[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawk
Greetings! Had a lone Common Nighthawk over my house in Hauppauge (Suffolk county) this evening at 6:35. It was fairly low and flying direct, not stopping for anything, heading roughly NE. First one this fall for me. Cheers, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawks, Hauppauge
Greetings, 2 Common Nighthawks over my house in Hauppauge (Suffolk county) this evening. Very similar to my 20 August post, these flew over at 6:30 PM, heading NE. I would not have seen them, had I not been lifting a cold bottle of Peroni to my lips, having just finished cutting the grass that my son could not find the time to do all day today while I was at work. Is that a run on sentence? Cheers! Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawks
I’m having luck with Common Nighthawks this fall. I counted 6 in one group late this afternoon (7:10 PM) on the Orient ferry as we passed Plum Island, and another lone individual at 7:30PM. All were heading west. Nothing else of note on the water. Cheers, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sands Point Preserve- impressive migration
The Sands Point Preserve (Nassau County) was extremely active this morning from 8:30AM thru noon, reminiscent of the good ole days in the late 70s, and worth the $10 dollar fleecing today. Highlights were 17 species of warblers (especially noteworthy was CAPE MAY WARBLER, notoriously difficult for me at this locale over the past few decades), 2 PHILADELPHIA VIREOS, and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. Warbler numbers were truly impressive. Sunlit trees by the pond were swarming and from the cliff trail you could see warblers coming in off Long Island Sound from points north. Selected numbers appear below: Ruby-throated Hummingbird Eastern Phoebe Eastern Wood Pewee empidonax/Least (5) Olive-sided Flycatcher Swainson’s Thrush Red-eyed Vireo (20) Philadelphia Vireo (2) Black-and-White Warbler (2) Blue-winged Warbler (2) Tennessee Warbler (12) Nashville Warbler Northern Parula (45) Magnolia Warbler (15) Cape May Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler (6) Black-throated Green Warbler (25) Blackburnian Warbler (5) Chestnut-sided Warbler (9) Bay-breasted Warbler (2) Pine Warbler Ovenbird Common Yellowthroat (2) Canada Warbler American Redstart (18) Scarlet Tanager (6) Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Cheers, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Preliminary results: Northern Nassau Christmas Count
The Northern Nassau Christmas Count was held on the Winter Solstice, Saturday, December 21st. Although it was the shortest day of the year, we recorded 118 species. The record for our count is 119 species in 1973. New species for the count were Black Guillemot, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Seaside Sparrow. Other rarities included Greater White-fronted Goose, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Cackling Goose, Eurasion Wigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Bald Eagle, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Vesper Sparrow. The Black Guillemot was still being seen as of today, details can be found on the New York Birds mailing list or here if you are not subscribed: http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 I’ll post a more detailed summary of the count once I have had time to analyze the data. Merry Christmas, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Final Results---Northern Nassau Christmas Count
The Northern Nassau Christmas Count was held on Saturday, December 21st, the winter solstice. Although it was the shortest day of the year, 80 observers braved temperatures in the 50s and found a near-record 117 species. Three species were new to the count: Lesser Yellowlegs—a single bird found in Manhasset and photographed standing next to the only Greater Yellowlegs found on the count. What are the odds? If there was such thing as a Medium Yellowlegs, I’m sure it would have been standing between them. Seaside Sparrow--- a superbly photographed individual found at Caumsett SP by the same observer who found a count first Nelson’s Sparrow last year in the same location. Black Guillemot---a remarkable find of a continuing individual found on the eastern side of Hempstead Harbor. Probably the first record for western (or all of) Long Island Sound. This brings the cumulative number of species seen on this count to 198. Perhaps next year some lucky individual will find our 200th species. With Razorbill and Black Guillemot already on the list...maybe Dovekie will be number 200.. Other rarities found included 2 Greater White-fronted Geese (3rd count ever, 2 out of last 3) Cackling Goose (2nd count ever, last 2 counts) 2 Barrow’s Goldeneyes (4th count ever, all singles until now). King Eider (3rd count ever, 2 out of last 3) 2 Eurasian Wigeons 3 Bald Eagles (4th count ever, all singles until now) Red-headed Woodpecker (5th count ever, 1st since 2002). Horned Lark (1st since 1998) Vesper Sparrow (1st since 1994) New high counts were achieved for many species including Canada Goose (14677), Ruddy Duck (1388), Red-tailed Hawk (60), Merlin (7), Red-bellied Woodpecker (218), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (33, shattering the old record of 19), Carolina Wren (194), American Pipit (5), and Song Sparrow (474). How we can find 474 Song Sparrows but only 182 House Sparrows is a mystery to me, but I’m not complaining. House Sparrows were down 65% of their 10-year average. Rock Pigeons were down 72%; we only counted 143. Really? Did we just ignore these nuisance species this year or did the warm weather push all counters deeper into the woods? Hmmm.. Also, in case you were wondering about our spiraling Canada Goose numbers, the Montezuma, NY Christmas Count recorded 51, 239 on last year’s count (the most in the United States). However, I think most of these were true migratory geese and not the feral slobs we have here in Nassau. If only we could tax them. 6864 Greater Scaup was below the 5-year average of 14,000 but they could easily have been in neighboring waters outside our count circle. There were only a very few number of species that could be considered as “misses” for our count, namely, Black-crowned Night Heron, Purple Sandpiper (seen count week), Chipping Sparrow, Purple Finch. After 3 years in a row, Common Raven was absent from our count. Count week birds included 6 Razorbills, Purple Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull. Red-throated Common Loons were down 89% 64%, respectively, from their 10 year averages but Horned Grebe was way up with 134 seen. Most ducks were up but especially Common Goldeneye (up 135% of its 10 year average). Long-tailed Duck was actually down a bit. Both of our resident owls (Great Horned Screech) were found in normal numbers. Everyone had high hopes that a Snowy Owl would be found this year, given the numbers that they have appeared in on Long Island this winter. However, our count circle is probably the least likely area to find this bird on Long Island and the odds prevailed. 2 American Kestrels were found this year, an admirable achievement these days but to see that they were outnumbered by Merlins better than 3 to 1 is truly astounding. In 1973, we recorded 27 kestrels on our count (and 2 Merlins). A few area counts conducted in the prior weeks remarked on the paucity of Black-capped Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse. However, both species were found in numbers representative of their 5, 10, 20 year averages. In fact, almost all landbirds were near or higher than their averages. Some exceptions to this included lower than average numbers of both kinglets, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco. Some numbers to leave you dizzy: This year, we saw about 45,000 individuals which matches the average for the last 5 years. The 10 20 year averages are about 36,000 32,000, respectively. Much of this volume can be attributed to a handful of species. Removing just 5 high-volume species (Canada Goose, Greater Scaup, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Starling) dropped the total from 45,000 to 17,000. However, 17,000 is well above the 5, 10, 20 year averages so it seems like we’re seeing more birds on our count. Whether this is due to more participants, weather, or some other factor is up to the Audubon folks to figure out. And finally, some useless stats from the spreadsheet: Only 22 out of 198 species have been
[nysbirds-l] Red-headed Woodpecker, Hauppauge (Suffolk)
Today, I observed the immature Red-headed Woodpecker that has taken up residence in my yard and my neighbor’s yard since November 22nd. Since I first saw it on the 22nd, it spends all its time caching food in the various large oak trees on the properties. It never comes to any of the suet feeders and aggressively chases other birds, even Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and even squirrels once in a while. Nice bird for New Years Day. Not sure what it’s doing in such a suburban setting. We’ll see how it does with tomorrow’s storm and Friday’s temperatures. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Red-headed Woodpecker still present, Hauppauge (Suffolk)
The immature Red-headed Woodpecker, present since November 22nd in my neighbor’s yard (and sometimes my yard), was still there as of today. Since it arrived, it has been caching food in the various oak trees on adjacent properties. It almost never ventures below about 20 feet and I have never seen it at any of the feeders. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Red-headed Woodpecker, Hauppauge
The Red-headed Woodpecker made a brief appearance this morning in my neighbor’s trees. It’s not the “Lord God” bird but it’ll do on this Easter Sunday! Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawk, Hauppauge
Just saw a Common Nighthawk over my yard in Hauppauge, in very direct straight flight, heading due east, maybe 100 or 150 feet off the ground. Very early. Not a kestrel/merlin. No sightings north of NC on the ebird map. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Blydenburgh CP (Suffolk) including Forster's Terns
I dropped off my daughter this morning for a lacrosse scrimmage and, instead of staying to watch the scintillating action that is 10th-grade girls’ lacrosse , I spent a few hours in Blydenburgh County Park (southern end off route 454). I’ve found this park to be normally quiet during spring migration but today there were 12 species of warblers, most of them low enough in the trees to make for enjoyable viewing. Bay-breasted Blackpoll were about the most noteworthy, all other being common warblers. Other migrants included Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Swainson’s Thrush (several), Wood Thrush, Swamp Sparrow. The most interesting sighting was the presence of 2 pairs of Forster’s Terns in the southern end of the pond. They sat together on the two signs in the middle of the pond and occasionally brought each other fish. I've seen Forster's Terns here before in the spring but just coursing back and forth over the pond. A 5th tern was also present today but seemed to be the odd man out. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawks, Suffolk County
Greetings, My son had soccer practice tonight at Veteran’s Park in East Northport (Suffolk County) from 7:45-9PM. Right about here: 40.885167, -73.321511 There are 2 large turf fields at this location with stadium lighting. 6 Common Nighthawks spent the entire practice hawking insects directly above the practicing boys. Very neat. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawks, Hauppauge
18 Common Nighthawks over the Hauppauge High School (Suffolk County) at 6PM. It looked like more were coming thru but I couldn’t stay any longer. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Black Tern, Sands Point Preserve
Landbird migration was so-so at the Sands Point Preserve (Nassau County) this morning. There was one nice wave of warblers, about 20 individuals, comprised mostly of Black-throated Blue, Parula, Blackpoll, and American Redstart. The highlight of the day was a single Black Tern, loosely associating with about a half-dozen sterna-type terns, out over Long Island Sound. The lowlight of the day was the condition of the preserve. Not sure what the folks are up to there. There is only one water feature in the entire preserve and it’s a traditional beacon for migrants. Today, my jaw dropped when I saw that every last leaf of vegetation has been removed around the entire perimeter of the pond, right down to bare earth. A travesty for the wildlife and a clear sign of the transition from preserve to park. And it’s still ten dollars to get in. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER, Sands Point (Nassau)
This morning, at 10:40 AM, I found a stunning adult Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on private land in Sands Point. Right about here: 40.86798,-73.710962 I observed it at close range for about 10 minutes and took some truly, truly awful video of it which I will try and crop and post somewhere later. For those of you familiar with this area, I found the bird at an area called East Creek which is adjacent/part of Prospect Point in Sands Point (Nassau County). East Creek is a salt marsh bordering Long Island Sound and there is a wide border of dune scrub growth between the salt marsh and the sound. The bird was perching nicely on the bushes here but eventually disappeared behind the large creek that feeds this marsh. I searched for it again for about an hour before moving on. This area is unfortunately on private land. There is no access to this area by car. You can walk to it (about half to three quarters mile) by heading west from the Sands Point Preserve beach. The beachfront is of course public all the way but the salt marsh area is private village land. There was plenty of other movement in the area today, too, I’ll post results later when I get home again. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sands Point Preserve (Nassau)
I birded the Sands Point Preserve this morning from 8-10. There was quite a bit of migratory movement. Both kinglets were numerous as were Cedar Waxwing and Hermit Thrush. Warblers were limited to Palm, Yellow-rumped, and a single Black-throated Blue. Sparrows were well represented by Song, White-throated, and Chipping, plus single White-crowned and Field, and a bonus of 2 Lincoln’s. Winter Wren was also present. After the preserve, I walked along the beach to East Creek where I found the previously posted Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Still trying to upload video to an old Flickr account (what an awful web service this is). Brant were very numerous with over 1000 sitting on the out going tide mudflats, with several hundred more flying east to west in small flocks all morning. I photographed one individual with a curious white spot on the head behind the eye. It seemed to be acting different from the others, too. Nothing else on the sound save gulls and cormorants. A bonus to the flycatcher was 3 American Pipits feeding on the beach, along with several Savannah Sparrows. Hawks were curiously absent today. 2 local Red-tails were all I could find. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Northern Nassau Christmas Count, prelim results
The very preliminary results for the Northern Nassau Christmas Count, held on Saturday the 20th, was 109 species including: Barrow’s Goldeneye Red-necked Grebe Cackling Goose Greater White-fronted Goose Lesser Black-backed Gull Virginia Rail Merlin Common Raven Palm Warbler Common Yellowthroat Vesper Sparrow Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Barrier beach tundra (Jones Beach RMSP)
Soccer was canceled today (a miracle in itself) so I managed to get down to Jones Beach West End early this afternoon. My God, was it cold. At the coast guard station, there was a large cooperative flock of Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and Lapland Longspurs feeding on the lawn just east of the restroom building. Using the car as a windscreen, I was able to get out and carefully count 16 longspurs amongst about 100 buntings and larks. This is the most longspurs I have ever seen together. Good views of various plumages. I did not really look for the Bohemian Waxwing but did find several Chipping Sparrows in the median. Heading back east, there were both a light morph and dark morph Rough-legged Hawks working the median of Ocean Parkway in the vicinity of Cedar Beach. Good views, too. Finally, the previously reported Lapland Longspur was still feeding with Snow Buntings and Horned Larks in the grass at the entrance to Robert Moses SP field 5. I found another dark phase Rough-legged Hawk over the Fire Island hawk watch stand, heading east. Can’t say for sure if it was the same bird from Cedar Beach. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Raven, Central Islip (Suffolk Co)
I forgot to post this on the day of the sighting (Thu., Feb 19th). Around 4:45, I picked up my son from private soccer training at the Central Islip campus of NYIT. While driving out of the main campus road, we observed a large black bird pecking at something in the snow. It turned out to be a Common Raven. We enjoyed views of it from the car at a distance of only 10 feet. It stared at us intently, you could see the intelligence in its eye. A bit unnerving. It reminded me of the game warden’s opinion of the velociraptors in the movie Jurassic Park: “That one... when she looks at you, you can see she's working things out...They remember...” Glenn Quinn Antonio Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Red Phalarope, JBWE, YES
Red Phalarope was easily viewed on the 2nd pond this morning at 7:15AM, still happily feeding at 8:45AM when I left. Thanks to Drew H for putting me on the bird! Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Cave Swallow, Captree SP this morning
This morning, I had a lone Cave Swallow at Captree SP (Suffolk) around 10:30AM. It did not linger as it flew generally westward. Maybe this bird flew on to nearby Venetian Shores? I had gone down to the south shore in hopes of seeing more than one Franklin’s Gull in the same day. Instead, I saw less than one. You do the math there. I checked for them in the open parking lots at RMSP, Captree, Cedar Beach, and Tobay before heading home. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sands Point Preserve fall out this morning
There was a nice fallout of October migrants this morning at the Sands Point Preserve (Nassau County). Yellow-rumped Warblers (why can’t they go back to Myrtle?; easier to type, see PS note below), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Golden–crowned Kinglet (1 for every 4 Rubys) covered the ground around the pond. The kinglets seemed oblivious to my presence. Closer inspection around the pond yielded a Blackpoll, Tennessee, and Common Yellowthroat. Moving around the preserve, I found many Eastern Phoebe, Palm Warbler (most yellow), and a very very drab Pine Warbler that I got to study up close for a while. I also found one male Black-throated Blue and the last bird of the day before I left was close views of an Orange-Crowned Warbler in the shrubbery directly behind Hempstead House. Other notables were a Gray-cheeked Thrush amongst many Hermits seen today, 3 White-crowned Sparrows, a few Brown Creepers, and 4 gorgeous Wood Ducks on the pond. Hawks were 2 Sharp-shinned. 2 Red-tails, and a distant Peregrine out over Long Island Sound. White-throated Sparrow are in full force with close to 150 seen today, along with about 40 Dark-eyed Juncos. Very few American Robins (why is that?) and I struck out on Winter Wren which really annoyed me. Moving over to private land west of the preserve didn’t merit the walk into the cold wind. There were about 750 Brant on the beach and smaller skeins of 50-100 were coming in all day east to west. I also saw a few flocks of genuine Canada Geese flying over including one small flock of 8 that were impossibly high in the sky. I tried my hardest to pull a calling Dickcissel out of the dune shrubbery but I just couldn’t see it, so I’m not reporting it. (I found one in the same exact location on Sept 14). A Savannah Sparrow was also skulking in there. A lone Black-bellied Plover on the beach. Some Laughing Gulls out over an otherwise empty sound and the salt marsh was empty save a few more Palm Warblers. Cheers!! Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY PS You have no idea how hard it is to type up a report like this when you’ve three Flying Dogs in you, at 8 point 3 per cent alcohol each. Cheers again! Let’s go Mets! -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sands Point (Nassau County) Bald Eagle, Dickcissel
I played hooky from my dead-end job this morning and birded the Sands Point Preserve and adjacent land. The winds were favorable and there was decent migratory movement. The highlight was a first-year Bald Eagle that I flushed out of a tree along the preserve trail that parallels the bluffs (trail 4). It meandered lazily off to the south. Warblers at the preserve included Black-and-white, Parula, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackpoll, Wilson’s, Redstart, quite a few Yellowthroats (about 11), and great looks at a Prairie which has been very difficult for me to find in the fall at this location. Also seen were Red-Eyed Vireo, Eastern Phoebe, E Wood Pewee, several empidonax types, Veery, Scarlet Tanager, and a big Cooper’s Hawk. After the preserve, I walked west along the beach to Prospect Point and the adjacent salt marsh, where I found another great bird, a very dingy looking Dickcissel associating with House Finches in the dune shrubbery. I had to look at this bird for a while but it eventually took off and gave its distinctive flight call. I also found a late Yellow Warbler in the marsh along with 8 Bobolinks and 15 Palm Warblers. It was great to be at this location this morning, where it all started for me in September41 years ago. Returning to Hauppauge, I had 2 Common Nighthawks over the yard at about 6 30 PM. Cheers, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Northern Nassau Christmas Coutn prelim results
The Northern Nassau Christmas Count was held yesterday, Saturday, December 19th. The preliminary results are 104 species and about 19,000 individuals. The number of species is really just about average but the total individuals is far, far below all the averages (5/10/20 year). Some quick math shows that total individuals were down nearly 50 per cent from the ten year average. Two species were new to the count: a female Painted Bunting found and photographed at Caumsett State Park and a Lapland Longspur at Sands Point. Other notables included 4 Common Ravens (all different I hope), American Woodcock, Red-necked Grebe, American Kestrel, Orange-crowned Warbler, 5 Laughing Gulls, Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown Thrasher,Northern Gannet, and Turkey Vulture. The Laughing Gulls were the first on our count since a lone individual on Christmas day, 1971. I’ll try and write a more detailed report after the holidays. Merry Christmas, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Flock of Common Raven, Sands Point Preserve (Nassau)
Around 11AM this morning, a raucous flock of 9 Common Raven came in, circling and dog-fighting just over Hempstead House before moving off the preserve property to the west. This is the most I have seen on Long Island. Glenn -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Resubmission of Pacific Loon, Sands Point Preserve 02/23/2020
I was finally able to sit in front of a PC today and look at stock photos. Copy/pasted from my eBird checklist tonight: Update 02/24/2020: After viewing extensive photographs of this species in suitable plumage, I have decided to return to my original identification of Pacific Loon. The clinching photograph was here (among others): https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/207648391#_ga=2.117800015.711390853.158259 5633-1692636456.1582251840 This photo shows a bird that was remarkably similar to the one I observed in both coloration and shape. Combined with my other observations of gizz, diving habits, and observed field marks, I am now confident of the identification. --- Between hospital visits,I was able to go back to the preserve early this afternoon for an hour. The conditions on Long Island Sound were glass but I was unable to relocate this bird. Glenn -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Further analysis of loon, sp?/Pacific Loon
This morning, I paid a visit to the Sands Point Preserve, in between visiting my wife at the hospital who is trying to recover from a very serious surgery. I didn't expect to see much here in February but a Horned Lark that dropped into the parking lot at 9:30 was completely unexpected at this location. Long Island Sound was fairly quiet with the usual Common Goldeneye and Long-tailed Ducks, plus a few White-winged Scoters. Close to shore, I spotted an obvious loon that immediately caught my attention as likely not being a Common Loon (and certainly not a Red-throated Loon). The gizz was altogether different than Common Loon. It was smaller, sleeker, and lower in the water. The bill was straighter, less angular, and better proportioned with the head than Common Loon. (I often compare the head shape of Common Loons to the lumpy head of Linus from Peanuts..). At the time, the neck appeared obviously two-toned, much darker in the back and I observed a barely perceptible chin strap. The back of this bird was very dark. Overall, this bird had a very smooth, efficient profile . Its behavior made it very difficult to gather fine details, despite the water being relatively calm. It would only stay on the surface for maybe 3-4 seconds before diving and this caused me to make the mistake of constantly trying to view the chin strap instead of focusing on other finer details. The dive duration was very long, on the order of 1-1/2 to 2 minutes. The distance covered was remarkable. It would reappear at what seemed like 500-1000 feet away (those are subjective numbers) and that made it extremely difficult to relocate the bird before it dived again. It's dive "geometry" was also different than Common Loon, with a lurch (or as one website I researched called it "neck-craning", something that Common Loons do not do). There were 2 Common Loons in the area and their dive was indeed completely different. After a long absence, I relocated it again but this time I couldn't find the contrast between the side and back of head that I previously viewed (it now appeared as a warmer darker brown in this different angle I was viewing, and I couldn't get on the chin strap again. At this point, I revised my post to loon, sp. It dived again, and I lost it for good this time. I still haven't decided to repost this bird as Pacific Loon or not, but likely I will keep it as loon, sp. It would be great to here input from other birders (especially on dive behavior) on this and to keep an eye out in the western Sound in the near future. Cheers, Glenn -- 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/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] Cold Spring Harbor Spoonbill Stuff
Steve Walter's spoonbill post got me thinking. Occasionally, when I'm bored at work, I'll turn on the live East Hampton Beach Cam just to see what I can see. Surf, weather, birds, etc. I've been able to identify things like Barn Swallow, Sanderling, even LBB Gull. Would these count for Suffolk? With binoculars, light is bent through the lens arrangement to focus on your retinas. With the webcam, light is focused onto a CMOS chip, converted to zeros and ones, beamed to a satellite, beamed back to my computer, and then focused on my retinas. Same thing, right? The time difference between the two is negligible. I know, I know, it's not the same. But it is "live" in the sense of time, and very real. (Not like that great Tom Brady video this week of him playing catch with a football passing machine). What if I happen to see a Yellow-nosed Albatross cruise across my monitor one day? Can I count it and, better yet, should I even report it... The problems of the modern age. -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Flock of Common Raven, Sands Point Preserve (Nassau)
Around 11AM this morning, a raucous flock of 9 Common Raven came in, circling and dog-fighting just over Hempstead House before moving off the preserve property to the west. This is the most I have seen on Long Island. Glenn -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Further analysis of loon, sp?/Pacific Loon
This morning, I paid a visit to the Sands Point Preserve, in between visiting my wife at the hospital who is trying to recover from a very serious surgery. I didn't expect to see much here in February but a Horned Lark that dropped into the parking lot at 9:30 was completely unexpected at this location. Long Island Sound was fairly quiet with the usual Common Goldeneye and Long-tailed Ducks, plus a few White-winged Scoters. Close to shore, I spotted an obvious loon that immediately caught my attention as likely not being a Common Loon (and certainly not a Red-throated Loon). The gizz was altogether different than Common Loon. It was smaller, sleeker, and lower in the water. The bill was straighter, less angular, and better proportioned with the head than Common Loon. (I often compare the head shape of Common Loons to the lumpy head of Linus from Peanuts..). At the time, the neck appeared obviously two-toned, much darker in the back and I observed a barely perceptible chin strap. The back of this bird was very dark. Overall, this bird had a very smooth, efficient profile . Its behavior made it very difficult to gather fine details, despite the water being relatively calm. It would only stay on the surface for maybe 3-4 seconds before diving and this caused me to make the mistake of constantly trying to view the chin strap instead of focusing on other finer details. The dive duration was very long, on the order of 1-1/2 to 2 minutes. The distance covered was remarkable. It would reappear at what seemed like 500-1000 feet away (those are subjective numbers) and that made it extremely difficult to relocate the bird before it dived again. It's dive "geometry" was also different than Common Loon, with a lurch (or as one website I researched called it "neck-craning", something that Common Loons do not do). There were 2 Common Loons in the area and their dive was indeed completely different. After a long absence, I relocated it again but this time I couldn't find the contrast between the side and back of head that I previously viewed (it now appeared as a warmer darker brown in this different angle I was viewing, and I couldn't get on the chin strap again. At this point, I revised my post to loon, sp. It dived again, and I lost it for good this time. I still haven't decided to repost this bird as Pacific Loon or not, but likely I will keep it as loon, sp. It would be great to here input from other birders (especially on dive behavior) on this and to keep an eye out in the western Sound in the near future. Cheers, Glenn -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Resubmission of Pacific Loon, Sands Point Preserve 02/23/2020
I was finally able to sit in front of a PC today and look at stock photos. Copy/pasted from my eBird checklist tonight: Update 02/24/2020: After viewing extensive photographs of this species in suitable plumage, I have decided to return to my original identification of Pacific Loon. The clinching photograph was here (among others): https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/207648391#_ga=2.117800015.711390853.158259 5633-1692636456.1582251840 This photo shows a bird that was remarkably similar to the one I observed in both coloration and shape. Combined with my other observations of gizz, diving habits, and observed field marks, I am now confident of the identification. --- Between hospital visits,I was able to go back to the preserve early this afternoon for an hour. The conditions on Long Island Sound were glass but I was unable to relocate this bird. Glenn -- 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/ --
Re:[nysbirds-l] Cold Spring Harbor Spoonbill Stuff
Steve Walter's spoonbill post got me thinking. Occasionally, when I'm bored at work, I'll turn on the live East Hampton Beach Cam just to see what I can see. Surf, weather, birds, etc. I've been able to identify things like Barn Swallow, Sanderling, even LBB Gull. Would these count for Suffolk? With binoculars, light is bent through the lens arrangement to focus on your retinas. With the webcam, light is focused onto a CMOS chip, converted to zeros and ones, beamed to a satellite, beamed back to my computer, and then focused on my retinas. Same thing, right? The time difference between the two is negligible. I know, I know, it's not the same. But it is "live" in the sense of time, and very real. (Not like that great Tom Brady video this week of him playing catch with a football passing machine). What if I happen to see a Yellow-nosed Albatross cruise across my monitor one day? Can I count it and, better yet, should I even report it... The problems of the modern age. -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawk
Greetings! Had a lone Common Nighthawk over my house in Hauppauge (Suffolk county) this evening at 6:35. It was fairly low and flying direct, not stopping for anything, heading roughly NE. First one this fall for me. Cheers, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawks, Hauppauge
Greetings, 2 Common Nighthawks over my house in Hauppauge (Suffolk county) this evening. Very similar to my 20 August post, these flew over at 6:30 PM, heading NE. I would not have seen them, had I not been lifting a cold bottle of Peroni to my lips, having just finished cutting the grass that my son could not find the time to do all day today while I was at work. Is that a run on sentence? Cheers! Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawks
I’m having luck with Common Nighthawks this fall. I counted 6 in one group late this afternoon (7:10 PM) on the Orient ferry as we passed Plum Island, and another lone individual at 7:30PM. All were heading west. Nothing else of note on the water. Cheers, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sands Point Preserve- impressive migration
The Sands Point Preserve (Nassau County) was extremely active this morning from 8:30AM thru noon, reminiscent of the good ole days in the late 70s, and worth the $10 dollar fleecing today. Highlights were 17 species of warblers (especially noteworthy was CAPE MAY WARBLER, notoriously difficult for me at this locale over the past few decades), 2 PHILADELPHIA VIREOS, and OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. Warbler numbers were truly impressive. Sunlit trees by the pond were swarming and from the cliff trail you could see warblers coming in off Long Island Sound from points north. Selected numbers appear below: Ruby-throated Hummingbird Eastern Phoebe Eastern Wood Pewee empidonax/Least (5) Olive-sided Flycatcher Swainson’s Thrush Red-eyed Vireo (20) Philadelphia Vireo (2) Black-and-White Warbler (2) Blue-winged Warbler (2) Tennessee Warbler (12) Nashville Warbler Northern Parula (45) Magnolia Warbler (15) Cape May Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler (6) Black-throated Green Warbler (25) Blackburnian Warbler (5) Chestnut-sided Warbler (9) Bay-breasted Warbler (2) Pine Warbler Ovenbird Common Yellowthroat (2) Canada Warbler American Redstart (18) Scarlet Tanager (6) Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Cheers, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Preliminary results: Northern Nassau Christmas Count
The Northern Nassau Christmas Count was held on the Winter Solstice, Saturday, December 21st. Although it was the shortest day of the year, we recorded 118 species. The record for our count is 119 species in 1973. New species for the count were Black Guillemot, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Seaside Sparrow. Other rarities included Greater White-fronted Goose, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Cackling Goose, Eurasion Wigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Bald Eagle, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Vesper Sparrow. The Black Guillemot was still being seen as of today, details can be found on the New York Birds mailing list or here if you are not subscribed: http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 I’ll post a more detailed summary of the count once I have had time to analyze the data. Merry Christmas, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Final Results---Northern Nassau Christmas Count
The Northern Nassau Christmas Count was held on Saturday, December 21st, the winter solstice. Although it was the shortest day of the year, 80 observers braved temperatures in the 50s and found a near-record 117 species. Three species were new to the count: Lesser Yellowlegs—a single bird found in Manhasset and photographed standing next to the only Greater Yellowlegs found on the count. What are the odds? If there was such thing as a Medium Yellowlegs, I’m sure it would have been standing between them. Seaside Sparrow--- a superbly photographed individual found at Caumsett SP by the same observer who found a count first Nelson’s Sparrow last year in the same location. Black Guillemot---a remarkable find of a continuing individual found on the eastern side of Hempstead Harbor. Probably the first record for western (or all of) Long Island Sound. This brings the cumulative number of species seen on this count to 198. Perhaps next year some lucky individual will find our 200th species. With Razorbill and Black Guillemot already on the list...maybe Dovekie will be number 200.. Other rarities found included 2 Greater White-fronted Geese (3rd count ever, 2 out of last 3) Cackling Goose (2nd count ever, last 2 counts) 2 Barrow’s Goldeneyes (4th count ever, all singles until now). King Eider (3rd count ever, 2 out of last 3) 2 Eurasian Wigeons 3 Bald Eagles (4th count ever, all singles until now) Red-headed Woodpecker (5th count ever, 1st since 2002). Horned Lark (1st since 1998) Vesper Sparrow (1st since 1994) New high counts were achieved for many species including Canada Goose (14677), Ruddy Duck (1388), Red-tailed Hawk (60), Merlin (7), Red-bellied Woodpecker (218), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (33, shattering the old record of 19), Carolina Wren (194), American Pipit (5), and Song Sparrow (474). How we can find 474 Song Sparrows but only 182 House Sparrows is a mystery to me, but I’m not complaining. House Sparrows were down 65% of their 10-year average. Rock Pigeons were down 72%; we only counted 143. Really? Did we just ignore these nuisance species this year or did the warm weather push all counters deeper into the woods? Hmmm.. Also, in case you were wondering about our spiraling Canada Goose numbers, the Montezuma, NY Christmas Count recorded 51, 239 on last year’s count (the most in the United States). However, I think most of these were true migratory geese and not the feral slobs we have here in Nassau. If only we could tax them. 6864 Greater Scaup was below the 5-year average of 14,000 but they could easily have been in neighboring waters outside our count circle. There were only a very few number of species that could be considered as “misses” for our count, namely, Black-crowned Night Heron, Purple Sandpiper (seen count week), Chipping Sparrow, & Purple Finch. After 3 years in a row, Common Raven was absent from our count. Count week birds included 6 Razorbills, Purple Sandpiper, & Lesser Black-backed Gull. Red-throated & Common Loons were down 89% & 64%, respectively, from their 10 year averages but Horned Grebe was way up with 134 seen. Most ducks were up but especially Common Goldeneye (up 135% of its 10 year average). Long-tailed Duck was actually down a bit. Both of our resident owls (Great Horned & Screech) were found in normal numbers. Everyone had high hopes that a Snowy Owl would be found this year, given the numbers that they have appeared in on Long Island this winter. However, our count circle is probably the least likely area to find this bird on Long Island and the odds prevailed. 2 American Kestrels were found this year, an admirable achievement these days but to see that they were outnumbered by Merlins better than 3 to 1 is truly astounding. In 1973, we recorded 27 kestrels on our count (and 2 Merlins). A few area counts conducted in the prior weeks remarked on the paucity of Black-capped Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse. However, both species were found in numbers representative of their 5, 10, & 20 year averages. In fact, almost all landbirds were near or higher than their averages. Some exceptions to this included lower than average numbers of both kinglets, White-throated Sparrow, & Dark-eyed Junco. Some numbers to leave you dizzy: This year, we saw about 45,000 individuals which matches the average for the last 5 years. The 10 & 20 year averages are about 36,000 & 32,000, respectively. Much of this volume can be attributed to a handful of species. Removing just 5 high-volume species (Canada Goose, Greater Scaup, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Starling) dropped the total from 45,000 to 17,000. However, 17,000 is well above the 5, 10, 20 year averages so it seems like we’re seeing more birds on our count. Whether this is due to more participants, weather, or some other factor is up to the Audubon folks to figure out. And finally, some useless stats from the spreadsheet: Only 22 out of 198 species have
[nysbirds-l] Red-headed Woodpecker, Hauppauge (Suffolk)
Today, I observed the immature Red-headed Woodpecker that has taken up residence in my yard and my neighbor’s yard since November 22nd. Since I first saw it on the 22nd, it spends all its time caching food in the various large oak trees on the properties. It never comes to any of the suet feeders and aggressively chases other birds, even Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and even squirrels once in a while. Nice bird for New Years Day. Not sure what it’s doing in such a suburban setting. We’ll see how it does with tomorrow’s storm and Friday’s temperatures. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Red-headed Woodpecker still present, Hauppauge (Suffolk)
The immature Red-headed Woodpecker, present since November 22nd in my neighbor’s yard (and sometimes my yard), was still there as of today. Since it arrived, it has been caching food in the various oak trees on adjacent properties. It almost never ventures below about 20 feet and I have never seen it at any of the feeders. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Red-headed Woodpecker tempting fate
The Red-headed Woodpecker was again in my neighbor’s yard this weekend, sporting quite a bit of red now. This makes exactly four months since it showed up on November 22nd. It seems to have weathered Mother Nature’s worst. However, yesterday, with all the snow melt and its caches probably depleted, I saw it foraging for acorns on the ground near my neighbor’s porch. This will almost certainly be its death sentence as my neighbor’s cats are absolute killers. I’ll continue to report on any future sightings. Cheers, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Red-headed Woodpecker, Hauppauge
Red-headed Woodpecker still present in Hauppauge (Suffolk) today, along with a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Also, a lone Turkey Vulture heading north over Motor Parkway in Hauppauge, yesterday. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Red-headed Woodpecker, Hauppauge
The Red-headed Woodpecker made a brief appearance this morning in my neighbor’s trees. It’s not the “Lord God” bird but it’ll do on this Easter Sunday! Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawk, Hauppauge
Just saw a Common Nighthawk over my yard in Hauppauge, in very direct straight flight, heading due east, maybe 100 or 150 feet off the ground. Very early. Not a kestrel/merlin. No sightings north of NC on the ebird map. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Blydenburgh CP (Suffolk) including Forster's Terns
I dropped off my daughter this morning for a lacrosse scrimmage and, instead of staying to watch the scintillating action that is 10th-grade girls’ lacrosse , I spent a few hours in Blydenburgh County Park (southern end off route 454). I’ve found this park to be normally quiet during spring migration but today there were 12 species of warblers, most of them low enough in the trees to make for enjoyable viewing. Bay-breasted & Blackpoll were about the most noteworthy, all other being common warblers. Other migrants included Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Swainson’s Thrush (several), Wood Thrush, & Swamp Sparrow. The most interesting sighting was the presence of 2 pairs of Forster’s Terns in the southern end of the pond. They sat together on the two signs in the middle of the pond and occasionally brought each other fish. I've seen Forster's Terns here before in the spring but just coursing back and forth over the pond. A 5th tern was also present today but seemed to be the odd man out. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawks, Suffolk County
Greetings, My son had soccer practice tonight at Veteran’s Park in East Northport (Suffolk County) from 7:45-9PM. Right about here: 40.885167, -73.321511 There are 2 large turf fields at this location with stadium lighting. 6 Common Nighthawks spent the entire practice hawking insects directly above the practicing boys. Very neat. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Nighthawks, Hauppauge
18 Common Nighthawks over the Hauppauge High School (Suffolk County) at 6PM. It looked like more were coming thru but I couldn’t stay any longer. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Black Tern, Sands Point Preserve
Landbird migration was so-so at the Sands Point Preserve (Nassau County) this morning. There was one nice wave of warblers, about 20 individuals, comprised mostly of Black-throated Blue, Parula, Blackpoll, and American Redstart. The highlight of the day was a single Black Tern, loosely associating with about a half-dozen sterna-type terns, out over Long Island Sound. The lowlight of the day was the condition of the preserve. Not sure what the folks are up to there. There is only one water feature in the entire preserve and it’s a traditional beacon for migrants. Today, my jaw dropped when I saw that every last leaf of vegetation has been removed around the entire perimeter of the pond, right down to bare earth. A travesty for the wildlife and a clear sign of the transition from preserve to park. And it’s still ten dollars to get in. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER, Sands Point (Nassau)
This morning, at 10:40 AM, I found a stunning adult Scissor-tailed Flycatcher on private land in Sands Point. Right about here: 40.86798,-73.710962 I observed it at close range for about 10 minutes and took some truly, truly awful video of it which I will try and crop and post somewhere later. For those of you familiar with this area, I found the bird at an area called East Creek which is adjacent/part of Prospect Point in Sands Point (Nassau County). East Creek is a salt marsh bordering Long Island Sound and there is a wide border of dune scrub growth between the salt marsh and the sound. The bird was perching nicely on the bushes here but eventually disappeared behind the large creek that feeds this marsh. I searched for it again for about an hour before moving on. This area is unfortunately on private land. There is no access to this area by car. You can walk to it (about half to three quarters mile) by heading west from the Sands Point Preserve beach. The beachfront is of course public all the way but the salt marsh area is private village land. There was plenty of other movement in the area today, too, I’ll post results later when I get home again. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sands Point Preserve (Nassau)
I birded the Sands Point Preserve this morning from 8-10. There was quite a bit of migratory movement. Both kinglets were numerous as were Cedar Waxwing and Hermit Thrush. Warblers were limited to Palm, Yellow-rumped, and a single Black-throated Blue. Sparrows were well represented by Song, White-throated, and Chipping, plus single White-crowned and Field, and a bonus of 2 Lincoln’s. Winter Wren was also present. After the preserve, I walked along the beach to East Creek where I found the previously posted Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Still trying to upload video to an old Flickr account (what an awful web service this is). Brant were very numerous with over 1000 sitting on the out going tide mudflats, with several hundred more flying east to west in small flocks all morning. I photographed one individual with a curious white spot on the head behind the eye. It seemed to be acting different from the others, too. Nothing else on the sound save gulls and cormorants. A bonus to the flycatcher was 3 American Pipits feeding on the beach, along with several Savannah Sparrows. Hawks were curiously absent today. 2 local Red-tails were all I could find. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Northern Nassau Christmas Count, prelim results
The very preliminary results for the Northern Nassau Christmas Count, held on Saturday the 20th, was 109 species including: Barrow’s Goldeneye Red-necked Grebe Cackling Goose Greater White-fronted Goose Lesser Black-backed Gull Virginia Rail Merlin Common Raven Palm Warbler Common Yellowthroat Vesper Sparrow Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Barrier beach tundra (Jones Beach & RMSP)
Soccer was canceled today (a miracle in itself) so I managed to get down to Jones Beach West End early this afternoon. My God, was it cold. At the coast guard station, there was a large cooperative flock of Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and Lapland Longspurs feeding on the lawn just east of the restroom building. Using the car as a windscreen, I was able to get out and carefully count 16 longspurs amongst about 100 buntings and larks. This is the most longspurs I have ever seen together. Good views of various plumages. I did not really look for the Bohemian Waxwing but did find several Chipping Sparrows in the median. Heading back east, there were both a light morph and dark morph Rough-legged Hawks working the median of Ocean Parkway in the vicinity of Cedar Beach. Good views, too. Finally, the previously reported Lapland Longspur was still feeding with Snow Buntings and Horned Larks in the grass at the entrance to Robert Moses SP field 5. I found another dark phase Rough-legged Hawk over the Fire Island hawk watch stand, heading east. Can’t say for sure if it was the same bird from Cedar Beach. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Common Raven, Central Islip (Suffolk Co)
I forgot to post this on the day of the sighting (Thu., Feb 19th). Around 4:45, I picked up my son from private soccer training at the Central Islip campus of NYIT. While driving out of the main campus road, we observed a large black bird pecking at something in the snow. It turned out to be a Common Raven. We enjoyed views of it from the car at a distance of only 10 feet. It stared at us intently, you could see the intelligence in its eye. A bit unnerving. It reminded me of the game warden’s opinion of the velociraptors in the movie Jurassic Park: “That one... when she looks at you, you can see she's working things out...They remember...” Glenn Quinn Antonio Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.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/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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Red Phalarope, JBWE, YES
Red Phalarope was easily viewed on the 2nd pond this morning at 7:15AM, still happily feeding at 8:45AM when I left. Thanks to Drew H for putting me on the bird! Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sands Point (Nassau County) Bald Eagle, Dickcissel
I played hooky from my dead-end job this morning and birded the Sands Point Preserve and adjacent land. The winds were favorable and there was decent migratory movement. The highlight was a first-year Bald Eagle that I flushed out of a tree along the preserve trail that parallels the bluffs (trail 4). It meandered lazily off to the south. Warblers at the preserve included Black-and-white, Parula, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackpoll, Wilson’s, Redstart, quite a few Yellowthroats (about 11), and great looks at a Prairie which has been very difficult for me to find in the fall at this location. Also seen were Red-Eyed Vireo, Eastern Phoebe, E Wood Pewee, several empidonax types, Veery, Scarlet Tanager, and a big Cooper’s Hawk. After the preserve, I walked west along the beach to Prospect Point and the adjacent salt marsh, where I found another great bird, a very dingy looking Dickcissel associating with House Finches in the dune shrubbery. I had to look at this bird for a while but it eventually took off and gave its distinctive flight call. I also found a late Yellow Warbler in the marsh along with 8 Bobolinks and 15 Palm Warblers. It was great to be at this location this morning, where it all started for me in September41 years ago. Returning to Hauppauge, I had 2 Common Nighthawks over the yard at about 6 30 PM. Cheers, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Sands Point Preserve fall out this morning
There was a nice fallout of October migrants this morning at the Sands Point Preserve (Nassau County). Yellow-rumped Warblers (why can’t they go back to Myrtle?; easier to type, see PS note below), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Golden–crowned Kinglet (1 for every 4 Rubys) covered the ground around the pond. The kinglets seemed oblivious to my presence. Closer inspection around the pond yielded a Blackpoll, Tennessee, and Common Yellowthroat. Moving around the preserve, I found many Eastern Phoebe, Palm Warbler (most yellow), and a very very drab Pine Warbler that I got to study up close for a while. I also found one male Black-throated Blue and the last bird of the day before I left was close views of an Orange-Crowned Warbler in the shrubbery directly behind Hempstead House. Other notables were a Gray-cheeked Thrush amongst many Hermits seen today, 3 White-crowned Sparrows, a few Brown Creepers, and 4 gorgeous Wood Ducks on the pond. Hawks were 2 Sharp-shinned. 2 Red-tails, and a distant Peregrine out over Long Island Sound. White-throated Sparrow are in full force with close to 150 seen today, along with about 40 Dark-eyed Juncos. Very few American Robins (why is that?) and I struck out on Winter Wren which really annoyed me. Moving over to private land west of the preserve didn’t merit the walk into the cold wind. There were about 750 Brant on the beach and smaller skeins of 50-100 were coming in all day east to west. I also saw a few flocks of genuine Canada Geese flying over including one small flock of 8 that were impossibly high in the sky. I tried my hardest to pull a calling Dickcissel out of the dune shrubbery but I just couldn’t see it, so I’m not reporting it. (I found one in the same exact location on Sept 14). A Savannah Sparrow was also skulking in there. A lone Black-bellied Plover on the beach. Some Laughing Gulls out over an otherwise empty sound and the salt marsh was empty save a few more Palm Warblers. Cheers!! Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY PS You have no idea how hard it is to type up a report like this when you’ve three Flying Dogs in you, at 8 point 3 per cent alcohol each. Cheers again! Let’s go Mets! -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Cave Swallow, Captree SP this morning
This morning, I had a lone Cave Swallow at Captree SP (Suffolk) around 10:30AM. It did not linger as it flew generally westward. Maybe this bird flew on to nearby Venetian Shores? I had gone down to the south shore in hopes of seeing more than one Franklin’s Gull in the same day. Instead, I saw less than one. You do the math there. I checked for them in the open parking lots at RMSP, Captree, Cedar Beach, and Tobay before heading home. Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY -- 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/ --
[nysbirds-l] Northern Nassau Christmas Coutn prelim results
The Northern Nassau Christmas Count was held yesterday, Saturday, December 19th. The preliminary results are 104 species and about 19,000 individuals. The number of species is really just about average but the total individuals is far, far below all the averages (5/10/20 year). Some quick math shows that total individuals were down nearly 50 per cent from the ten year average. Two species were new to the count: a female Painted Bunting found and photographed at Caumsett State Park and a Lapland Longspur at Sands Point. Other notables included 4 Common Ravens (all different I hope), American Woodcock, Red-necked Grebe, American Kestrel, Orange-crowned Warbler, 5 Laughing Gulls, Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown Thrasher,Northern Gannet, and Turkey Vulture. The Laughing Gulls were the first on our count since a lone individual on Christmas day, 1971. I’ll try and write a more detailed report after the holidays. Merry Christmas, Glenn Quinn Hauppauge, NY -- 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/ --
