Hi John and all, Our locally breeding Eastern Willets aren't expected before the middle of April, so it would be very surprising for so many to arrive so early. In some years small numbers of Western Willets attempt to overwinter, but none have been reported in recent months, and it seems unlikely that nine of them could have been overlooked throughout the winter.
Greater Yellowlegs did come to mind, but, as you say, their long yellow legs are usually obvious. I wonder whether the birds you saw might have been Long-billed Dowitchers. Eight of these were seen not very far from there during the Southern Nassau County CBC. Unlike Western Willets, which will usually make themselves obvious out around the inlet from time to time, LB Dows can be very retiring in winter and easily might have evaded detection since 1 January. Best, Shai ________________________________ From: [email protected] [[email protected]] on behalf of John Dux [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, March 05, 2012 8:41 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [nysbirds-l] Willets (?) at Norman Levy Preserve - Merrick NY Intermediate birders... needing some help. We explored Norman Levy preserve just before closing on Saturday... .ie so in a hurry. (Merrick NY, on the north end of the causeway leading to Jones Beach... former garbage dump?). At the south end of the property, at the overlook, we said, 'oh, look... 9 willets..". bundled up in the protected area where the creek enters the bay. - Big / dull gray / long bills .. 2 poking around in the mud... rest bundled up (I doubt we would have overlooked yellow legs...) Went home to put in eBird... and eBird... says... not likely... very rare in March. - Anyone else see these? John Dux Millbrook NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Archives: The Mail Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! -- ________________________________ Change is in the Air - Smoking in Designated Areas Only in effect.<http://www.csi.cuny.edu/tobaccofree> Tobacco-Free Campus as of July 1, 2012. -- 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/[email protected]/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/ --
