Saturday morning we left the apartment early to catch the bus to Central Park. However, it was my husband’s idea to shift plans. We were only a block away, so we headed back, got the car, and drove out to Long Island to Sunken Meadow instead.
I was so glad we decided to return to the ocean. I’ve been thinking about it ever since our first trip. We had such a great experience the last time, and this visit was even better. It was low tide, and there was so much activity in the muddy salt marshes. We saw fiddler crabs and ghost crabs, and at one point a large gull dove into the marsh and pulled out a huge bristle worm which was something I had never even heard of before.
We saw so many shorebirds today, including Common Terns, Snowy Egrets and Great Egrets, Greater Yellowlegs, and many gulls. We also spotted Osprey, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, and many Brants. I could hear Prairie Warblers too, although I still have yet to actually see one.
We mostly hiked through the dunes and along the salt marsh before circling back along the shore of Long Island Sound. I spent time observing different seaweeds and coastal plants, along with shells covered in barnacles and sea snails. The wind was starting to pick up, and in the distance I could see dark clouds rolling in. The birds seemed to disappear, and the shoreline grew silent except for the crashing waves. Eventually, the sky opened up to a steady rain.
As we headed back toward the parking area, an Osprey flew overhead carrying a fish. There wasn’t another soul on the beach at that point. It was just us and the wildlife. There was something mystical about standing there in the rain by the ocean, surrounded only by the sound of the waves, the marshes, and the sea life. It felt wild and fresh and ethereal in a way that stayed with me long after we left the shore.
On the way home we found a small local seafood market called Northport Fish & Lobster just a short drive from Sunken Meadow. The market has seating in the back, so we stopped for a bite. My husband ordered the catch of the day, which had literally been caught that morning by the owner’s son. I had the lobster roll. Everything was perfect. We also brought home baked clams and New England clam chowder to enjoy a taste of the sea for later.
Click “Read More” below for more photos from this hike.
