A brutal but beautiful visit to Jones Beach and Point lookout was relatively
productive. Around nine, it was slow and absolutely freezing at the coast guard
station, with some Bonaparte's Gulls, a Horned Grebe, Great Cormorant and a
lone Eider being the most noteworthy birds there. Moving on to the beach,
Gannets were notably close to shore and in good numbers too, as always
entertaining to watch dive into the frigid water. Scoter's weren't particularly
evident but there were about 100 IDable black and 2 white-winged, plus another
few hundred dark-winged scoter sp.s out there too. Beyond the surf were small
to medium rafts of Long-tailed Ducks and Red-breasted Merganser. Around the
Jetty were another 60 or so common Eiders. In the passerine department, not not
much was around (or audible, given the wind) but Ipswich, Am. Tree and
White-throated Sparrows were noted, as well as a yellow rumped warbler.
At Point Lookout were more Long-tailed Ducks, RB Mergansers, and Eiders around
the jetties. With one raft of eiders close in were a pair of gorgeous Black
Scoters. There seemed to be fish offshore, as in several places on the western
side of Pt. Lookout were several small feeding frenzies of seaducks and gulls,
including at least 60 Bonaparte's Gulls together. Also of note was a constant
loose cloud of loons (both sps) flying out over the horizon. I've never seen
loons in that high of a density before. Lastly, 6 Dunlin, 3 Ruddy Turnstones
and 2 Purple Sandpipers made appearences on the easternmost Jetty while a young
male Harlequin Duck flew by as we were leaving.
Enjoy the Arctic weather!
Jacob Drucker
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