I've posted pictures of the Razorbills at my web site http://www.stevewalternature.com/ , since who know when I'll get worthwhile shots again. They haven't come easy. The flock that Andrew found was far out in the channel, west of the Coast Guard station. We split up in search of the Dovekie. I headed toward the fisherman's parking lot and, miraculously, so did the Razorbill flock, coming all the way across the channel to a position relatively close to the near shore. There were 5 the whole time I saw them, so I don't know about Andrew's sixth one. I do know about my sixth. That one I spotted at Point Lookout later, swimming and diving in the surf between the two easternmost jetties. I chased after it, hoping that it might turn the corner into the inlet where the lighting would be better. It's not just birding. It's an adventure trying to keep pace with a Razorbill, trying to anticipate where it will surface, and safely hoping up on rocks with the camera ready. But I did it.
By the way, the Harlequins were inside the inlet (by the houses) when I got there. After a while, they flew toward the middle jetty, where the stayed for a half hour or so. As I was leaving, I saw them flying west past the westernmost jetty. I lost sight of them in sun glare, so I don't know where they ended up. Conceivably, they could have headed back to Long Beach (or they could have made a U-turn, for all I know). In a note related to Doug Futuyma's last post, Lady Crabs may be the reason for large numbers of loons now in the Jones Beach area. I watched a Common come up with a crab, while a Herring Gull with one added to my growing list of food items in my bird photographs. Steve Walter Bayside, NY From: bounce-74127634-8873...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-74127634-8873...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Andrew Baksh Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 5:03 PM To: nysbirds-l Cc: Nyc ebirds Subject: [nysbirds-l] Jones Beach West End and Point Lookout... First the negative report: Last Sunday's GASSHOPPER SPARROW and the GLAUCOUS GULL reported earlier in the week were no shows today at West End Jones Beach. Today, birds were sparse and hard to come by despite a careful search of the surrounding areas. Highlights included the following: RED and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were observed in the median as well as flyovers. A total of 7 WWCR and 4 RECR were my tally. Steve Walter, managed to photograph both species, so opportunities still exits for looks and photos of CROSSBILLS, if one is lucky enough to find them. SNOW BUNTINGS, a flock of about 26 observed near the swale. HORNED LARKS, moving around in two flocks; 8 birds seem to favor the turn around just before the booth as one exits West End. The rest were scattered near the gazebo by the Coast Guard Station. RAZORBILLS, 6 seen well in Jones Inlet looking from the fisherman's trail/road with Steve Walter and Bobby Kurtz. Steve and Bobby relayed to me a Dovekie was reported in the same area by another birder; we searched for some time but was unable to find any Dovekie at the location. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, 2 immature birds seen by Bobby Kurtz and I near the Coast Guard Station. KILLDEERS, 2 flying around as they seemed unsettled with the workers cleaning up at West End II. CEDAR WAXWINGS, 2 birds near the entrance to the the fisherman's trail. OYSTERCATCHERS, 2 seen loafing on the bar near the Coast Guard Station during incoming tide. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, only one seen today down from the 6 that a number of us saw on Sunday. At Point Lookout, Bobby Kurtz reported the 6 HARLEQUIN DUCKS that have been seen intermittently for some time in the area. Finally, I have noticed that the birds appear to be singing earlier than usual?? 3 weeks ago, I was startled by a song at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. I was perplexed for a moment until it sank in that I was listening to a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER in full song. I have since heard American Robins, Northern Cardinal and Red-winged Blackbirds singing and heard a House Finch in full song at the feeders in my backyard this morning. Signs of an early Spring or is this the result of a wacky weather pattern? Good and Responsible Birding! Andrew Baksh Queens, NY www.birdingdude.blogspot.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> Please submit your observations to <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/> eBird! -- -- 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/ --
