I've been noticing small parties of Canada Geese passing overhead all day, generally on a west or southwest heading including some parties over the ocean. Even now after dark, I've heard a couple of flocks passing over the house which is very unusual for this location. Presumably this movement reflects the falling temperatures and snow cover in New England and the Canadian Maritime Provinces. With the arrival of these new birds, I recommend folks (re)check local goose flocks in case they include additional rarities. We are due for a Pink-footed on Long Island but there may also be Greenland-banded Canada Geese, Barnacles or Cackling Geese. Indeed in one of the overhead parties this morning I noticed two CACKLING GEESE traveling with the larger Canada Geese.
A few notables from East Hampton & Montauk from the weekend: Cackling Goose - continuing singles, Deep Hollow Montauk and Hook Pond, East Hampton. Greater White-fronted Goose - 6 (a family party of 5 and a lone adult) seen either on Hook Pond, East Hampton or the Further Lane Farm, Amagansett. Eurasian Wigeon - continuing subadult male, Theodore Roosevelt County Park, Montauk. Common Merganser - Hook Pond flock growing slowly, now 4 males and 2 females. Iceland Gull - adult and 1st winter at Montauk Inlet. Snowy Owl - continuing bird roosting on Hick's Island, viewable from Lazy Point, Napeague. Clay-colored Sparrow - 2 continuing at the East End Community Organization Farm in East Hampton. Lincoln's Sparrow - at the East End Community Organization Farm in East Hampton. (Gambell's) White-crowned Sparrow - continuing adult on the western side of Hook Pond (with 3 additional White-crowns) Red & White-winged Crossbill - flocks remain widespread in the Napeague and Montauk areas. Common Redpoll - one in front of the concession at Montauk Point. Eastern Phoebe - Lenore Swenson and Diane Taggart (?) found one on a side road off East Lake Drive in Montauk. -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA -- 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/ --
