Jim Cohen and I spent about 3 hrs. birding on the Cupsogue flats. Overall numbers were not impressive(only 20 Short billed Dowitchers ,2 Willets,50 Semipalmated sandpiper,12 Least sandpiper to give an idea) We did have two sightings of Pectoral sandpiper, which seemed noteworthy.Before sailing back(Jim has a skiff and we always attack from the north)we took the east Moriches cut and to the west is a very large flat exposed at low tide and accessible only by boat.This is where all the Cupsogue shorebirds are! We estimated over 1,000 Short-billed Dowitchers, 400 Sanderlings, 20 Red Knots, 300 Semipalmated sp, 20 Yellowlegs,18 Willets,2 Dunlin,4 Black-bellied Plover,an American Oystercatcher with both legs carrying a yellowish band,and a flyover Glossy Ibis. We can only imagine the food source is more plentiful here,and hope the birds shift back to the accessible flats! Thanks, Lee Stocker
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