This early-mid April period seems to be when Gannets are most likely to penetrate inshore waters, in our bays and sounds, where they are normally rare. John and Kirsten's observations at Jamaica Bay are really very unusual. My companions and i had some similar experiences yesterday--a Gannet north of Hicks Island, in Napeague Bay, and then 26 Gannets resting on the waters of Shinnecock Bay, north of the main sandbar there. I can't ever recall seeing so many in there. Today, Marc Brody mentioned seeing them inside Jones Inlet.
This time of year seems to be when the Gannets push their boundaries-- https://picasaweb.google.com/tixbirdz/ThereYouAre#5375001706807305570 --and I wonder if they are tracking a migratory prey species, like one of the anadromous herrings. Shai Mitra Bay Shore < our most interesting sighting of the day however, was that of two adult n.gannet off the southwest side of the west pond. the birds were quite active. we eventually lost sight of them in the heat haze. > ________________________________ Think green before you print this email. -- 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 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
