Tag: Rhode Island

PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE OF THE BAHAMIAN ISLANDS

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Fly safe little fledgling!

It’s heartbreaking to read about the death and devastation wreaked by Hurricane Dorian. Never having been, but greatly wishing to go someday, our hearts go out to the people of this beautiful and magical archipelago, the Bahamas.

Several friends have written asking about what happens to shorebirds, especially the Atlantic Coast Piping Plovers, during a monster hurricane like Dorian. Some lose their lives, some are blown far off course and hopefully, more will survive than not.

One somewhat reassuring thought regarding the Piping Plovers that are tagged in Massachusetts and Rhode Island is that they may not yet have left the States. After departing Massachusetts and RI, a great many tagged PiPls are soon found foraging on the shores of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Cape Lookout National Seashore, and Cumberland Island National Seashore, GA. Data suggests that the Outer Banks are a priority stopover site for Piping Plovers well into the late summer. After leaving our shores, southern New England Piping Plovers spend on average 45 days at NC barrier beaches before then heading to the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.

A male Piping Plover that I have been documenting since April, nicknamed Super Dad, still in Massachusetts at his breeding grounds as of August 28th.

Here is Super Dad with his two fledglings, aged 31 days, On August 24th, 2019.

Thirty-one-day old fledglings, sleeping after a morning of intensive foraging and fattening-up.

Visitors from Rhode Island

Posted on by Manuel F. Simoes

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A very loving family who now live in Cranston Rhode Island, but originally lived in Brooklyn New York.  We spoke at length about the Italian history in Gloucester.  She was very out spoken and said she is in a mixed marriage, she is Sicilian and he is from mainland Italy. They were headed on a whale watch at Seven Seas.  A wonderful encounter from a very colorful family.

Rescued at the Breakwater – Inflatable dinghy

Posted on by Manuel F. Simoes

I spotted a small inflatable boat while taking photographs on the breakwater. At first I thought that someone may be diving, but could not see any diving flags. After an hour the dinghy continued to get closer to the breakwater. Finally it started to crash into the rocks. A gentleman form Rexford New York, who was fishing, climbed down the slippery rocks to capture the boat before it was damaged. Another fisherman cast a hook into the boat hooking a life jacket to guide it so he could pull the boat up onto a flat rock so the engine did not bang into the rocks, and held on to it. We called the Police. But shortly after we called the Police we spotted a sail boat heading in our direction. The sail boat from Rhode Island said It was their rubber boat, we released the rubber boat to them, called the police back, and off they went in their Oceanis 381 Chaser Sailboat, with wave and a quick “thank you”.

The Good Samaritan was the man from Rexford New York. He is a retired school teacher and a track coach. He and his wife rent in Gloucester, they love all that Gloucester gives. Yesterday he gave back, a rescue of an expensive “Highfield” rubber boat. Below are some photos of the events.

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The Sighting

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The Search

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The Rescue

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The  Recovery

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The Good Bye

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The Good Samaritan