Of note other than the pelican, there were a bunch of Bank Swallows joining Tree Swallows in landing in a leafless tree along the section of the bay where the pelican is. I can't ever remember seeing perched Bank Swallows at Jamaica Bay. While Jamaica Bay isn't going to match Cupsogue for tern excitement, the West Pond had a large aggreagtion of Common, Forster's and Least Terns, and Black Skimmers. A Black Tern was a fly by on the bay on the south side of the West Pond and a Gull-billed Tern flew over the north dike toward the East Pond. The water is high on the East Pond (although lowering was in progress this morning), with only long-legged shorebirds finding habitat (except for a few Least Sandpipers at the extreme south end). The water is low on the West Pond, making it more favorable for high tide roosting. For those with an eye for things, Needham's Skimmers (nothing like Black Skimmers) are back along the southwest corner of the East Pond.
Steve Walter Bayside, NY -- 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/ --
