Pt. Lookout 18 Dec. Joe Giunta and I (Sy Schiff) drove into the town park and spooked a flock of SNOW BUNTINGS that flew over towards the beach. A GREAT BLUE HERON flew by as we got out of the car.
There were SANDERLING, RUDDY TURNSTONES and a single RED KNOT on the rocks in the water at the base of the jetty. On top were about 50+ DUNLIN (the KNOT flew up and joined them) plus 9 PURPLE SANDPIPERS on the side. Later, returning from the inlet , a swirl of 1000+ shorebirds, almost all Dunlin, flew around the west most jetty and then across to the Jones Beach side, apparently taking the Purple Sandpipers with them. A DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was on the beach and a GREAT CORMORANT was on the jetty. Of interest, all of a sudden, HORNED GREBES were everywhere, both off the west most jetty and in the inlet, a minimum of 50-60. Also, on the water, were an adult male and female COMMON EIDER, RED-THROATED and COMMON LOONS, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and NORTHERN GANNET over the ocean. On the far side of the inlet, a stream of BONAPARTE'S GULLS flew by heading out to sea. Cold, some ice on the paths and bright sunshine. Good to be out in the winter, Sy -- 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/ --
