Re: [nysbirds-l] Jamaica Bay Notes
Five birders from NY's Capital Region (Albany area) were there today (Sunday July 28); we did not find the Avocet or the Ruff, but did see a Gull-billed Tern about halfway between the visitor center and the breach in the west pond. - Scott Stoner, Loudonville, NY -Original Message- From: Steve Walter To: 'NYSBIRDS_L' Sent: Sun, Jul 28, 2013 4:35 pm Subject: [nysbirds-l] Jamaica Bay Notes Well, it looks like the Avocet is gone from the East Pond, so only the memories and pictures remain. I posted a couple of pictures on my web site http://www.stevewalternature.com/ . Also, some other recent things, including a crummy flight shot of yesterday’s Ruff (on the recent work page). Some things from the weekend that may have gone unreported: One White-rumped Sandpiper seen by me today (now reported because someone might be tracking every shorebird species by the day) and Gull-billed Tern. I saw one yesterday morning in the marsh near the West Pond breach (a regular but patience requiring spot) and Corey Finger mentioned a couple on the East Pond today. The breach is not totally useless. One bird species, at least, seems to be taking advantage. Depending on the tide, Black Skimmers have been fishing in it. Great photo ops in the morning light. I had heard that the tidal flow into the West Pond now spills into the gardens. I hadn’t seen it for myself until the other night. I often bait for moths in the South Garden. On this occasion, I found that I couldn’t enter the garden from the entrance off the West Pond trail because it was flooded. I had to go in from the higher entrance, but three of the trees I normally bait were surrounded by water. There were still a couple of other trees available and moth turnout was quite good. It did seem like the water rose while I was there, coming close to one of the trees I was working. Maybe 50 percent of the garden was flooded. Kind of eerie. Doing moths has a whole set of parameters and challenges, but I never thought I would have to check tide tables. On another moth note, there was a good one on the VC wall yesterday. It turns out I’m not the only one that paid attention, so my ID for other interested parties is Plebeian Sphinx, a first for Jamaica Bay. A picture is on the moth page of my web site. Back to shorebirds for a couple of impressions I’ve gotten this season. Does it seem like at times no shorebirds are feeding on the pond? Last Sunday afternoon, everything was heading for the roost by the island. I never saw so many shorebirds on the pond – roosting exclusively. It seemed to be happening for a while today, but that changed. Also, does it seem that there is a quicker turnover of birds than in the past? (If you hear numbers are low and unsure of whether to go to Jamaica Bay, keep in mind things are changing very quickly – e.g. very low numbers reported Friday to an interesting day Saturday that featured a couple of goodies.) Maybe these are related as we try to get used to post-Sandy Jamaica Bay. There are changes that are clear to see (as I mentioned above) and there may be changes that are not so evident (with maybe the shorebirds hinting at them). Steve Walter Bayside, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- -- 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] Sullivan County Shore Birds
The storms coming through today did their job. A nice day of shore birds at Morningside Park, including a first county record. For further details see http://bashakillbirder.wordpress.com/ John H. Haas Wurtsboro, New York -- 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] Jamaica Bay Notes
Well, it looks like the Avocet is gone from the East Pond, so only the memories and pictures remain. I posted a couple of pictures on my web site http://www.stevewalternature.com/ . Also, some other recent things, including a crummy flight shot of yesterday's Ruff (on the recent work page). Some things from the weekend that may have gone unreported: One White-rumped Sandpiper seen by me today (now reported because someone might be tracking every shorebird species by the day) and Gull-billed Tern. I saw one yesterday morning in the marsh near the West Pond breach (a regular but patience requiring spot) and Corey Finger mentioned a couple on the East Pond today. The breach is not totally useless. One bird species, at least, seems to be taking advantage. Depending on the tide, Black Skimmers have been fishing in it. Great photo ops in the morning light. I had heard that the tidal flow into the West Pond now spills into the gardens. I hadn't seen it for myself until the other night. I often bait for moths in the South Garden. On this occasion, I found that I couldn't enter the garden from the entrance off the West Pond trail because it was flooded. I had to go in from the higher entrance, but three of the trees I normally bait were surrounded by water. There were still a couple of other trees available and moth turnout was quite good. It did seem like the water rose while I was there, coming close to one of the trees I was working. Maybe 50 percent of the garden was flooded. Kind of eerie. Doing moths has a whole set of parameters and challenges, but I never thought I would have to check tide tables. On another moth note, there was a good one on the VC wall yesterday. It turns out I'm not the only one that paid attention, so my ID for other interested parties is Plebeian Sphinx, a first for Jamaica Bay. A picture is on the moth page of my web site. Back to shorebirds for a couple of impressions I've gotten this season. Does it seem like at times no shorebirds are feeding on the pond? Last Sunday afternoon, everything was heading for the roost by the island. I never saw so many shorebirds on the pond - roosting exclusively. It seemed to be happening for a while today, but that changed. Also, does it seem that there is a quicker turnover of birds than in the past? (If you hear numbers are low and unsure of whether to go to Jamaica Bay, keep in mind things are changing very quickly - e.g. very low numbers reported Friday to an interesting day Saturday that featured a couple of goodies.) Maybe these are related as we try to get used to post-Sandy Jamaica Bay. There are changes that are clear to see (as I mentioned above) and there may be changes that are not so evident (with maybe the shorebirds hinting at them). Steve Walter Bayside, 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] Jamaica Bay East Pond update RUFF and AVOCET (NO)...
Wanted to put a quick update out there for anyone wondering about the status on some of yesterday's goodies on the East Pond. There has been no sightings today of the AMERICAN ACOCET or the RUFF. This despite good coverage of the pond by several birders. Some notable shorebirds included a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (looks like Thursday's bird), 1 SANDERLING (seen by Tom Burke and Gail Benson) AND 1 RED KNOT. Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! Andrew Baksh www.birdingdude.blogspot.com -- 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] Jones Beach West End
Jones Beach Coast Guard Station 28 July Joe Giunta and I (Sy Schiff) spent the morning overlooking the bar in front of the marina. As the tide increased, small numbers of shorebirds arrived till there were in excess of a hundred. The mix included a dozen Willet, both Semipalmated Plover and Sandpiper, a few Least Sandpiper, Sanderling with some still in bright breeding plumage and Short-billed Dowitchers. We watched Common Terns fishing and then feeding young with their catches. Other terns included Least Tern, a GULL-BILLED TERN hawking insects above the extensive low tide bar and an adult and young ROYAL TERN that dropped in momentarily until spooked by a pair of youngsters who landed on the island by floating raft. Others included the 4 common gull species, fly by Black Skimmer and over flying Osprey and Peregrine Falcon. The 16 Black Scoters continue. Sy -- 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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Croton boat ramp terns
The two Caspian terns were still on the sandbar just up river from boat ramp at Croton River as of 8:50am in group with 26 Ring-billed gulls and one Great black-backed gull. (Thanks to Larry T. for texting out the tern sighting!) Some of the other birds noted in same area this morning: 1 Great egret, 2 Osprey, 8 Great blue herons, 2 different Marsh wrens singing in phrags across the Croton River, and the Common loon that has been lingering here through the summer. On Jul 28, 2013, at 8:08 AM, Larry Trachtenberg wrote: > Have had great scope views of two caspian terns - one imm. sitting with half > dozen gulls (745-810) still here > > L. Trachtenberg > Ossining. > > Sent from my iPhone > > -- > > 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 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] Vesper Sparrow Jones Beach WE1 Nassau County
This morning at 8 AM there was a Vesper Sparrow in the northwestern section of the parking lot at the West End 1 Nature Center. Most of the shorebirds at the WE2 sand bar had dispersed. Steve Schellenger spotted a Royal Tern flying towards the ocean. The small Black Scoter flock continues at WE 2 -- 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] Croton boat ramp terns
Have had great scope views of two caspian terns - one imm. sitting with half dozen gulls (745-810) still here L. Trachtenberg Ossining. Sent from my iPhone -- 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/ --
