The Montauk CBC was held last Saturday (19 Dec 2009) and as with other counts that day, was cut short by the afternoon snowstorm. Even so, an intrepid band of 22 observers covered this large and diverse count circle, tallying 17,958 individuals of 109 species. Highlights included an adult/near adult male King Eider off Montauk Point, a jaeger sp. (likely Pomarine) from a seawatch in Amagansett, a 1-winter Nelson's Gull on Fort Pond in Montauk, the continuing Lesser Black-backed Gull on the shore of Fort Pond Bay, a good showing of 27 Black-legged Kittiwakes, a Palm Warbler in Montauk, Yellow-breasted Chat in Amagansett, and a Baltimore Oriole visiting fruiting junipers in Clearwater, Springs. Counters also tallied 686 Red-throated and 397 Common Loons underscoring the importance of this area as a wintering site for loons and other marine waterfowl. Common Eider remained widespread (920 total) and were found in all count territories.
Unfortunately, the Sagaponack count, planned the following day, had to be canceled because of the storm. Aside from the obvious safety considerations, the accumulation of wind blown snow left most of the birding sites virtually inaccessible. Our thanks to all those who participated or at least offered to before the bad weather became a reality. Let's hope the conditions are better next year! Angus Wilson & Hugh McGuinness -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Archives: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
