[nysbirds-l] Point Lookout - Harlequin Ducks and Snow Buntings

2013-12-31 Thread Robert Taylor 
This afternoon before sunset I rushed to Point Lookout to get pics of the
Harlequin Ducks recently seen there.  Once I got on the beach I spotted a
Horned Grebe, Sanderling and then a few Snow Buntings quickly flew by.  As
I walked from West to the Inlet, I saw a few Long Tailed Ducks, couple of
Black Scoters, more Horned Grebes, a few loons, a decent amount of common
eiders and a large seal was poking it's head out of the water.  I almost
gave up on the Harlequin Ducks until I got to the Inlet.  Saw at least 4
females (maybe 5) and 2 drakes.

I went by the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station which only had a few Brant.
A Goshawk or Harrier was swooping over the "pond" in the dunes.  I tried
looking for the Glaucous Gull in Field 6 but couldn't locate it - mostly
Ringed Billed, a few Herring and Black Backed.

I was happy to find the Harlequin Ducks - great way to end the year!

Happy New Year!

Rob in Massapequa

http://longislandbirding.blogspot.com/

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[nysbirds-l] Ulster County Slaty-backed Gull, Glaucous Gull, and Iceland Gulls

2013-12-31 Thread forsythnature 

Greetings All,
  Wendy Tocci and I started our day in search of her e-bird year Iceland Gull 
and we were not disappointed.  Matter of fact we were wonderfully surprised 
with our other finds by the end of the morning.  Our first stop was a 
congregation of large gull species and we quickly identified two 2nd winter 
Iceland Gulls.  After a few more minutes of scanning a juvenile Glaucous Gull 
provided multiple extended bin views but the skittish flock never allowed us to 
put a scope on this bird.  About an hour into our visit the bird of the day 
surfaced when an adult non-breeding SLATY-BACKED GULL joined it's Herring and 
Great Black-backed cousins.  It's extremely dark mantle and bright pink leg 
color where easily recognizable while it matched neighboring Herring Gulls in 
size.  A call was made to our crack photographer friend Peter Schoenberger who 
was only able to make our location in time for the arrival of two additional 
Iceland Gulls (both pale juveniles) and not the previously mentioned birds.  By 
now the birds started to gain altitude and disperse and without more than a 
digiscope shot of the bird's upper half.  An exciting but equally frustrating 
turn of events.  Later in the day after scouring the known gull hangouts of the 
southern tier of the county I encountered a large swirling flock of gulls over 
the Wallkill/Shawangunk Correctional Facilities in the Town of Shawangunk and 
tried to find a vantage point without raising the ire of the correctional 
officers.  I was not able to do so unfortunately but the agricultural grounds 
of the two prisons were teaming with avifauna included along with several 
hundred gulls were nearly two thousand Canada Geese.  After several passes 
along McKendrick Road (which bisects the correctional facilities) I was 
actually able to relocate the SLATY-BACKED GULL!   Please make no mistake this 
area is not intended for roadside birding and I would strongly recommend not 
pulling over (numerous signs posted along this road illustrate this point).  I 
actually thought I would solicit a stop by the guards after making three 
additional passes of the bird's location, slowing down, camera on, window down 
but admittedly too chicken to stop.  
  I apologize if this leaves readers yearning for more details but for now 
these birds have chosen a highly secured resting area, my best guess is they 
will visit places like the Wallkill River and Blue Chip Farm as they have 
historically with the onset of  winter.  Good luck in your search.

Happy New Year and Good birding!

Mark DeDea
  

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[nysbirds-l] King Eider at fort Tilden

2013-12-31 Thread Isaac Grant 
Drake (2nd winter). Maybe the same bird. Near the Silver gull club. 

Isaac Grant
Senior Loan Officer

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[nysbirds-l] Nassau County Black Guillemot (YES)...

2013-12-31 Thread Andrew Baksh 
Brendan Fogarty just texted me to report that he has re-found what is
presumably the Sea Cliff Black Guillemot.

The bird was seen far offshore from Sands Point, a little east of the
bluffs by the parking lot.

Good luck if you try for it and many thanks to Brendan for his efforts
in re-finding this bird and getting the word out promptly.

I would like to take this time to wish everyone a safe and Happy New
Year!  May the new year bring each and everyone of you good fortune.

Cheers!

"Don't start none, won't be none" ~ Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones

Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!

Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

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[nysbirds-l] Glen Island Park Waterfowl

2013-12-31 Thread Anne Swaim 
Glen Island County Park, New Rochelle, Westchester Co.
Google map link: http://goo.gl/maps/dRd9d 
offered some very enjoyable birding yesterday morning (12/30).

About a mile north of Pelham Bay, Glen Island is an open area with paved
paths around the LI Sound shore well used by of walkers/runners. Has access
in winter w/o county park fee collection.  Don't see many eBird lists from
there.

Wonderful flight of brant there yesterday (850+ conservative count),
captured on video here: http://vimeo.com/82994603

*Some other highlights*
Gadwall  36
American Wigeon  8
Greater/Lesser Scaup  500+
Bufflehead  62
Red-breasted Merganser  44
Northern Gannet  1
Cooper's Hawk  1

Bald Eagle  2
(Both full adults, sitting close together in a tree on N side of Glen
Island and N of GI Harbour Club. Viewed from New Rochelle's Neptune Park
which is just outside Glen Island & here: http://goo.gl/maps/XzIGO)

and
Peregrine Falcon 1


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Anne Swaim
Saw Mill River Audubon
Chappaqua, NY

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[nysbirds-l] Glaucous Gull - Jones Beach Field 6

2013-12-31 Thread Pat Palladino 
Currently on the beach with the other gulls. About 30 yards west of the main 
Field 6 building.

Patrick F. Palladino


On Dec 29, 2013, at 8:11 PM, "Tim Dunn"  wrote:

> An impromptu run out to the east end today.  At Shinnecock Inlet, one 
> immature Glaucous Gull was seen moving between both jetties. A Great 
> Cormorant was on the tower at the end of the jetty, the Common Eider flock 
> was just west of the inlet, and several Long-tailed Ducks were in and out of 
> the inlet. 
> 
> A Red-necked Grebe was in the bay just inside and west of the inlet, but that 
> bird flew east while I was observing it. 4 Boat-tailed Grackles were in the 
> parking area of the old Ponquogue Bridge. 
> 
> At Deep Hollow on the south side, five Snow Geese were there but flew around 
> noon. The Ross's Goose was seen with a group of five Canada's. I didn't see 
> the Cackling but didn't work through each goose as the rain picked up. 
> 
> Reaching Montauk Point just in time for the steady rain, the large seaduck 
> flock featured Common Eider, Red-breasted Mergs and all three scoters, with 
> the vast majority being Black.
> 
> At Montauk Harbor, a young/darker Snowy Owl was present. Curiously, one male 
> and one female Ring-necked Pheasant were freshly road killed about 100 yards 
> apart from each other on East Lake Drive by Little Reed Pond. 
> 
> Thanks,
> Tim Dunn
> Babylon NY
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> --
> 
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> 
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> 
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> 
> --

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[nysbirds-l] Glaucous Gull - Jones Beach Field 6

2013-12-31 Thread Pat Palladino 
Currently on the beach with the other gulls. About 30 yards west of the main 
Field 6 building.

Patrick F. Palladino


On Dec 29, 2013, at 8:11 PM, Tim Dunn timd...@optonline.net wrote:

 An impromptu run out to the east end today.  At Shinnecock Inlet, one 
 immature Glaucous Gull was seen moving between both jetties. A Great 
 Cormorant was on the tower at the end of the jetty, the Common Eider flock 
 was just west of the inlet, and several Long-tailed Ducks were in and out of 
 the inlet. 
 
 A Red-necked Grebe was in the bay just inside and west of the inlet, but that 
 bird flew east while I was observing it. 4 Boat-tailed Grackles were in the 
 parking area of the old Ponquogue Bridge. 
 
 At Deep Hollow on the south side, five Snow Geese were there but flew around 
 noon. The Ross's Goose was seen with a group of five Canada's. I didn't see 
 the Cackling but didn't work through each goose as the rain picked up. 
 
 Reaching Montauk Point just in time for the steady rain, the large seaduck 
 flock featured Common Eider, Red-breasted Mergs and all three scoters, with 
 the vast majority being Black.
 
 At Montauk Harbor, a young/darker Snowy Owl was present. Curiously, one male 
 and one female Ring-necked Pheasant were freshly road killed about 100 yards 
 apart from each other on East Lake Drive by Little Reed Pond. 
 
 Thanks,
 Tim Dunn
 Babylon NY
 Sent from my iPhone
 
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[nysbirds-l] Glen Island Park Waterfowl

2013-12-31 Thread Anne Swaim 
Glen Island County Park, New Rochelle, Westchester Co.
Google map link: http://goo.gl/maps/dRd9d http://goo.gl/maps/dRd9d
offered some very enjoyable birding yesterday morning (12/30).

About a mile north of Pelham Bay, Glen Island is an open area with paved
paths around the LI Sound shore well used by of walkers/runners. Has access
in winter w/o county park fee collection.  Don't see many eBird lists from
there.

Wonderful flight of brant there yesterday (850+ conservative count),
captured on video here: http://vimeo.com/82994603

*Some other highlights*
Gadwall  36
American Wigeon  8
Greater/Lesser Scaup  500+
Bufflehead  62
Red-breasted Merganser  44
Northern Gannet  1
Cooper's Hawk  1

Bald Eagle  2
(Both full adults, sitting close together in a tree on N side of Glen
Island and N of GI Harbour Club. Viewed from New Rochelle's Neptune Park
which is just outside Glen Island  here: http://goo.gl/maps/XzIGO)

and
Peregrine Falcon 1


http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/email?subID=S16127625

Anne Swaim
Saw Mill River Audubon
Chappaqua, NY

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[nysbirds-l] Nassau County Black Guillemot (YES)...

2013-12-31 Thread Andrew Baksh 
Brendan Fogarty just texted me to report that he has re-found what is
presumably the Sea Cliff Black Guillemot.

The bird was seen far offshore from Sands Point, a little east of the
bluffs by the parking lot.

Good luck if you try for it and many thanks to Brendan for his efforts
in re-finding this bird and getting the word out promptly.

I would like to take this time to wish everyone a safe and Happy New
Year!  May the new year bring each and everyone of you good fortune.

Cheers!

Don't start none, won't be none ~ Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones

Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!

Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

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[nysbirds-l] King Eider at fort Tilden

2013-12-31 Thread Isaac Grant 
Drake (2nd winter). Maybe the same bird. Near the Silver gull club. 

Isaac Grant
Senior Loan Officer

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[nysbirds-l] Ulster County Slaty-backed Gull, Glaucous Gull, and Iceland Gulls

2013-12-31 Thread forsythnature 

Greetings All,
  Wendy Tocci and I started our day in search of her e-bird year Iceland Gull 
and we were not disappointed.  Matter of fact we were wonderfully surprised 
with our other finds by the end of the morning.  Our first stop was a 
congregation of large gull species and we quickly identified two 2nd winter 
Iceland Gulls.  After a few more minutes of scanning a juvenile Glaucous Gull 
provided multiple extended bin views but the skittish flock never allowed us to 
put a scope on this bird.  About an hour into our visit the bird of the day 
surfaced when an adult non-breeding SLATY-BACKED GULL joined it's Herring and 
Great Black-backed cousins.  It's extremely dark mantle and bright pink leg 
color where easily recognizable while it matched neighboring Herring Gulls in 
size.  A call was made to our crack photographer friend Peter Schoenberger who 
was only able to make our location in time for the arrival of two additional 
Iceland Gulls (both pale juveniles) and not the previously mentioned birds.  By 
now the birds started to gain altitude and disperse and without more than a 
digiscope shot of the bird's upper half.  An exciting but equally frustrating 
turn of events.  Later in the day after scouring the known gull hangouts of the 
southern tier of the county I encountered a large swirling flock of gulls over 
the Wallkill/Shawangunk Correctional Facilities in the Town of Shawangunk and 
tried to find a vantage point without raising the ire of the correctional 
officers.  I was not able to do so unfortunately but the agricultural grounds 
of the two prisons were teaming with avifauna included along with several 
hundred gulls were nearly two thousand Canada Geese.  After several passes 
along McKendrick Road (which bisects the correctional facilities) I was 
actually able to relocate the SLATY-BACKED GULL!   Please make no mistake this 
area is not intended for roadside birding and I would strongly recommend not 
pulling over (numerous signs posted along this road illustrate this point).  I 
actually thought I would solicit a stop by the guards after making three 
additional passes of the bird's location, slowing down, camera on, window down 
but admittedly too chicken to stop.  
  I apologize if this leaves readers yearning for more details but for now 
these birds have chosen a highly secured resting area, my best guess is they 
will visit places like the Wallkill River and Blue Chip Farm as they have 
historically with the onset of  winter.  Good luck in your search.

Happy New Year and Good birding!

Mark DeDea
  

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[nysbirds-l] Point Lookout - Harlequin Ducks and Snow Buntings

2013-12-31 Thread Robert Taylor 
This afternoon before sunset I rushed to Point Lookout to get pics of the
Harlequin Ducks recently seen there.  Once I got on the beach I spotted a
Horned Grebe, Sanderling and then a few Snow Buntings quickly flew by.  As
I walked from West to the Inlet, I saw a few Long Tailed Ducks, couple of
Black Scoters, more Horned Grebes, a few loons, a decent amount of common
eiders and a large seal was poking it's head out of the water.  I almost
gave up on the Harlequin Ducks until I got to the Inlet.  Saw at least 4
females (maybe 5) and 2 drakes.

I went by the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station which only had a few Brant.
A Goshawk or Harrier was swooping over the pond in the dunes.  I tried
looking for the Glaucous Gull in Field 6 but couldn't locate it - mostly
Ringed Billed, a few Herring and Black Backed.

I was happy to find the Harlequin Ducks - great way to end the year!

Happy New Year!

Rob in Massapequa

http://longislandbirding.blogspot.com/

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