Jones Beach West End 12 Oct A birdy morning with lots to look at and an interesting mix of species. This is a composite list from the 7 or 8 of us enjoying the company and birding together. Raptors included OSPREY, NORTHERN HARRIER, SHARP-SHINNED AND COOPER'S HAWK, MERLIN AND PEREGRINE FALCON plus a fly over GREAT BLUE HERON.
Beside the lingering 100+ AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS, there were only DUNLIN and RUDDY TURNSTONE. Three ROYAL TERNS joined them on the bar before flying off. The 7 LESSER BLACK-BACK GULLS reported by Peter Post seemed to be 3 first year and 4 second year. Only one of the ones that were standing had yellowish legs. The NORTHERN FLICKERS were joined by a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (rare on the beach), a few BROWN CREEPERS and lots of EASTERN PHOEBE, RUBY and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS. Some RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continue in the pines. The few VIREOS included RED-EYED, WHITE EYED and BLUE-HEADED. Still many TREE SWALLOWS, but the enormous thousands of last week have moved on. Lots of warblers of the YELLOW-RUMPED persuasion but only a few PALM and PINE with a single BLACK-THROATED BLUE. There were 8 species of sparrow including CLAY-COLORED and WHITE-CROWNED plus EASTERN TOWHEE, DARK-EYED JUNCO, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, EASTERN GOLDFINCH and a few PINE SISKIN. Sy Schiff -- 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/ --
