Cattle Egret, Yellow-crowned Night Heron - 28 May 2010

On Saturday, Bruce Horwith noticed a CATTLE EGRET on the marsh at Merrill Lake Preserve in Springs, likely the first record from this spot. The waterlogged fields have been quite good this spring and Bruce along with Karen and Barbara Rubinstein have noted Glossy Ibis on a regular basis. A little further east in Hither Hills, one or two ibis also seem to using the pools on the south side of Montauk Highway at the split between the Old and New sections. Vicki Bustamante commented on the late arrival of calling NORTHERN BOBWHITE (Quail) around her property in Montauk, which normally make themselves evident earlier in the spring. Three YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS photographed by Luke Ormand as they hunted crabs along Dune Road were, I believe, the first of the year for our region and again a little on the late side compared to other parts of Long Island. CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW and WHIP-POOR-WILLS have continued occupy territories in suitable woodland edge and pineland habitats. On Tuesday (25 May), Eileen Schwinn heard her first 'Chuck' of the season in East Quogue where they have been absent so far this spring. At least two birds are have been calling for a while now in Napeague along Lazy Point Road between the junctions with Napeague Meadow Road and Bay View Avenue. A number of Whip-Poor-Will are also in the area.

Just out of our area two young birders from Ithaca (Jay McGowan and Andrew Van Norstrand) photographed a breeding-plumaged PACIFIC LOON on Monday morning (24 May 2010) as it flew east down the beach in the company of three Common Loons! Within minutes it would have been in the South Fork territory for a great addition to the SFBR list, unless of course it splashed down before then.........

Keep the reports coming, they are much appreciated and I will do my best share the news quickly of anything notable. Shearwaters (Sooty and Manx) and Wilson's Storm-Petrels should be filtering through the area so keep an eye out if you are down at the beach. Sometimes they aren't too far beyond the surf. Greater and Cory's Shearwaters usually show up a little later but you never know. June is mostly about breeding birds but wanderers are also possible. Gull-billed Tern has not been recorded so far (surprising) and exotics such as Scissor-tailed Flycatcher aren't completely out of the question. Speaking of missing birds, has anyone seen a Cliff Swallow?

Information of the water levels of the major ponds (Mecox, Sagg, Georgica) would be useful. I wish the Towns of East Hampton and Southampton would post news of when the cuts have been opened.

** 22 May 2010 **
Cattle Egret, Merrill Lake Preserve, Springs EH (Bruce Horwith)

** 24 May 2010 **
Northern Bobwhite (several), private yard off Big Reed Path & neighboring section of Teddy Roosevelt CP, Montauk EH (Vicki Bustamante)

** 27 May 2010 **
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (3), east of Dockers on Dune Road, East Quogue SH (Luke Ormand)
Black Skimmer (2), over Ponquogue Bridge, Shinnecock Inlet SH (Luke Ormand)

## Banded Piping Plovers ##
I learned that the Piping Plover observed at Georgica Pond on 21 May was banded as a 1st-year on 21 Jan 2010 at Discovery Beach, Grand Bahama Is., The Bahamas. This is one 12 (out of 57) marked birds that have been reported from New York so far this year. Interestingly, a couple of days later the same individual was seen by plover steward Dawn Ver Hauge (fide Luke Ormand) on the ocean beach between Town Line and Peters Pond Roads in Sagaponack, a distance of about 2 miles. Young birds probably return to nesting areas in their first summer but likely can't compete with mature adults to secure a territory and hence move around a bit.

Sooty & Manx Shearwater, Little Gulls and Wilson's Plover - 22/23 May 2010

A nice collection of rare or scarce migrants were seen over the weekend, with the activity centered along Dune Road in Westhampton/Shinnecock and the remaining flats of Mecox and Sag Ponds. On Saturday morning John Shemilt photographed a 1st-summer LITTLE GULL on the flat at Mecox Inlet and resighted the hybrid shorebird he'd seen there on 12-13 May. Interestingly, Tom Burke and Gail Benson saw a LITTLE GULL of the same age at the mouth of the Shinnecock Inlet the next day. True to schedule, Shearwaters have also begun to show up, with a scattering of SOOTY SHEARWATERS fresh from their nesting grounds in the stormy archipelagos of southern Chile and a MANX SHEARWATER at the mouth of the Shinnecock Inlet. The female-type WILSON'S PLOVER at Sagg Main continued through Saturday but could not be located on Sunday. Just out of region, Shai Mitra found the first Arctic Tern of the season at Cusogue County Park on Sunday and it is worth looking carefully for this species among roosting terns. Prime spots include Mecox Inlet (1 or 2 seen last summer) or perhaps at Montauk Point where terns gather on the beach.

Good numbers of migrant shorebirds (Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin and Semipalmated Sandpiper) were seen in the marshes and flats between Cupsogue County Park (just out of our region) and the Shinnecock Inlet, especially in sandy areas where horseshoe crabs having been laying eggs. Several small flocks of RED KNOT were noted (with close to 40 around Pike's Beach) and are especially significant these days. The bulk of the North American population (subspecies rufa) winters at the southern tip of South America (some as far south as Tierra del Fuego) and travel up to 9,000 miles to reach their nesting grounds in the Canadian arctic. They are reliant on a small number of refueling points during this arduous migration with the Delaware Bay being the most important site by far. The knots rely on horseshoe crab eggs to maintain their body mass, not only for this extraordinary flight but also to sustain them for the first few days on the tundra when feeding is often impossible. As you may know, the North American breeding population has undergone an alarming decline (100,000 to less than 15,000 in 20 yrs) and is considered a candidate for extinction by several monitoring bodies. Fortunately the Old World populations remains large and has shown less of a decrease, so the species as a whole is less threatened. The tremendous decline in horseshoe crabs (a travesty in its own right), human disturbances at the stopover sites and continued hunting in South America are considered the chief reason for the steep decline of North American Red Knot. The southshore of Long Island, including the South Fork provides a critical rest stop for these remarkable sandpipers and long may it continue.

During the Group for the East End Faunathon, Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane and myself found 134 species of bird, the majority on the South Fork. Given the good weather conditions our total could have been a bit higher but landbird migration was lackluster and some expected nesting species (e.g. Marsh Wren) proved impossible to find. No doubt some of the gaps will be filled by others. Our thanks to those who sent word of their sightings during the day. At 4:45 am, we heard several Whip-poor-will singing in the dwarf pines near Gabreski Airport plus several Grasshopper Sparrows, Horned Larks and Field Sparrows on territory within the airport grounds. An singing EASTERN MEADOWLARK was a nice surprise, given how scarce they have been so far this year. The sharp ears of Hugh and Brian picked up what might have been a Upland Sandpiper out in the grasslands on the NW side of the airport but the call was too fleeting to include on any list. Anyone visiting this site in the very early morning is encouraged to keep a sharp eye out for this declining species that traditionally bred here. Of course, let us know if any are seen/heard. A COMMON NIGHTHAWK over Long Pond in Sag Harbor was the first report for the year. Clapper Rails have been very vocal all along Dune Road, with the marshes just east of Dockers Restaurant being a great spot to hear and occasionally see them. The species is restricted to tidal saltmarsh and seems quite rare elsewhere on the peninsula. However, on Sunday, Anthony Collerton heard two rails (most likely Clappers) 'tooking' back and for to each other near the osprey platform at Sammy's Beach at the head of Three Mile Harbor in East Hampton. A Red Knot and Glossy Ibis were also noted at this lovely but decidedly under-birded spot. Anthony also spotted an immature BALD EAGLE over the Walking Dunes in east Napeague. I had a similar aged bird there on 2 May, suggesting it might be hanging around the area, perhaps using Fresh Pond or Gardiners Island.

Noteworthy reports from the weekend:

** Sat 22 May 2010 **
SOOTY SHEARWATER (4), Shinnecock Inlet SH (Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
Great Cormorant (imm.), Shinnecock Inlet SH (Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
Red-brested Merganser (lingering male), Shinnecock Inlet SH (Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
Common Eider (65+), Shinnecock Inlet SH (Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
Bald Eagle (imm.), Walking Dunes, Napeague EH (Anthony Collerton)
Turkey Vulture (9), Sunrise Hwy, just E of Quogue exit (Luke Ormand)
LITTLE GULL (1st-summer), Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (John Shemilt)
Black Skimmer (2), Sagg Mains, Sagaponack SH (Antony Collerton)
Black Skimmer (2), Georgica Pond, Georgica EH (Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
Red Knot (3+), Dune Road, Shinnecock SH (Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson, Luke Ormand)
Red Knot, Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
White-rumped Sandpiper (5), Sagg Mains, Sagaponack SH (Antony Collerton, Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
White-rumped Sandpiper (2), Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (John Shemilt, Antony Collerton, Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
WILSON'S PLOVER, Sagg Mains, Sagaponack SH (Antony Collerton, Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
American Woodcock (1 in display flight), Napeague EH (Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
Chuck-Will's-Widow, Napeague EH (Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
Grasshopper Sparrow (2-3), Gabreski Airport SH (Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
Grasshopper Sparrow (2+), Walking Dunes, Napeague EH (Anthony Collerton)
Bobolink (1 male), Wainscott Pond, Wainscott EH (Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
Eastern Meadowlark (1 male), Gabreski Airport EH (Hugh McGuinness, Brian Kane, Angus Wilson)
Willow Flycatcher, entrance to Sagg Mains Parking Lot, Sagaponack SH (Anthony Collerton)
Willow Flycatcher, Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (Anthony Collerton)

** Sun 23 May 2010 **
SOOTY SHEARWATER (2), Shinnecock Inlet SH (Tom Burke, Gail Benson)
MANX SHEARWATER, Shinnecock Inlet SH (Tom Burke, Gail Benson)
LITTLE GULL (1st-summer), Shinnecock Inlet SH (Tom Burke, Gail Benson)
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (1st-summer), Shinnecock Inlet SH (Tom Burke, Gail Benson)
White-rumped Sandpiper (2), Sagg Mains, Sagaponack SH (Angus Wilson)
Common Nighthawk, Long Pond, Sag Harbor SH (Hugh McGuinness)
Indigo Bunting, brush pile at East Hampton Recycling Center, East Hampton EH (Roger Grunewald)

Wilson's Plover and other shorebirds - 21 May 2010

Shorebird migration is approaching its peak in terms of variety and numbers. This evening I found a female or 1st-summer WILSON'S PLOVER on the sand flat at the south end of Sag Pond (Sagg Mains). Also present were 5 BLACK SKIMMERS, and 11 sp. shorebird including 4 White-rumped Sandpipers, 97 Dunlin, 6 Willet, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 125 Semipalmated Plover and several hundred Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers. If you go looking for the plover, I'd suggest not venturing onto the flat itself lest the bird moves to the more distant bank where it would be very hard to spot. There are several vantage points in the phragmites from which you can obtain good views of the wet sand and any shorebirds or terns that are there. If you don't spot the plover, it might also be worth carefully scanning around the margins.

There are still plenty of shorebirds on the remaining flats at Georgica Pond including a color-banded PIPING PLOVER, most likely one of the birds captured in The Bahamas this winter. I've noticed that in mid-late May, Purple Sandpipers undergo a noticeable shift in their habitat preferences - perhaps in anticipation of shifting to tundra habitat - appearing on sandy beaches (e.g. Goff Point 2008) and even saltmarshes (e.g. Accabonac Harbor 2009). Today there were 9 PURPLE SANDPIPERS on the sand flats in Georgica, wading around belly deep with Dunlin, Sanderling and dowitchers. Also present were 6 Bonaparte's Gulls (all 1st summers), 1 Roseate Tern, 200+ Least Sandpipers, 100+ Semipalmated Sandpiper, 2 Willet (both 1st summers), 6 Short-billed Dowitcher, 30 Dunlin, 50 Sanderling, 25 Semipalmated Plover, 10 Piping Plover etc.

The flooded field (aka 'Lake SoFo') behind the South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton has been attracting a good variety of shorebirds. On Wednesday (19 May) Jim Ash counted 16 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Semipalmated Plovers, 1 Killdeer, 10 (yes, ten) SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, and a multitude of Least Sandpipers. This evening I found 6 Greater Yellows, 5 Lesser Yellowlegs, a lone Solitary Sandpiper (that's more like it) and a Glossy Ibis.

Looking forward to your reports. There should be lots of birds around this weekend.

** 12-13 May 2010 **
Short-billed Dowitcher, Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (John Shemilt)

** 19 May 2010 **
Solitary Sandpiper (10), SoFo Museum, Bridgehampton SH (Jim Ash) - excellent number for one site

** 20 May 2010 **
Black Tern, Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (John Shemilt)
Black Skimmer (2), Gardiners Island/Cartwright Shoals (John Todaro)
Red Knot, Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (John Shemilt)
Short-billed Dowitcher, Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (John Shemilt)
Yellow-throated Vireo, Long Pond, Sag Harbor SH (Hugh McGuinness)
Swainson's Thrush, East Hampton (John Todaro) - present since 5/17/10

** 21 May 2010 **
Ruddy Duck (1), Wainscott Pond, Wainscott EH (Angus Wilson)
Glossy Ibis, SoFo Museum, Bridgehampton SH (Angus Wilson)
Black Skimmer (5), Sagg Mains, Sagaponack SH (Angus Wilson, Hugh McGuninness, Brian Kane)
Bonaparte's Gull (5), Georgica Pond, Georgica EH (Angus Wilson)
Bonaparte's Gull (1),Sagg Mains, Sagaponack SH (Angus Wilson, Hugh McGuninness, Brian Kane)
Bonaparte's Gull (1), Mecox Inlet SH (Angus Wilson, Hugh McGuninness, Brian Kane)

WILSON'S PLOVER (fem. or 1st-summer), Sagg Mains, Sagaponack SH (Angus Wilson, Hugh McGuninness, Brian Kane)
White-rumped Sandpiper (4), Sagg Mains, Sagaponack SH (Angus Wilson)
Purple Sandpiper (9), Georgica Pond, Georgica EH (Angus Wilson)
Solitary Sandpiper (1), SoFo Museum, Bridgehampton SH (Angus Wilson)

Black Vulture to Black-headed Gull, spring abundance - 15-16 May 2010

Befitting the season and a series of favorable weather fronts, a really good variety of birds found their way onto the South Fork at the weekend. A major flight was recorded on Saturday (15 May 2010) morning along the barrier islands of Jones Beach Island and Fire Island involving thousands of migrants that had been been pushed out over the New York Bite by a rain front during the night and were re-orientating westward at daybreak. It's not clear how much of this displacement reached eastern Long Island, although Vicki Bustamante observed a very nice mix of warblers (16 sp.) in the woods on the north side of Montauk SP (Seal Haulout Trail) that morning. Even mid-island the flight seemed to be restricted to the outer beach and few new migrants were seen in more inland areas. On days like this, the trees and bushes bordering the dunes along Dune Road, Mecox and Hither Hills State Park could be very productive.

More people were out and about on Sunday (16 May 2010) and overall the tallies were much better. The steady NW wind pushed a number of raptors onto the peninsular and by mid-morning a BLACK VULTURE was soaring over Camp Hero/Deep Hollow together with 8 TURKEY VULTURES. In a separate kettle, 9 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS (2 ads, 7 juv/subad.) - an exceptional number for this 'buteo cul de sac' - spun around the radar tower for an hour before drifting west over Montauk Village. An immature male BLUE GROSBEAK made a brief appearance in Camp Hero. Common nesting species likes Wood Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, and American Redstart seem to be present in good numbers now.

WILSON'S WARBLER was a highlight of several people's day lists, and at least 3 were noted in Montauk. There were reports from all over the Long Island. Warbler numbers were modest compared to other parts of Long Island but certainly enough to keep everyone busy and the list included TENNESSEE, BLACKBURNIAN and BAY-BREASTED. In various wet spots, SOLITARY SANDPIPERS made a fine showing. I felt pleased to have found 5 dfferent birds in the Montauk area, along with an equal number of SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, only to be eclipsed by Karen and Barb Rubinstein who tallied a remarkable 7 Solitary Sandpipers within the Merrill Lake Preserve in Springs where they also found 5 male BOBOLINK. Both cuckoos were recorded; BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was found in Hither Hills and Camp Hero and a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO near Long Pond in Sag Harbor. In addition to the birds, large numbers of American Painted Lady and Red Admiral butterflies had made their way onto the island (these are migrants, right?), and they were everywhere in Montauk on Saturday and Sunday.

At Georgica Pond on Sunday evening, Hugh McGuinness and I found a good number of shorebirds but unfortunately most of the peep were too distant to study properly. We did pick out a couple of ROSEATE TERNS, a 1st-summer BLACK-HEADED GULL and a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. At Sagg Mains, at least 6 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were among the couple of hundred shorebirds, and at the Mecox Inlet we noted at least 3 WHITE-RUMPS and 2 Short-billed Dowitchers. All three ponds have extensive flats and are well worth checking throughout the day.

On Saturday evening, I noted 9 ROSEATE TERNS among 300-400 Common Terns feeding off the beach in Amagansett, as well as a flyby 1st-summer GREAT CORMORANT. Bruce Horwith noted a BLACK SKIMMER on the Cartwright Shoals in Gardiner's Bay. The area used by skimmers for nesting last summer has been eroded by the winter storms but fingers crossed that they can find an alternative spot. Common Eider, Common and Red-throated Loons remain widespread on the ocean all around the peninsula and hundreds of loons were on the move early on Sunday morning, at least until it got too warm for them. Also on Saturday evening, two CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW and several WHIP-POOR-WILL were singing in Napeague and at least 4 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were noted in the swale north of the Walking Dunes.

Here's a list of notables. It's guaranteed that I've forgotten some good stuff (especially if its not written down) so feel free to correct/update me.

** 15 May 2010 **
Great Cormorant (imm.) seawatch off Amagansett EH (Angus Wilson)
Snowy Egret, [unusual local] Montauk Point, Montauk EH (Vicki Bustamante)
Glossy Ibis (7), Merrill Lake Preserve, Springs EH (Karen Rubinstein, Barbara Rubinstein)
Glossy Ibis, pools off Rt 27 Napeague EH (Vicki Bustamante)
Wilson's Snipe (2), Teddy Roosevelt CP, Montauk EH (Vicki Bustamante)
Solitary Sandpiper (7), Merrill Lake Preserve, Springs EH (Karen Rubinstein, Barbara Rubinstein)
Solitary Sandpiper (2), Rusty's Pond, Deep Hollow EH (Vicki Bustamante)
Roseate Tern (9+), seawatch off Amagansett EH (Angus Wilson)
Chuck-Will's-Widow (2), Cranberry Hole/Lazy Point Rds, Napeague EH (Angus Wilson)
Whip-Poor-Will (4), Cranberry Hole/Lazy Point Rds, Napeague EH (Angus Wilson)
American Woodcock (fresh roadkill), Rt 27 Napeague EH (Vicki Bustamante)
Canada Warbler (3), Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Quogue SH (Eileen Schwinn)
Grasshopper Sparrow (4), walking dunes, E side Napeague Harbor (Angus Wilson)
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow (4+), Merrill Lake Preserve, Springs EH (Karen Rubinstein, Barbara Rubinstein)
Bobolink (5 males), Merrill Lake Preserve, Springs EH (Karen Rubinstein, Barbara Rubinstein)

** 16 May 2010 **
Black Vulture, Camp Hero/Deep Hollow (Angus Wilson, Vicki Bustamante)
Turkey Vulture (max 8), Camp Hero/Deep Hollow (Angus Wilson, Vicki Bustamante)
Turkey Vulture, Napeague (Angus Wilson)
Broad-winged Hawk (9, 7 juv/subad., 2 ad.), Camp Hero/Deep Hollow (Angus Wilson, Vicki Bustamante)
Glossy Ibis, Rt 27 Napeague EH (Angus Wilson)
Black-headed Gull (1st-sum.), Georgica Pond, Georgica EH (Hugh McGuinness, Angus Wilson)
Roseate Tern (2), Georgica Pond, Georgica EH (Hugh McGuinness, Angus Wilson)
Black Skimmer (1), Cartwright Shoals, Gardiners Bay EH (Bruce Horwith)
White-rumped Sandpiper (6) Sagg Mains, Sagaponack SH (Hugh McGuinness, Angus Wilson)
Solitary Sandpiper, Montauk Point EH (Angus Wilson)
Solitary Sandpiper, Rusty's Pond, Deep Hollow, Montauk EH (Angus Wilson)
Solitary Sandpiper (3), Rita's Horse Pasture, Montauk EH (Angus Wilson)
Spotted Sandpiper (3), Rusty's Pond, Deep Hollow, Montauk EH (Angus Wilson)
Spotted Sandpiper (2), Rita's Horse Pasture, Montauk EH (Angus Wilson)
Black-billed Cuckoo, Hither Hills State Park (Angus Wilson)
Black-billed Cuckoo, Camp Hero/Deep Hollow (Karen Rubinstein, Barbara Rubinstein)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Long Pond, Sag Harbor SH (Hugh McGuinness)
Eastern Kingbird (flock of 8 behaving as migrants not breeders), Montauk Point (Angus Wilson)
Eastern Wood Pewee, Montauk Point (Angus Wilson)
Least Flycatcher, Montauk Point (Angus Wilson)
Willow Flycatcher, Montauk Point (Angus Wilson)
Olive-sided Flycatcher, Springs Park, Springs (Karen Rubinstein, Barbara Rubinstein)
Wilson's Warbler (2), Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Quogue SH (Mike Higgiston)
Wilson's Warbler, Deer Path, Montauk EH (Vicki Bustamante)
Wilson's Warbler, Montauk Point, Montauk EH (Angus Wilson)
Wilson's Warbler, Camp Hero, Montauk EH (Angus Wilson)
Canada Warbler (3), Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Quogue SH (Mike Higgiston)
Tennessee Warbler (1), Long Pond, Sag Harbor SH (Hugh McGuinness)
Blue Grosbeak (1 imm. male), Camp Hero, Montauk EH (Angus Wilson)

** 17 May 2010 **
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, East Hampton EH, (John Todaro)

**18 May 2010 **
Swainson's Thrush, East Hampton EH, (John Todaro)

As we focus on summer migrants and the beginning of the nesting season it's easy to forget the lingering winter visitors. The eastern tip of the South Fork seems to hold these longer than almost anywhere else in the state, perhaps because of the cooler air and water temperatures. Now is a good time to keep track of lingering Common Eider, scoter and other seaduck. A tardy Iceland Gull or King Eider would not be out of the question. I could not find the 3 Harlequin Ducks that were in Turtle Cove but this is another species to look for. A few Purple Sandpipers will probably linger into early June waiting for their northern breeding grounds to clear of snow, although nowadays they've probably been snow-free since April!

Hybrid Shorebird at Mecox Inlet - 12 May 2010

Warblers and other neotropical migrants continue to flow through the region with several decent flights in the last few days. Among the highlights are singing Mourning Warbler (Friday and today) and Yellow-throated Warblers (Thursday) at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge in Quogue. Mourning Warblers have topped the bill in a number of area parks this week. On Tuesday, John Shemilt photographed a very interesting sandpiper on the flats at Mecox that gave the impression of an over-sized Western Sandpiper. Study of his photos suggests this is likely a hybrid between White-rumped Sandpiper and Dunlin. Curiously, a number of similar birds have been documented in the northeast in past few years, and it seems they are becoming more frequent. It is tempting to speculate that habitat changes in the arctic nesting grounds are a contributing factor by increasing contact (overlap) between the two species.

Although the bulk of summer nesting species have arrived, there are still a few gaps. Roseate Tern and Black Skimmer for example, will be making their way onto the SF about now but I haven't received any firm reports. Keep an eye out for Blue Grosbeaks, which have also made a decent showing across Long Island in the past few week and other goodies for our area like Cliff Swallow, Summer Tanager, Lincoln's Sparrow, Black Tern and Gull-billed Tern. A Wilson's Plover made a brief appearance at Jones Beach last weekend and historically, the sandy beaches of the SF (esp. Shinnecock, Mecox Inlet, Sag Pond, and Napeague) are by far the best place to chance upon this rare southern stray in New York State.

Here are some recent highlights.

** 6 May 2010 **
Peregrine, 1 nr Ponquogue Bridge, Shinnecock Inlet SH (Luke Ormand) - is there a pair attempting to nest?

** 7 May 2010 **
Blackpoll Warbler, East Lake Drive, Montauk EH (Vicki Bustamante) - first of season?

** 8 May 2010 **
Eastern Wood Pewee, Long Pond, Sag Harbor SH (Hugh McGuinness) - first of season?
Green Heron, Merrill Lake Preserve, Springs EH (Karen and Barb Rubinstein)

** 9 May 2010**

Green Heron, 1 in Northwest Harbor EH (Jane Ross)
Green Heron, 2, Gerogica Cove, Georgica EH (Jane Ross)
Northern Bobwhite, 1 Cove Hollow Farm, Georgica EH (Jane Ross)
Purple Martin, 50+, West End/Georgica Pond, Georgica EH (Jane Ross)

** 12 May 2010**
hybrid sandpiper (likely White-rumped x Dunlin), Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (John Shemilt)

** 13 May 2010 **
Yellow-throated Warbler, Quogue Wildlife Refuge SH (Eileen Schwinn, Mike Higgiston)

** 14 May 2010 **
Mourning Warbler, Quogue Wildlife Refuge SH (Eileen Schwinn, Mike Higgiston)

** 15 May 2010 **
Mourning Warbler, Quogue Wildlife Refuge SH (Mike Cooper)

Manx Shearwater, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Virgina Rail and more - 2-3 May 2010

The big influx seems to been on Friday night with birds moving out (or dispersing locally) on Saturday night. I get the sense that commoner nesting species like House Wren, Great Crested Flycatcher and Baltimore Oriole are now very widespread, although more individuals are likely to come in over the next few days. Orchard Oriole seems especially conspicuous, perhaps reflecting a steady increase in this species across the whole of Long Island. Elsewhere there has been a nice sprinkling of 'spring overshoots' with a Mississippi Kite near Ithaca, a Painted Bunting was nicely photographed in central Long Island, a number of Prothonotary Warblers, and one or two Summer Tanagers. A migrant Red-headed Woodpecker was on Jones Beach as were multiple Gull-billed Terns. Also an Upland Sandpiper made a (re)appearance in Brooklyn. Has anyone been checking the grasslands at Gabreski Airport for this increasingly rare grasspiper?

Here are some additional reports.


** 29/30 April 2010 **

Roger Grunwald noted a HERMIT THRUSH near the junction of Old Stone Highway and Louse Point Road in Springs.

** 1 May 2010 **

Jim Ash reports that the flooded field behind the SoFo Museum in Bridgehampton hosted a GLOSSY IBIS, a LITTLE BLUE HERON, two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, two Lesser Yellowlegs, three Greater Yellowlegs, two WILSON'S SNIPE, one Killdeer, three pairs of Wood Ducks, six BLUE-WINGED TEAL. An Orchard Oriole was in the parking lot. The flooding may be a curse but has created some great freshwater habitat.

** 2 May 2010 **

Sunday's SW winds brought cold air in off the ocean and it became increasingly foggy as the day went on. Visible landbird migrations seemed significantly reduced compared to Saturday but there was evidently some settling in of local breeders. For example, Wood Thrush could be heard singing in Camp Hero and both Baltimore Oriole and Great Crested Flycatcher were making themselves heard in Springs. During a short seawatch from Montauk Point, Angus Wilson noted the first MANX SHEARWATER of the year and picked up 3 WHIMBREL that emerged from the fog bank over Block Island Sound before heading due NNW towards Connecticut. Several hundred _sterna_ terns were following a similar track to and from some feeding spot SE of the Point but the visibility was too poor to reliably differentiate Common from Roseate. Judging from the vector, these are likely to be from the large colony on Great Gull Island. Small numbers of all three scoter and Common Eider remain at the Point and both Common and Red-throated Loons were very numerous. The 3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS from Saturday were still on the rocks in Turtle Cove. Two adult WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were in the parking lot next to the old toilet block and a BOBWHITE fluttered across the road in front of the lighthouse entrance gate. A MERLIN was hunting over center of Montauk Village. In the woods at Camp Hero there were several Blue-headed Vireos singing but no sign of the Blue Grosbeak from Saturday. A pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL were on the pond at Rita's Farm.

At Napeague, Angus Wilson noted an immature BALD EAGLE over the Walking Dunes and it was joined by 6 Turkey Vultures that seemed to be working their way west. The vultures seem to balk at crossing the few yards of water at the top of the harbor and chose the southern route instead. A short while earlier 3 additional TURKEY VULTURES were over Oyster Pond. During a long hike up the east side of Napeague out to Goff Point Angus flushed a NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. The bird wasn't very cooperative but immediately struck him as a rich orange-colored Ammodramus sparrow. Eventually the sparrow paused in the open long enough to see the solid orange wash across the upper breast and throat, with only faint light brown streaking. This was actually the ONLY sparrow encountered, so evidently the Grasshopper Sparrows have not arrived yet. The small pool just before Goff Point (Skunk Hole?) has been good for Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows in the spring but was birdless on Sunday. Note the mosquitoes were viscous, perhaps not surprising with so much standing water.

Hugh McGuinness heard a calling VIRGINIA RAIL at the south end of Long Pond in Sag Harbor, as well as two new warblers: NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH and NASHVILLE WARBLER. Like me, he considered Sunday to be much less birdy than might be expected after a night with southwest winds.

In Georgica, Jane Ross found at least 30 PURPLE MARTINS in the colony at the end of West End Road. It is always pleasing to hear of colonies being reoccupied. Have the birds returned to the small colony on the edge of Merrill Lake Preserve in Accabonac? Jane also found 6 BLUE-WINGED TEAL in Georgica Cove and along with a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and several species of shorebird.

In Springs Park (just off Three Mile Harbor Road in The Springs) Karen Rubinstein and Barbara Rubinstein confirmed that two EASTERN BLUEBIRD pairs are already sitting on eggs. An Orchard Oriole also seems to be on territory in the park. FISH CROWS have expanded significantly in the Clearwater Beach sections of Springs, they were uncommon in previous summers but currently seem quite ubiquitous even visiting the Rubinstein's feeders. A few shorebirds continue in Accabonac Harbor; Karen and Barb counted 18 Ruddy Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 4 Black-bellied Pover on the gravel/sand flat off Gerard Drive on Sunday.

Blue Grosbeak, Bobolinks, Harlequin Ducks at Montauk - 1 May 2010

Happily, the overnight influx of summer breeders and north-bound migrants extended out to Eastern Long Island. Hugh McGuinness and I spent the morning birding Montauk Point and adjacent Camp Hero SP (Suffolk Co.). We found a good collection of migrants including Blue-headed, Warbling and White-eyed Vireos, 6 sp. warbler (Black-throated Green, Yellow, Black-&-White, Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, Yellow-rumped), numerous Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Chimney Swift, Bank Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow and so on. Highlights were a young male BLUE GROSBEAK in Camp Hero and 2 flyover BOBOLINK at the Point. A kettle of 11 Turkey Vultures over the woods east of Oyster Pond represented a good count for out here and at least one other was noted in Napeague. A Solitary Sandpiper and Green Heron were on the ponds in Deep Hollow.

There appeared to be a steady trickle of diurnal migrants during the morning, predominantly Red-wing Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Blue Jays, Barn Swallows, American Robins and Fish Crows (unexpected?), with smaller numbers of Eastern Kingbirds and Baltimore Orioles. We noted several blackbird flocks heading out over the water towards Rhode Island. As if following these diurnal migrants, two Merlin also headed eastward over the point.

We didn't spend much time seawatching but 3 HARLEQUIN DUCK in Turtle Cove provided a nice treat for May. Common Loons (110+) were widely scattered on the flat calm water and 3 very distant Razorbills showed briefly among them. Small parties of Common Terns were observed out in Block Island Sound feeding over groups of loons. An ICELAND GULL was with other gulls on the Sound off Montauk Inlet.

The geography of the eastern Long Island is such that the diversity of northbound migrants falls precipitously as one travels east of the North/South Fork split. An example of this pronounced gradient effect is the fact we did not hear any thrushes in the woodland around Montauk, but just 15 miles further west in Amagansett Karen and Barbara Rubinstein found a good number of Wood Thrush in typical nesting habitat. Along the same lines, Hugh noted Great-crested Flycatchers at his house in Sag Habor first thing this morning but we found none elsewhere. It will be interesting to see if these species will have filtered east by tomorrow.

More trans-Gulf arrivals - 30 Apr 2010

Good numbers of trans-Gulf migrants have made their way up the Atlantic seaboard in the past two days. The predicted SW winds and warm temps this weekend could be excellent for nudging the stream of migrants in our direction. I would anticipate most of the expected summer landbird species to be recorded within the next few days, including several species of warblers (such that we get on the South Fork), Chimney Swift, Veery, Wood Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Spotted Sandpiper, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Lincoln Sparrow and so on. So it should be well worth checking your yard, local woods, and wet areas for newly arrived breeders and transients. Terns and shorebirds will also be moving along the ocean beaches and inlets.

** 27 Apr 2010 **
House Wren, North Hollow Drive, East Hampton EH (Sandy Hunter)

** 29 Apr 2010 **
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (male), Hedges Banks Drive, East Hampton EH (Sandy Hunter)
Laughing Gull, Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (John Shemilt)

** 30 Apr 2010 **
Louisiana Waterthrush, Long Pond, Sag Harbor SH (Hugh McGuinness)
Eastern Kingbird, Long Pond, Sag Harbor SH (Hugh McGuinness)
Least Sandpiper, 50+, Georgica Cove, Georgica EH (Jane Ross)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, East Hampton EH (Paul & Lisa D'Andrea)

-- Book keeping --

Prior to Hugh's report from this morning, I was resigned to the fact that we'd probably missed Louisiana Waterthrush on the South Fork in 2010. As migrants Louisiana Waterthrushes are fairly scarce on Long Island, and pass through in mid/late-April ahead of most other warbler species, including the far more numerous Northern Waterthrush. Fall migrants are possible but rarely encountered. Most birds leaving their nesting territories in mid-August and quickly vanish from our region. So, nice save Hugh! If there is one, there might be more. Keep an eye and ear out in wet wooded areas especially where there are small streams.

South Fork Bird Report Update - 28 Apr 2010

Here are various sightings (new and old) that have come in during the week. Thanks to all the contributors.

** 13 Mar 2010 **
Eastern Phoebe, Hook Pond, East Hampton EH (Karen Rubinstein, Barbara Rubinstein)

** 31 Mar 2010 **
White-eyed Vireo, head of Heady Creek, Southampton SH (Chris Roberts)

** 2 Apr 2010 **
Eastern Phoebe, Watermill SH (John Shemilt)

** 6 Apr 2010 **
Eastern Phoebe, Hedges Banks Drive, Northwest Harbor, EH (Sandy Hunter)

** 9 Apr 2010 **
Boat-tailed Grackle, male, Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (Hugh McGuinness)

** Week of 11 Apr 2010 **
Eastern Phoebe, TNC building on Route 114, East Hampton EH (Bruce Horwith)

** 22 Apr 2010 **
Chuck-Will's-Widow, one calling off Cranberry Hole Road, Amagansett/Napeague (Carl Safina)

** 23 Apr 2010 **
Forster's Tern, 2 at Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (John Shemilt)
Caspian Tern, 2 at Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (John Shemilt)
Boat-tailed Grackle, male, Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (John Shemilt)

** 25 Apr 2010 **
Turkey Vulture, 5, Navy Road, Montauk EH (Jack Passie)
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 (alt. ad. and 1st-yr) Mecox Inlet, Watermill SH (Hugh McGuinness)

** 26 Apr 2010 **
Blue-headed Vireo, Camp Hero, Montauk EH (Vicki Bustamante)
Indigo Bunting, Old West Lake Drive, Montauk EH (Tom Havlik, fide Vicki Bustamante)

** 27 Apr 2010 **
Blue-headed Vireo, Northwest Woods, East Hampton EH (John Todaro)
Glossy Ibis, 4-5, Merrill Lake Preserve, Springs EH (Bruce Horwith, Paul D'Andrea)

[Just out of area, a male Prothonotary Warbler was seen at the Arshamomaque Preserve in Southold along with Northern Waterthrush, Palm & Yellow-rumped Warblers (Steve Biasetti)]

Lastly, a color-banded Piping Plover was sighted by Latisha Coy in Napeague State Park on 26 April. This individual was banded on New Providence, in The Bahamas on January 17, 2010.

Shorebird arrivals - 24 Apr 2010

Migrant shorebirds are slowly infiltrating the South Fork of Long Island. This morning single SEMIPALMATED and LEAST SANDPIPERS were with the large Sanderling and Dunlin flock on the sandflats at Mecox Inlet (Watermill, Suffolk Co.), the former being (I believe) the first of the season out here. Four EASTERN WILLET and a CASPIAN TERN were roosting with the gulls and looking less than thrilled by the chilly breeze sweeping across Mecox Bay.

Sag Pond in Bridgehampton is nearly full of water again and the only bird of note was a lingering (likely injured) COMMON MERGANSER. On nearby Wainscott Pond, 5 or 6 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, found on Friday by Hugh McGuinness, were visible by scope from the roadside. Who knows what else in lurking in the flooded vegetation of this interesting but rather inaccessible site. A number of observers have come across BLUE-WINGED TEAL in the past week or so. Today there were pairs on the flooded field at the SoFo Nature Center in Bridgehampton, a rain pool at the Merrill Lake Preserve in Springs and on Wainscott Pond.

This evening a couple of WHIP-POOR-WILLS were calling in Amagansett, and Bob Wick has been hearing a different bird for much of the past week. Also in Amagansett, Susan Benson observed a BLACK VULTURE over Cranberry Hole Road on Thursday (22 Apr).