Dune Road & Ponquogue Bridge - Quogue, New York
Text and Photography by Stu Levine
If you've heard of the
'Hamptons', chances are the same conversation mentions Dune Road, and likely not for it's
nature photography. When you think of the Hamptons, you think Jet Set, wild parties, and
beautiful beaches. Well, I'm here to show you a side you've probably overlooked. Dune
Road, in Quogue.
Description:
Your car is a blind! Yep. Most of the shooting I personally have done here is right from
the truck. All along Dune Road, east of the Post Lane Bridge is a swampy salt marsh area
north of the actual road. In these areas, and out in the bay, is a wonderful place for
birds from all seasons to feed. Look for small roads along the way that lead to the
Shinnecock Bay.
In the winter months (when not frozen) along the north side of the road in the salt
marshes, you can start scanning for the American Bittern, Great Egrets and the Great Blue
Heron (inset right). Also in this area are plenty of perching birds such as various
sparrows and yellow-rumped warblers.
Further up the road, closer to the edge of the Shinnecock Bay you can find Black Bellied
Plovers, Red Breasted Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Brants, Dunlins and a variety of
Gulls. Closer to the Ponquogue Bridge you can find even more gulls and the occasional
Purple Sandpiper.
Come spring time in the same
areas, you may find Willets, Ruddy Turnstones, Greater Yellowlegs, Green Herons, Common
and Least Terns, and Short-billed Dowwitchers.
When summer rolls around, this is a great area for terns and waders, especially near the
Ponquogue Bridge. You may find Terns such as the Common, Rosaete and Least over by the
parking lot. The same area will yield Willets, Black Skimmers and American Oystercatchers.
West of the bridge (back in the salt marshes), you can find Black Crowned Night Herons,
tons of Great and Snowy Egrets feeding on little feeder fish, Semipalmated Plovers and
Boat Tailed Grackle.
Look for those small in-roads and slowly pull in scanning the bay for Black Bellied Plovers and Ruddy Turnstones. In the little pool areas directly next to the road, you can find horseshoe crabs mating.
Fall brings much of the same birds back thru their migration. Along with the usual suspects mentioned above, also look for Glossy Ibis and Northern Harriers (to the left and the right over the dunes).
All shot from the comforts of your car, and
often times you do not need a super long lens. You could get by with a 200mm and a
teleconverter.
Directions:
Take the Long Island Expressway to Exit 70 south to Route 27, then go east on Route 27 for
roughly 4 miles. Take exit 63, which is County Road 31. Follow the signs for Westhampton
Beach. Take that to the end and make a left onto Dune Road. Do not SPEED, and be aware
that in summertime, this is a hardcore party area, with clubs and bars on the beach.