Trips

A Family Outing at Point Lookout

April 15, 2013 by Corey 4 Comments

Late Saturday morning our little family had to decide what it was we were going to do. The day, while not beautiful, was at least moderate, which meant we would be going outside. We hadn’t been to an ocean as a family since we were in California back in December so we decided to head out to Nassau County’s Point Lookout, which is nicely situated on the west side of Jones Inlet. And while playing in the sand with Desi’s new dump truck would be the main order of business I figured it wouldn’t hurt to bring my camera along in case some birds decided to cooperate while we were there.

Desi and Daisy at Point Lookout

Daisy and Desi and the dump truck

The day’s temperatures were moderate everywhere but on the immediate coast, where an onshore breeze kept things pretty chilly, as you can tell by the winter coats modeled by Daisy and Desi. We had a grand old time building sandcastles for Desi to smoosh with his dump truck and I occasionally turned my focus from family to birds, especially when the sun was shining. The best photographic opportunities came when I walked out onto one of the jetties and shot back towards shore with the sun at my back.

American Oystercatcher

I don’t know why this American Oystercatcher decided to fly in and land next to me but I wasn’t complaining!

American Oystercatcher

The birds were an interesting mix of migrants and winter residents that haven’t taken off for their breeding grounds yet. While three Forster’s Terns foraged off the end of the jetty a trio of Purple Sandpipers did the same on the jetty itself.

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Oh, and did I mention Desi and his dump truck and his penchant for smooshing sand castles?

Desi smooshing a sand castle

Desi having a grand old time

Desi and his dump truck

I’m wasn’t sure who was appreciating the sand more, Desi or this Sanderling.

Sanderling

Sanderling

What I do know is that after an hour-and-a-half or so of beach fun Desi was completely tuckered out and his parents were in no better shape. So we retreated to a Baskin Robbins for some ice cream and then headed home. And though this post is being published on Monday morning I can day that judging by the amount of sand I am still finding everywhere that Desi definitely enjoyed the sand more than the birds…

Written by Corey
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.