RBA
New York
Eastern Long Island
15 September 2006
NYEE0609.15
***East End Birds, 15 September 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 38
HIGHLIGHTS
Marbled Godwit, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope,
Black-headed Gull, Caspian Tern, BRIDLED TERN, Olive-sided Flycatcher,
Philadelphia Vireo, Golden-winged Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler,
Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-breasted Chat, Dickcissel, Nelson's
Sharp-tailed Sparrow
The passage of Tropical Storm Ernesto proved to be frustrating for many
birders. In tantalizing fashion it produced a few records of tropical
strays, none of which stuck around for very long. I offer my experience
on Sunday as an example. At Mecox I found two large dark terns winging
east offshore. In hindsight they must have been immature Sooty Terns
(what other large tern shows extensive black underneath?), but I could
never get diagnostic views. A few minutes later, a small jaeger flew by
with a Parasitic Jaeger. It appeared to have no white in the primaries,
but the bird was distant enough to prevent me from seeing several key
marks. Finally I got a call about the Bridled Tern at Shinnecock, and
arrived 5 minutes after it had disappeared. And so it goes after a
storm. The lure of possibility is oft-times overwhelmed by fleeting
glimpses of rarely seen species. As a former boss used to say to me,
"Chance favors the prepared mind, McGuinness." Study your field guides
before birding in the wake of a tropical storm.
The highlight for the East End was a BRIDLED TERN found feeding among
the pilings at the south end of the Ponquogue Bridge at Shinnecock Bay
on Sep 3 (AB). A WHIMBREL was just west of the bridge (AB), and 7
MARBLED GODWITS were on the small island immediately east of the of the
bridge (SM, TWB, PL). Two GREAT CORMORANTS were also in the vicinity
(HM, SM, TWB, PL). The seven MARBLED GODWITS were still present on Sep
6, but a bit farther east. They seem to only be found on the little
island by the bridge at high tide. The MARBLED GODWITS have been present
for some time. Two were seen on Aug 26 near the bridge (K&BRu, VB); 3
were found at Triton Lane on Sep 1 (JGl); 2 on Sep 2 at the Ponquogue
Bridge (MW); and 2 still remaining on Sep 10 (AB). Two WHIMBRELS were
seen along Dune Rd on Sep 1 (JGl), while 3 BLACK TERNS were in the inlet
(R&BSt). Three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were huddled in the Tiana Beach
parking lot during the storm on Sep 2 (MW).
At Pike's Beach there were 40 ROYAL TERNS and a PEREGRINE FALCON on Aug
26 (K&BRu, VB). The season high for ROYAL TERNS was achieved on Sep 10
when 117 were spotted between Moriches Inlet and the east end of the bay
(AB). Of these 102, were at Pike's Beach. A WILSON'S STORM-PETREL was
seen in the ocean on Sep 1 (R&BSt). A WILSON'S PHALAROPE was seen at
Cupsogue County Park on Sep 4 (JGl), as were a WHIMBREL and a WESTERN
SANDPIPER (AB, CG).
Eight TURKEY VULTURES were seen along Rt 51 in Eastport on Aug 26 (AJL)
and then again on Sep 7 (JF).
At Mecox Bay there were two BLACK-HEADED GULLS on Aug 26 (K&BRu, VB). An
adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was present on Sep 2 (CG) and again on Sep 11
(HM). Up to 3 BLACK TERNS were present through Sep 2 (CG). On Sep 3
there was a WILSON'S STORM PETREL (AB) feeding in the surf, a PARASITIC
JAEGER flying by, and 1 CASPIAN TERN on the flat (HM) on Sep 3. The
CASPIAN TERN was still present on Sep 5. Also on Sep 3, a BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKE was seen at Mecox (RK). Two BLACK TERNS were spotted on Sep 5,
and 4 ROYAL TERNS were there on Sep 6 (CG). On Sep 11 there were 3 ROYAL
TERNS and 2 LEAST TERNS (SB). The Mecox cut was re-opened on Sep 11, but
the northeast winds re-closed it that night. While the bay was draining,
an adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was feeding in the outflow (SB), and was
still present on Sep 15. Also at the southern end on Sep 15 were a
CASPIAN TERN, 1 BLACK TERN and a female COMMON MERGANSER (SM). On Sep
13, 2 PALM WARBLERS, the first of the season, were spotted (CG)
Sagaponack Pond, which had been opened on Aug 29, closed during the
passage of Ernesto. In my experience, storms with heavy swells and east
winds generally close the inlets at Mecox and Sagaponack. The only time
I have seen the opposite was during "the perfect storm" of October 1991
when both inlets were opened. On Aug 30 there were 6 AMERICAN GOLDEN
PLOVERS, 1 WHIMBREL and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the flat (CG). Two
MARBLED GODWITS appeared on the evening of Aug 31, but were not seen
after that (CG). An immature AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was also present,
and this bird remained until Sep 2. An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen
on Sep 1 (HM, CG), as was a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. On Sep 3 there was a
LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, 1 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and 1 adult AMERICAN
GOLDEN PLOVER (CG, K&BRu).
A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was at Accabonac on Sep 3 (K&BRu).
A COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen along East Lake Drive on Sep 3 (VB). Four
BLACK-TERNS were at Gin Beach on Sep 5 (VB). A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was at
a house along East Lake on Sep 6, and a DICKCISSEL was there on Sep 14
(VB).
At Montauk Point there were 1200+ COMMON TERNS, 35 BLACK TERNS, 400
LAUGHING GULLS and a PARASITIC JAEGER on Sep 10 (HM, BK). In Camp Hero
State Park, there was an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 1 SWAINSON'S THRUSH, 1
PHILADELPHIA VIREO and 1 YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, as well as 14 additional
species of warblers on Sep 8 (JA, HY). A walk along the Seal Haulout
Trail (which can be accessed opposite the entrance to the Camp Hero
community at Camp Hero Rd) produced 16 species of warblers on Sep 10
including LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, an adult male GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER,
and a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (BK, HM). Other birds present included 3
BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, 8 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES and the season's first
BLACKPOLL WARBLERS (5). Along the same trail there were 2 YELLOW-BILLED
CUCKOOS and a BLUE-HEADED VIREO on Sep 14 (RGr).
A NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was found on Shelter Island on Aug 19
(NH). The season's first WINTER WREN was found on Sep 15 (NH).
Jim Clinton began his COMMON NIGHTHAWK vigil in Wading River and
Calverton on Aug 16. He did not see his first individuals until Sep 3,
when 14 passed by. From Sep 3 to Sep 10, 29 individuals were spotted,
mostly along Fresh Pond Ave. There were no more until Sep 14 when 6 were
spotted.
At the sod fields along Rt 105 in Riverhead BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS
were first spotted on Aug 27 (SB). They were seen daily through Sep 7,
with a maximum of 9 on Aug 31 (AJL). Most of the time they have been
east of Rt 105 and about a quarter mile south of Sound Ave. In the same
vicinity there have been up to 11 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS (the max count
was on Sep 4 (VB)) have been present as well, with the first 3 being
seen on Aug 26 (AJL). The rain of Aug 28 brought a large number of
shorebirds to the field, including 50 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 50 LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER, 10 STILT SANDPIPERS, ... (AB). An
UPLAND SANDPIPER was spotted on Aug 30 (MH) and remained until at least
Sep 6 (BA). Thirty KILLDEERS were present on Aug 31 (BM). On Sep 1 there
were 8 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS (JGl); one still remained on Sep 10.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was in Riverhead on Sep 13 (BA).
Two COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were in Northville on Sep 2 (MLL).
A WILSON'S STORM-PETREL was found at Orient Point State Park on Aug 28
(S&JBe).
A LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen in the Carmen's River in Brookhaven on Aug
22 (JCl). At Old Inlet on Fire Island there was a NORTHERN GANNET, a
PEREGRINE FALCON and a WHIMBREL on Sep 3 (JCl, AGr, SJ).
CANADA GOOSE HUNTING SEASON BEGAN SEPTEMBER 5
The early hunting season for Canada Goose began on September 5. This
season is designed to cull the local breeding population, but as far as
I can tell virtually nobody hunts geese in September on Long Island.
This week I received reports from Bob Adamo, Jim Ash, Andy Baldelli,
Willy & Gerry Becker (W&GBk), Gail Benson, Susan & Jim Benson (S&JBe),
Steve Biasetti, Shane Blodgett, Thomas W Burke, Vicki Bustamante, Jen
Clement (JCl), Jim Clinton, John Fritz, Chris Gangemi, John Gluth (JGl),
Anthony Graves (AGr), Roger Grunewald (RGr), Nick Hamblet, Mike
Higgiston, Sarah Jennings, Robert Kurtz, Mary Laura Lamont, Anthony J
Lauro, Ernie Lewis, Pat Lindsay, Bob May, Hugh McGuinness, Shai Mitra,
Karen & Barbara Rubinstein (K&BRu), Rex & Birgit Stanford (R&BSt), Mike
Wasilco, Rich Willott, Greg Wiseman, Harris Yulin.
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
15 September 2006
NYEE0609.15
***East End Birds, 15 September 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 38
HIGHLIGHTS
Marbled Godwit, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope,
Black-headed Gull, Caspian Tern, BRIDLED TERN, Olive-sided Flycatcher,
Philadelphia Vireo, Golden-winged Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler,
Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-breasted Chat, Dickcissel, Nelson's
Sharp-tailed Sparrow
The passage of Tropical Storm Ernesto proved to be frustrating for many
birders. In tantalizing fashion it produced a few records of tropical
strays, none of which stuck around for very long. I offer my experience
on Sunday as an example. At Mecox I found two large dark terns winging
east offshore. In hindsight they must have been immature Sooty Terns
(what other large tern shows extensive black underneath?), but I could
never get diagnostic views. A few minutes later, a small jaeger flew by
with a Parasitic Jaeger. It appeared to have no white in the primaries,
but the bird was distant enough to prevent me from seeing several key
marks. Finally I got a call about the Bridled Tern at Shinnecock, and
arrived 5 minutes after it had disappeared. And so it goes after a
storm. The lure of possibility is oft-times overwhelmed by fleeting
glimpses of rarely seen species. As a former boss used to say to me,
"Chance favors the prepared mind, McGuinness." Study your field guides
before birding in the wake of a tropical storm.
The highlight for the East End was a BRIDLED TERN found feeding among
the pilings at the south end of the Ponquogue Bridge at Shinnecock Bay
on Sep 3 (AB). A WHIMBREL was just west of the bridge (AB), and 7
MARBLED GODWITS were on the small island immediately east of the of the
bridge (SM, TWB, PL). Two GREAT CORMORANTS were also in the vicinity
(HM, SM, TWB, PL). The seven MARBLED GODWITS were still present on Sep
6, but a bit farther east. They seem to only be found on the little
island by the bridge at high tide. The MARBLED GODWITS have been present
for some time. Two were seen on Aug 26 near the bridge (K&BRu, VB); 3
were found at Triton Lane on Sep 1 (JGl); 2 on Sep 2 at the Ponquogue
Bridge (MW); and 2 still remaining on Sep 10 (AB). Two WHIMBRELS were
seen along Dune Rd on Sep 1 (JGl), while 3 BLACK TERNS were in the inlet
(R&BSt). Three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were huddled in the Tiana Beach
parking lot during the storm on Sep 2 (MW).
At Pike's Beach there were 40 ROYAL TERNS and a PEREGRINE FALCON on Aug
26 (K&BRu, VB). The season high for ROYAL TERNS was achieved on Sep 10
when 117 were spotted between Moriches Inlet and the east end of the bay
(AB). Of these 102, were at Pike's Beach. A WILSON'S STORM-PETREL was
seen in the ocean on Sep 1 (R&BSt). A WILSON'S PHALAROPE was seen at
Cupsogue County Park on Sep 4 (JGl), as were a WHIMBREL and a WESTERN
SANDPIPER (AB, CG).
Eight TURKEY VULTURES were seen along Rt 51 in Eastport on Aug 26 (AJL)
and then again on Sep 7 (JF).
At Mecox Bay there were two BLACK-HEADED GULLS on Aug 26 (K&BRu, VB). An
adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was present on Sep 2 (CG) and again on Sep 11
(HM). Up to 3 BLACK TERNS were present through Sep 2 (CG). On Sep 3
there was a WILSON'S STORM PETREL (AB) feeding in the surf, a PARASITIC
JAEGER flying by, and 1 CASPIAN TERN on the flat (HM) on Sep 3. The
CASPIAN TERN was still present on Sep 5. Also on Sep 3, a BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKE was seen at Mecox (RK). Two BLACK TERNS were spotted on Sep 5,
and 4 ROYAL TERNS were there on Sep 6 (CG). On Sep 11 there were 3 ROYAL
TERNS and 2 LEAST TERNS (SB). The Mecox cut was re-opened on Sep 11, but
the northeast winds re-closed it that night. While the bay was draining,
an adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was feeding in the outflow (SB), and was
still present on Sep 15. Also at the southern end on Sep 15 were a
CASPIAN TERN, 1 BLACK TERN and a female COMMON MERGANSER (SM). On Sep
13, 2 PALM WARBLERS, the first of the season, were spotted (CG)
Sagaponack Pond, which had been opened on Aug 29, closed during the
passage of Ernesto. In my experience, storms with heavy swells and east
winds generally close the inlets at Mecox and Sagaponack. The only time
I have seen the opposite was during "the perfect storm" of October 1991
when both inlets were opened. On Aug 30 there were 6 AMERICAN GOLDEN
PLOVERS, 1 WHIMBREL and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the flat (CG). Two
MARBLED GODWITS appeared on the evening of Aug 31, but were not seen
after that (CG). An immature AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was also present,
and this bird remained until Sep 2. An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen
on Sep 1 (HM, CG), as was a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. On Sep 3 there was a
LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL, 1 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and 1 adult AMERICAN
GOLDEN PLOVER (CG, K&BRu).
A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was at Accabonac on Sep 3 (K&BRu).
A COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen along East Lake Drive on Sep 3 (VB). Four
BLACK-TERNS were at Gin Beach on Sep 5 (VB). A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was at
a house along East Lake on Sep 6, and a DICKCISSEL was there on Sep 14
(VB).
At Montauk Point there were 1200+ COMMON TERNS, 35 BLACK TERNS, 400
LAUGHING GULLS and a PARASITIC JAEGER on Sep 10 (HM, BK). In Camp Hero
State Park, there was an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 1 SWAINSON'S THRUSH, 1
PHILADELPHIA VIREO and 1 YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, as well as 14 additional
species of warblers on Sep 8 (JA, HY). A walk along the Seal Haulout
Trail (which can be accessed opposite the entrance to the Camp Hero
community at Camp Hero Rd) produced 16 species of warblers on Sep 10
including LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, an adult male GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER,
and a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (BK, HM). Other birds present included 3
BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, 8 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES and the season's first
BLACKPOLL WARBLERS (5). Along the same trail there were 2 YELLOW-BILLED
CUCKOOS and a BLUE-HEADED VIREO on Sep 14 (RGr).
A NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was found on Shelter Island on Aug 19
(NH). The season's first WINTER WREN was found on Sep 15 (NH).
Jim Clinton began his COMMON NIGHTHAWK vigil in Wading River and
Calverton on Aug 16. He did not see his first individuals until Sep 3,
when 14 passed by. From Sep 3 to Sep 10, 29 individuals were spotted,
mostly along Fresh Pond Ave. There were no more until Sep 14 when 6 were
spotted.
At the sod fields along Rt 105 in Riverhead BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS
were first spotted on Aug 27 (SB). They were seen daily through Sep 7,
with a maximum of 9 on Aug 31 (AJL). Most of the time they have been
east of Rt 105 and about a quarter mile south of Sound Ave. In the same
vicinity there have been up to 11 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS (the max count
was on Sep 4 (VB)) have been present as well, with the first 3 being
seen on Aug 26 (AJL). The rain of Aug 28 brought a large number of
shorebirds to the field, including 50 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 50 LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER, 10 STILT SANDPIPERS, ... (AB). An
UPLAND SANDPIPER was spotted on Aug 30 (MH) and remained until at least
Sep 6 (BA). Thirty KILLDEERS were present on Aug 31 (BM). On Sep 1 there
were 8 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS (JGl); one still remained on Sep 10.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was in Riverhead on Sep 13 (BA).
Two COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were in Northville on Sep 2 (MLL).
A WILSON'S STORM-PETREL was found at Orient Point State Park on Aug 28
(S&JBe).
A LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen in the Carmen's River in Brookhaven on Aug
22 (JCl). At Old Inlet on Fire Island there was a NORTHERN GANNET, a
PEREGRINE FALCON and a WHIMBREL on Sep 3 (JCl, AGr, SJ).
CANADA GOOSE HUNTING SEASON BEGAN SEPTEMBER 5
The early hunting season for Canada Goose began on September 5. This
season is designed to cull the local breeding population, but as far as
I can tell virtually nobody hunts geese in September on Long Island.
This week I received reports from Bob Adamo, Jim Ash, Andy Baldelli,
Willy & Gerry Becker (W&GBk), Gail Benson, Susan & Jim Benson (S&JBe),
Steve Biasetti, Shane Blodgett, Thomas W Burke, Vicki Bustamante, Jen
Clement (JCl), Jim Clinton, John Fritz, Chris Gangemi, John Gluth (JGl),
Anthony Graves (AGr), Roger Grunewald (RGr), Nick Hamblet, Mike
Higgiston, Sarah Jennings, Robert Kurtz, Mary Laura Lamont, Anthony J
Lauro, Ernie Lewis, Pat Lindsay, Bob May, Hugh McGuinness, Shai Mitra,
Karen & Barbara Rubinstein (K&BRu), Rex & Birgit Stanford (R&BSt), Mike
Wasilco, Rich Willott, Greg Wiseman, Harris Yulin.
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)