I made my fifth and probably final Cupsogue trip of the year. Like every other one, there wasn't really anything to get excited about. And yet, I came home with over 800 pictures. Hey, even Herring Gulls do interesting things.
Terns featured a season high for me 15 Royals, a site high for me 23 Forster's, and 2 lingering Leasts (an adult and a juvenile transitioning out of that plumage). I observed 15 species of shorebirds, although Killdeer, a Marbled Godwit, and White-rumped Sandpiper were just fly-bys. Species in sight much of the time were Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, American Oystercatcher, Willet (up to 28), Greater Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, and Semipalmated Sandpiper. I had hoped to enhance my Red Knot photo collection, but the 12 that appeared didn't do so until late, joining Black-bellies and Short-billed Dowitchers in a tidal roost (which I stay clear of). My impression is that the Cupsogue flats have fallen into disfavor as a feeding spot for Knots, since Sandy decimated some of the mussel beds. The presumably same summering Dunlin also made an appearance on the incoming tide. Not that I need Oystercatcher pictures, but one individual made itself available for a nice series, so I took it up on the offer. When I got home, I saw a gold colored, engraved band on the left leg. That's a different scheme from what I've previously seen on Oystercatchers. It's not as easily readable, but I should be able to decipher it. The invisible pterosaur was also around. That's my story to explain the periodic frantic flying off of the terns and shorebirds, when there is no visible threat. Alas, the 800 pictures don't include it. Also, 7 Mute Swans came by....bet you wanted that update. Steve Walter Bayside, NY -- 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/ --
