While waiting earlier today for my son 's ferry to pull into port at Orient Point I casually birded around the ferry slip area. The regularly reported Iceland Gull was exceptionally accommodating landing within 20 feet of me. It's right leg and foot are damaged as it limped badly, although I could not see any type of trauma. On the beach immediately west of the slip, a drake common eider frequented the shallow water close to shore. I was surprised how close it came to the shore, allowing me to see, naked eye, the distinctive and pretty green patch on the back and side of the neck. It then drifted further out in the water, mixing with a small flock of red-breasted mergansers.
John Turner -- 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/ --
