As nocturnal landbird migration has faded to near zero, I've been finding it more difficult to make an early start. This morning I reached Robert Moses SP, Suffolk County, LI at 08:30 without a clear expectation of what the light wnw winds might bring: on the one hand the possibility of a rare irruptive species, such as Bohemian Waxwing or even Pine Grosbeak; on the other, waterbirds moving in response to freezing temperatures. What I found was a very interesting mix. A few American Pipits are still moving and were joined by the first big flocks (>100) of Horned Larks and and Snow Buntings I've seen so far this season. Among Fringillids, I saw just one flock of American Goldfinches, and single American Robin and Downy Woodpecker were calling from the puckerbrush, as if bewildered at their new haunts.
But the ocean side was even more lively. Some freshwater ducks on the move included a flock of nine Northern Shoveler (a very tough bird at RMSP proper, from the competitive patch listing point of view), but the highlights were the smaller gulls, moving from east to west in very good numbers: 13 Black-legged Kittiwakes, 940 Bonaparte's Gulls, seven tardy Laughing Gulls, and 160 Ring-billed Gulls. None of these seemed to be lingering to feed in this area, but it might be worth checking places like Jones Inlet. https://ebird.org/checklist/S77187476 Shai Mitra Bay Shore -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
