My goose chase this afternoon was partly successful, yielding one Greater White-fronted Goose and one Cackling Goose amidst the Canadas visible from Route 43 (Northville Turnpike), north of its intersection with Route 105. I did not find the Pink-footed Goose, but it may well have been among the considerable number of geese behind the rise that blocks view of the entire field.
Earlier, I visited Mount Sinai Harbor on the north shore. Some gulls were foraging along the outlet from the estuary, but I did not see the recently reported Glaucous Gull. Later, I went to Shinnecock Inlet. Hundreds of Common Eiders and some scoters, in flocks of various sizes, were flying in and out of the inlet, settling briefly but then taking flight again. I did not see the King Eider. When I left, some had alighted on the ocean just east of the jetties, while others were gone. I didn't discern any cause of this behavior, and wonder if it will prove to have been a prelude to departure from the area. Doug Futuyma Stony Brook -- 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/ --
