The waterfowl at Capri Lake (SW Suffolk, West Islip) are somewhat different than in recent years. There are few to no Green-winged Teal which normally appear here in high numbers. And John is correct in that the Hooded Merganser numbers are significantly lower, as well. However, the hoodies seem to have relocated to Hawley's Pond, which was absolutely paved with hoodies on the day of the CBC, the largest concentration I have ever seen. Hawley's is definitely underbirded, due to the access problems, but it is usually worth the effort. At its southern end, there are a couple of openings in the vegetation where one can set up a scope without spooking the birds. After using those vantage points, one can then scope the pond from the bridge at the south end. Any ducks which flush on approach usually just fly to the north end. It is best to park on Parkwood Road and take the 5 minute walk in to the pond, but one must exercise caution when crossing the Rte 231 entrance ramps. Bob Grover
-----Original Message----- From: bounce-4977222-3714...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-4977222-3714...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of John Gluth Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 5:25 PM To: NYSBIRDS-L-for posts Subject: [nysbirds-l] Belmont Lake: White-fronted & Cackling geese; W. Babylon Eurasian Wigeon - YES; Connetquot Tundra Swan - NO Only 2 of the previously reported 7 Greater White-fronted Geese were seen at Belmont Lake State Park between 7:20 and ~9:00 this morning by myself and several other birders. Also seen was a single Cackling Goose, also likely the previously reported individual. Other notable species among the hundreds of Canada Geese were Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck (~10), Common Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, American Coot, and Pied-billed Grebe, all but the first 2 species listed present in low single digit numbers At Santapogue Creek in West Babylon I was lucky enough to relocate the drake Eurasian Wigeon originally found during the Captree CBC a week ago. It was Loafing on a small island ~100 yards south of Montauk Highway, best viewed from the southwest corner of the shopping center immediately east of the creek. There is a gap in the phragmites near an old plywood sign there. I got a brief (5 second) binocular view while it was shorebound, but then it and several other ducks nearby took flight and headed downstream when I backed off to set up my scope. I got a quick look at the bird in flight as well. A search of the creek from several vantage points on the way to the Great South Bay came up empty. I did find a Greater Yellowlegs near the mouth of the creek and a small raft of Greater Scaup out on the bay. Other Finds along the creek included 20-25 N. Shovelers and 1 Belted Kingfisher. Heading east, I next stopped at Capri Lake, where I counted 65 Redhead and good numbers of Hooded Mergansers, though less than I've seen during recent winters. At Connetquot River State Park the previously reported Tundra Swan was not found, perhaps driven away entirely by the 20 or so Mute Swans that were there, or at least off the main lake which is the only place I checked. There were 10 Canvasbacks present, as well as ~80 Common Mergansers and 4 Lesser Scaup. Two Fox Sparrows fed among numerous White-throats under the pines across from the park offices. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Archives: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- This e-mail message and any attachments are intended only for the named recipient(s) above. It may contain confidential information due to its nature as trade secret, security sensitive, pursuant to contract or other regards. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination or copying of this e-mail and/or any attachment(s) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by replying to this e-mail and delete the message and any attachment(s) from your system. Email transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free, as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. GPI accepts no liability for any damage caused by errors, omissions or delays arising from the transmission process or any virus contained in this email. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of GPI and/or any of its affiliates. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES Archives: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
