I made it out to TTP early this morning, arriving at about 7:30 and then heading south on the spit. Fortunately the parking lot gate was wide open even at that early hour. Saw the sun gradually break free of the horizon with the promise of more light and maybe a few extra degrees. I wore layers and a small backpack so that I could strip down as needed and fill the pack. It's amazing how many joggers and cyclists are already venturing onto the spit at daybreak. Since I didn't receive any advise from anyone on this forum about how to deal with TTP in October, I decided to head south until the trail split off for the eastern edge thereby keeping the sun over my left shoulder.
Cell #1 had a few Mallards and a few Green-winged teal slopping around in the shallow water and mud. Upon arrival I noted a Great Egret resting on a stump catching a few early morning rays and grooming. After a few minutes it plunged down into the shallow water a came up with a fish.
Cell #2 also had an egret and a GB heron (both perched) and I could see a kingfisher on the west side (far away). I ran into a woman outfitted with B&B (bins and a bike) and she spotted a completely motionless Greater yellowlegs basking in the sunlight. She urged me to go down, get closer and take a photo but I assured her that I had already shot my quota of yellowlegs for this season. They were delicious.
I took the first trail westward to check the southern end of cell #2 because I saw some people moving about down there. I discovered a side trail on the side trail and felt my pulse quicken. I arrived on the scene just as another photographer was leaving. I grunted "Dowitcher" and he grunted "yup" and then gave me the low-down. One LB dowitcher on the mud at the edge of the water and having a good sleep. He got tired of waiting for the bird to wake up. I sat on a log an decided to wait until it did. 15 minutes later another photographer shows up. He was not pleased that the dowitcher was sleeping. So he summoned a dowitcher call on his cell and that did wake up the bird. It raised its head ... he clicked. It went back to sleep. He kept hitting that digital call until the dowitcher had enough and too flight. I got up and stuck his cell phone where the sun don't shine. Well, that's not true, I resisted the urge to throttle him and probably get arrested for assault, but it would have felt good.
Cell #3 A few waterfowl, such as: Mallards, Gadwall, American widgeon, Scaup and American coots. The widgeon were wary and ventured farther from shore upon my approach so I never made it down to the water's edge. The coots were a little more tolerant.
The only small birds were: E. phoebe, GC kinglets, RC kinglets, Chickadees, Song sparrow & swamp sparrow, a couple of White-crowned sparrows (adult) and not much else.
Only one bird of prey ... a Cooper's hawk.
Must have walked 15 kilometers. I'm tired and my feet hurt.
