Christmas visit to Bullocks Cove

Bullocks Cove, Barrington, RI

The annual post-Christmas dinner walk down to Haines Park and Bullocks Cove. The weather was mild and the water was still and the tide was low. The sun just about to emerge from behind the cloud cover.

Ducks, coots, wigeons, mergansers, scaup, brant, geese, swans...

Hooded Mergansers, Bullocks Cove, Barrington, RI

Greater Scaup, Bullocks Cove, Barrington, RI

Always something interesting. From confusing tide marks on pilings

to conch piles and burnt-down port-a-potties.

Why would someone burn down a port-a-potty? Why would someone pile up conchs (still in their shells) in front of it? Is this some kind of RISD art installation?

My Christmas Bird Count, 2011.

 

An annual tradition, a Christmas Bird Count, old school Bird Lore style. Things were a little quiet this morning compared with last year.

Needham, Mass.--Dec, 24; 7:15-8:45 A.M. Overcast; ground bare; tem., 22°. Canada Goose, 1; Mallard, 16; Hooded Merganser, 4; Common Merganser, 4; Great Blue Heron, 1; Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Rock Pigeon, 5;  Mourning Dove, 3;  Downy Woodpecker, 1; Blue Jay, 3; American Crow, 8; Black-capped Chickadee, 12; Tufted Titmouse, 1; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; American Robin, 3; Northern Mockingbird, 1; American Tree Sparrow, 3; Song Sparrow, 3; Dark-eyed Junco, 4;  Northern Cardinal, 1; Red-winged Blackbird, 4; American Goldfinch ; 5. Total, 22 species, 86 individuals.