There have been a growing number of shorebirds to be seen at Inwood Hill Park these past few days. Saturday had about 50, with 2 Semipalmated Plovers, 14 Least Sandpipers and Semipalmated Sandpipers making up the rest. Sunday had double that at 101 birds maintaining the same relative ratio between Least and Semis minus one plover and the addition of a Lesser Yellowlegs who remained apart. Today produced 150 birds, all Least and Semis, again ratio basically intact. While these two Peeps in particular, and a smattering of other shorebird species are not unheard of at this site, I have not, with my admittedly limited knowledge of/time spent in the area seen such big numbers for this location. Several other Inwood birder's I've run into made similar observations. More typical is a range of 10 - 20 birds , and usually fewer, in the four years I have regularly birded Inwood Hill Park. This increase in shorebirds present in the area seems to be supported by the detailed observations presented in the 7/4 post by Ben Cacace and his group, of Swindler's Cove, which is just a little ways away up the Harlem River. I wonder if this fluctuation is actually notable? Does anyone know? If it is, then why this year? and are both Inwood Hill and Swindler's Cove migrant shorebird populations increasing daily? Or are break away fragments of the Cove population bolstering inlet numbers? Either way, shorebird numbers seem higher this season in this neck of the woods, pun intended. My walk also produced a trio of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, one second year male and two females with one looking particularly rangy, the other harder to see save parts of the crown. These two sat huddled together. I had come across a different pair attempting to nest back in early June. They were also seen by area birder, James Knox. Sadly, that same nest was abandoned by early July. Hopefully the former group represent a successful breeding attempt by this species in the park. I also had Northern Waterthrush and heard a single calling Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. To see the shorebirds arrive at 8:45-9:00 AM as the incoming tide corrals them closer to the edges of the inlet. I have found that the marsh grasses on the northwest perimeter of the inlet make a great blind, giving you very close views without disturbing the foraging birds.
Keep'em up! Nadir Souirgi -- 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/ --
