After spending a slow hour or two birding at Hempstead Lake State Park, I traveled over to West End 2 and took advantage of the light winds did a loop from the WE2 pavilion west to the WE jetty and then south along Jones Inlet and finally east on the fisherman's trail back to the WE2 parking lot. The birding list I put together in many aspects resembled a January list more than a mid-April list. On the ocean shoreline opposite the WE2 pavilion was a first winter Iceland Gull that flew east down the beach. Piping Plovers were on territory behind the newly erected string fencing, i observed twelve PP's from the WE2 pavilion to the WE jetty. East of the swale on the ocean was a large mixed flock of Sanderlings (approx. 1200) and Dunlin (500). A single Semipalmated Plover was bathing with the Sanderlings in a small overwash pond. On the ocean there were many D.C. Cormorants and Loons, including a Red-throated Loon in full breeding plumage. On the way down to the jetty five Forster's Terns flew east down the beach. Just east of the jetty I quickly noticed a small flock of about ten Common Eider. Present with the CE's was an adult male King Eider. On the jetty I noticed a flock of fifty Dunlin with two Purple Sandpipers mixed in. I enjoyed the "winter" birds but, bring on the warblers!
Ken Feustel -- 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/ --
