Forsythe NWR

[46er]

Brigantine Division. Have not visited this place in a looooong time, that changed on Sunday. Nice day, Greenies were in low numbers with the NW wind and the migration has begun. Hit low tide just right and the mud flats were filled with juvenile shore birds. Had the new camera for its first outing and new software, Luminare, to process the files.

The Marsh Mallow (Kosteletzkya virginica) covered the refuge, stunning. A small patch.

The Skimmers are back, in small numbers, but that will change. A bit far off for the 70-200. So used to a crop camera, adjustment will take some time A small squadron

With all the rain this summer, the dike road sides have really filled in. Refuge staff has cut it down in places to get a view of the impoundments. This is the east dike.

 

[Arey]

The refuge gets complaints on their facebook page about the tall grass blocking the view of the impoundments. They have a reasonable explanation that one of the rangers told me. They are trying to get native marsh grasses and other native marsh plants well established to further strengthen the dikes and also compete with the phragmites. So they do do some mowing, but you can see in the unmowed portions that the native grasses are thriving.