I observed the PACIFIC LOON for a little over an hour starting at 11:15 from the end of Moriches Island Road. I had hoped for closer looks at the bird than I got last Wednesday and perhaps some photos. Unfortunately the loon was only marginally closer and the light was not great (haze/mist/drizzle). A few (2-3) Common Loons and a Red-throated Loon were also present.
Afterward I visited Smith Point County Park where the main highlight was a flock of ~100 crossbills moving back and forth in the vicinity of the RV campground. It alighted only briefly a few times in the Japanese Black Pines. The one time it stayed put long enough for me to approach it, all the birds I saw well were WHITE-WINGED. The flight calls I heard sounded Like only that species as well. Also seen were 49 Boat-tailed Grackles and 2 Horned Larks. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --