On Friday, June 28 from 11am to 1:30pm Cassy, my sister up from Florida, myself and Andrew Baksh, birded Cupsogue. The previously reported Arctic(first summer birds), Roseate, and Black Terns(seen in three phases: breeding, mottled and juvenile) remain. Also seen were breeding and alternate plumage Red Knots, as well as Short-billed Dowitchers. At first, I thought I had blown our chance to see these species because when my sister and I arrived, the tide was high and the central mudflat was completely immersed. Across the channel were two Arctic Terns, which I would never have identified because the easiest field marking, their short legs, were under water. Over the next few hours, Andrew helped us recognize many other ways of identifying Arctic Terns and Roseates. The high tide actually turned out to be very advantageous as no land was left for the birds to land on but a small spit about 20 yards from where we were. As a result, we had terrific views of the previously mentioned species and Black Skimmers and Ruddy Turnstones.
We did not see the Red-necked Phalarope at a short stop at Pike's Beach. Later, east of Tiana Beach, we saw Piping Plover and Semipalmated Plover. Along Dune Rd we had a great view of a Black-crowned Night Heron right next to the road. Tom Moran Shoreham -- 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/ --
