I searched for the Western Grebe without success from 7:45 to 9:15 this morning, west and east of Ponquogue Bridge and on the ocean in that vicinity. I was more successful in my search for finches and bitterns to the west on Dune Road. As I prepared to leave Dune Road at the Swordfish Beach Club (intersection with Jessup lane), a flock of about 20 Red Crossbills landed in several small pines and afforded extended eye-level view. I also heard Red Crossbills and saw one fly over, about a mile east of there. Together with Ken Feustel's report of crossbills at Cupsogue Park, the observations suggest that this species could be encountered anywhere along this road. An American Bittern was near the boardwalk that leads into the Quogue nature preserve (now closed to entry).
Doug Futuyma Stony Brook, NY -- 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/ --
