We spent the morning and early afternoon birding at Caumsett State Park today, recording 77 species, one of our highest one-day October species counts at the park. There was plenty to look at throughout the park, but the fields were the most interesting. The restoration fields were alive with sparrows, mostly Savannah and Swamp Sparrows. We flushed a dozen Eastern Meadowlarks in the field and found two Vesper Sparrows along Fisherman's Road. On Long Island Sound we observed our first of season Horned Grebes. As we walked through the woods numbers of White-throated Sparrows flushed from the trail edges. We only recorded five warbler species (Blackpoll and BT Blue being the most interesting) for the day. At the manure pile we observed a late Solitary Sandpiper that we did our best to try to turn into a Wood Sandpiper- to no avail. Also present at the site were two Rusty Blackbirds, an additional Vesper Sparrow, and a number of Purple Finches. On Fresh Pond there were six Snow Geese with the numerous Canada's along with American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, and Ruddy Duck. As we headed towards the parking lot a small flock of Eastern Bluebirds called from the trees - a great day in a very nice park.
Good birding to all, Ken & Sue Feustel -- 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/ --
