[nysbirds-l] Pelham Bay Park and Co-Op City Ravens 3/10-11
Hello, Checked out Turtle Cove and the Orchard Beach Lagoon on Saturday. Highlights were a Brown Thrasher in the scrub between Turtle Cove and the driving range and a female Common Merganser on the lagoon. I watched the Ravens for about an hour this afternoon. From my vantage, the view is somewhat restricted; telling whether or not there is a bird on is not always easy and depends on what direction it's facing. From what I could tell, there was a bird on for at least 30 mins. At one point, I could have sworn I saw them swap places on the nest. Male incubation is not unheard of at least according to the BNA account. But again, views are not the greatest. Nothing like staring up at an apartment building with a spotting scope to make you look like a weirdo! Richard Aracil -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Montauk and nearby
Today visited Montuak Point and nearby coastal areas and saw the following. Point:Black ScoterSurf ScoterWhite-winged ScoterCommon EiderCommon MerganserLong-tailed DuckNorthern Gannet Harbor:Great CormorantRed-throated LoonCommon LoonLong-tailed Duck E. Lake Drive, Horse Field:Greater White-fronted GooseCanada Goose Near Fort Pond:Cooper's Hawk Lazy Point:Common LoonLong-tailed DuckAmerican OystercatcherBlack-bellied PloverPossibly Ruddy TurnstoneNorthern HarrierBrown-headed CowbirdRed-winged Blackbird Accabonac Harbor:Greater Yellowlegs Agawam Lake, Southampton:Northern Shoveler Long Beach, Sag Harbor:A friend said he saw a Piping Plover this morning. Peter PrioloCenter Moriches -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Woodcocks at Jamaica Bay
There were at least 6 American Woodcocks displaying, "peenting" and flying around in the shrub and grassy area just south of the visitor's center parking lot at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens County. They first appeared at 7:15 as the light was fading but could be seen peenting on the ground and clearly silhouetted against the sky as they flew around the area. Rob Bate Brooklyn, NY -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Coney Island Birds
Today I led a Linnaean Society group on what has become my usual winter walking loop of Coney Island, which includes the western end of the boardwalk to Coney Island Creek and back. When back at the boardwalk we also continued for a short distance, east, towards Brighton Beach. The whole walk is about 4 miles, but with good company and good birds, it seems a lot shorter distance. While perhaps not as productive as the last Linnaean trip (Eurasian Wigeon, Red-Necked Grebe, Northern Shrike and Lapland Longspur), we still managed a couple of nice highlights. Strong west-south-west winds in the early morning kicked up substantial whitecaps on the Lower Bay making spotting birds on the water challenging. A single Red-necked Grebe was seen on the west side of Steeplechase Pier, possibly the same one that has been in that general area all winter. Loons were nearly non-existent, we didn't see any scoters and merganser numbers were much lower than in previous weeks. At first I didn't think any Long-tailed Ducks were around until a fairly large flock, which was invisible in the chop right in front of us, took flight. The high-tide and gusting winds pushed the surf up over the western jetty forcing the Purple Sandpiper flock practically up against the chain-link fence that separates Seagate and Coney Island. It was possibly the only benefit to the tempestuous wind and water. An unusually high-tide had Coney Island Creek's gull sand-spit reduced to just a narrow stretch of beach. The expected roost of several hundred birds was only a paltry few dozen individuals. All was not lost, however. While scanning a small flock of Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-back Gulls roosting on one of the partially submerged barges in the creek, I located an ICELAND GULL in the center of the grouping. The cooperative bird remained there for 45 minutes and was still present when we left. Finally, when we returned to the beach and scanned a flock of mostly Ring-billed Gulls on the sand near the aquarium I picked out my first Laughing Gull of the year. It seems a little early for this bird, however I think this season has been anything but typical. Good birding, Rob ** Date: 03/11/12 Locations: Coney Island and Coney Island Creek Number of Species: 34 Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Gadwall American Wigeon American Black Duck Mallard Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Northern Gannet Great Blue Heron American Coot Killdeer Purple Sandpiper Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull ICELAND GULL Great Black-backed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Crow Northern Mockingbird European Starling Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird House Finch House Sparrow The City Birder Weblog -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Coney Island Birds
Today I led a Linnaean Society group on what has become my usual winter walking loop of Coney Island, which includes the western end of the boardwalk to Coney Island Creek and back. When back at the boardwalk we also continued for a short distance, east, towards Brighton Beach. The whole walk is about 4 miles, but with good company and good birds, it seems a lot shorter distance. While perhaps not as productive as the last Linnaean trip (Eurasian Wigeon, Red-Necked Grebe, Northern Shrike and Lapland Longspur), we still managed a couple of nice highlights. Strong west-south-west winds in the early morning kicked up substantial whitecaps on the Lower Bay making spotting birds on the water challenging. A single Red-necked Grebe was seen on the west side of Steeplechase Pier, possibly the same one that has been in that general area all winter. Loons were nearly non-existent, we didn't see any scoters and merganser numbers were much lower than in previous weeks. At first I didn't think any Long-tailed Ducks were around until a fairly large flock, which was invisible in the chop right in front of us, took flight. The high-tide and gusting winds pushed the surf up over the western jetty forcing the Purple Sandpiper flock practically up against the chain-link fence that separates Seagate and Coney Island. It was possibly the only benefit to the tempestuous wind and water. An unusually high-tide had Coney Island Creek's gull sand-spit reduced to just a narrow stretch of beach. The expected roost of several hundred birds was only a paltry few dozen individuals. All was not lost, however. While scanning a small flock of Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-back Gulls roosting on one of the partially submerged barges in the creek, I located an ICELAND GULL in the center of the grouping. The cooperative bird remained there for 45 minutes and was still present when we left. Finally, when we returned to the beach and scanned a flock of mostly Ring-billed Gulls on the sand near the aquarium I picked out my first Laughing Gull of the year. It seems a little early for this bird, however I think this season has been anything but typical. Good birding, Rob ** Date: 03/11/12 Locations: Coney Island and Coney Island Creek Number of Species: 34 Brant Canada Goose Mute Swan Gadwall American Wigeon American Black Duck Mallard Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Northern Gannet Great Blue Heron American Coot Killdeer Purple Sandpiper Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull ICELAND GULL Great Black-backed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove American Crow Northern Mockingbird European Starling Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird House Finch House Sparrow The City Birder Weblog -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Woodcocks at Jamaica Bay
There were at least 6 American Woodcocks displaying, peenting and flying around in the shrub and grassy area just south of the visitor's center parking lot at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens County. They first appeared at 7:15 as the light was fading but could be seen peenting on the ground and clearly silhouetted against the sky as they flew around the area. Rob Bate Brooklyn, NY -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Montauk and nearby
Today visited Montuak Point and nearby coastal areas and saw the following. Point:Black ScoterSurf ScoterWhite-winged ScoterCommon EiderCommon MerganserLong-tailed DuckNorthern Gannet Harbor:Great CormorantRed-throated LoonCommon LoonLong-tailed Duck E. Lake Drive, Horse Field:Greater White-fronted GooseCanada Goose Near Fort Pond:Cooper's Hawk Lazy Point:Common LoonLong-tailed DuckAmerican OystercatcherBlack-bellied PloverPossibly Ruddy TurnstoneNorthern HarrierBrown-headed CowbirdRed-winged Blackbird Accabonac Harbor:Greater Yellowlegs Agawam Lake, Southampton:Northern Shoveler Long Beach, Sag Harbor:A friend said he saw a Piping Plover this morning. Peter PrioloCenter Moriches -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Pelham Bay Park and Co-Op City Ravens 3/10-11
Hello, Checked out Turtle Cove and the Orchard Beach Lagoon on Saturday. Highlights were a Brown Thrasher in the scrub between Turtle Cove and the driving range and a female Common Merganser on the lagoon. I watched the Ravens for about an hour this afternoon. From my vantage, the view is somewhat restricted; telling whether or not there is a bird on is not always easy and depends on what direction it's facing. From what I could tell, there was a bird on for at least 30 mins. At one point, I could have sworn I saw them swap places on the nest. Male incubation is not unheard of at least according to the BNA account. But again, views are not the greatest. Nothing like staring up at an apartment building with a spotting scope to make you look like a weirdo! Richard Aracil -- 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/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/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/ --
