I spent about 4.5 hours at Jamaica Bay today, and the shore birding conditions were some of the best I've seen all season. The lower water levels allowed me to walk almost the whole perimeter (bar the infamous northern muck) in mid-calf boots without getting wet, and the birds were out in force. I made careful counts throughout my trip trying not to over or under count. At several points I scanned the whole length of the pond and there were always multiple large flocks in view. Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers were by far the most abundant with several hundred of each, followed but Semipalmated Plover. I had 70 BB Plover (flyover), 18 Western Sandpipers, 15 SB Dowitchers, 11 Stilt Sandpipers, 9 WR Sandpipers, 7 Lesser and 6 Greater Yellowlegs, and at least one Pectoral Sandpiper (two observations, hours apart at opposite ends of the pond). Herons and egrets were numerous, and N Waterthrushes were found all along the walk. There were large numbers of waterfowl as well, unfortunately including Mute Swans but also featuring good totals of Green- and Blue-winged Teal, Shoveler, and Black Duck. Two young Black Terns continue to work the pond, and I observed a squabble between an adult Peregrine and a younger bird. Overall it was a very pleasant day and I was happy to see good abundance and diversity on the Pond. Don't give up on this shorebird season yet, folks!
eBird checklist http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24877267 Cheers! -Tim H -- 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/ --
