Breezy Point Birding Trip - Searching for the Piping Plover

I went on my first bird watching hike through the sandy trails and beach of Breezy Point. The group was led by a guide from Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and a park ranger. We met early in the morning in Ft. Tilden and drove out to Breezy Point. The trail leading to the beach was lined with a variety of flora and fauna. I was able to get some great shots along the trail. There were some serious "birders" in the group and it was a little intimidating at first. There is so much to learn about birding.
Breezy Point offers pristine beaches and great fishing. This small, tight-knit beach community is home to nesting birds such as the Skimmer, the American Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Least Tern, and Herring Gull. It is also a nesting ground for the endangered Piping Plover. We were able to spot a few of these tiny birds scurrying along the shore. They can be hard to see as they are almost the same color as the sand. The plover were very timid and seemed to scurry away with the blink of an eye.

Our group on the trail leading to Breezy Point

Border Grass - Liriope spicata

 Common Mullein – Verbasum Thapsus. This was my first time
seeing one of these. Jamaica Bay W.R. is covered in them as well.

Queen Ann's Lace - Daucus carota (aka "Wild Carrot")

After a long walk on the trail, we finally arrived near the dunes of Breezy Point. 

 

Protective caging for nesting Piping Plovers

Tidewrack where plovers find most of their food.

Attempting to sight the Piping Plover

I was finally able to capture a couple of quick shots of Piping Plovers scurrying across the sand. (the small bird in the center of the photo)

A young plover blends in with the sand.