[nysbirds-l] Smith Point to Shinnecock Inlet Waterfowl Census Highlights, Sat. Jan. 16th
Hello All, Here are some of yesterdays highlights from our Eastern Long Island Audubon team members.A Dovekie,[ spotted by Bob Adamo], flew from the eastern part of Shinnecock Bay towards Ponquogue Bridge.It landed briefly in front of two duck blinds on the midbay island situated north of the inlet jetties.Dick Belanger had scope views of it on the water.It then flew deeper into the bay past the dredge and tugboat.Earlier the close to 400 Common Eider that have been seen regularly around Shinnecock were lolling in the surf just off the tip of the west jetty.The sizeable flock of Bonapartes and single Blackheaded Gull seen later by many were absent in the morning.Further west the 3 of us had several Razorbills between Ponquogue Beach Lot and Tiana Beach.There were numerous Red Throated Loons along the oceanfront at every stop.At Cupsogue Jay Kuhlman and Andy Murphy had 200 Common Eider by Moriches Inlet and 2 Rednecked Grebe.They spotted 60 Harbor Seals between those in the inlet and others hauled out on the inside sandbars.Additionally they found 2 Redhead Duck,8 Common Merganser and 14 Canvasbacks and an American Kestral on the mainland sections they checked.The report by Ken Feustal and group of 1200 Razorbills at Montauk is pretty impressive even for Montauk.I usually see those kinds of numbers listed from places like Provincetown,Mass.By the way this Friday an adult IVORY GULL ,[third adult in 2 years], was discovered at Race Point in Provincetown.Good January Birding, Carl Starace -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Trumpeter Swans, Upper Lake, Yaphank, Suffolk County
It does indeed appear that "our" pair of Trumpeter Swans have returned; they were visible today at around 1000 hours, resting on the edge of the ice. Their position was such as to provide decent view from the parking lot of Millhouse Inn on the southwest corner of the lake and even a slightly better view from the park on the lake's southeast corner. 40.844009,-72.937396 - Google Maps No, of course I don't know that they're the same pair; perhaps someone on the list familiar with the habits of the species could comment on that likelihood. Thanks, Mike Cooper! -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Trumpeter Swans, Upper Lake, Yaphank, Suffolk County
After posting yesterday about the Trumpeter Swans on Upper Lake in Yaphank, I received an e-mail from Luke Ormand. Luke reportsd that the birds have been there since at least late December, and he has heard from locals that they actually arrived in mid December! Good bordong, Mike Cooper Ridge, LI, NY - Original Message - From: Jim Osterlund To: NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 2:51 PM Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Trumpeter Swans, Upper Lake, Yaphank, Suffolk County It does indeed appear that "our" pair of Trumpeter Swans have returned; they were visible today at around 1000 hours, resting on the edge of the ice. Their position was such as to provide decent view from the parking lot of Millhouse Inn on the southwest corner of the lake and even a slightly better view from the park on the lake's southeast corner. 40.844009,-72.937396 - Google Maps No, of course I don't know that they're the same pair; perhaps someone on the list familiar with the habits of the species could comment on that likelihood. Thanks, Mike Cooper! -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.432 / Virus Database: 270.14.148/2629 - Release Date: 01/17/10 19:35:00 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] [MidHudsonBirds] SGNWR - Ulster County
At least 6 Short-eared owls were present at the Shawangunk Grasslands NWR on Saturday and many N Harriers as well. I haven't seen any Rough- legged Hawks since January 9th. There were at least 20 birders, all of whom should have gotten nice looks at the Owls. I also wondered about the photographer (see Peter Relson's post below) driving all over the refuge in his blue Dodge Ram 1500 truck with a utility cap. The gate was locked and I don't know how he got in, unless he somehow was there with permission of the refuge managers. He was not driving on the runways and I saw his wheels spinning in the soft ground on a number of occasions. He drove very close to a group of 3 Short-ears sitting on the same branch of a deciduous tree. We'll see how long the Owls hang around after this evening's weather and the recent photographic encroachment. Christine Guarino New Paltz, NY On Jan 16, 2010, at 7:44 PM, Peter Relson wrote: > It was an almost balmy 40 degrees this afternoon at the > ex-"Galeville airport". > > We arrived about 4:15, to find a group of folks observing 3 short- > eared owls in a fairly distant tree. And one photographer in a > vehicle driving within the refuge (not sure how he got in, or out > for that matter). > > Overall, we saw 4-5 owls, about a dozen harriers, and one dark-morph > rough-legged hawk. > > The owls were hunting by 4:45. > > Peter Relson & Carol Anderson > Ulster Park > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > __._,_.___ > Reply to sender | Reply to group > Messages in this topic (13) > RECENT ACTIVITY: New Members 1 > Visit Your Group Start a New Topic > To visit the Mid-Hudson Birds web site go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MidHudsonBirds > Post message: midhudsonbi...@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: midhudsonbirds-subscr...@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: midhudsonbirds-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com > List owner: midhudsonbirds-ow...@yahoogroups.com > > MARKETPLACE > Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living > > Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use > . > > __,_._,___ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: Re:[nysbirds-l] [MidHudsonBirds] SGNWR - Ulster County
That's amazing! We were there from around 1:30 to 3:30 and we did not see one owl. We saw harriers, a red-tail, lots of crows and the blue Dodge van. We left while he was still there and were asking other people coming in why he was doing that. He spent a lot of time at the park, looking out over the grasslands (almost the entire time we were there) and then left and soon after we saw his truck traveling along the western edge of the grasslands and then bumping over the grasses. We left too soon, I guess, to see the owls. We spent a lot of time there, it was sunny and warm. We should have stayed into dusk, but didn't have the time. Claudia Perretti - Original Message - From: christine guarino To: Peter Relson Cc: nysbirds-l ; mearnsbirdc...@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 6:45 PM Subject: Re:[nysbirds-l] [MidHudsonBirds] SGNWR - Ulster County At least 6 Short-eared owls were present at the Shawangunk Grasslands NWR on Saturday and many N Harriers as well. I haven't seen any Rough-legged Hawks since January 9th. There were at least 20 birders, all of whom should have gotten nice looks at the Owls. I also wondered about the photographer (see Peter Relson's post below) driving all over the refuge in his blue Dodge Ram 1500 truck with a utility cap. The gate was locked and I don't know how he got in, unless he somehow was there with permission of the refuge managers. He was not driving on the runways and I saw his wheels spinning in the soft ground on a number of occasions. He drove very close to a group of 3 Short-ears sitting on the same branch of a deciduous tree. We'll see how long the Owls hang around after this evening's weather and the recent photographic encroachment. Christine Guarino New Paltz, NY On Jan 16, 2010, at 7:44 PM, Peter Relson wrote: It was an almost balmy 40 degrees this afternoon at the ex-"Galeville airport". We arrived about 4:15, to find a group of folks observing 3 short-eared owls in a fairly distant tree. And one photographer in a vehicle driving within the refuge (not sure how he got in, or out for that matter). Overall, we saw 4-5 owls, about a dozen harriers, and one dark-morph rough-legged hawk. The owls were hunting by 4:45. Peter Relson & Carol Anderson Ulster Park [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __._,_.___ Reply to sender | Reply to group Messages in this topic (13) RECENT ACTIVITY: a.. New Members 1 Visit Your Group Start a New Topic To visit the Mid-Hudson Birds web site go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MidHudsonBirds Post message: midhudsonbi...@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: midhudsonbirds-subscr...@yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe: midhudsonbirds-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com List owner: midhudsonbirds-ow...@yahoogroups.com MARKETPLACE Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use. __,_._,___ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Montauk Birding
Today I did part of my section at Montauk (Suffolk Co.) for the NYSOA waterfowl census. I did not come close to matching the spectacular numbers of RAZORBILLS reported yesterday but still managed a respectable 323. At the Point during the early morning I found at least 4 fly-by adult-male KING EIDERS, all of which were moving beyond the scoter flock. (I actually had five sightings, but 4 in a 10-15 minute period I felt could not have been duplicates.) Later in the day, we found an adult male KING EIDER at Ditch Plains. Other highlights for the day included 1 imm GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Further Lane, East Hampton HARLEQUIN DUCK: immatire male west of the Lake Montauk Inlet and later at the northern end of the east jetty. RED-NECKED GREBE: 1 at the Point, and 1 at Ditch Plains--we could find no grebes of any sort at Culloden. GREAT CORMORANT: 6 at the Lake Montauk inlet and 1 in Fort Pond Bay PURPLE SANDPIPER: 15 at Montauk Point ICELAND GULL: 1st year west of the Lake Montauk Inlet, and another first year at South Lake Drive LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL: 1 adult on the rocky beach in the southwest corner of Fort Pond Bay. BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE: 11 from the Point to Ditch Plains I was joined in this endeavor first by Richard Kaskan and then later by Vicki Bustamante. Hugh Hugh McGuinness The Ross School 18 Goodfriend Drive East Hampton, NY 11937 hmcguinn...@ross.org -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Addition/Dovekie
Following up on Carl Starace's email of today, the Dovekie we saw yesterday was a first for all 3 of us. It was Dick's (a new ELIAS member and birder) first alcid, while also being the first time Carl & I have ever seen this specie in any bay (or other smaller body of water) on L.I. I would welcome hearing reports from those who have. I, myself, know of one such occurrence, involving Gilbert S. Raynor, one of the best naturalists L.I. has ever produced. Many years ago, while doing his sector of the Orient CBC on Shelter Island, Gil found a beached Dovekie. He proceeded to pocket the exhausted bird, and at the end of the day, went back to Paul & Barbara Stoutenburg's (co-compilers) house for the compilation.After the traditional hot soup & cold cider, Barbara started calling off the species list, which in turn prompted (in most cases)"yeses" from varied leaders, whose groups had seen the species in question. When "Dovekie" was sounded, and after waiting for others to respond, Gil in his low voice said "yes", as he took the revived bird out of his parka pocket, holding it up for all to see- needless to say, it made for much excitement and wonder! The next day being a Sunday, and with his priorities always in the right order, Gil spent the morning with his family at church, took his wife of over 40 years out for their weekly Sunday dinner, and then released the recovered alcid in the ocean at Shinnicock Inlet. Cheers, Bob -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --