I had not been to Jones Inlet since the Southern Nassau CBC and wanted to see what changes in the Inlet's bird populations may have occurred as a result of the recent cold spell. Upon arrival at the Fisherman's Parking Lot there were clearly more Bonaparte's Gulls then my early January visit. After scoping for a few minutes a good size flock of Bonies (60+) was seen feeding on the northwest side of the Inlet. In the flock was a diminutive gull with a bold black "M" on the upperwings, and a dusky cap - a first winter Little Gull. The flock scattered and continued to feed up and down the Inlet, and the Little Gull was not relocated. There were good numbers of Common and Red-throated Loons in the Inlet, but I was unable to find a Pacific Loon. Other birds of note were a single Razorbill and one Common Eider.
Ken Feustel -- 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/ --
