RBA
New York
Eastern Long Island
18 August 2006
NYEE0608.18
***East End Birds, 18 August 2006
***Covering the towns of Southampton, East Hampton, Shelter Island, Southold &
Riverhead on the eastern end of Long Island, New York
***This report is distributed by e-mail only. If you would like to receive East End
Birds, contact hmcguinness@ross.org
***Visit East End Birds on line at www.ross.org/~hmcguinness
***Volume 8, Number 34
HIGHLIGHTS
Bald Eagle, Marbled Godwit, ARCTIC TERN, Caspian Tern, and Red-headed Woodpecker.
OK, I'm back in the saddle again. Let's get to the birds.
At Pikes Beach in Westhampton Dunes the ROYAL TERN numbers are beginning to build.
On Aug 8 there were 26 (JF), while on Aug 13 there were 55 (SM).
At Cupsogue County Park there was an immature ARCTIC TERN, 2 BLACK TERNS and 40 RED
KNOTS on Aug 5 (SS). On Aug 11, there were 2 CLAPPER RAILS, 2 BLACK TERNS and a
LITTLE BLUE HERON (BA, AM). On Aug 13 there were 3 BLACK TERNS, 1 PEREGRINE FALCON &
1 MERLIN (DG, RJ).
Between Pikes and Cupsogue County Park there were 7 BLACK TERNS, 1 WHIMBREL, 1
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, 2 WESTERN WILLETS, and a PEREGRINE FALCON on Aug 3 (KF).
In Eastport a CASPIAN TERN was seen from the deck of Trumpert's Restaurant on Aug 8
(RA).
>From Shinnecock Bay comes word of a WHIMBREL at the Shinnecock Bridge on Aug 10
(JF), which was still present on Aug 13. A MARBLED GODWIT was found at the Bridge
on Aug 13 (TJD), while 5 ROYAL TERNS were seen nearby (AJL).
After the Mecox cut was opened to the ocean in early August shorebirds began
appearing. Two MARBLED GODWITS arrived on Aug 4 (W&GBk) and at least one was still
present on Aug 13; Aug 9 was the last date on which two were seen. Three PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS and a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER were present on Aug 5 (HM, SS). An immature
ARCTIC TERN was spotted on Aug 8 (AB). A BLACK TERN was present on Aug 10 (CG).
Parking at Mecox is tricky and requires either a permit (no day permits issued for
these spots) or that you arrive after 5pm, or be gone from the parking lots by 9am.
There is parking on Dune Road on both the east and west sides of the cut, but
remember that if you do not have a permit, be sure to time your visit accordingly.
Early morning and evening are the best times to bird the flat at Mecox.
A COMMON NIGHTHAWK was spotted winging its way over Davis Creek in North Sea on 11
Aug (W&GBk).
On Aug 11 an EASTERN SCREECH OWL was heard, and then seen, along Rte 114 in East
Hampton (SK), and serves as a reminder that this species becomes quite vocal in late
July and August.
A TRICOLORED HERON was at Georgica Pond on Aug 12, while 5 WHIMBRELS were at Sammy's
Beach in Three Mile Harbor (K&BRu).
A WHIMBREL was in Accabonac Harbor, which is often a good place to find this
species, on Aug 5 (K&BRu).
An immature BALD EAGLE was seen at the Walking Dunes in Napeague on Jul 30 (EM). A
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH appeared in a Lazy Point yard on Aug 6 (LB).
Shorebird activity is picking up at Rita's Stables in Montauk. On Aug 10 there were
PECTORAL and SOLITARY SANDPIPERS present (VB).
The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER that has been frequenting the entrance to the Swan Lake
Golf Course in Calverton was last reported on Aug 5 (JO).
SCOTT WEIDENSAUL TO SPEAK IN EAST HAMPTON SATURDAY
Scott Weidensaul, author of Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search for the
Continent's Natural Soul, will speak at the Nature Conservancy offices in East
Hampton on Saturday August 19 at 5pm. Weidensaul is the author of more than two
dozen books on natural history, including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Living on the
Wind, about migratory birds. Weidensaul writes for such publications as Smithsonian,
Audubon, Nature Conservancy and International Wildlife. He lives in the mountains of
eastern Pennsylvania, where he studies the migration of hawks, owls and
hummingbirds.
Mr. Weidensaul will discuss his new book, Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search
for the Continent's Natural Soul. In 1955, naturalists Roger Tory Peterson and James
Fisher published their bestselling book Wild America, chronicling a now-legendary
30,000 mile trip across North America. Fifty years later, Mr. Weidensaul has
retraced their epic journey to see what we've gained and lost, and to catch a
glimpse of what the future holds for wildlife and wild lands. From the great seabird
cliffs of Newfoundland to the cypress swamps of Florida, from the cloud forests of
the Sierra Madre in Mexico to lonely islands far out in the Bering Sea, Weidensaul
searches out the wild heart of the continent-and finds it strong.
Refreshments will follow Mr. Weidensaul's talk. The Nature Conservancy offices can
be found along Rte 114 about one quarter mile south of Stephan Hands Path.
JOHN BULL DEAD AT 92
For those of you who haven't heard, John Bull passed away last Friday at the age of
92. John's books, Birds of the New York City Area and Birds of New York State which
were published in the 1960s and 70s, stand out as models for those who would author
a historical record of regional ornithology. I still use these books regularly, and
couldn't begin to estimate the number of hours I have whiled away reading the specie
accounts and looking at the maps. It was John's books that inspired me as a teenager
to hone my field birding skills. His Aug 15 New York Times obituary is reprinted
below.
"John L. Bull, a largely self-taught ornithologist and educator whose definitive
guidebooks to New York State birds led a generation of birders into the woods, died
on Friday in Queens. He was 92. Mr. Bull's death was confirmed by his family.
A research assistant at the American Museum of Natural History, Mr. Bull led popular
birding tours of Long Island and Central Park in the 1960's and 70's and
meticulously kept track of the species and the state of their habitat.
In 1964, he wrote a book, "Birds of the New York Area," intended for would-be
birders living in the suburbs of New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut and for
those in Manhattan itself, a prime birding destination. It covered the mourning
doves of Central Park to the horned grebes off Montauk Point.
Mr. Bull later expanded his reach and wrote about all of the 410 bird species that
had been recorded throughout New York State. That book, "Birds of New York State,"
which was published in 1974, was the first exhaustive survey of the subject in 60
years. Another researcher, E.H. Eaton, had recorded only 366 bird species in 1914.
In Mr. Bull's book, he noted the new or increased counts of species usually found at
more southerly latitudes - like the snowy egret - and suggested that a milder
climate might be at work in changing migration patterns.
Joel L. Cracraft, curator in charge of the ornithology department at the American
Museum of Natural History, said the guidebook was "a first-rate state bird book."
"At the time," Dr. Cracraft said, "there was not a high-quality and professional
account of the great diversity of New York's species and their distributions."
He continued, "John Bull did not want to take an anecdotal approach."
With binoculars in hand in the Ramble in Central Park, which is under one of the
main flyways of migrating birds, and in countless spots in Queens and Nassau
Counties, Mr. Bull quietly made his observations.
In an interview in The New York Times in Feb. 6, 1972, he lamented, "as roads and
homes and stores continue to be built, the number of birding spots declines in
proportion." Yet he remained optimistic, adding, "But there is nothing like getting
out on a crisp morning with a destination, or a dozen destinations, in mind."
In 1977, Mr. Bull and John Farrand Jr. used color photographs to illustrate their
book "National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region."
Dr. Cracraft said the book was a departure from past guidebooks, which had heavily
depended on drawings and paintings to make distinctions among species.
John Lewis Bull was born in Manhattan on Feb. 28, 1914. He identified a red-headed
woodpecker at age 11, and the woodpecker remained his favorite bird.
He joined the American Museum of Natural History in 1962 and officially retired as a
field associate in 1983. But he continued to lead birding tours as far away as
Egypt, South Africa and the Galápagos Islands.
Mr. Bull is survived by his wife, Edith, of Far Rockaway, Queens; his daughter,
Doris Kraus, a marine biologist and writer, of Miami; and by three grandchildren.
Mr. Bull was often accompanied by his wife, an educator at the museum, on birding
journeys. In 1989, the couple collaborated on a book, "Birds of North America:
Western Region: A Quick Identification Guide for All Bird-Watchers."
Remarking on the mourning doves that he spotted in Central Park, Mr. Bull observed:
"They are the most monogamous birds I've ever watched. They always travel in pairs."
This week I received reports from Robert Adamo, Linda Badkin, Andy Baldelli, Willy &
Gerry Becker (W&GBk), Vicki Bustamante, Thomas J Dunkerton, Ed Feeley, John Fritz,
Ken Fuestel, Chris Gangemi, Doug Gochfeld, Dan Heglund, Rob Jett, Sam Kramer,
Anthony J Lauro, Evan Marks, Hugh McGuinness, Shai Mitra, Andy Murphy, Jim
Osterlund, Karen & Barbara Rubinstein (K&BRu), Sean Sime, and Robert W. Wilson.
Good Birding to All!
Hugh McGuinness
The Ross School
18 Goodfriend Park
East Hampton, NY 11937
To send in reports:
hmcguinness@ross.org
631-907-5229 (weekdays)
631-725-6037 (nights & weekends)
New York
Eastern Long Island
18 August 2006
NYEE0608.18
***East End Birds, 18 August 2006
***Covering the towns of Southampton, East Hampton, Shelter Island, Southold &
Riverhead on the eastern end of Long Island, New York
***This report is distributed by e-mail only. If you would like to receive East End
Birds, contact hmcguinness@ross.org
***Visit East End Birds on line at www.ross.org/~hmcguinness
***Volume 8, Number 34
HIGHLIGHTS
Bald Eagle, Marbled Godwit, ARCTIC TERN, Caspian Tern, and Red-headed Woodpecker.
OK, I'm back in the saddle again. Let's get to the birds.
At Pikes Beach in Westhampton Dunes the ROYAL TERN numbers are beginning to build.
On Aug 8 there were 26 (JF), while on Aug 13 there were 55 (SM).
At Cupsogue County Park there was an immature ARCTIC TERN, 2 BLACK TERNS and 40 RED
KNOTS on Aug 5 (SS). On Aug 11, there were 2 CLAPPER RAILS, 2 BLACK TERNS and a
LITTLE BLUE HERON (BA, AM). On Aug 13 there were 3 BLACK TERNS, 1 PEREGRINE FALCON &
1 MERLIN (DG, RJ).
Between Pikes and Cupsogue County Park there were 7 BLACK TERNS, 1 WHIMBREL, 1
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, 2 WESTERN WILLETS, and a PEREGRINE FALCON on Aug 3 (KF).
In Eastport a CASPIAN TERN was seen from the deck of Trumpert's Restaurant on Aug 8
(RA).
>From Shinnecock Bay comes word of a WHIMBREL at the Shinnecock Bridge on Aug 10
(JF), which was still present on Aug 13. A MARBLED GODWIT was found at the Bridge
on Aug 13 (TJD), while 5 ROYAL TERNS were seen nearby (AJL).
After the Mecox cut was opened to the ocean in early August shorebirds began
appearing. Two MARBLED GODWITS arrived on Aug 4 (W&GBk) and at least one was still
present on Aug 13; Aug 9 was the last date on which two were seen. Three PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS and a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER were present on Aug 5 (HM, SS). An immature
ARCTIC TERN was spotted on Aug 8 (AB). A BLACK TERN was present on Aug 10 (CG).
Parking at Mecox is tricky and requires either a permit (no day permits issued for
these spots) or that you arrive after 5pm, or be gone from the parking lots by 9am.
There is parking on Dune Road on both the east and west sides of the cut, but
remember that if you do not have a permit, be sure to time your visit accordingly.
Early morning and evening are the best times to bird the flat at Mecox.
A COMMON NIGHTHAWK was spotted winging its way over Davis Creek in North Sea on 11
Aug (W&GBk).
On Aug 11 an EASTERN SCREECH OWL was heard, and then seen, along Rte 114 in East
Hampton (SK), and serves as a reminder that this species becomes quite vocal in late
July and August.
A TRICOLORED HERON was at Georgica Pond on Aug 12, while 5 WHIMBRELS were at Sammy's
Beach in Three Mile Harbor (K&BRu).
A WHIMBREL was in Accabonac Harbor, which is often a good place to find this
species, on Aug 5 (K&BRu).
An immature BALD EAGLE was seen at the Walking Dunes in Napeague on Jul 30 (EM). A
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH appeared in a Lazy Point yard on Aug 6 (LB).
Shorebird activity is picking up at Rita's Stables in Montauk. On Aug 10 there were
PECTORAL and SOLITARY SANDPIPERS present (VB).
The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER that has been frequenting the entrance to the Swan Lake
Golf Course in Calverton was last reported on Aug 5 (JO).
SCOTT WEIDENSAUL TO SPEAK IN EAST HAMPTON SATURDAY
Scott Weidensaul, author of Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search for the
Continent's Natural Soul, will speak at the Nature Conservancy offices in East
Hampton on Saturday August 19 at 5pm. Weidensaul is the author of more than two
dozen books on natural history, including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Living on the
Wind, about migratory birds. Weidensaul writes for such publications as Smithsonian,
Audubon, Nature Conservancy and International Wildlife. He lives in the mountains of
eastern Pennsylvania, where he studies the migration of hawks, owls and
hummingbirds.
Mr. Weidensaul will discuss his new book, Return to Wild America: A Yearlong Search
for the Continent's Natural Soul. In 1955, naturalists Roger Tory Peterson and James
Fisher published their bestselling book Wild America, chronicling a now-legendary
30,000 mile trip across North America. Fifty years later, Mr. Weidensaul has
retraced their epic journey to see what we've gained and lost, and to catch a
glimpse of what the future holds for wildlife and wild lands. From the great seabird
cliffs of Newfoundland to the cypress swamps of Florida, from the cloud forests of
the Sierra Madre in Mexico to lonely islands far out in the Bering Sea, Weidensaul
searches out the wild heart of the continent-and finds it strong.
Refreshments will follow Mr. Weidensaul's talk. The Nature Conservancy offices can
be found along Rte 114 about one quarter mile south of Stephan Hands Path.
JOHN BULL DEAD AT 92
For those of you who haven't heard, John Bull passed away last Friday at the age of
92. John's books, Birds of the New York City Area and Birds of New York State which
were published in the 1960s and 70s, stand out as models for those who would author
a historical record of regional ornithology. I still use these books regularly, and
couldn't begin to estimate the number of hours I have whiled away reading the specie
accounts and looking at the maps. It was John's books that inspired me as a teenager
to hone my field birding skills. His Aug 15 New York Times obituary is reprinted
below.
"John L. Bull, a largely self-taught ornithologist and educator whose definitive
guidebooks to New York State birds led a generation of birders into the woods, died
on Friday in Queens. He was 92. Mr. Bull's death was confirmed by his family.
A research assistant at the American Museum of Natural History, Mr. Bull led popular
birding tours of Long Island and Central Park in the 1960's and 70's and
meticulously kept track of the species and the state of their habitat.
In 1964, he wrote a book, "Birds of the New York Area," intended for would-be
birders living in the suburbs of New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut and for
those in Manhattan itself, a prime birding destination. It covered the mourning
doves of Central Park to the horned grebes off Montauk Point.
Mr. Bull later expanded his reach and wrote about all of the 410 bird species that
had been recorded throughout New York State. That book, "Birds of New York State,"
which was published in 1974, was the first exhaustive survey of the subject in 60
years. Another researcher, E.H. Eaton, had recorded only 366 bird species in 1914.
In Mr. Bull's book, he noted the new or increased counts of species usually found at
more southerly latitudes - like the snowy egret - and suggested that a milder
climate might be at work in changing migration patterns.
Joel L. Cracraft, curator in charge of the ornithology department at the American
Museum of Natural History, said the guidebook was "a first-rate state bird book."
"At the time," Dr. Cracraft said, "there was not a high-quality and professional
account of the great diversity of New York's species and their distributions."
He continued, "John Bull did not want to take an anecdotal approach."
With binoculars in hand in the Ramble in Central Park, which is under one of the
main flyways of migrating birds, and in countless spots in Queens and Nassau
Counties, Mr. Bull quietly made his observations.
In an interview in The New York Times in Feb. 6, 1972, he lamented, "as roads and
homes and stores continue to be built, the number of birding spots declines in
proportion." Yet he remained optimistic, adding, "But there is nothing like getting
out on a crisp morning with a destination, or a dozen destinations, in mind."
In 1977, Mr. Bull and John Farrand Jr. used color photographs to illustrate their
book "National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region."
Dr. Cracraft said the book was a departure from past guidebooks, which had heavily
depended on drawings and paintings to make distinctions among species.
John Lewis Bull was born in Manhattan on Feb. 28, 1914. He identified a red-headed
woodpecker at age 11, and the woodpecker remained his favorite bird.
He joined the American Museum of Natural History in 1962 and officially retired as a
field associate in 1983. But he continued to lead birding tours as far away as
Egypt, South Africa and the Galápagos Islands.
Mr. Bull is survived by his wife, Edith, of Far Rockaway, Queens; his daughter,
Doris Kraus, a marine biologist and writer, of Miami; and by three grandchildren.
Mr. Bull was often accompanied by his wife, an educator at the museum, on birding
journeys. In 1989, the couple collaborated on a book, "Birds of North America:
Western Region: A Quick Identification Guide for All Bird-Watchers."
Remarking on the mourning doves that he spotted in Central Park, Mr. Bull observed:
"They are the most monogamous birds I've ever watched. They always travel in pairs."
This week I received reports from Robert Adamo, Linda Badkin, Andy Baldelli, Willy &
Gerry Becker (W&GBk), Vicki Bustamante, Thomas J Dunkerton, Ed Feeley, John Fritz,
Ken Fuestel, Chris Gangemi, Doug Gochfeld, Dan Heglund, Rob Jett, Sam Kramer,
Anthony J Lauro, Evan Marks, Hugh McGuinness, Shai Mitra, Andy Murphy, Jim
Osterlund, Karen & Barbara Rubinstein (K&BRu), Sean Sime, and Robert W. Wilson.
Good Birding to All!
Hugh McGuinness
The Ross School
18 Goodfriend Park
East Hampton, NY 11937
To send in reports:
hmcguinness@ross.org
631-907-5229 (weekdays)
631-725-6037 (nights & weekends)