Birding first with Richard Kaskan and Doug Futuyma and then by myself. Decent number of shorebirds but not as much as I was hoping for on the Cupsogue flats. A total of 14 species with the shorebird highlights being a few Western and juvenile Eastern Willets.
Other notable birds included a couple of juvenile Piping Plovers, 2 Roseate Terns and a plethora of juvenile Clapper Rails. The cute little black fur balls seemed to be everywhere if you looked carefully. Richard Kaskan reported 9 Clapper Rail chicks very early on scampering for shelter from the open flats. Doug Futuyma and I had an adult with 7 chicks in another location much later. Then with the rising tide, I had another adult with 5 chicks in yet another location. A total of 21 chicks baring any duplication. Given the size, these are presumed to be second brood. In his early morning sea watch, Doug reported very little from the deck. Only a single Common Loon and a 3rd Summer Lesser Black-backed Gull, the latter loafing on the shore are worthy of mention. Despite covering Pikes Beach thoroughly I did not find anything new. Very few shorebirds and they were mostly of the same types seen at Cupsogue. Early on while heading into Cupsogue. Along Mill Road, I picked up a couple of Cliff Swallows mixed in with Barn Swallows resting on utility wires. Could be they are on the move? Cheers and keep and eye out for baby Clapper Rails. They are cute as a button. 風 Swift as the wind 林 Quiet as the forest 火 Conquer like the fire 山 Steady as the mountain Sun Tzu <http://refspace.com/quotes/Sun_Tzu> *The Art of War* <http://refspace.com/quotes/The_Art_of_War> (\__/) (= '.'=) (") _ (") Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device! Andrew Baksh www.birdingdude.blogspot.com -- 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/[email protected]/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/ --
