Fieldfare is located in Rhode Island, the "Smallest
State in the Union" USA. We are very fortunate here because, even though
it is the smallest state, there are lots of great places to go Birding.
Rhode Island is really not an island at all; the land is contiguous with
the state of Connecticut to the west and Massschusetts (a popular birding
spot) to its east. Narragansett Bay divides a lot of the land area plus
there are a series of islands connected to Massachusetts. All this coastline
provides a large proportion of beaches, marshes and wetlands for such
a little state. The interior has a typical New England landscape, with
alternating habitats of deciduous forest, some conifers and some areas
of open grassland. With all this variety, one can surely find plenty of
different birds and wildlife. Here are some of the locations around our
state that are great to visit or at least make it worthy of stopping by
on the way to Massachusetts.
During their Spring and Fall migration, many birds follow the Atlantic Coast
Flyway, getting a ride on the Atlantic Gulf Stream. In the Spring, the first land some
birds will happen upong is the southern coast of our state. In the fall, the same
places serve as the last restaurant before the big flight south.
Lists of some interesting birds that have been sighted recently and their locations
are posted in blue below . Birds that are listed are not commonly seen
in RI or are not seen in such large numbers. (Updating as soon as we can)
Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, RI
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Rhode Island has a smaller version of the famous
New York, Central Park fallout area. In the spring, migrant songbirds
concentrate in the wooded area of this cemetery on the east side of
Providence; a blot of green in the middle of a city. Early spring
mornings the place comes alive with birds and Birders. Warblers, Vireos,
thrushes, and flycatchers announce their presence and it is easy to
get around this normally quiet location. The cemetery stretches to
the edge of the Providence River where you never know what you will
see.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Swan Point Cemetery partially opens its gate early at 7AM as a favor for birders to walk into the Grounds.
The south gate is for maintenance and cemetery personnel. Please be considerate of this being private property and
the main reason for people visiting. Birders are asked to stay clear of all funerals,
processions and services, and to give grieving visitors their privacy. All birders should park
on Blackstone Boulevard and not on the entryway of the cemetery. Climbing over the wall is prohibited.
Photographing gravestones is also prohibited. Birders and photographers are asked to stay away
from nesting birds especially nesting owls.
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The Great Swamp, Kingston, RI
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The unflattering name of this wildlife refuge is
no reflection on the wonderful birds that can be found there. Historically
the refuge is named to mark the location of a Native American battle.
Its large wetland area is home to a longtime recovery effort of breeding
Ospreys. The birds began using the utility poles that string a line
through the middle of the habitat, taking advantage of the tall poles
as nesting platforms. It is one of the seldom times that human interference
benefited wildlife. Spring season you can get up close, using discretion,
and see the layers of nesting material that have been piled onto each
nest every year. Fuzzy nestlings can be viewed, popping up when the
parents deliver their catch to the nest. More platforms have been
errected to increase nesting success and the population has rebounded
in the state.
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Napatree Point, Westerly, RI
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Napatree Point is the sandy
pennisula that stretches out from the very southern tip of of the state.
It is a favorite place to watch shorebirds and some seabirds. There
are always large flocks of shorebirds stopping off here during spring
migration. This is one of the sites for seabird spotting too. Access
is only by foot and it is a long walk out, so bring your lunch, drinks
and sunscreen. Update 2013- After Hurricane Sandy, beach conditions have changed making for
a more challenging walk.
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Ninigret and the Charlestown Breachway, Charlestown, RI
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Birders in RI who are refering to Ninigret
in their bird reports are talking about a large area of the Charlestown
coast that includes Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, Ninigret Pond,
and the Ninigret Conservation Area. The Conservation area is a strip
of sand dune that separates the pond from the ocean. Nice flat sand
on one side and thick vegetation on the other provide a stretch of open
area to watch shorebirds, terns and gulls plus an area of scrub and
short pines that attract songbirds. Piping Plovers and Least Terns can
be seen here. There is not a lot of foot traffic to get to the far end
so there is less disturbance for good viewing. (Parking is limited at
the entrance and they do charge when in season)
A place in Rhode Island that attracts some unusual birds is the Charlestown
Breachway. It seems to have some kind of magnet for the vagrants or
the uncommon birds. The breachway is at the town's beach parking lot.
Tides and weather have a big affect on what is happening at the spot
and how accessible it is. Hiking into the flats on the northeast side
sometimes is a wading experience but almost always worth it. In 2004
there were Black-necked Stilts, a Black-tailed Gull showed up here in 1996,
and the very out of the way Mongolian Plover in 1999.
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South County Area, RI
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There are many beach areas in South County that provide great locations for birding. Here are
a few to start.(we're working on this list)
Scarborough Beach
Narragansett
Green Hill
Galilee
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Trustom Pond and Moonstone Beach, South Kingstown, RI
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A wonderful thing that has happened in Rhode Island is that with federal
protection, hard work by professionals and dedicated volunteers, RI
has a breeding population of Piping Plovers. Moonstone Beach is one
of the areas that is highly protected and monitored for their preservation.
Nests are located early in the season and cordoned off with predator
(and human) exclusion barriers to help guarantee successful nesting.
Without violating any code of birding ethics, one can observe the fuzzy
precocial nestlings duck under their parent's protective wing. Moonstone
does not have many visitors due to limited parking.
Standing at the entrance to Moonstone Beach there is a view of the south
side of Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge, the entrance is down
the road around the corner. This refuge is a great place to see a whole
variety of birds due to its diverse habitats. The tree foliage and new
crop of insects on the trees at the entering trails draw the sing-songing
warblers looking for food and announcing their brilliance. Woodland
trails turn to a managed open field, with successfully nesting Eastern
Bluebirds and Tree Swallows and other grass preferers. Walking all the
way to the pond is always rewarding (make sure to carry-in your scope).
Trustom Pond is a shelter for migrating dabbling ducks, coots, and long-legged
waders. There can be large flocks of Ruddy Ducks and mergansers, Green-backed
Herons and the occasional Bittern. The pond is also a favorite spot
for Northern Harriers that ride the breeze coming up and over the dunes
from Moonstone.
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Beavertail Jamestown, RI
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Jamestown is an island in the middle of Narragansett Bay that has bridges
to link the eastern to the western part of the state. The rocky, south
tip of the island overlooks the turbulant waters forming at the mouth
of the bay. Terns, gulls, and other seabirds feed in the churning waves.
A large area is set aside here for wildlife viewing and recreation. This is one
of the good locations to see overwintering, less common seabirds or the ones traveling early.
It seems as though the birds here fly back and forth to another location
just to the east; Sachuest Point.
The Osprey web cam in Jamestown sponsored by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island
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Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, Middletown, RI
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If you are looking for an exciting place to go birding, this is a
Rhode Island Gem! Sachuest Point is at the tip of a pennisula jutting
out at the south end of the Sakonnet River on the east side of Aquidneck Island, known more commonly
as Middletown and Newport. This is one of the three National
Wildlife Refuges in Rhode Island and it, like the others, is at the shoreline.
The difference is Sachuest sits high enough over the water so it is possible
to see seabirds in the distance.
Early in the spring, it is possible to see Razorbills, Northern Gannets,
and maybe a passing Atlantic Puffin. If the winter migrants are still
hanging around you can almost be assured of sighting Harlequin Ducks,
Scoters, and Loons. Regularly you can find a variety of ducks on the
more sheltered eastern side like Mergansers, Scaup, Bufflehead, Goldeneye
and the occasional Barrow's Goldeneye. The scrub and open field habitat
attract Eastern Meadowlarks, Tree Swallows and Bluebirds.
This is and unusual spot for raptors in the state. Northern Harriers
are seen all the time but the refuge is also a stop over for Short-eared
Owls, and in those irruptive years that we have migrants from the deep
Artic cold, this where a Snowy Owl may show up.(not in 2004)
It has a large newly renovated visitor's center with staff, facilities,
and gift shop. Dress for a range of temperatures. One side of the refuge
can be 10-20 degrees cooler than the other, and have a stiff breeze.
Sachuest Point NWR Web Site
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Block Island, RI
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KNOWN FOR GREAT FALL BIRDING! Block Island is part of Rhode Island and it really
is an island. Located just
off the coast and visible from most of the shoreline
on a clear day. It has a national reputation for being one of the best
fall birding spots on the Atlantic flyway. In the fall songbirds see
this dot of land as the last jump-off location before heading south
for the winter. They tend to hang around a little bit longer then than they do in
the spring when they are in a rush to get down to business nesting. It can be a
good spot to bird in the spring, but it is even better in the fall.
Block Island NWR Web Site
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For the Weekly Rhode Island Rare Bird Alert sponsored by
the Audubon Society of Rhode Island visit our friends at:
The Virtual Birder
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We hope to continually add to this web page, so check back at another time.
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