Pretty places and birds

Saturday we drove south to Plum Island, part of Parker River NWR.  Plum Island is one of the very good birding places in New England.  It was a beautiful Spring day as we left New Hampshire.  East of Newburyport, Massachusetts we scanned the marshes and inlets as we drove by.  A 2nd year Bald Eagle lifted up from a tree,  further on a group of Gulls caught our eye.  Ring-billed Gulls, once rare in New England, have had a significant range expansion northward. We saw small groups during the day.  A large pale Gull was studied,  a Glaucous !!   A good start to the day.
       Team Hochgraf, numbering 6 people, met at a beach parking lot:  Mom and Dad, me, Sue and Jorge drove up from CT with Sebastian. We walked a boardwalk over the dunes to a sandy beach. It was really windy on the coast.  To the south, the beach is closed for Piping Plover nest protection, to the north a few fishermen were casting lines into the waves.
      A flock of Long-tailed Ducks were floating not far offshore. They were fishing as well.  I have not seen LT Ducks in some years.  We continued along the length of the island, finding ducks in the marsh, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Black Ducks, and a Great Egret.  A beautiful bright Savannah Sparrow sheltered from the wind at the edge of the beach grass
      The boardwalk and trails at Hellcat have areas of forest for warblers and vireos and such, and an extensive salt marsh. Altho we saw no warblers or vireos, a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak was spotted.  We heard Marsh Wrens singing in the reeds, and watched their courtship.  I have not ever seen Marsh Wrens so well.  A Sora called, and was briefly visible. Ponds held Bufflehead, Hooded Mergansers, and more ducks.  Little inlets had Greater Yellowlegs, altho they were hard to see, and distant Mute Swans.  A large brown bird with a white head was too far away to see well.  A Bald Eagle ?  A white-headed duck ?  At another stop we had adequate 'scope views, it was a blue phase Snow Goose !!  
      At one point all of us had gathered on the boardwalk enjoying the marsh, the Glossy Ibis, and looking for Rails. It was good to see everyone enjoying the day.  After viewing birds from Bill Forward blind, Team Hiochgraf split up. Mom and Dad headed for home, while Team Willington, now only 4 members, continued on to Sandy Point.  We found Black Scoters, Loons, Common Eiders, and more Long-tailed Ducks.
       A return stop at Hellcat gave us the Snowy Owl, sitting in a patch of yellow-flowering vegetation, occasionally turning its head to reveal large yellow eyes.
      Our last stop was Nelson Island where we listened for more Owls.  A Great-horned Owl hooted in the distance,  and as the evening became darker, Woodcocks began to peeeeent.  We ended the day with 60 species.
      Photos:  Long-tailed duck, an Internet photo.  Marsh Wren, taken by Sebastian, and flowering Beach Plum at Sandy Point, taken by Sue.