Birders who arrived at Montauk Pt. at dawn this morning were treated to the sight of flocks of Razorbills, ranging from small groups of two to five birds to flocks of fifty birds, flying north of the Point and landing in the water. The flight was particularly intense from 7:00AM to 8:00AM, but was still going on at 9:30AM, with smaller flocks flying from northwest to southeast. The estimated number of Razorbills was 1,200. While this flight was going on, flocks of Robins, with some Cedar Waxwings, were arriving from the northeast, flying high overhead. Also at the point were fifteen Black-legged Kittiwakes (there were more than fifteen, but fifteen is the number Sue and I observed), an Iceland Gull, and a male Harlequin Duck. Gannets were present in good numbers, plunge diving in concentrated groups. At Camp Hero State Park there were thirteen Purple Sandpipers.
Just west of the Lake Montauk jetty there were two immature Iceland Gulls. Upon arrival at Shinnecock Inlet about 2:00PM, we spied approx. 250 Bonaparte's Gulls feeding in the inlet. We quickly found a Black-headed Gull feeding with them. The birds did not stay long, flying out the mouth of the inlet about 2:30PM. Feeding at the tip of the east jetty was an immature Black-legged Kittiwake with a few Razorbills at the mouth of the inlet. We searched the inlet area in vain for a Dovekie reported earlier that morning. Ken & Sue Feustel Other Observers: Shai Mitra, Pat Lindsay, Gerta Fritz, Joan Quinlan, Bob May, Norm Klein and m.o.b. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
