This morning Jones Beach was largely devoid of migrant landbirds, instead hosting high counts of biting flies. I missed Bob Anderson's earlier Dickcissel and RB Grosbeak, though I did have two separate flyover Bobolinks, headed roughly northeast while "pink"ing distinctively. Several Merlins were seen coursing over the dunes and dogfighting with each other, and there were two near-adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the West End 2 parking lot. The sandbar held good numbers and variety at high tide, including Western Willets, yellowlegs, dowitchers, plovers, and many oystercatchers. The dune ponds are ponds once more, featuring Blue-winged Teal, a lone Shoveler, and some Solitary Sandpipers along with more typical fare.
Nickerson's tern colony is still bustling with several hundred skimmers and Common Terns alike. All youngsters I saw were flighted or close to it, though some were still being fed. Five Black Terns were found amidst the throng, and another near-adult LBB Gull was seen in the surf. Jones: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24996705 Nickerson: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24996705 Cheers! -Tim H -- 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/ --
