Yellow-Crowned Night Heron- A Lifer! 8/03/2022

After doing a great deal of research on locations, times, and tides, I made the trafficked trek to the Cape in search of a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. This bird is a rarity compared to the Black-Crowned Night Heron. Using information from various articles dating back to the 1900's as well as ebird locations, I narrowed down my search and set out to cross the Sagamore Bridge and travel to the outer Cape. I first went to the Wellfleet MA Audubon center, but the sun was really high overhead and the temperature was in the high eighties so there was very little bird activity. I did manage to see a Greater Yellowlegs and am starting to understand the subtle differences between a Greater and a Lesser Yellowlegs. I also spotted a Willet, various small sandpipers, and quite a few semipalmated plovers before heading to my motel to check in.

As the afternoon continued, I decided to face the heat and hike the trails at Fort Hill. Fort Hill has quite a bit of history, including a large rock that was used by Native Americans to sharpen instruments of various sorts, and also has varied landscapes as you hike. A number of crows were acting up as I walked through the grassy field on the way to Indian Rock, and they flushed a female Northern Harrier who was returning their calls. I realized as I watched the melee that I don't usually see a Harrier during the summer. Apparently, they are considered threatened in MA and only breed on the Islands and the Cape where I was.

There were also quite a few egrets out on the marsh as well as lots of RABBITS. They were everywhere!

Since I was there to look for Night Herons and it was approaching late afternoon, I headed over to Hemenway Landing to scan the salt marshes and the cove. My research led me to believe that my best chances were 90 minutes before sunset and at a lower tide when the crabs that they eat were in abundance. They seem to set out for the marsh before the Black-Crowned Night Heron which wait until dusk to actively feed. Black-Crowned also take advantage of ground nesting birds such as terns, and eat their young so I am not so sure that I like them anymore! Yellow-Crowned are pescatarians and are my new favorites.

Since it was low tide, I walked the edge of the marsh near the woods when suddenly a small, young coyote popped out only a few feet in front of me so I waved my big lens to scare it off. I didn't feel threatened as it seemed a juvenile, but felt it was better for it to fear humans. He (she?) ran into the brush, but then stopped and stared at me with what I think was just curiosity. The ears were amazing, and I saw him again later going after crabs?

Back to the herons! As I walked, I kept hearing a very loud "Auk Auk", but it wasn't like a Black-Crowned Night Heron. I was convinced that the strange sound I was hearing could be a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron as I had read that they start vocalizing right before they head off to feed in the salt marsh. I finally found the sources of the sounds and found, not one but three. There was a spring juvenile, a newer juvenile with all the small, fan-shaped spots, and an adult. I took my photos from quite a distance with my 700 mm lens and then just paused to listen and take it all in.

Feeling that my little coyote friend was still watching me, I decided that it was time to start back to my car and call it a day. My bug spray was also starting to wear off and the Green Head Flies were drawing blood. A last glance at the tree line revealed my adult lifer bird flying overhead and landing in the nearby salt marsh.

If you decide to visit this amazing place, please remember to visit towards dusk time or an hour before if you want to see the exodus to the marsh. If you accidentally flush one that is roosting, don't chase it down as they need their rest, and if you see my little coyote friend, tell him "Hi". One last note, be careful what you wear as Green Head Flies are attracted to the color blue. Just saying...