Birds of some interest at several Long Island sites this morning: At Blydenburgh County Park (Smithtown), waterfowl included ca. 56 Ring-necked Ducks and 2 Canvasback. At Robert Moses State Park, more than 1500 Long-tailed Duck on bay side, close to the roadway, actively milling about; also ca. 40 Common Goldeneye, including an instructive female with a largely yellow bill. I had expected to see northbound scoters and other species over the ocean, but it appeared barren. At Gilgo, ca. 160 Lesser Scaup, accompanied by a few Greater, quite close -- an interesting place for so many of this species. At Field 10, Jones Beach, an adult Iceland Gull on parking lot, and 3 American Oystercatcher. At Field 2, Jones Beach West End, the Northern Shrike at the swale, and 14 Tree Swallows. At Point Lookout Town Park, from atop a dune, the 4 continuing Harlequin Ducks, 3 Common Eider, and 16 American Oystercatchers. At Hempstead Lake State Park, 30 Common Mergansers on the main lake, and 1 Osprey at the pond near parking field 2.
I saw nothing notable at Camman's Pond or Milburn Pond. I also walked through Alley Pond Park, hoping at least to hear an early Spring Peeper or Wood Frog, but the kettle ponds are still iced over; and although shallow vernal pools along the blue trail were liquid, I heard neither frogs nor birds (specifically, no Rusty Blackbirds). I would like to echo others in urging anyone who hasn't yet done so, to sign the online petition to restore the once glorious, now almost birdless, West Pond at Jamaica Bay: http://tinyurl.com/West-Pond-Petition. Its future may depend on our showing that we care! Doug Futuyma Stony Brook -- 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/ --
