25-26 Jan 2009 -‏ Cackling Goose in Sagaponack, Tundra Swans on Georgica Pond

Yesterday I helped with the East Hampton to Watermill section of the New York State waterfowl count, mostly stopping at ocean access points to count seaduck and loons. Unfortunately there really wasn't movement offshore and numbers were fairly modest. Birds of note found during the day included:

CACKLING GOOSE - 1 with a large flock of Canada Geese in a Sagaponack field off Sag Main Street near junction w Sagg Pond Ct.
TUNDRA SWAN - 3 on Georgica Pond. This family group seems to spend more time on Georgica Pond than nearby Hook Pond.
EURASIAN WIGEON - 1 on Hook Pond. Young male present since December.
WILSON'S SNIPE - 6 on a muddy creek running into Georgica Cove (southside of Cove Hollow Road)
PURPLE SANDPIPERS - 24 on the middle of the three ocean jetties at Georgica.
KILLDEER - 1 Mecox Bay (Bay Lane), relatively scarce in midwinter.

Today we had a flock of 28 PINE SISKIN at our feeder in Springs and a late afternoon visit to Napeague produced 'Larry' the LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL at its usual spot on Lazy Point and a good number of shorebirds on the flats exposed by the low tide: 150 RUDDY TURNSTONE, 190 DUNLIN, 220 SANDERLING and 4 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.

The evergreen berries that seemed to have attracted the Bohemian Waxwing to the community at Napeague Beach have mostly been devored and may explain the complete absence of the waxwing and the Starling/American Robin flock it associated with. I understand the waxwing was looked for repeatedly during the week by Andy Baldelli and others, so presumably it has moved elsewhere. Likewise, the Western Grebe found by Jorn Ake in Amagansett on 9 Jan and seen again by Jorn and several others the next day has not been relocated in spite of intense searching by Hugh McGuinness, myself and others, so it too may have moved, although the beach is so extensive that it could still be in the same general area and should be watched for at any access point between Shinnecock Inlet and Montauk!