I spent the morning shore birding at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, my first trip there this year. Birding was somewhat disappointing - I could only muster ten species of shorebirds. However, it was good to see the American Avocet at the north end of the East Pond as well as good numbers of Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers. I would like to extend kudos to Andrew Baksh for all his efforts to ensure that the water levels in the East Pond were dropped sufficiently to salvage a part of the shorebird season. It is unlikely we would have mud flats on the East Pond this summer without Andrew’s lobbying (nagging?) efforts. On a negative note I was alarmed at the amount of Purple Loosestrife (an invasive) that has invaded the East Pond and environs. While I cannot deny it is pretty to look at, it can take over freshwater habitats. I do not remember ever seeing so much of it at the Refuge. Some thirty years ago we made the mistake of planting it in our yard, and despite a yearly pulling program a small amount appears every summer. In regard to access on the pond, it is good. I walked the entire east side (with boots), hugging the phragmites only at a few muddy locations.
Good birding, Ken Feustel -- 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/ --
