Feb 2

Written by: Nature Conservancy LI
2/2/2010 9:58 AM 

On a birding outing during the weekend, my husband and I layered up and headed out to Ponquogue Bridge, Hampton Bays. A few lonely black ducks dotted the shoreline. As the bay was frozen, there was little chance of seeing any more wading birds so we headed down Dune Road.

There is something so austere about birding in the winter in an otherwise bustling summer town. Only one or two cars passed us along the strip. Houses stood abandoned for the season, boarded up, forbidding. There was seemingly nothing going on until we caught a fleeting glimpse of the "Gray Ghost." This elusive being is not easy to come by and when it does, you don't forget it.

The adult male harrier, also known as the gray ghost because of its ashen feathers, is a stunning bird of prey. It hunts in marshes, looking for rodents and other tasty treats. Its face has the look of an owl with a lean, slender body. A distinct white patch on the rump and its graceful flight help identify it. But not all harriers are gray. Females and immature males are a beautiful auburn color that perfectly matches the winter marsh grass.

This gray ghost, was just that. In view for a moment and gone the next --beyond the dunes and out of sight. The three other harriers we saw all hunted in the open. Seemingly together comparing notes on where to find morsels. They effortlessly glided above us, from one patch of marsh to another. They flaunted their mastery of flight and we enjoyed watching their skill. With binoculars to our faces, we scanned the skies with our peripheral vision for the gray ghost who wasn't to be seen again. Indeed, we were haunted by him.