A mild and sunny day provided for some relatively interesting birding along the South Fork of Long Island. Although ducks, geese, and other waterbirds seem to be increasing, few passerines were seen anywhere along the route. Below are the highlights
*Montauk Point* Scoters of all three species are now number in the tens of thousands, reminiscent of numbers typically seen later in the season. 23 Razorbills 1 first-winter Laughing Gull *Deep Hollow Ranch* Greater White-fronted Goose continues *East Lake Jetty* 1 first-winter Forster's Tern *Fort Pond Bay* 1 Red-necked Grebe 133 Common Loons *Hook Pond* No Tundra Swans 53 American Coot Afterwards, I stopped at Patchogue Lake where, although Ring-necked Duck numbers had dropped precipitously, I counted 283 American Coots between the north and south ends of the lake. The male Eurasian Wigeon was still present on West Lake. Brent Bomkamp Northport, 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/ --
