Fall Shorebirds of Rhode Island

Napatree Point is a premier Rhode Island shorebird location, especially during migration. We will look for a variety of dowitchers, peeps, oystercatchers, turnstones, and plovers as we work our way along the beach. Our goal is to learn how to differentiate and identify these shorebirds by profile, size, and color. The marsh grass and brush near the tip of Napatree Point often have Seaside and Nelson's Sparrows, Chats, and other migrants. From there, we will drive north up the coast to visit a variety of beach and saltmarsh locations looking for more shorebirds, terns, raptors like Red-shouldered Hawk, as well as Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, sparrows, and herons. If time permits, we will visit the large sod fields in the area looking for American Golden Plover, falcons, and grassland sparrow species.