Sandhill Cranes in Sagaponack - 27 Mar 2010

This morning Peter Matthiessen (fide Hugh McGuinness) found two SANDHILL CRANES on a corn field along Daniel's Lane in Sagaponack. This field is between Fairfield Pond Rd and Gibson Lane. They had disappeared within an hour or two but some searching we refound them roosting on the narrow spit at the south end of Sagg Pond. This is visible from the town beach parking lot at the south end of the pond. Between naps, the cranes were actively chasing Great Black-backed Gulls. These are presumably the pair that were seen and photographed last weekend by Evan Marks.

Also on the pond are the two adult TUNDRA SWANS (getting late) and an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Some 27 teal (presumably all Green-winged Teal) were in the cove near the cranes. An adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was working the edge of the pond. Five COMMON MERGANSERS were on the pond, north of Bridge Lane.

No PIPING PLOVERS were evident at Sagg (just 10+ Killdeer) but 5 were at Mecox Inlet.