Cape May Warbler, Blue Grosbeak, Bobolinks - 2 Oct 2010

In spite of the N-NNE winds and rain during the night, Hugh McGuinness and I figured that Montauk Point might be a good place to look for migrants. We were not disappointed. After seawatching for a short time and seeing nothing of note beyond a distant jaeger, we turned our attention to the bushes around the main parking lot and in front of the lighthouse. Among the highlights were a CAPE MAY WARBLER (a rare sight on the SF nowadays), BLACKPOLL WARBLER, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO and an immature WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. We also noted some phoebes, juncos, Chipping Sparrows and a single Field Sparrow.

Along the Seal Haul Out Trail a mile or so east of the Point, we found a couple of feeding flocks working through the canopy including a confiding BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, a TENNESSEE WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, PARULA, BLACK-&-WHITE WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, BLUE-HEADED and RED-EYED VIREOS. Of a more wintry flavor, a HAIRY WOODPECKER, two YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, one or two BROWN CREEPER and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH were also welcome sights. A lone adult TURKEY VULTURE was soaring over the Montauk Woods and we glimpsed a couple of MERLINS.

The weed choked pond at Theodore Roosevelt County Park (Third House) hosted a good selection of birds including a BLUE GROSBEAK, at least 10 INDIGO BUNTINGS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and 30+ BOBOLINK. Another INDIGO BUNTING was by the gate marking the entrance to the Warhol Estate. The American Golden-Plover and Semipalmated Plovers seen yesterday on Rusty's field were not in evidence today.

In Amagansett, Karen and Barb Rubinstein found 4 BOBOLINK in the Quail Hill fields off Town Lane and a couple of RED-EYED VIREOS on Kings Point Road in Springs.

During an afternoon visit to Cedar Point County Park (Northwest Woods), Hugh connected with some more warblers including BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACKPOLL, PARULA and BLACK-&-WHITE.