Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge 7 April Joe Giunta and I (Sy Schiff) started out on a raw murky day. Again, we found evidence of new arrivals. The waterfowl mix appears to have changed since our last visit. The West Pond was primarily filled with an estimated 1,000 SCAUP, mostly but not all Greater plus some Red-breasted Mergansers and Ruddy Ducks.
Puddle ducks were mainly in the South Marsh as you come in. The main species were approx. 100 Green-winged Teal with a single male BLUE-WINGED TEA among them. About 35 Northern Shovelers were clumped together. Beyond in the channel, were a dozen Horned Grebes in various stages of plumage from winter to full breeding, an interesting educational experience. A few BOAT-TAILED GRACKLES were in the marsh. There were 3 SNOW GEESE, one on the side of the trail and two on the flat at the end of Terrapin Trail. Waders consisted of several GREAT and SNOWY EGRET, 11 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, LITTLE BLUE HERON and groups of 3, 5 and 28 GLOSSY IBIS. The larger group picked up and flew off toward the SE. TREE SWALLOWS were numerous as were RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. . A NORTHERN HARRIER cruised about and a pair of OSPREY has set up house keeping on the platform. We did not visit the North Marsh or East Pond. Sy -- 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/ --
