Re: [nysbirds-l] Possible Re-sighting of Little Egret and Laughing Gull RFI

[Peter Reisfeld]

While the compilation of data from observation may be useful in studying the 
behavior of birders, the very behavior being studied may be a consequence of 
the ways in which data is used.  The shift toward chasing rarities may not 
relate to changes in human motivation or culture.  Rather, I suspect it is a 
direct result of better access to data, namely the rapid reporting and 
retrieval of birding information due to the proliferation of smart phones and 
use of list serves.  

On a personal note, I have always been appreciative of the welcoming nature of 
the birding community and its generosity in sharing information and advice.  In 
fact, both Shai and Andrew have been amongst the most giving in this regard, 
for which the community is certainly grateful. Nevertheless, while I can 
understand how frustration can evoke negative feelings, a public broadcasting 
of disappointment with the behavior of a generous community is more apt to 
elicit resentment than a positive result.  Public encouragement works better 
than criticism, for family members, fellow birders, and possibly even for 
photographers.  (Though perhaps not for cat lovers.) 

Happy summer birding, 

Peter 


 On Saturday, August 1, 2015 7:52 AM, Shaibal Mitra 
 wrote:
   

 Thanks to everyone who shared information about the appearance of juv Laughing 
Gulls along the LI shore this summer. It sounds as though they appeared 
relatively late but, as is sometimes the case, simultaneously in widely 
scattered places. Confirmation of a new breeding site on the island will 
probably have to wait until another year (I believe all the "confirmed" blocks 
east of Jamaica Bay in the Atlas represent flying juvs).

It's interesting to me that almost all the info about Laughing Gulls, which is 
what I asked for in my post, was offered privately, whereas it was my rather 
secondary--and mild--expression of disappointment about community effort 
patterns that garnered public discussion.  In giving serious thought to the 
various points that were raised, including my own, the only general theme I can 
discern that is worth pursuing is the question of whether or not birding itself 
can be studied, in a manner similar to how we study egrets and Laughing Gulls. 
I believe that it can, and I've scrupulously recorded data regarding the 
birders I've encountered in the field over the past 35 years in an effort to 
document their patterns of abundance, distribution, and behavior--and to look 
for changes or trends in these things.

And what's wrong with that? It's very likely that Andrew could marshall data to 
support his hypothesis about a shift toward alerts-oriented effort; Dave could 
well be drawing on a deep body of background knowledge when he criticizes my 
inability to identify egrets and report them in a satisfactory manner; and Arie 
might be right that his birding and reporting practices, including his chase 
and followup of the Little Egret, have been meritorious. My statement that the 
overall egret-chasing effort collapsed prematurely back on 22 May is not a 
personal attack on any particular person; it is a conclusion based on a large 
body of observations.

It's the information age--the data are out there!

Shai Mitra
Bay Shore


CSI Tops MONEY magazine’s Best Colleges list for 
2015-2016>

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RE:[nysbirds-l] Possible Re-sighting of Little Egret and Laughing Gull RFI

[Shaibal Mitra]

Thanks to everyone who shared information about the appearance of juv Laughing 
Gulls along the LI shore this summer. It sounds as though they appeared 
relatively late but, as is sometimes the case, simultaneously in widely 
scattered places. Confirmation of a new breeding site on the island will 
probably have to wait until another year (I believe all the "confirmed" blocks 
east of Jamaica Bay in the Atlas represent flying juvs).

It's interesting to me that almost all the info about Laughing Gulls, which is 
what I asked for in my post, was offered privately, whereas it was my rather 
secondary--and mild--expression of disappointment about community effort 
patterns that garnered public discussion.  In giving serious thought to the 
various points that were raised, including my own, the only general theme I can 
discern that is worth pursuing is the question of whether or not birding itself 
can be studied, in a manner similar to how we study egrets and Laughing Gulls. 
I believe that it can, and I've scrupulously recorded data regarding the 
birders I've encountered in the field over the past 35 years in an effort to 
document their patterns of abundance, distribution, and behavior--and to look 
for changes or trends in these things.

And what's wrong with that? It's very likely that Andrew could marshall data to 
support his hypothesis about a shift toward alerts-oriented effort; Dave could 
well be drawing on a deep body of background knowledge when he criticizes my 
inability to identify egrets and report them in a satisfactory manner; and Arie 
might be right that his birding and reporting practices, including his chase 
and followup of the Little Egret, have been meritorious. My statement that the 
overall egret-chasing effort collapsed prematurely back on 22 May is not a 
personal attack on any particular person; it is a conclusion based on a large 
body of observations.

It's the information age--the data are out there!

Shai Mitra
Bay Shore


CSI Tops MONEY magazine’s Best Colleges list for 
2015-2016>

--

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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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RE:[nysbirds-l] Possible Re-sighting of Little Egret and Laughing Gull RFI

[Shaibal Mitra]

Thanks to everyone who shared information about the appearance of juv Laughing 
Gulls along the LI shore this summer. It sounds as though they appeared 
relatively late but, as is sometimes the case, simultaneously in widely 
scattered places. Confirmation of a new breeding site on the island will 
probably have to wait until another year (I believe all the confirmed blocks 
east of Jamaica Bay in the Atlas represent flying juvs).

It's interesting to me that almost all the info about Laughing Gulls, which is 
what I asked for in my post, was offered privately, whereas it was my rather 
secondary--and mild--expression of disappointment about community effort 
patterns that garnered public discussion.  In giving serious thought to the 
various points that were raised, including my own, the only general theme I can 
discern that is worth pursuing is the question of whether or not birding itself 
can be studied, in a manner similar to how we study egrets and Laughing Gulls. 
I believe that it can, and I've scrupulously recorded data regarding the 
birders I've encountered in the field over the past 35 years in an effort to 
document their patterns of abundance, distribution, and behavior--and to look 
for changes or trends in these things.

And what's wrong with that? It's very likely that Andrew could marshall data to 
support his hypothesis about a shift toward alerts-oriented effort; Dave could 
well be drawing on a deep body of background knowledge when he criticizes my 
inability to identify egrets and report them in a satisfactory manner; and Arie 
might be right that his birding and reporting practices, including his chase 
and followup of the Little Egret, have been meritorious. My statement that the 
overall egret-chasing effort collapsed prematurely back on 22 May is not a 
personal attack on any particular person; it is a conclusion based on a large 
body of observations.

It's the information age--the data are out there!

Shai Mitra
Bay Shore


CSI Tops MONEY magazine’s Best Colleges list for 
2015-2016http://csitoday.com/2015/07/csi-tops-money-magazines-best-colleges-list-for-2015-2016/

--

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ARCHIVES:
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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/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Possible Re-sighting of Little Egret and Laughing Gull RFI

[Peter Reisfeld]

While the compilation of data from observation may be useful in studying the 
behavior of birders, the very behavior being studied may be a consequence of 
the ways in which data is used.  The shift toward chasing rarities may not 
relate to changes in human motivation or culture.  Rather, I suspect it is a 
direct result of better access to data, namely the rapid reporting and 
retrieval of birding information due to the proliferation of smart phones and 
use of list serves.  

On a personal note, I have always been appreciative of the welcoming nature of 
the birding community and its generosity in sharing information and advice.  In 
fact, both Shai and Andrew have been amongst the most giving in this regard, 
for which the community is certainly grateful. Nevertheless, while I can 
understand how frustration can evoke negative feelings, a public broadcasting 
of disappointment with the behavior of a generous community is more apt to 
elicit resentment than a positive result.  Public encouragement works better 
than criticism, for family members, fellow birders, and possibly even for 
photographers.  (Though perhaps not for cat lovers.) 

Happy summer birding, 

Peter 


 On Saturday, August 1, 2015 7:52 AM, Shaibal Mitra 
shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu wrote:
   

 Thanks to everyone who shared information about the appearance of juv Laughing 
Gulls along the LI shore this summer. It sounds as though they appeared 
relatively late but, as is sometimes the case, simultaneously in widely 
scattered places. Confirmation of a new breeding site on the island will 
probably have to wait until another year (I believe all the confirmed blocks 
east of Jamaica Bay in the Atlas represent flying juvs).

It's interesting to me that almost all the info about Laughing Gulls, which is 
what I asked for in my post, was offered privately, whereas it was my rather 
secondary--and mild--expression of disappointment about community effort 
patterns that garnered public discussion.  In giving serious thought to the 
various points that were raised, including my own, the only general theme I can 
discern that is worth pursuing is the question of whether or not birding itself 
can be studied, in a manner similar to how we study egrets and Laughing Gulls. 
I believe that it can, and I've scrupulously recorded data regarding the 
birders I've encountered in the field over the past 35 years in an effort to 
document their patterns of abundance, distribution, and behavior--and to look 
for changes or trends in these things.

And what's wrong with that? It's very likely that Andrew could marshall data to 
support his hypothesis about a shift toward alerts-oriented effort; Dave could 
well be drawing on a deep body of background knowledge when he criticizes my 
inability to identify egrets and report them in a satisfactory manner; and Arie 
might be right that his birding and reporting practices, including his chase 
and followup of the Little Egret, have been meritorious. My statement that the 
overall egret-chasing effort collapsed prematurely back on 22 May is not a 
personal attack on any particular person; it is a conclusion based on a large 
body of observations.

It's the information age--the data are out there!

Shai Mitra
Bay Shore


CSI Tops MONEY magazine’s Best Colleges list for 
2015-2016http://csitoday.com/2015/07/csi-tops-money-magazines-best-colleges-list-for-2015-2016/

--

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ARCHIVES:
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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/

--

  
--

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3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
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--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Possible Re-sighting of Little Egret and Laughing Gull RFI

[Arie Gilbert]

  
  
Shai {et al},

Perhaps unbeknownst to you, I amongst a few others have been on the
lookout for the Little Egret.  If I had been successful, I would
have reported it to the list as I always do with sightings of
merit.  So short of reported successes it escapes me how one might
determine whether or not folks are trying, or why you have concluded
birders are not. 

Of course, if a bird is not in an accessible location, one's hands
are tied. Given the very limited vantage points near to Gardeners
park I am not sure what more could be done by fellow birders,  or
what you are/were expecting. 

A stop I made at Captree Island on June 18 to look for this bird was
unsuccessful but I was nevertheless rewarded by finding a
White-faced Ibis. You as well as others took advantage of my
discovery that very day so I was gratified that others were able to
see another good bird. 

That's why I do not understand why there is disparagement of
'chasing' bird reports. You do it.  We all do it. 
Why else have a "Rare Bird Alert"?
So some chose to bird where they see something of interest, while
some ignore places devoid of reports. This makes more sense the
further the birds are from you. Who wants to shlep all the way out
to any bird if they do not have a reasonable assurance that it will
not be a wasted trip? I can sympathize with the reluctance. And not
everyone has the same amount of free time!

As birders we appreciate those who report to ebird, or on the NY
list, or when someone posts to the NY list on behalf of another from
their phone call. But what good is it if one is made to feel
guilty for actually using that information?

I am not at all ashamed of chasing birds, and take umbrage at the
suggestion that it is somehow 'less worthwhile' than "pure
searching".  Recall that chasing sometimes results in other
discoveries AKA the Patagonia Picnic Table Effect.   **Reports Beget
Reports**

I believe its a bad idea to go down the road of what can be
described as "elitist birding" where we criticize others for not
birding according to some arbitrary standard: be it that they chase
ebird reports, that they are not a 'green birder' replete with
concomitant consumption of tofu and wheat grass,  or for their not
knowing the difference between juvenal and juvenile.  Not all
birders are the same; nor should they be. That's just the way it is.

So it is my hope that we can instead **encourage more birders in NYS
to post reports of good sightings** rather than bemoaning those who
do not conform to some 'standard'.  And not just here in region 10,
but all over NYS. I would love to see reports from elsewhere!

Finally, I have a kayak and have been exploring the south shore. I
have avoided the Captree vicinity due to boat traffic and tidal
currents, but now that you have shared your information, I may yet
do so. 

PS I saw juvenile Laughing Gulls at Cupsogue last week, as well as a
few Red Knot amongst not much else of note. Not anything like last
year at all.


Arie Gilbert
North Babylon, NY

WWW.Powerbirder.blogspot.com 
 WWW.qcbirdclub.org 







On 7/30/2015 3:10 PM, Shaibal Mitra
  wrote:


  On the evening of Saturday, 25 July, Patricia Lindsay and I  boarded the "Moon Chaser" for an old-fashioned Wilson Brothers Band Brews Cruise of Fire Island Inlet. Pat didn't even have her binoculars, but I had mine, and I scanned the marsh north of the Captree boat basin in an effort to find her an elusive Tricolored Heron for her year list. What I found was an egret that strongly reminded me of the Little Egret present at nearby Gardiner County Park in late May: long black bill, flat crown, and an angular nape lacking any visible plumes; and the lores appeared dark, so that the eye through the bill looked continuously dark. I showed the bird to Pat, and also to Holly Wilson and Phillip Camhi, and they all agreed with the impressions just described. Taking my turn with the binoculars again, I watched the bird rise and fly out of sight to the north, revealing all-black legs and bright yellow feet, indicative of an adult. Although the circumstances of our v!
 iews wer
e far from ideal, I have a hard time seeing an adult Snowy Egret with dark lores and and lacking a bushy, rounded nape, and furthermore standing stately and lanky-looking, as this bird had. The passage of two months could account for the loss of the two long head plumes and a shift from orange to yellow foot color. I mentioned our expererience to some local birders but saw little point in posting it unless we were able to nail it down--especially given the disappointingly limpid follow up searches back in May, after the bird first went missing.

When I 

Re: [nysbirds-l] Possible Re-sighting of Little Egret and Laughing Gull RFI

[Arie Gilbert]

  
  
Shai {et al},

Perhaps unbeknownst to you, I amongst a few others have been on the
lookout for the Little Egret.  If I had been successful, I would
have reported it to the list as I always do with sightings of
merit.  So short of reported successes it escapes me how one might
determine whether or not folks are trying, or why you have concluded
birders are not. 

Of course, if a bird is not in an accessible location, one's hands
are tied. Given the very limited vantage points near to Gardeners
park I am not sure what more could be done by fellow birders,  or
what you are/were expecting. 

A stop I made at Captree Island on June 18 to look for this bird was
unsuccessful but I was nevertheless rewarded by finding a
White-faced Ibis. You as well as others took advantage of my
discovery that very day so I was gratified that others were able to
see another good bird. 

That's why I do not understand why there is disparagement of
'chasing' bird reports. You do it.  We all do it. 
Why else have a "Rare Bird Alert"?
So some chose to bird where they see something of interest, while
some ignore places devoid of reports. This makes more sense the
further the birds are from you. Who wants to shlep all the way out
to any bird if they do not have a reasonable assurance that it will
not be a wasted trip? I can sympathize with the reluctance. And not
everyone has the same amount of free time!

As birders we appreciate those who report to ebird, or on the NY
list, or when someone posts to the NY list on behalf of another from
their phone call. But what good is it if one is made to feel
guilty for actually using that information?

I am not at all ashamed of chasing birds, and take umbrage at the
suggestion that it is somehow 'less worthwhile' than "pure
searching".  Recall that chasing sometimes results in other
discoveries AKA the Patagonia Picnic Table Effect.   **Reports Beget
Reports**

I believe its a bad idea to go down the road of what can be
described as "elitist birding" where we criticize others for not
birding according to some arbitrary standard: be it that they chase
ebird reports, that they are not a 'green birder' replete with
concomitant consumption of tofu and wheat grass,  or for their not
knowing the difference between juvenal and juvenile.  Not all
birders are the same; nor should they be. That's just the way it is.

So it is my hope that we can instead **encourage more birders in NYS
to post reports of good sightings** rather than bemoaning those who
do not conform to some 'standard'.  And not just here in region 10,
but all over NYS. I would love to see reports from elsewhere!

Finally, I have a kayak and have been exploring the south shore. I
have avoided the Captree vicinity due to boat traffic and tidal
currents, but now that you have shared your information, I may yet
do so. 

PS I saw juvenile Laughing Gulls at Cupsogue last week, as well as a
few Red Knot amongst not much else of note. Not anything like last
year at all.


Arie Gilbert
North Babylon, NY

WWW.Powerbirder.blogspot.com 
 WWW.qcbirdclub.org 







On 7/30/2015 3:10 PM, Shaibal Mitra
  wrote:


  On the evening of Saturday, 25 July, Patricia Lindsay and I  boarded the "Moon Chaser" for an old-fashioned Wilson Brothers Band Brews Cruise of Fire Island Inlet. Pat didn't even have her binoculars, but I had mine, and I scanned the marsh north of the Captree boat basin in an effort to find her an elusive Tricolored Heron for her year list. What I found was an egret that strongly reminded me of the Little Egret present at nearby Gardiner County Park in late May: long black bill, flat crown, and an angular nape lacking any visible plumes; and the lores appeared dark, so that the eye through the bill looked continuously dark. I showed the bird to Pat, and also to Holly Wilson and Phillip Camhi, and they all agreed with the impressions just described. Taking my turn with the binoculars again, I watched the bird rise and fly out of sight to the north, revealing all-black legs and bright yellow feet, indicative of an adult. Although the circumstances of our v!
 iews wer
e far from ideal, I have a hard time seeing an adult Snowy Egret with dark lores and and lacking a bushy, rounded nape, and furthermore standing stately and lanky-looking, as this bird had. The passage of two months could account for the loss of the two long head plumes and a shift from orange to yellow foot color. I mentioned our expererience to some local birders but saw little point in posting it unless we were able to nail it down--especially given the disappointingly limpid follow up searches back in May, after the bird first went missing.

When I 

Re: [nysbirds-l] Possible Re-sighting of Little Egret and Laughing Gull RFI

[Andrew Baksh]

The answer to Shai's question on juvenile Laughing Gulls is yes! I have seen 
several on the East Pond with my last few visits along with a few crisp looking 
Juv Herring Gulls as well.

The possible Little Egret sighting, is quite intriguing and I agree about the 
apparent lack of effort in trying to track the possible whereabouts of that 
bird when it went missing. Alas, these days it appears birdingat least to 
my observation has become more reactionary to eBird Alerts rather than the 
search itself.

Cheers,

風　Swift as the wind
林　Quiet as the forest
火　Conquer like the fire
山　Steady as the mountain
Sun Tzu  The Art of War

> (\__/)
> (= '.'=)
> (") _ (") 
> Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! 

Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

> On Jul 30, 2015, at 3:10 PM, Shaibal Mitra  wrote:
> 
> On the evening of Saturday, 25 July, Patricia Lindsay and I  boarded the 
> "Moon Chaser" for an old-fashioned Wilson Brothers Band Brews Cruise of Fire 
> Island Inlet. Pat didn't even have her binoculars, but I had mine, and I 
> scanned the marsh north of the Captree boat basin in an effort to find her an 
> elusive Tricolored Heron for her year list. What I found was an egret that 
> strongly reminded me of the Little Egret present at nearby Gardiner County 
> Park in late May: long black bill, flat crown, and an angular nape lacking 
> any visible plumes; and the lores appeared dark, so that the eye through the 
> bill looked continuously dark. I showed the bird to Pat, and also to Holly 
> Wilson and Phillip Camhi, and they all agreed with the impressions just 
> described. Taking my turn with the binoculars again, I watched the bird rise 
> and fly out of sight to the north, revealing all-black legs and bright yellow 
> feet, indicative of an adult. Although the circumstances of our views were 
> far from ideal, I have a hard time seeing an adult Snowy Egret with dark 
> lores and and lacking a bushy, rounded nape, and furthermore standing stately 
> and lanky-looking, as this bird had. The passage of two months could account 
> for the loss of the two long head plumes and a shift from orange to yellow 
> foot color. I mentioned our expererience to some local birders but saw little 
> point in posting it unless we were able to nail it down--especially given the 
> disappointingly limpid follow up searches back in May, after the bird first 
> went missing.
> 
> When I returned to Captree today, I did not find the egret of interest (nor 
> the Tricolor), but I did see something that surprised me: at least three 
> brand-new juvenile Laughing Gulls, well out to the east of Sexton Island, in 
> bad light. For years now we southwestern Suffolk County birders have 
> suspected that Laughing Gulls were breeding in the Captree/Sexton/East/West 
> Fire Island area of Great South Bay, based on the regular early spring 
> arrival here of birds in high breeding plumage, earlier than and inland from 
> our ocean-hugging passage migrants.
> 
> While pondering these things, a Royal Tern flew over heading east with a 
> begging juv in tow, reminding me that it is by no means too early for juv 
> Laughing Gulls to disperse east from Jamaica Bay. But it has been my 
> impression that fledging there is late this year (I saw no juvs on my twice 
> daily commutes on the Belt Parkway through 21 July). On a hunch, I drove over 
> to Orowoc Lake in Islip, an epicenter of the sort of early spring LAGU 
> activity has been making us curious, and was delighted to see a juvenile 
> Laughing Gull fly in--surely one of the most beautiful birds in the world.
> 
> So, have folks been seeing juvs around Jamaica Bay lately? Does anyone know 
> of actual nesting evidence in Great South Bay?
> 
> Shai Mitra
> Bay Shore
> 
> 
> CSI Tops MONEY magazine’s Best Colleges list for 
> 2015-2016>
> 
> --
> 
> 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/
> 
> --

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
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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/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Possible Re-sighting of Little Egret and Laughing Gull RFI

[Andrew Baksh]

The answer to Shai's question on juvenile Laughing Gulls is yes! I have seen 
several on the East Pond with my last few visits along with a few crisp looking 
Juv Herring Gulls as well.

The possible Little Egret sighting, is quite intriguing and I agree about the 
apparent lack of effort in trying to track the possible whereabouts of that 
bird when it went missing. Alas, these days it appears birdingat least to 
my observation has become more reactionary to eBird Alerts rather than the 
search itself.

Cheers,

風　Swift as the wind
林　Quiet as the forest
火　Conquer like the fire
山　Steady as the mountain
Sun Tzu  The Art of War

 (\__/)
 (= '.'=)
 () _ () 
 Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! 

Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

 On Jul 30, 2015, at 3:10 PM, Shaibal Mitra shaibal.mi...@csi.cuny.edu wrote:
 
 On the evening of Saturday, 25 July, Patricia Lindsay and I  boarded the 
 Moon Chaser for an old-fashioned Wilson Brothers Band Brews Cruise of Fire 
 Island Inlet. Pat didn't even have her binoculars, but I had mine, and I 
 scanned the marsh north of the Captree boat basin in an effort to find her an 
 elusive Tricolored Heron for her year list. What I found was an egret that 
 strongly reminded me of the Little Egret present at nearby Gardiner County 
 Park in late May: long black bill, flat crown, and an angular nape lacking 
 any visible plumes; and the lores appeared dark, so that the eye through the 
 bill looked continuously dark. I showed the bird to Pat, and also to Holly 
 Wilson and Phillip Camhi, and they all agreed with the impressions just 
 described. Taking my turn with the binoculars again, I watched the bird rise 
 and fly out of sight to the north, revealing all-black legs and bright yellow 
 feet, indicative of an adult. Although the circumstances of our views were 
 far from ideal, I have a hard time seeing an adult Snowy Egret with dark 
 lores and and lacking a bushy, rounded nape, and furthermore standing stately 
 and lanky-looking, as this bird had. The passage of two months could account 
 for the loss of the two long head plumes and a shift from orange to yellow 
 foot color. I mentioned our expererience to some local birders but saw little 
 point in posting it unless we were able to nail it down--especially given the 
 disappointingly limpid follow up searches back in May, after the bird first 
 went missing.
 
 When I returned to Captree today, I did not find the egret of interest (nor 
 the Tricolor), but I did see something that surprised me: at least three 
 brand-new juvenile Laughing Gulls, well out to the east of Sexton Island, in 
 bad light. For years now we southwestern Suffolk County birders have 
 suspected that Laughing Gulls were breeding in the Captree/Sexton/East/West 
 Fire Island area of Great South Bay, based on the regular early spring 
 arrival here of birds in high breeding plumage, earlier than and inland from 
 our ocean-hugging passage migrants.
 
 While pondering these things, a Royal Tern flew over heading east with a 
 begging juv in tow, reminding me that it is by no means too early for juv 
 Laughing Gulls to disperse east from Jamaica Bay. But it has been my 
 impression that fledging there is late this year (I saw no juvs on my twice 
 daily commutes on the Belt Parkway through 21 July). On a hunch, I drove over 
 to Orowoc Lake in Islip, an epicenter of the sort of early spring LAGU 
 activity has been making us curious, and was delighted to see a juvenile 
 Laughing Gull fly in--surely one of the most beautiful birds in the world.
 
 So, have folks been seeing juvs around Jamaica Bay lately? Does anyone know 
 of actual nesting evidence in Great South Bay?
 
 Shai Mitra
 Bay Shore
 
 
 CSI Tops MONEY magazine’s Best Colleges list for 
 2015-2016http://csitoday.com/2015/07/csi-tops-money-magazines-best-colleges-list-for-2015-2016/
 
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