>From 8:00 to about 10:00 this morning, I examined large concentrations of gulls that were actively feeding at the ocean's edge, from Shinnecock Inlet to Tiana Beach. (The most conspicuous food was lady crabs, genus Libinia, according to a knowledgeable colleague's interpretation of my description.) A first-winter Iceland Gull was in a large group just west of Shinnecock Inlet. Among hundreds of gulls in a group about halfway between the Inlet and Ponquogue Bridge, I discerned only the four common species, but it may reward further scrutiny if it persists.
Although scoters have been very few at Montauk Point, there was a very large raft, of at least 7000, directly off the Inlet. They were too backlit to permit examination for less common species, although this might be possible, despite their considerable distance, in afternoon. A steady stream of small parties, coming from the west, joined the raft while I watched. Small, closer groups included all three scoter species. My only notable observation along Dune Road was one American Bittern, fully exposed in storm-flattened marsh, some distance west of Ponquogue Bridge. A depressing drive through the EpCal property and a pleasant one along Hulse Landing Road yielded a Northern Harrier, a Merlin, and about 15 Horned Larks. Doug Futuyma Stony Brook, NY -- 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/ --
