Spent a little time birding on Dune Rd.this afternoon, between the Ponqouge Bridge, H.Bays and the Post La. Bridge, Quogue, along with the necessary detour east to the Shinnicock Inlet. A most enjoyable couple of hours without much wind, a lot of sunshine...and a King Eider
The birding started officially when I left home in Riverhead, but didn't see anything of note until Dune Rd., where I had an immature Cooper's Hawk, trying to look inconspicuous atop one of the highest, small bushes in the swale (ocean side), between the bridge and inlet. My stopping to try for a picture caused him to move west, so I "pulled a uie" and took chase ! It stopped a few more times, but I never got the picture ! At the inlet (upper p/lot) I found ~ 30 C.Eiders and a few Surf Scoters. Next, I headed for the lower p/lot, only to find Gary Straus, Mike Higgiston and Arie Gilbert already on the scene. While many C.Eiders were spread out in the bay, the king was not to be seen. We then went to "Plan B". After exchanging cell #'s, we dispersed to different locations, and as Mr. S.Holmes would have said..."the game is afoot" ! I was back checking the ocean when the call came from Arie - He & Gary had returned to where we all had been previously and found the bird ! They had the drake King in the scope upon my arrival, one beautiful blue/gray headed bird, among a flock of ~ 20 C.Eiders. After they left, I got on another flock of ~ 50 C.Eider's, and they proceeded to act in a way unfamiliar to me. All stretched out ( singles & doubles) and going in one direction, a few of the leaders would suddenly switch directions, causing the whole line to switch also...and here is where it got interesting. They then would all beat their wings (as if to take flight) but proceed to stay in the water, and keep this up for another good 50-60'. This was repeated 3 X before I left, with each time giving the impression of splashing ducks on a conveyor belt, which would stop intermittently, change directions and start again ! I would appreciate hearing about this behavior from anyone who can shed some light. Thanks! I also had 3 N. Harriers on the bay side marshes, while heading for the Post La. Bridge. Cheers, Bob -- 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/ --
