Parker River NWR 7/24/2022- American Avocet!

I visited the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport yesterday, Sunday, and met a friend there. While waiting, I was entertained as I watched this Great Blue Heron struggle with its catch, an American Eel. Carol M. and I then braved the temperatures in hopes of seeing the American Avocet that had been seen over the last few days as well as the Yellow-crowned Night Heron family. The American Avocet is such an elegant bird with its long legs and upturned beak and it is rare find in New England. I had never seen one before. Although such a beautiful bird, Carol and I noted that this singleton far out was quite the bully as it chased neighboring Greater Yellowlegs. We never found the Yellow-crowned Night Herons, but still enjoyed seeing a River Otter family, and this Kingbird as we were about to leave the Refuge. We only made it to noon before we decided to leave as the temperatures were soaring with no cloud cover and little shade. My car thermometer actually read 102 degrees on the ride home...