Dovekie off Montauk Point - 14 Mar 2010

The passing storm left the South Fork of Long Island (Suffolk Co.) bruised and battered, with flooded roads, lots of damaged or felled trees and a few downed telephone lines. The ocean swell was majestic as viewed from the Montauk Point restaurant overlook, with 20-30 ft rollers passing over the reef in front of the lighthouse. Viewing conditions were OK at first but as the wind dropped a light fog settled in over the entire area. Surfers found good waves off Culloden Point on the north side of the peninsula.

The highlight of my morning was a DOVEKIE that flew right into Turtle Cove (south side of Point), made a wide circle and flew out again! It was close enough to see the tiny bill and dusky underwings. I scanned the area for a further hour but did not relocate it. Other birds of note off the Point were 3 RAZORBILL, 2 different adult KUMLEIN'S ICELAND GULLS and a 4th-winter type LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Many large gulls were cruising up and down the shoreline making quick work of edibles that had been ripped up off the bottom. Three Bonaparte's Gulls off Camp Hero were only ones I saw today.

Of local interest, thirty-three RING-NECK DUCK were on Tuthill's Pond (almost connected to the ocean by flooding) and four CANVASBACK were on Fort Pond. The 2nd basic-type GLAUCOUS GULL that I saw yesterday was back on Further Lane in East Hampton and 4 TUNDRA SWAN were with 3 Mute Swan in fields between Highland Terrace and Sag Main Street in Sagaponack.