We started the morning sea watching from RMSP. While nothing rare was observed, we were impressed with the movement of American Pipits (122) flying west down the beach, and the large numbers of Gannets (+1200) feeding/migrating offshore.
Hearing rumors of Lapland Longspur at West End we proceeded to walk through the swale looking for the birds. After about an hour we located two Lapland Longspurs feeding on the beach with four Horned Larks west of the “Swimming Prohibited” sign at the end of the Fisherman’s beach access trail to the West End jetty (accessed by walking south from the s/w corner of the WE Field 2 parking lot). The birds were very jumpy and ranged from the swale west to the beach access trail, sometimes flying behind the dunes to feed. As we approached the WE jetty, we came across six Lesser Black-backed Gulls with a contingent of Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. At the tip of the West End jetty was our FOS female Harlequin Duck sitting on the rocks. As we headed back to the parking lot we flushed an immature Red-headed Woodpecker from the dunes, likely the bird reported earlier at the West End turnaround. Thanks to Ed Becher for the heads-up on the longspur and woodpecker. Ken & Sue Feustel -- 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/ --
