While birding late this morning (11:15) at the Lido Beach Marine Conservation Area (Nassau Co.), I was very lucky to observe an adult female Least Bittern. It was feeding in a muddy tidal channel ~200 ft. west of the observation platform at the end of the Wetlands Trail. It was in view in the channel for 1-2 minutes before it picked up and flew south ~150 ft., where it dropped back down into the marsh several yards from a derelict floating dock. I did not see it thereafter. Among other birds noted were several Black-crowned Night-herons, 1 Yellow-crowned Night-heron, 3 Glossy Ibis, and 2 Boat-tailed Grackles.
Earlier in the morning at nearby Nickerson Beach, a Gull-billed Tern was seen flying high above the main Black Skimmer colony. No other uncommon terns (i.e. Arctic) were detected. Several downy Oystercatcher chicks were seen though. Out on a the ocean, a mixed raft of scoters contained ~110 Black, 5 Surf, and 1 White-winged. eBird lists for both locations (with photos) can be viewed here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14470094 and http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14470042 -- 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/ --
