On Saturday Bob Adamo and I missed the Long-Eared Owl (which was seen by Sy Schiff at 8:30am) at the Marine Nature Center in Oceanside, the Harlequin Ducks (which was seen by Seth Ausubel and Rich Kelly earlier) at Point Lookout, the Gyrfalcon at Gilgo and the Red-necked Grebe at Cap Tree our perseverance paid off.
While at Point Lookout we saw several Horned Grebes, one of which was showing some gold in the ear tufts. American Oystercatchers were on the beach to the west of the jetties, two were also seen later at the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station. On the beach was a possibly distressed Harbor Seal. The seal lay on its left side only, its fur tinged red at its lower extremities, and the white of its left eye was blood red, it allowed someone to get within 25 feet. Bob reported it to Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation. At the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station along the road before the parking area were an immature White Crowned Sparrow, American Tree Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos. At the Gazebo, Bob, and another birder, called out a small flock of Horned Larks.. and mixed in was the previously reported Lapland Longspur, a lifer, which Steve Walter helped me pick out of the crowd. There were about dozen Common Loons present. Among a small number of Horned Grebes was another showing some gold in the ear tufts. A Savannah Sparrow was also feeding apart from the others near the gazebo. Finally at Captree, we saw a few Boat-tailed Grackles. They sang on the top of boats at dock and were on the sand spit across the dock. -- 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/ --
