Here's a full report from my morning at Jones Beach West End. A Dickcissel was heard and seen yet again along the fisherman's road. I also encountered a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at close range in the median, and it was last seen flying into the bushes along the WE2 lot's northern edge. There was good migrant activity in the early morning, with 10+ warbler species (many birds were seen very briefly in poor conditions that hindered identification), my first-of-fall kinglets (both Ruby- and Golden-crowned), Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos, a very hungry Great Crested Flycatcher nabbing butterflies, and a smattering of other passage birds. Phoebes, flickers, and catbirds were the most conspicuous migrants apart from the large flocks of Tree Swallows. Around mid-morning the raptors showed up to the party, with ospreys, a harrier, a Cooper's Hawk, two kestrels, and a Peregrine all out hunting. Two Merlins were seen, and although they weren't chasing a meal one did divebomb the Peregrine. The dune ponds between WE2 and the TR Center were totally dry and devoid of birds. The inlet held a male Surf Scoter, a female Black Scoter, and a molting male eider. By midday the activity had all but stopped and I headed home.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25155626 Cheers! -Tim H -- 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/ --
