Today was the first opportunity I've had to spend more than an hour doing some birding, in quite awhile ! Thanks to all who preceded me, allowing me to "chase" down your reports, getting some good birds, along the way !
Starting at the Jamesport location (which turned out to be the eastern entrance to the North Fork Preserve) I found 4 Turkey Vultures working on the deer carcass, with another 12 perched nearby, plus a single, perched Black Vulture. I watched for ~ 1/2 hour, and while there was some "changing of the guard" among the T.V's., the smaller Black stayed treed. I also noticed that all of the birds working on the carcass were pulling on the open end of the deer, which by then seemed to be "meatless". The intact end of the animal was constantly being pulled at by a revolving cast, but not one of them was able to make an entry way. I was reminded of one of those African nature specials, which very graphically, points out the need for different size vultures (with their different size and shaped bills) to make everybody happy...where's a Condor when you need one ? This joyous occasion was followed by a semi-annual stop at Riverhead Town Hall to pay taxes - a not so joyous occasion ! Hoping for some more joy, I headed toward Shinnicock Inlet. I tried for the Hampton Bays Railroad Station/ Water Authority Ravens en-route, but did not find any. Arriving at the inlet, I was greeted by the immature Glaucous Gull, who was walking between the west breakwater and the big parking lot. Also waiting for me was a Great Cormorant atop the tower at the end of the jetty. It's white thigh patch (normally a breeding plumage marker) was starting to show. I then turned my attention to the flock of sea ducks that have frequented the inlet, while extending ~100 yards to the west. The water itself was rough, with the birds playing hide & seek while riding the large swells, when not diving. All 3 scoters were there, as well as C. Eiders and Red-breasted Mergansers. I had not been able to nail down a K. Eider before Menachem Goldstein and his mom, Karen, arrived on the scene. It didn't take Menachem too long to find a female, and then a 1st winter male. For the next 30-45 minutes he got one or the other a couple of times, until finally, a 1st winter male popped into my scope, and actually stayed put for ~ 3 seconds ! Before we left, as the rain became heavier, Menachem also found an Iceland Gull, in addition to the afore mentioned Glaucous Gull. Spending time with the Goldsteins once again, was also a joy ! Cheers, and a joyous New Year, Bob -- 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/ --
