I joined the NYSOA Young Birders Club at Cupsogue County Park (in Westhampton, Suffolk County) this morning, first for a fruitless seawatch, and then birding the flats.
While we were unable to locate the Hudsonian Godwit (or the apparently one-day wonder Wilson's Phalarope for that matter), we did find some other goodies. The shorebird highlight was a cooperative adult Western Sandpiper. There were also ~14 Red Knots, at least two of which were flagged, one with a lime-green Delaware Bayshore flag, and another with a red flag from one of the South American countries (Chile?) where flagging takes place. Unfortunately we weren't able to read either, but certainly something for anyone birding Cupsogue to keep an eye out for. Also nice to see were increased numbers of Semipalmated Sandpipers and Plovers, as well as a couple more Ruddy Turnstone and Black-bellied Plover than had been around. Common Terns numbered somewhere in the vicinity of 400. The immature male Common Eider continued on the bay just off the flats, along with 2 Common Loons a bit farther out. The unquestionable highlight though, was the SANDWICH TERN that appeared amidst the Common Terns for about 5 minutes before flying off to the East towards Pike's Beach and out of sight. About 45 minutes later however, it flew over us headed west and disappeared over the Inlet, and then another half hour later as we were exiting the flats we re-sighted it once again sitting with Common Terns on the flats on the incoming tide. Hopefully it continues to stick. Also of interest was an adult Gull-billed Tern, originally sighted by Richard Kasten (sp.?), as well as 2 Royal Terns, and 2 Roseate Terns. We did not see any Black Terns. Good Birding -Doug Gochfeld. Brooklyn, NY. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
