”
Blackbird (Redwinged)
Bunting (Snow)
Dove (Mourning)
Duck (Black)
Grebe (Horned)
Gull (Great Black-backed)
(Herring)
Hawk (Marsh)
(Sparrow)
Heron (Black-crowned Night)
Kingbird (Eastern)
Loon (Common)
Owl (Great Horned)
(Snowy)
Plover (Black bellied)
(Piping)
(Semipalmated)
Sanderling
Sandpiper (Semipalmated)
Sparrow (Ipswich)
Swallow (Tree)
Tern (Common)
Thrasher (Brown)
Towhee (Rufous-sided)
Warbler (Yellow)
Yellowlegs (Greater)
Yellowthroat
(Sixty common birds of Castle Neck at end of chapter)
FIELD NOTES
[Illustration: Map]
Transcriber’s Notes
—Silently corrected a few typos.
—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook
is public-domain in the country of publication.
—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by
_underscores_.
End of Project Gutenberg's Life in the Shifting Dunes, by Laurence B. White