Coney Island Baby — Birds Bugs Buds

Hot dogs changed our plan.

To welcome what we all hope will be a brighter year, lovely hubby and I planned to spend some time exploring Plumb Beach.

Although familiar, it’s not one of our usual spots. But thanks to a recent article, Plumb Beach sounded like a perfect place to re-explore on this sunny first Saturday of 2021.

Alas, lunch presented a conundrum. As well as, if you read my last post, restrooms. Plumb Beach doesn’t have any concessions or facilities, and with its location alongside the Belt Parkway, lunch options were not a close as many typical city parks.

Sheepshead Bay is the closest neighborhood, and we were content with a visit to Roll-N-Roaster for one of their deservedly famous roast beef sandwiches.

And yet…

Thanks to a friend’s recent Facebook post showing her at Coney Island with a hot dog in hand, we both happened to be thinking the same thing. So long Sheepshead Bay’s Knapp Street exit – onwards to Coney Island for a hot dog at Nathan’s Famous!

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. I prefer mine with mustard AND ketchup!

I know what you’re thinking. This is a nature blog, not one focused on food or travel. But in case you are unaware of it, I wanted to offer a sense of the pull a Nathan’s hot dog can have on a person. Plus, they have nice, clean restrooms!

Coney Island Life Guard Station, New York

Coney Island is terrific for a wander no matter the season, and based on the number of fellow boardwalk strollers, others would agree with us in spite of the strong wind. Yet I’ve never found Coney Island and its beach to be good for nature endeavors (aside from watching summer’s raucous Laughing Gulls).

Laughing Gull in a quiet moment / Coney Island, New York

Nevertheless, hot dogs plus watching happy dogs on the beach and chatting with their friendly owners was just as nice.

Murphy the Golden Retriever / Coney Island, New York

With the early sunset looming, I knew Plumb Beach would have to wait for another day. And aside from some Herring Gulls on the beach, the birdlife was scant.

But near the Coney Island Pier, I saw a dark lump rather close to the shoreline. I assumed it was floating rubbish but thankfully looked through my camera for a closer inspection: a single White-winged Scoter!

White-winged Scoter / Brooklyn, New York

I’ve seen them before, but never this close. After a few snaps, I scanned farther offshore (where I typically have seen the species) with the binoculars. Lo and behold, two sizable rafts of the scoters floated by.

Then, on the other side of the Pier in the last of the late afternoon sun, I spotted a Common Loon having a stretch after catching a snack.

Not sure what he had, but I can wholly recommend the hot dogs!