Re: [nysbirds-l] LEAST BITTERN & Clapper Rails (Dune Road); Vesper & Grasshopper sparrows (Gabreskie Airport)
The multi-home driveway John mentions; 40.82121,-72.553164 - Google Maps -- 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] LEAST BITTERN & Clapper Rails (Dune Road); Vesper & Grasshopper sparrows (Gabreskie Airport)
After a relatively unproductive foggy morning of birding at Sunken Meadow State Park, and being fogged out of seawatching at both Robert Moses State Park and Shinnecock Inlet, I did a slow cruise down Dune Road (Westhampton). The tide was high, pushing shorebirds up into view of the road. The largest gatherings though were at Tiana Beach and at the end of Triton Lane. At the former, good numbers of Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings, and Semipalmated Sandpipers were either loafing on the floating docks and the rock-reinforced shoreline, or busy feeding along the sandy stretches of beach. Among the feeding birds were 2 breeding-plumaged RED KNOTS. At Triton Lane the Turnstones and Sanderlings were joined by several Dunlin. But the real highlight of the tour came a bit farther west of Triton Lane. I spotted a Black-crowned Night-Heron crouched on the far side of a ditch, poised to strike, so I pulled over. I was able to get a few photos of the bird before it flew off. As I was doing so I could hear CLAPPER RAILS calling. As I got out of the car I quickly determined that the calls were coming from across the road (south side), on the far side of a flooded area bordered by phragmites. In short order I spotted a pair of Clappers, who then proceeded to copulate before slipping back into the reeds. As I turned to leave, I did a double take. There, standing stock still and completely exposed was...a LEAST BITTERN! I kept my cool just enough to smoothly (kind of) get back to the car for my scope, praying the bird wouldn't bolt for cover. Thankfully it stayed put long enough for several digiscoped photos and video. But when I looked down to alter my camera settings, the bird did a disappearing act. But it hadn't gone far, just to edge of the reeds across the water. I was able to get a few more photos of the bird in more a more typical pose there, perching tenuously to reed stalks with each foot. Miraculously I even got a shot of the bird just after it had grabbed a surprisingly large fish. It then clambered into deeper cover to eat and digest its catch. This flooded spot is behind a split rail fence west of Triton Lane and immediately east of the driveway for 41-55 Dune Road, which is marked by a white sign. After that bit of excitement, I headed over to Gabreskie Airport for the express purpose of looking for VESPER SPARROWS. In very little time I was successful, seeing birds perched on the perimeter chain link fence, feeding on the ground, and flying back and forth across the road. Other notable species present included GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, E. Meadowlark (both heard only), Horned Lark (display flights), American Kestrel and E. Kingbird. Photos of the Least Bittern and Vesper Sparrow will be up shortly at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgluth_brb/sets/72157626094030203/ -- 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] LEAST BITTERN Clapper Rails (Dune Road); Vesper Grasshopper sparrows (Gabreskie Airport)
After a relatively unproductive foggy morning of birding at Sunken Meadow State Park, and being fogged out of seawatching at both Robert Moses State Park and Shinnecock Inlet, I did a slow cruise down Dune Road (Westhampton). The tide was high, pushing shorebirds up into view of the road. The largest gatherings though were at Tiana Beach and at the end of Triton Lane. At the former, good numbers of Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings, and Semipalmated Sandpipers were either loafing on the floating docks and the rock-reinforced shoreline, or busy feeding along the sandy stretches of beach. Among the feeding birds were 2 breeding-plumaged RED KNOTS. At Triton Lane the Turnstones and Sanderlings were joined by several Dunlin. But the real highlight of the tour came a bit farther west of Triton Lane. I spotted a Black-crowned Night-Heron crouched on the far side of a ditch, poised to strike, so I pulled over. I was able to get a few photos of the bird before it flew off. As I was doing so I could hear CLAPPER RAILS calling. As I got out of the car I quickly determined that the calls were coming from across the road (south side), on the far side of a flooded area bordered by phragmites. In short order I spotted a pair of Clappers, who then proceeded to copulate before slipping back into the reeds. As I turned to leave, I did a double take. There, standing stock still and completely exposed was...a LEAST BITTERN! I kept my cool just enough to smoothly (kind of) get back to the car for my scope, praying the bird wouldn't bolt for cover. Thankfully it stayed put long enough for several digiscoped photos and video. But when I looked down to alter my camera settings, the bird did a disappearing act. But it hadn't gone far, just to edge of the reeds across the water. I was able to get a few more photos of the bird in more a more typical pose there, perching tenuously to reed stalks with each foot. Miraculously I even got a shot of the bird just after it had grabbed a surprisingly large fish. It then clambered into deeper cover to eat and digest its catch. This flooded spot is behind a split rail fence west of Triton Lane and immediately east of the driveway for 41-55 Dune Road, which is marked by a white sign. After that bit of excitement, I headed over to Gabreskie Airport for the express purpose of looking for VESPER SPARROWS. In very little time I was successful, seeing birds perched on the perimeter chain link fence, feeding on the ground, and flying back and forth across the road. Other notable species present included GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, E. Meadowlark (both heard only), Horned Lark (display flights), American Kestrel and E. Kingbird. Photos of the Least Bittern and Vesper Sparrow will be up shortly at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgluth_brb/sets/72157626094030203/ -- 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/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] LEAST BITTERN Clapper Rails (Dune Road); Vesper Grasshopper sparrows (Gabreskie Airport)
The multi-home driveway John mentions; 40.82121,-72.553164 - Google Maps -- 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/ --
